Manta 19

[Donald]

I have just bought a Manta 19 built by Blakes Marine Services and am seeking any information available about her. Before launching her a little TLC is being applied - including new standing and running rigging. Any hints and tips welcome on set-up, particularly fixing the heel of the mast mast in the deck shoe. The bolt hole in the mast heel is considearbly smaller than the holes in the deck shoe although the previous owner did not consider this to be a problem. I would also like to replace the windows and seals (which are slightly perished) and seek recommendations, or indeed companies to steer clear of. She does not have a bilge pump fitted (yet!) and having looked at routing options for the pipe and potential locations for the pump, there is nothing I would describe as ideal. Ideas please!

Thanks in advance

 

[Nigel_Ward]

I have a Manta 19 and would recommend that you go to the web site http://www.toddie.demon.co.uk/sophie/index.htm
This gives info on Mantas and you can even see a picture of my boat!
The mast foot hole should be the same size as the deck fitting roughly and takes an 8mm bolt. Yours cannot be original (either one or the other). I cannot help with the windows but the bilge pump I fitted is a small Whale/Henderson throughdeck type and I fitted it right aft in the starboard cockpit locker with the handle coming out horizontally. If need be I could pump and helm although I have never had to. Enjoy your Manta, they are great boats.

 

[Adrian]

Windows

I cant help with the boat but I replaced the window seals on my Sailfish over the winter. Don’t go to a marine specialist, they will charge you a fortune, have a look in the yellow pages for rubber suppliers tell them you want two piece window seal, ask them for the fitting tool it might cost £20 but its so much easier, its a bit of a fiddle but with plenty of washing up liquid you soon get the knack, the first one I did took me about 4 hours, the last one about 20mins. It might be worth replacing the window at the same time, take the old ones as templates to you local plastics supplier, they will probably cut them for you .