I own a boat!! I own a boat!!

[Steve101]

Today I've just bought a GP14 with full wardrobe of sails, Trailer, launch trailer and loads of other stuff!! Was gonna put a post up on here to get an opinion of them before I bought it, but before I could he'd accepted my offer of £500. When I got there I nearly **** myself the damn thing was like a mechano set without instructions. I since stored it at a friends sailing club (Greenforge, nr M6 J12) which I'm joining on Sunday and he thinks I've done well. Anyone have an opinion, I'll be learning the ropes with my children 4 & 6 and my wife. Why are there so many dangly bits from the mast?????

 

[blackbird]

Congratulations!

It's not by accident that the GP14 class has been around so long. Good choice for you and your family to learn - and there is nothing, absolutely nothing, you will learn on that GP that won't stand you in good stead later when you move onwards and upwards.

When you pull the dangly bits to find out where they go, make sure you know which is the other end and hold on to that too. You are on your way!

 

[sailbadthesinner]

Congrats
Not the quickest to rig by todays standards but damn nigh indesctructable boat
learn't to sail in one of those in Crosby marina, many moons ago
Good solid boats without too much upkeep if it hasn't too may wooden bits.

There are lots of dangly bits from the mast to hold the sails up, lots of wire ends from memory.

ofcourse you do know now that you've torn it by getting a boat cos there'll either be no wind or too much on the patch of water that you have stared at enviously for weeks watching perfect conditions.

I would get the kids on an RYA course see rya site for nearest venue. i have found good sailors are not always the best teachers. plus they can then train you.

Happy sailing



...It was like that when i found it!

 

[Guest]

Congratulations

Have just completed my first boat purchase after months of repairs and formalities.

Lovely feeling, isn't it.

 

[SloopJohnB]

Congratulations!
Now you must think about whether you want enthusiastic or very reluctant crew. You have power to influence either outcome. If they are brought on to your learning curve too early you may put them off for life.
I would definitely get the kids (and maybe SWMBO as well) taught by someone else while you get over the close encounters, capsizes and other generally unpleasant experiences that are bound to come your way. Small children (and wives for that matter) do not necessarily see this as fun and excitement.
Far better to get reasonably competent yourself, before you involve them.
Tempting to all try to learn together in same boat! – but I would resist this for a few months. You'll be glad in the longrun.
Oh, and don’t shout at them when you get things wrong.
All IMHO of course.

Good luck!

 

[Trevethan]

Congrats. Its a nice little boat and big enough for you and family. As with others.. learn a bit first before venturing off with family. My mother still refuses to sail with me 20 years after I took her out 3 days after getting my first RYA certificate... (when I was about 10)

Some of the dangly bits will try and vanish up the mast. Not too much of a prob in a GP 14, but a real pain whe n iot happens the bigger boat. Other dangly bits will be very helpful at stopping mast from falling over.

Have fun and try and get sailing soon!

Regards,

Nick

 

[Mirelle]

Well done.

There will be two identical wires which lead aft and out from the mast; the shrouds; connect these to the plates at each side of the boat a bit aft of the mast, line the mast up, pointing back, with the business end near the hole for it, pull on the the third wire and once the mast is up connect that one - the rig is then stable whilst the other bits of string get sorted.

 

[Jeremy_W]

Congratulations - I have shopping days like that: Go looking to buy a Moody 38 and come back with a GP14.

Find a club where the GP14 is one of the adopted classes. I know there's one up near the M6/M62 junction but that may be a bit of a hike for you. Then you can watch half a dozen other people rig their GP's before you try it yourself. I echo all the stuff about getting yourself trained before taking the whole family out sailing.

 

[Steve101]

Hmm, I was actually shopping for a new Henry Lloyd top for the next time I go on my mates Bav. I only had 400 quid in my pocket but he wouldn't take that so one short trip to the bank later and I'm looking at a pile of indistinguishable wood and metal. Some queries you may find amusing 1. "Where's the thing that steers it?" 2. "I presume that's the mast" (As I point at The boom.) 3. My face when he shows me the mast and my dismay it won't go in my garage. 4. His face when I ask what these holes are for? (Drainage corks.) 5. My wife's tone when she asks where I am and I tell her "I can't tell you that!" 6. My son's face when he says "Dad, Dad I want to go in it." and I reply "Son, Son so do I, but the sailing club isn't open 'til Sunday."

 

[Jeremy_W]

So tell us which club you are/have joined? Then we can despatch a special correspondent with digital camera to catch the chaos and post a few embarrassing pics on this forum. No, seriously, after 33 years' sailing the kindness sailors show to beginers still impresses me.

 

[Jeremy_W]

In the pile of boat bits, when you've sorted them out there should be two difffernt-sized jibs. This is deliberate: One has not shrunk in the wash. Use the little one until further notice [or your instructor says otherwise].

 

[Steve101]

Er, what instructor? The dinghy is to learn by embarassment ( Although someone is coming out with me on Sunday to show me up (sorry, show me how to do it properly). We're going to do our Day skippers practical from Sept and we'll be doing our Competent crew in early spring. Until then I'm messing about on "The lady in Red" and learning the hard way!....So watch out and avoid Greenforge sailing club for the next few months.


Just some Irony for you. I have always wanted a Yacht called "Careless Whisper" My Favourite song. How annoying that my dinghy is called "Lady in Red"- The song I hate the most!!! My wife has even told me it's bad luck to re-name a boat.

 

[Jeremy_W]

Did she also tell you it's bad luck to have women on board?
Risk the bad luck and change the name. What about "Freedom" - same album, an America's Cup winner (1980) and clearly what you are seeking from sailing.

 

[gonad]

have fun!

 

[Steve101]

Damn fine idea my man. Although you are scaring me with you George Michael discography knowledge. Foreign skies now that's a good name!

 

[Steve101]

Now selling your house and business to buy a boat and escaping the rat race is definately something I can relate to. Maybe not just yet, but it aint gonna be too long 'til I'm a burden on my children. I can see my Moody 64 now!

 

[Jeremy_W]

Anorak - moi?

I'm a Genesis/Pat Metheny/Miroslav Vitous Group man mostly. I just pulled "The Final" out of the rack - also what about:

Young Guns (go for it!) - the kids' racing dinghy (29-er) (give it a couple of seasons)
Battlestations - your racing dinghy (RS400)
The Edge of Heaven - retirement yacht for Caribbean cruising (Swan 46)

 

[Steve101]

Wham Bam Ive hit a sandbank! More like

Moving away from the musical theme for a second. It seems just lately (and I hope this is not somekind of omen!) that everytime I switch on the TV there is either ;A perfect storm, Jaws 3, Deep blue sea, Castaway or Dead calm on. My wife just looks up from her book over her glasses at me and smirks as if to say "Wouldn't golf be safer."

 

[Jeremy_W]

Re: Wham Bam Ive hit a sandbank! More like

Golf is just a boring way of ruining a perfectly good walk.