Bought a Never splashed Colvic Countess 33 on eBay, Looking for infos

[Dutch01527]

Re: The Water works Stringer mystery.

Just watched latest video. If you still need to pump water in the bilge could I suggest using a puddle pump ( not a sump pump). Very similar but will suck down to a couple of mm. Machine Mart do a pretty good one for less than £100.

 

[GregOddity]

Re: The Water works Stringer mystery.

Just watched latest video. If you still need to pump water in the bilge could I suggest using a puddle pump ( not a sump pump). Very similar but will suck down to a couple of mm. Machine Mart do a pretty good one for less than £100.

Duhhh Now that you say that, I have one from my pond sitting in the shed. Good idea sadly I did not think about it. I have a really good one I could have used that is just gathering dust.

 

[GregOddity]

A beautiful sunny day that we spent running here and there trying to find a workshop to rent around Portsmouth or Emsworth , the best plans shot to smithereens when the one we had rented got unrented to be sold. So back we went to the Marina and delved further into the joy of removing the windows and portholes. Although the glass on frame sealant was gone, only hard bits here and there left, the silicone they used was still going strong and was interesting to try to convince it to let me have the windows without damaging anything, either the aluminium frame or the gelcoat. In one I did have to dig a notch into the gelcoat to insert a blade, but all the others came witouth any damage.
This aluminium is going to get polished and re anodised. Not going to do it myself. Too many parts I fear. One or two I would do it myself but not as many. To much hassle and vapor.
We did have to stop in the afternoon for a couple of hours and wait till the temperature and light dimmed a tad. Working on top of white gelcoat was not a fun job without even a breeze. Even wearing sunglasses, it was getting to us.
Today was also the day we started discussing the rigging and sails, that led us to the extend the bowsprit question. Should we extend the bowsprit to gain a bit more genoa on a boat that is not going to win any races? We have not yet decided.

 

[Concerto]

The sun must have really got to you, you are now making us see double.

 

[GregOddity]

The sun must have really got to you, you are now making us see double.

The Sun fried my last working neuron, it sizzled like a bacon rasher. It was supposed to be a diff pic. Now ya’all have to suffer a different view of the same thing
Changed it. Thanks for the catch Concerto.

 

[Boo2]

...Should we extend the bowsprit to gain a bit more genoa on a boat that is not going to win any races? We have not yet decided.

Won't a bigger genoa on a bowsprit make her harder on the helm ?

Boo2

 

[lpdsn]

Should we extend the bowsprit to gain a bit more genoa on a boat that is not going to win any races? We have not yet decided.

Ah go on, get a bow sprit and a big assymetric. There's a theory that all boats will eventually surf, even a Colvic Countess. Plus I find that self-eroding antifoul is much more effective if you can sustain 8Kts plus for a while every now and again.

 

[Fr J Hackett]

Best get all those big holes covered up or you might as well leave a permanent sump pump in the boat and forget about any interior work.

 

[GregOddity]

Won't a bigger genoa on a bowsprit make her harder on the helm ?

Boo2

Talking to a marine architect he pointed out that the Colvic was designed a bit under canvassed. Perhaps a safety feature on the design. But adding a foot to the sail would not really be very noticeable on this hull helm wise. A lighter displacement sailboat yes, you would feel something but on a heavy displacement at over 6.5 tons as she is now it will barely be noticeable. I'm not going for a meter long thing, just perhaps 50cm at most.

 

[GregOddity]

Best get all those big holes covered up or you might as well leave a permanent sump pump in the boat and forget about any interior work.

Shes getting ready for "le Big Steam Job inside" after that then everything gets covered.

 

[PaulRainbow]

Talking to a marine architect he pointed out that the Colvic was designed a bit under canvassed. Perhaps a safety feature on the design. But adding a foot to the sail would not really be very noticeable on this hull helm wise. A lighter displacement sailboat yes, you would feel something but on a heavy displacement at over 6.5 tons as she is now it will barely be noticeable. I'm not going for a meter long thing, just perhaps 50cm at most.

Lot of work and cost for a tiny bit of sail, right on the nose where it would affect the helm the most. As you have no sails or spars, why not simply fit a taller than standard rig, or a longer boom and increase the genoa %. Keep the boat in balance and won't add to mooring fees.

 

[GregOddity]

Ah go on, get a bow sprit and a big assymetric. There's a theory that all boats will eventually surf, even a Colvic Countess. Plus I find that self-eroding antifoul is much more effective if you can sustain 8Kts plus for a while every now and again.

hehe don't tempt me but were just after a bit more sail area. longer boom slightly higher mast and a smidge more geny. Still won’t surf tho. But light winds and heavy displacement with a smallish sail area = a lot of fishing reading or motoring mid Atlantic.

 

[GregOddity]

Lot of work and cost for a tiny bit of sail, right on the nose where it would affect the helm the most. As you have no sails or spars, why not simply fit a taller than standard rig, or a longer boom and increase the genoa %. Keep the boat in balance and won't add to mooring fees.

you’re right on the money Paul, the 3 options are still open as we have no rigging or sail cuts to consider at this stage, so it’s a question of working out the best way to achieve a bit more canvas without breaking the bank for stainless steel berthing. We’re leaning to the higher mast and longer boom increasing the genoa. Seems the more sensible option for the effort / price and future costs.

 

[PaulRainbow]

you’re right on the money Paul, the 3 options are still open as we have no rigging or sail cuts to consider at this stage, so it’s a question of working out the best way to achieve a bit more canvas without breaking the bank for stainless steel berthing. We’re leaning to the higher mast and longer boom increasing the genoa. Seems the more sensible option for the effort / price and future costs.

I think that makes more sense, although a short retractable bowsprit is handy if you plan to have cruising chute or spinnaker. I have a short stainless one that i designed, similar to the Selden one, that would cost much to make, as you have gear to do it.

 

[GregOddity]

I think that makes more sense, although a short retractable bowsprit is handy if you plan to have cruising chute or spinnaker. I have a short stainless one that i designed, similar to the Selden one, that would cost much to make, as you have gear to do it.

I was thinking of stainless, heavy boat, it’s not like it’s going to make any difference to the Oceans and wind if it says selden or its shiny. MY preference is to have the longer boom and a slightly higher rig and mast. were already doing proper chain plates instead of the flimsy ones we found and adding new bulkheads to support them, so it makes sense to use that instead. Still the option is interesting from an academic point of view.

 

[PaulRainbow]

I was thinking of stainless, heavy boat, it’s not like it’s going to make any difference to the Oceans and wind if it says selden or its shiny. MY preference is to have the longer boom and a slightly higher rig and mast. were already doing proper chain plates instead of the flimsy ones we found and adding new bulkheads to support them, so it makes sense to use that instead. Still the option is interesting from an academic point of view.

Mine is stainless, similar to Selden (but not Selden) and is shiny, one has to have shiny stainless.

 

[GregOddity]

Mine is stainless, similar to Selden (but not Selden) and is shiny, one has to have shiny stainless.

Yeah, simple cheap and effective. Looks a pretty tidy solution. I'm thinking of fabricating something along those lines. This boat needs canvas in light wind conditions or were doomed to motoring besides I'm quite fond of a spinnaker.

 

[Tranona]

Taller mast and longer boom and SMALlER genoa plus a cruising chute on a retractable bowsprit is the way to go.

Large overlapping Genoas are very last century with very good reason. They were a racing fashion because the overlap was not rated, but you find boats go better to windward with smaller headsails than the full size plus tacking is a Pita with overlapping sails which need big winches to wind them in. i have just changed boats from one with a 125% overlap to a 106% and the difference is a revelation. you have the opportunity to maintain or increase the sail area with a taller mast and longer boom (but don't make it too long). You need to talk to a really good sailmaker about redesigning the rig along those lines.

Of course to do it with all new gear will devour your £20k budget easily!

 

[GregOddity]

Taller mast and longer boom and SMALlER genoa plus a cruising chute on a retractable bowsprit is the way to go.

Large overlapping Genoas are very last century with very good reason. They were a racing fashion because the overlap was not rated, but you find boats go better to windward with smaller headsails than the full size plus tacking is a Pita with overlapping sails which need big winches to wind them in. i have just changed boats from one with a 125% overlap to a 106% and the difference is a revelation. you have the opportunity to maintain or increase the sail area with a taller mast and longer boom (but don't make it too long). You need to talk to a really good sailmaker about redesigning the rig along those lines.

Of course to do it with all new gear will devour your £20k budget easily!

Yeah, I heard that said a few times and seems to be the way to go, easy on the winches as well, I've sailed on a yacht with a 106% overlap and it was rather simple to tack and not a workout on the winch.
On the boom I’m still out in the woods with that one. I have a few thoughts but need to research a bit more what changes and how it affects handling. On the mast I'm not thinking of going overboard, mostly 2 feet tops would do it for me as I know another Colvic Countess 33 with a 42 mast instead of the prescribed 40.
The retractable bowsprit is something that I really like with a cruising chute. Then just get it out of the way. And no paying for a 42 feet fees on berthing.
Yeah the 20 K with new gear is going to get very thin very fast, were still using plan B and buying a 2 pound Lotto ticket every Friday.
But failing that, were looking for the cheapest deals we can dig out from under any rocks we find.

 

[Tranona]

Extending sail area aft moves CE aft and can lead to weather helm. that is why you need somebody who knows about these things to do the sums to get the balance right. I would imagine the boat is fairly tolerant of changes as it was designed with a ketch as an alternative with the same mainmast position, but as you have a blank sheet of paper except the mast and forestay position better to do the sums than buy all the gear and find out it is wrong.