New (old) boat advice needed

[welkman]

Hi all,

I have been targeting the Jester Azores challenge for about 5 years now and was originally inspired to do it by a 2008 transatlantic trip I did short handed and loved. I managed to buy a boat two years ago and get her almost fully prepped. It was a she 27 which I rewired, rerigged and re engined and obviously loved. Due to unforeseen financial circumstances and massive work related stress I had to sell her at the beginning of this year having spent the whole of the winter fitting the engine and rewining the boat. I never even got a chance to sail her after all the work.

So I thought my dream of getting to the start of the JAC was out of the window but I have now been thrown a lifeline in the form of a 1970's GRP Itchen ferry. My grandfather has owned her from new and she obviously needs some updating. There are a lot of things that worry me about her and I need to make a few decisions on how to spend the, limited, funds I have.

Both sails are 1970's original and need replacing, but is it worth fitting roller reefing and a bowsprit?

Rigging is original so it will need replacing?

No modern electronics, what is the bare minimum?

How am I going to fit self steering with such a massive rudder in the way?

The windows are huge and look to me to be very flimsy, should I take them out, glass mat over and fit smaller?

The main is roller reefing, can it be lived with?

Thanks for any advice given, obviously I am looking to spend the money in places that matter and will make a difference. Luckily I have two years of not worrying about mooring fees providing I take my grandfather out sailing when he fancies it.

Regards,
James

 

[Athene V30]

Sorry to hear about your trials - I was aiming to enter in Flipper the boat I had owned, cherished, loved etc but had to handle her demise at the start of 2009 so understand a bit where you are. I am now getting my (new to me) boat ready. Several people say getting to the start is the hardest part - so best of luck and see you there!

I think new rigging would be a priority for me.

The windows could be boarded over to provide protection - Alan (CPD) did the same on his Centaur for 2008.

Electronics - Nothing is essential! Sextant and towed log? I guess a handheld GPS and a big plastic box of batteries would be a bonus.

As for sails - only you know if you want to deal with hanked on jibs or spend the cash on furling gear and new sail. If the main is OK the roller reefing could be OK too. Service it and see.

Best of luck James.

Thinking about it, I lent a towed log to Nathan when he was on his round Britain in Kudu. The plan is he will return it at the start of the JAC12 so if you want to borrow it you can.

 

[Ceirwan]

I would certainly change the rigging as well as examining the attachment points of all the chainplates, sometimes they are very flimsily affixed!

A pendulum servo self steering system will fit past that rudder no problem, you just need a model that caters for different transom types.
Mr Vane would seem a possibility: http://www.mistervee.com/

Storm boards for the window would be a good idea, you will probably need to replace the perspex anyway due to the age, if so I'd recommend you use Lexan.

I wouldn't fit roller reefing or a bow sprit, but thats a personal preference..

 

[BlackPig]

HI James I'm getting a Heard 23 ready, (no real experience of offshore, but read a lot). I have a sea feather wind vane on order. They will costume build a frame to get it past the rudder and boom. http://www.sea-feather.co.uk/

Navigation: I have a chart plotter that came with the boat, but will be taking my trusty Garmin 72 water proof and works well with paper charts. Stick it on get position then turn it off again. You will not use much power (two AA's) You can take a box of batteries or a solar charger.

Sails: I have a fuller and traveller on the jib. I can roll it up, not so bad weather bring it in and stuff the sausage into a bag on the for deck if it gets worse. Or bring it inside and run out the jib halyard to strengthen the bowsprit. The stay sail is hooked on. I plan on putting a down-hall on it. The main has slab reefing with two reefing points I'm putting in a third.

Good luck and I hope to see you at the start line.

 

[Theta]

"Navigation: I have a chart plotter that came with the boat, but will be taking my trusty Garmin 72 water proof and works well with paper charts. Stick it on get position then turn it off again. You will not use much power (two AA's) You can take a box of batteries or a solar charger. "

I have transAtlantic-ed twice doing exactly that for navigation and neither time did I use a set of batteries.

 

[welkman]

Thanks for all the replies. I am thinking that I will go with the bowsprit and roller furler and then sort the rigging. I think the roller furler will be a good investment as it will mean my grandfather will still be able to get the headsail up at 80 years old, and maybe extend his sailing for another year or two. I also think papercharts, LED tricolour and handheld GPS/VHF for the time being. I will stick with the original main for this year.

I am really looking forward to a good year on the water and then the Jester in 2012 if time and money allows.

James

 

[Independence]

For what it's worth....I'd make sure you have a good suit of sails as these are probably one of your best bits of safety gear.

I plan to have a new suit made for 2012 which may seem extravagent bearing in mind my current suit are in very good condition. However, when doing the 2008 with coastal sails which were also in good condition at the start...they weren't at the finish and were as baggy as hell. I'm working on the basis that if I don't buy new ones now I'd need to if I manage to get there and back.

 

[welkman]

I am all too aware of the problems of bad sails. During the transatlantic trip I did a few years back the UV strips on all three sails of a 60ft ketch blew out leading to a week sewing on new uv strips in the form of the teak hand rail protecters! I had blisters and multiple puncture wounds to my palm.

I hope to buy a furlex roller furler and jeckles foresail as well as sorting out a bowsprit to solve the serious weather helm issue. I am told that the boat was originally designed to have a fairly sizable bowsprit but at the last moment the designers pulled it and just anchored the forestay as far forward as possible. Almost all the other itchen ferries I have ever seen have had a bowsprit retrofitted.

 

[flipper]

Itchen ferry Bowsprit

Hi James

I also have an Itchen Ferry - with a bow sprit. You are welcome to use mine for a template as it is not fitted at the moment. You will also need to modify the pullpit as it's connected to the bowsprit too (that's got to come off as well so you could take the whole lot to a fabricator as an eg.) Not sure where you are in Essex but we are in Rochford on the hard for the winter. It would be good to meet another IF owner on the east coast.

Drop me a PM

Cheers, Patrick

 

[BlackPig]

Last winter I had to replace my bowsprit. After research I went for Douglas Fir.

http://s616.photobucket.com/albums/tt242/heard23/Carrie/broken bowsprit/

for photos. I found it quite easy to make, but I was looking for the working boat look and not bothered about sanding it round to the nth degree.

ps the plaining keeps you warm.