OK,
I called the owners of the first boat and advised them I would not be buying their boat. I mentioned that if I were just going to be cottage sailing it would be fine but I was planning on taking it out to some bigger water and did not want to take a chance with the mast folding and being stuck in the shipping channel in the St Lawrence or in open water on Lake Ontario.
The second boat is turning out far better.
A little more money but a straight mast, trailer and storage tube. Pics make it look decent as the hull is white ...and was originally. It looks like a 1980 with the white sail and green accents, looks clean.
The only thing that came up was that this individual has a boyfriend with the same boat...so I can be sure that everything that was in better shape has been transferred to his boat, that they are keeping. On the other hand my deal is closing before they were expecting as they were going to take it out next spring to sell at one of the local lakes...but no matter, I am just thinking out loud. It is their prerogative to do what they want and I expect to be replacing rigging, if not the first season then for sure the second.
Anyhow, It looks like I will be picking the boat up next week unless there is some major problem with it, as I am almost driving past their doorstep on my way back from Toronto.
Game on.
Jeff.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
More on the mast
I finally got to have a look at the boat in question this past weekend.
The mast is not just a little bent, it is creased, or very close to it. The issue is not so much that it is not sailable, as I am sure that it is, but if I get into heavy winds, which I plan to there is a chance that it could fold...and that would suck.
That and the boat is older than claimed. The hulls are an avacado green under the flaking white paint. Hobie has not produced hulls in that colour since 1979 and the previous year was 1972. The hulls are in great shape though and I could not find any soft spots, the frame was solid enough even though the tramp was loose (poorly laced with bungee cord). The tramp might have lasted another couple of years. I never got to see the sails, sheets, etc. but it is just as well.
In the owner's defense he has not got any real sailing background or knowledge and no intention to so any serious sailing at all. He was just trying to get out of the boat most of what he bough it for.
Since, I have a weak lead on another boat that may become available. It was purchased this year and the owner is finding it too much boat and may wish to sell it. The likely asking price is not much more than I was already looking at...but the mast is straight and the boat is a nice boat...so we'll see.
This is not much of an adventure yet, but perhaps it will be eventually.
Jeff.
The mast is not just a little bent, it is creased, or very close to it. The issue is not so much that it is not sailable, as I am sure that it is, but if I get into heavy winds, which I plan to there is a chance that it could fold...and that would suck.
That and the boat is older than claimed. The hulls are an avacado green under the flaking white paint. Hobie has not produced hulls in that colour since 1979 and the previous year was 1972. The hulls are in great shape though and I could not find any soft spots, the frame was solid enough even though the tramp was loose (poorly laced with bungee cord). The tramp might have lasted another couple of years. I never got to see the sails, sheets, etc. but it is just as well.
In the owner's defense he has not got any real sailing background or knowledge and no intention to so any serious sailing at all. He was just trying to get out of the boat most of what he bough it for.
Since, I have a weak lead on another boat that may become available. It was purchased this year and the owner is finding it too much boat and may wish to sell it. The likely asking price is not much more than I was already looking at...but the mast is straight and the boat is a nice boat...so we'll see.
This is not much of an adventure yet, but perhaps it will be eventually.
Jeff.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Forestay, jib and lowering the mast
I was talking to a fellow from a local sailing club about .... sailing. He happened to ask about power lines near the launch with respect to raising the mast and the advantage of the composite mast tip.
I have read about this before as the top (9' ?) on newer boats (1985 and newer anyway) all have this fiberglass mast end to provide insulation from electrical currents in the event that a mast touches hydro lines. It turns out there are lines across the channel far enough up that I can't just get closer to the water before raising the mast.
I went down to the locks to cross and walk up to see what I may be dealing with for line clearance and I ran into the lockmaster. He confirmed that the lines that run down our road (high voltage, not just small feeder lines) do cross overhead... but had no idea how high. He did mention that a particular boat had no trouble. That boat, a large double decker, happened to be sitting in the basin in town the next day so I got a loser look. It is very high with fairly tall antennae. Having said that it must clear under the Rideau Ferry bridge which means it is somewhat less than 26'.
Inconclusive.
Just because the clearance is not listed on the navigation site doesn't mean it is any higher than that either.
So, IF these lines are a hazard I will be replacing the end of the mast.
Now, the owner of the boat says there is a slight bend in the mast, not enough to make it not sailable. I was considering a few options depending on the shape of the mast.
1) slight bend might be fixable if not creased, load in the opposite direction
2) comptip retrofit if the bend is far enough up
3) replace with a used mast, might be hard to come across a used one though
4) replace with a new one... at the price of the masts finding a different boat would be cheaper
Finding a post '85 with the comptip already in place would be cheaper than replacing the mast after the fact, just need to have more patience. I will wait to see the boat, likely this weekend, before coming to any conclusions.
None of this makes much difference on the fact that the boat will not fit under the bridge so I was considering putting a small block (2:1 perhaps) on the forestay with a cleat on the mast for the halyard. This would allow tensioning the mast without worrying about the bridle adjuster as well as letting me lower the mast head to provide the clearance needed to get under the bridge.
So, loosen the stay, lower a few degrees, tie it off, paddle or troll through, yank it back up and tie it off.
I find out that this is called an Aussie halyard, usually for the jib sail but also used for the forestay. I also think that this would be a huge help in raising the mast solo. Lift and walk it up to a point, then grab the halyard and pull it up the rest fo the way.
Back to work for a bit now.
Jeff.
I have read about this before as the top (9' ?) on newer boats (1985 and newer anyway) all have this fiberglass mast end to provide insulation from electrical currents in the event that a mast touches hydro lines. It turns out there are lines across the channel far enough up that I can't just get closer to the water before raising the mast.
I went down to the locks to cross and walk up to see what I may be dealing with for line clearance and I ran into the lockmaster. He confirmed that the lines that run down our road (high voltage, not just small feeder lines) do cross overhead... but had no idea how high. He did mention that a particular boat had no trouble. That boat, a large double decker, happened to be sitting in the basin in town the next day so I got a loser look. It is very high with fairly tall antennae. Having said that it must clear under the Rideau Ferry bridge which means it is somewhat less than 26'.
Inconclusive.
Just because the clearance is not listed on the navigation site doesn't mean it is any higher than that either.
So, IF these lines are a hazard I will be replacing the end of the mast.
Now, the owner of the boat says there is a slight bend in the mast, not enough to make it not sailable. I was considering a few options depending on the shape of the mast.
1) slight bend might be fixable if not creased, load in the opposite direction
2) comptip retrofit if the bend is far enough up
3) replace with a used mast, might be hard to come across a used one though
4) replace with a new one... at the price of the masts finding a different boat would be cheaper
Finding a post '85 with the comptip already in place would be cheaper than replacing the mast after the fact, just need to have more patience. I will wait to see the boat, likely this weekend, before coming to any conclusions.
None of this makes much difference on the fact that the boat will not fit under the bridge so I was considering putting a small block (2:1 perhaps) on the forestay with a cleat on the mast for the halyard. This would allow tensioning the mast without worrying about the bridle adjuster as well as letting me lower the mast head to provide the clearance needed to get under the bridge.
So, loosen the stay, lower a few degrees, tie it off, paddle or troll through, yank it back up and tie it off.
I find out that this is called an Aussie halyard, usually for the jib sail but also used for the forestay. I also think that this would be a huge help in raising the mast solo. Lift and walk it up to a point, then grab the halyard and pull it up the rest fo the way.
Back to work for a bit now.
Jeff.
Monday, September 21, 2009
The "Potential" Boat
Not much happens on the sailing front when I have yet to even see the potential boat.
I bought Phil Berman's book on catamaran sailing and am poking my way through it. Lots of things to get to know.
Something hit me just this morning about the "potential boat", ( I keep calling it that), about a comment by the current owner. Being that this is a "cottage" boat knowing a lot about it is unlikely, "jump on for a quick sail". So I recalled that he referred to it as a "turbo" version. The only reference I have seen using the term "turbo" has been to a Hobie 14 with the jib sail as the turbo option. Hopefully he was told that it was a turbo due to the unfamiliarity with the line of boats of the original owner rather than him mistakenly thinking it is a 16.
I won't buy a 14'. That completely defeats the purpose of the boat as a bit of a family getaway and as a boat with more potential for technical sailing.
I found the Murray's site and note that they have prices for everything online, and they seem to have almost everything online as well. This is good as I now have a better handle on potential costs to replace parts. I fully expect that I will replace the standing rigging soon into the season next year. I need to see the difference between the mesh and solid tarps as I want a comfortable as possible ride for all. I do think that the vinyl solid will be the best if I plan to do late and early season sailing, helps to keep the wind and cold water at bay...as long as I don't capsize I should be fine.
That's all for today.
Jeff.
I bought Phil Berman's book on catamaran sailing and am poking my way through it. Lots of things to get to know.
Something hit me just this morning about the "potential boat", ( I keep calling it that), about a comment by the current owner. Being that this is a "cottage" boat knowing a lot about it is unlikely, "jump on for a quick sail". So I recalled that he referred to it as a "turbo" version. The only reference I have seen using the term "turbo" has been to a Hobie 14 with the jib sail as the turbo option. Hopefully he was told that it was a turbo due to the unfamiliarity with the line of boats of the original owner rather than him mistakenly thinking it is a 16.
I won't buy a 14'. That completely defeats the purpose of the boat as a bit of a family getaway and as a boat with more potential for technical sailing.
I found the Murray's site and note that they have prices for everything online, and they seem to have almost everything online as well. This is good as I now have a better handle on potential costs to replace parts. I fully expect that I will replace the standing rigging soon into the season next year. I need to see the difference between the mesh and solid tarps as I want a comfortable as possible ride for all. I do think that the vinyl solid will be the best if I plan to do late and early season sailing, helps to keep the wind and cold water at bay...as long as I don't capsize I should be fine.
That's all for today.
Jeff.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Dribs and Drabs
I was talking to the current owner of the sailboat today, we only get a few minutes to chat at a time. I was going to go this weekend to check it out but he is away this and the next three weekends. Well, I'm glad neither of us is in a rush anyway. I might try to squeeze a Friday instead if that works out. i will bring a camera along to get some pictures and see how to post them here.
The price sounds good. The hulls are white and the sails are blue. I was sort of hoping for yellow hulls and perhaps even the Tequila Sunrise sail scheme...but it's not like I can mix and match when buying a used boat.
I ordered a book on catamaran sailing yesterday and it may be in next week.
Next up is to price new standing rigging, ropes (or sheets) and trampoline as those are the most likely things needing replacement. On top of that will be trailer attachments. I may see if I can locate a used cat trailer but I doubt that I will have much luck at that so I will first look at modifying the boat trailer that I have. It seems to be OK, bearing may need packing though.
Jeff.
The price sounds good. The hulls are white and the sails are blue. I was sort of hoping for yellow hulls and perhaps even the Tequila Sunrise sail scheme...but it's not like I can mix and match when buying a used boat.
I ordered a book on catamaran sailing yesterday and it may be in next week.
Next up is to price new standing rigging, ropes (or sheets) and trampoline as those are the most likely things needing replacement. On top of that will be trailer attachments. I may see if I can locate a used cat trailer but I doubt that I will have much luck at that so I will first look at modifying the boat trailer that I have. It seems to be OK, bearing may need packing though.
Jeff.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Bridges...
I was thinking about the huge access to the local lake system and the one impediment that may be an issue. There is a bridge spanning the lake at Rideau Ferry... it used to be a ferry crossing way back when. From the top of the bridge it looks very high off the water but it ocurred to me to check the actual clearance yesterday.
26 feet.
Drat!
The mast on the sailboat is 26' 7" plus the distance from water surface to mast mounting.
So now I have to come up with a method of lowering the mast to clear the bridge or just trailer to the other side when I want to sail the Upper Rideau.
Having said that, putting in behind the house gives me access to the Lower Rideau which is still a few of miles of open lake to play in. That should be enough to get started I am sure.
Jeff.
26 feet.
Drat!
The mast on the sailboat is 26' 7" plus the distance from water surface to mast mounting.
So now I have to come up with a method of lowering the mast to clear the bridge or just trailer to the other side when I want to sail the Upper Rideau.
Having said that, putting in behind the house gives me access to the Lower Rideau which is still a few of miles of open lake to play in. That should be enough to get started I am sure.
Jeff.
Saturday, September 5, 2009
The journey (almost) begins
I have always had a desire to be on the water, any water.
When I was younger, much younger, I would satisfy the yearning on the pond in our back yard or the creek that flowed through the village where we lived. Rafts constructed of anything that would float and held together with whatever would hold were plied through the water with limited success. I got wet often, but I was on the water.
I even recall a hunk of plywood with a small gas engine attached on the back. "The Sea Pig". This was not my creation, although I would have, at the time, liked to have layed claim to the design. It was fun to try to keep the "bow" just above the water to get the plywood up on plane only to have it dip or catch a wave and head for the bottom, dragging the poor tired engine with it.
Those were the days.
Lately an old canoe does the trick but taking the time to get out has been difficult. Between weather and life commitments...and sometimes just laziness... the water is still a little elusive.
We moved in the last few years to a house that is within a stones throw of a boat launch that provides access to the Big Rideau Lake. Sadly, we have not been able to really take advantage of that close proximity. We even had a boat given to us a while back only to find that the engine and drive was totally toasted and un-fixable. Money got in the road as there was always something else that needed fixing, replaced or just purchased.
I have always been enamoured with the idea of sailing. Travelling across the water powered by the wind. About ten years ago I decided to take the first step in attaining this dream and started researching boats, sailing and got to know a lot of theory about sailing, priced some boats... and life determined that it was not to be.
Now I consider that the timing was just off as, had I taken the next few steps I would have bought the wrong boat. The Rideau System is not the deepest everywhere, it is not big water, so this raises the concern of draft. Most boats I looked at were single hulled with some sort of cabin, if only large enough to get out of the weather. Even so the draft was approaching depths that would restrict the boat to the main channels and would cut off access to a lot of water in this system.
Lately, in the last month or so, I have had my interest piqued yet again. I am not even sure what the first trigger was... it has led me to research sailing again in a different light. Seeing as Kate, my wife, is not a fan of things that move too much (thinking wave action here) but likes to be on the water I decided to stay with something smaller. The small single hulled boats just didn't do it for me though, narrow beamed, tippy looking and restricted space.
Then I stumbled upon the catamaran. Twin hulled sailboats that had a wide stance to them, capable of faster speeds than a single hull, easily handled by one yet room for four and has the technical complexity that I always enjoy dealing with.
I decided that the one design that best suited my idea was the Hobie 16' catamaran. Draft of only 10" due to it's keelless design, no dagger boards. Capacity of about 600 pounds. The only drawback is that there is no cabin... but even any small single hulls would not have that capability anyway.
The search began.
There is very little available in Ontario and there was nothing close by, I was disappointed but resigned to a winter search in hopes that something closer would show up.
Right place at the right time.
I always ask around, or at least generate conversation around my interests as I am always surprised by some that have the same interests or even just have related stories. It's always nice to find common interests with people where you may least expect it.
True to form I asked a friend who I knew lived on the Rideau if he had a sailboat. The intention was to see if he knew of anyone around that might have a Hobie 16 that they may want to part with. Perhaps someone who was considering sailing in unused boat but just never got around to advertising it.
To my surprise he happened to have just the boat I was looking at... the best part is that he was, just the week prior, out looking at it and considering selling it as it gets almost no use. So he has decided to sell it and just has to come up with a price.
While I am not in a hurry I must admit that I am a little excited. I expect it to need some work, hopefully no hull work but just replace some rigging and maybe give the hulls a nice buff job. I'll be off to have a look at it next weekend I anticipate. I will wait for him to come up with a price first, look later.
A post on a sailing site that asked about naming boats came to mind this morning. I hadn't seen any Hobie's named, for whatever reason, but I thought I would like to put a name to my future boat.
Trade Winds came to mind as I anticipate funding this adventure through he trading that I am starting to wind into... see other blog...the name has no real reference to the winds of the namesake.
I look forward to getting back out on the water next year on a boat that is mine and learning the ropes...or is that the sheets?
I plan on keeping this blog as a diary of my adventure...something that I had planned to do with my cycling as a log but never got around to. Hopefully I can get some pictures in here and some useful links for others who may be interested.
Jeff.
When I was younger, much younger, I would satisfy the yearning on the pond in our back yard or the creek that flowed through the village where we lived. Rafts constructed of anything that would float and held together with whatever would hold were plied through the water with limited success. I got wet often, but I was on the water.
I even recall a hunk of plywood with a small gas engine attached on the back. "The Sea Pig". This was not my creation, although I would have, at the time, liked to have layed claim to the design. It was fun to try to keep the "bow" just above the water to get the plywood up on plane only to have it dip or catch a wave and head for the bottom, dragging the poor tired engine with it.
Those were the days.
Lately an old canoe does the trick but taking the time to get out has been difficult. Between weather and life commitments...and sometimes just laziness... the water is still a little elusive.
We moved in the last few years to a house that is within a stones throw of a boat launch that provides access to the Big Rideau Lake. Sadly, we have not been able to really take advantage of that close proximity. We even had a boat given to us a while back only to find that the engine and drive was totally toasted and un-fixable. Money got in the road as there was always something else that needed fixing, replaced or just purchased.
I have always been enamoured with the idea of sailing. Travelling across the water powered by the wind. About ten years ago I decided to take the first step in attaining this dream and started researching boats, sailing and got to know a lot of theory about sailing, priced some boats... and life determined that it was not to be.
Now I consider that the timing was just off as, had I taken the next few steps I would have bought the wrong boat. The Rideau System is not the deepest everywhere, it is not big water, so this raises the concern of draft. Most boats I looked at were single hulled with some sort of cabin, if only large enough to get out of the weather. Even so the draft was approaching depths that would restrict the boat to the main channels and would cut off access to a lot of water in this system.
Lately, in the last month or so, I have had my interest piqued yet again. I am not even sure what the first trigger was... it has led me to research sailing again in a different light. Seeing as Kate, my wife, is not a fan of things that move too much (thinking wave action here) but likes to be on the water I decided to stay with something smaller. The small single hulled boats just didn't do it for me though, narrow beamed, tippy looking and restricted space.
Then I stumbled upon the catamaran. Twin hulled sailboats that had a wide stance to them, capable of faster speeds than a single hull, easily handled by one yet room for four and has the technical complexity that I always enjoy dealing with.
I decided that the one design that best suited my idea was the Hobie 16' catamaran. Draft of only 10" due to it's keelless design, no dagger boards. Capacity of about 600 pounds. The only drawback is that there is no cabin... but even any small single hulls would not have that capability anyway.
The search began.
There is very little available in Ontario and there was nothing close by, I was disappointed but resigned to a winter search in hopes that something closer would show up.
Right place at the right time.
I always ask around, or at least generate conversation around my interests as I am always surprised by some that have the same interests or even just have related stories. It's always nice to find common interests with people where you may least expect it.
True to form I asked a friend who I knew lived on the Rideau if he had a sailboat. The intention was to see if he knew of anyone around that might have a Hobie 16 that they may want to part with. Perhaps someone who was considering sailing in unused boat but just never got around to advertising it.
To my surprise he happened to have just the boat I was looking at... the best part is that he was, just the week prior, out looking at it and considering selling it as it gets almost no use. So he has decided to sell it and just has to come up with a price.
While I am not in a hurry I must admit that I am a little excited. I expect it to need some work, hopefully no hull work but just replace some rigging and maybe give the hulls a nice buff job. I'll be off to have a look at it next weekend I anticipate. I will wait for him to come up with a price first, look later.
A post on a sailing site that asked about naming boats came to mind this morning. I hadn't seen any Hobie's named, for whatever reason, but I thought I would like to put a name to my future boat.
Trade Winds came to mind as I anticipate funding this adventure through he trading that I am starting to wind into... see other blog...the name has no real reference to the winds of the namesake.
I look forward to getting back out on the water next year on a boat that is mine and learning the ropes...or is that the sheets?
I plan on keeping this blog as a diary of my adventure...something that I had planned to do with my cycling as a log but never got around to. Hopefully I can get some pictures in here and some useful links for others who may be interested.
Jeff.
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