I bought a Konsort! Any help around Gosport? A follow up from "cruising boat under 20k?"

[seanthedeane]

Firstly thank you all for all your advice, I realized I was worrying too much about the wrong things and found a great condition Konsort. Very happy!

I have insured her, motored her to a new mooring and spent the last two days getting used to how everything works.

Was wondering if there is anybody in the Portsmouth/Gosport area that wouldn't mind helping take me out the first few times? I have a good understanding of how everything works from reading and watching. In more than happy to compensate for anybody's time and fuel ect

 

[Kelpie]

Congratulations!

 

[Refueler]

If I still lived in UK - I'd be there like a shot ... but sorry too far away.

My advise - seriously - join a traditional style Club ... not just a marina 'group' ... a trad Club usually has a few members who enjoy this sort of thing ....

Plenty of good clubs round that area ,,,

 

[Stemar]

I'd book a couple of day's instruction on your boat. You'd probably learn more from a good professional instructor than from a random yottie. It's 20 years since I used them - or anybody else - but Commodore Sailing gave me a good Day Skipper course and they're still around, so they must be doing something right. If they don't do what you want, they'll know someone who will.

Then visit Hardway Sailing Club. It's a friendly place with good facilities and some very knowledgeable people who are happy to share that knowledge. Get your name down now and you'll probably get in with the 2024 intake.

 

[TopBanana]

Congratulations! She looks like a nice one

Have you joined the Westerly Owners' Association? There's an active South Coast group and a dedicated expert on hand for each model.

I have a Konsort in Poole, feel free to ask me any questions. But there are much better sailors out there than me - professional tutoring would be a good idea

 

[colhel]

Looks like you've done an excellent job of parking her up and securing her to the pontoon.
Our previous boat was a Konsort and I often sailed single handed. If you can handle her under engine, my advice is to roll a bit of genoa out and go out and go from there.

 

[Just_sayin']

Looks like you've done an excellent job of parking her up and securing her to the pontoon.

My guess is that’s where he bought it from.

 

[Rhylsailer99]

Check them keel bolts, last year one sunk on it's mooring at Porth Penrhyn. I heard the bolts were rotten, and one of the bilge keels fell off, and then the boat tipped over and took on water.

 

[colhel]

My guess is that’s where he bought it from.

Good point! I found our Konsort to be a very forgiving boat though, even with my often heavy handedness

 

[john_morris_uk]

The OP’s picture is the boat at Hornet, Gosport!

 

[KompetentKrew]

If I still lived in UK - I'd be there like a shot ... but sorry too far away.

My advise - seriously - join a traditional style Club ... not just a marina 'group' ... a trad Club usually has a few members who enjoy this sort of thing ....

Plenty of good clubs round that area ,,,

Hardway SC are very friendly and very near.

 

[ashtead]

Well looking at the berth it seems a very cheap mooring but I would have thought many old salts at Hornet who would be prepared to offer advice - if looking for day instructors a short walk to Haslar marina has advertising or a word with the marina staff will elicit advice on local contacts.

 

[john_morris_uk]

If the OP can wait I fly back to the UK in a week and a half.

 

[Daydream believer]

Surely it is obvious that none of the forumites here know anything about sailing.
The nearest Hacket has been to a yacht, is a ferry when he was on holiday 10 years ago, but we all think he is the "go to" expert on something. Not sure what. But expert he clearly is.
No! this the place were one goes to ask Wansworth for advice on boat buying, Viago for advice on how to buy fresh wholesome food for home cooking & itcom & co. for marriage advice.

My advice to you (as an experienced lounge lizard) is find a friend (difficult in my case ) Who does not mind being shouted at & just take to boat out into a clear bit of water & play with the darned thing. You might actually find that you can sail it easier than a dinghy. One assumes that you do know the principles of sailing- Better for onlookers if you don't. The RNLI like a nice "shout" to keep themselves busy. Helps the fund building efforts.

Alternatively, with a bit of sailing know how you will soon find that you do not need any advice whatsoever. A bit of chat from the pundits at a club bar is helpful, so suggestions of joining a club, if you are a social animal, is good advice. But not if you find it hard to break into the "clicks" that always exist.

But do not take the other half for the first few attempts. Other wise you will be here on the forum, along with a few others, moaning about the cost of solicitors You are meant to have fun. Enjoy it. The learning curve can be steep at first. How steep is just an attitude of mind. But easy enough after that first trip.

 

[Refueler]

Blimey DB ... you really have a poor view on life ...

I do agree though that most Clubs and any froup in fact have their 'cliques' that can be painful at times. But overall ... a traditional Club rather than a Marina group is IMHO a much better suggestion. Especially if the Club is based around similar sized boats ...

The only 'downer' is of course the 'Distant Membership' clause that many Clubs have, particularly in Solent ... where if you live outside of a clubs designated catchment - then it can be a long wait to join.... if you can !

I'm 67yrs old ... grew up with boats .... and in those distant days - as many others here will remember .... it was a self orientated learning matter. Very few 'schools' with instructors. We survived, many went on to be Club 'elders' ... the 'goto' people.
I don't disagree with having an Instructor for a few days to hopefully iron out basics ... but I still think a club and making good relations can be good way forward.

 

[Stemar]

The only 'downer' is of course the 'Distant Membership' clause that many Clubs have, particularly in Solent ... where if you live outside of a clubs designated catchment - then it can be a long wait to join.... if you can !

Not an issue at Hardway. We have members from all over the Midlands. However, there is usually a waiting list, as membership has a maximum number and you have to wait your turn. You also have to pass an interview, but they've only ever turned down one person who actually showed up at interview. The kind they don't want, tend not to show when invited.

 

[doug748]

Firstly thank you all for all your advice, I realized I was worrying too much about the wrong things and found a great condition Konsort. Very happy!

I have insured her, motored her to a new mooring and spent the last two days getting used to how everything works.

Was wondering if there is anybody in the Portsmouth/Gosport area that wouldn't mind helping take me out the first few times? I have a good understanding of how everything works from reading and watching. In more than happy to compensate for anybody's time and fuel ect

Top man, one of the few to ask for advice and actually follow it and, even more, buy a boat. Great timing for the season as well; all the best for your new boat.
By all means get a buddy but if you can get on and off your berth you have cracked the worst of it.

.

 

[laika]

You also have to pass an interview, but they've only ever turned down one person who actually showed up at interview. The kind they don't want, tend not to show when invited.

I confess that when I was open to the concept of joining a sailing club, hardway’s “interview to see if you’re the right sort” put me off.

What is the kind they do/don’t want and what did the one “fail” on?

 

[Daydream believer]

Our club does dinghy racing & rowing etc.It subscribes to some national sailing organisation to enable grants etc. ( forget the correct title) As a result it has to comply with all the usual diversity stuff which I suspect under national law every club does anyway. However, we can no longer "interview" new members. We can invite them along for a chat only. Even if we find them a little - shall we say- "undesireable" we cannot turn them away. This is on the grounds of equality etc etc.
I suspect that if a club were to look at the law they may find that they would have issues if they decided that someone was excluded because the interviewing committee found them "not of the type one wanted as members"
The outcome would be interesting if someone challenged a rejection

I hope that the mods realise that this is not meant as a political comment, only highlighting a problem that may/maynot face clubs with membership

 

[john_morris_uk]

Our club does dinghy racing & rowing etc.It subscribes to some national sailing organisation to enable grants etc. ( forget the correct title) As a result it has to comply with all the usual diversity stuff which I suspect under national law every club does anyway. However, we can no longer "interview" new members. We can invite them along for a chat only. Even if we find them a little - shall we say- "undesireable" we cannot turn them away. This is on the grounds of equality etc etc.
I suspect that if a club were to look at the law they may find that they would have issues if they decided that someone was excluded because the interviewing committee found them "not of the type one wanted as members"
The outcome would be interesting if someone challenged a rejection

I hope that the mods realise that this is not meant as a political comment, only highlighting a problem that may/maynot face clubs with membership

The club would have to have clear criteria for membership and the interview panel could argue that a person was turned down because they didn’t meet the criteria. Eg this is a club for active sailors who race or cruise regularly. If in interview the candidate admits they don’t sail and have no real interest in learning etc then I don’t believe any court in the land is going to support the applicant’s claim for unfair treatment.