Gib'Sea 76

[poggy]

Gib\'Sea 76

Hi,

I am looking at buying a Gib'Sea 76 and was wondering if any owners had any comments on the boat and if there are any points I should look out for when buying one.

Are there any good websites to look at.

Poggy

 

[GilesC]

Re: Gib\'Sea 76

I've got a Gibsea 28, which I think is similar age to the 76, and has proved a solid, seaworthy boat over a number of years. Its got some osmosis now, but then how many 20+ year old boats haven't?

You may find some more useful info from the small "Gibsea Association" I recently stumbled upon at www.gibsea.org.uk - they're sure to have some members with 76's.

Good Luck!

 

[tony_brighton]

Re: Gib\'Sea 76

I had a gibsea77 for a few years - basically the same boat from 1984.

Very good boat - pleased with her from a handling/performance boat. Simple to sail and capable of e.g. cross-channel. Had a few maintenance tasks - nothing terrible. Mine was epoxied pre-any osmosis so no trouble there.

Points to look for:
- its probably a lifting fin in stub? if so - check the pivot point and lift mechanism. Not difficult to fix but subject to wear.

- rudder is usually hung off the transom - check for cracking/weakness around the mounts. Rudder tends to be a bit of a thin blade that loses grip early as the wind increases - you will need to reef early.

Generally very good boats for a starter boat. I enjoyed mine.

 

[poggy]

Re: Gib\'Sea 76

Hi,

Thanks for the replies, this particular model is a bilge keel. Apparently they are capable of 7+ knots in a fresh wind.

Is Osmosis always going to happen to a boat eventually regardless of how well you look after it. MOst of the other type of boats I looked at had been treated at 16 or 17 years old.

As this is a 1986 (17 years old) and not treated, am I looking at a problem in the near future.

Regards,

Poggy

 

[GilesC]

Re: Gib\'Sea 76

Don't you just hate it when someone says it just depends, but with osmosis its hard to be prescriptive.

For example, mine is wintered ashore every year, but kept in the estuary of a river. As a result the water's not as salty as seawater and hence boats kept in it are more prone to osmosis.
But, a Jaguar I had before kept in the same environment developed serious osmosis after 13 years. Whilst mine needs sorting in the next few years, its still nowhere near as bad as the Jaguar got, which tends to make me think the Gibsea's are pretty well laid up in the first place.

I'd suggest if its clear now, and gets a good survey, get it epoxied and that will probably give you years of protection. With hindsight, mine should have been doen a few years ago when the moisture content was normal.

 

[poggy]

Re: Gib\'Sea 76

Hi Tony,

Thanks for your recent advice on the Gib'Sea, I have now purchased a Gib'Sea 76 with lifting keel.

I did have a slight panic this morning as the mooring we have dry's out onto soft mud. Having seen the surveyors photos of the stub keel, will she sit well in soft mud without additioal legs.

Have you dried yours out before.

Thanks for youe help