Rigging holds up spars. Rigging consists of forestays, backstays, shrouds. The rigging material can be either wire or rod. Continue reading “Boat Stays, Shrouds Types – Wire, Rod Rigging” »
- Welcome:
- Thank you for vagabonding in my far flung yachting world. Please check back in every Wednesday morning for a new post as I share my sea tales, broker research, and delivery adventures. You can subscribe to my RSS Feed to receive updates via reader or email. To browse previous articles, click through the archives below or navigate to our XML Sitemap. Please feel free to contact me via our Online Contact Form or send a PM to me on Cruisers Forum.
- Archives:
September 19, 2009
Stern Styles and Transom Types – Sugar Scoop, Reverse, Wineglass, Heartshaped, Canoe, Double Ended, Ducktail
Boat Sterns (Understanding Boat Design by Ted Brewer)
Some main types are the raked, flat, canoe, and reverse. Continue reading “Stern Styles and Transom Types – Sugar Scoop, Reverse, Wineglass, Heartshaped, Canoe, Double Ended, Ducktail” »
Boat Anchor Types – Plow, Fluke, Claw
Anchors secure a boat to the bottom. Anchors have rode (rope or chain) that runs from the anchor to the chain locker and bitter end attaching to the hull. The generally rest of a bow roller ready for deployment. Anchors come in three common types: plow, fluke, and claw. Continue reading “Boat Anchor Types – Plow, Fluke, Claw” »
Main Sail Furling Systems – Standard, In-mast, In-boom
Roller Reefing Spruce Boom
The way you stow your sails is an old problem dating back to the beginning of sailing. As far back as you research, sailors have experimented with various ways to facilitate head and main sail control. Lazy jacks are a good example of an ancient idea used for many centuries named after British maritime nickname of “jacks.” Whatever their orientation, lazy jacks essentially are two webs of lines on either side of the main which corral when de-powering and ease mainsail flaking. Another example is slab reefing where you tie down the mainsail at tack and clew reef cringles with a reef line run through the clew reef cringle and possibly another tack reef line. Before modern rigs, mariners experimented with all types of reefing, flaking, and even furling systems. Continue reading “Main Sail Furling Systems – Standard, In-mast, In-boom” »
Anchor Windlass Types – Vertical, Horizonal, Capstan
Shows the parts of a windlass setup (Wikipedia)
Anchor windlasses let out and retrieve anchors. A windlass manages the rode (chain and/or rope) which attaches the anchor to the bitter end of the hull. The windlass neatly dispenses out and draws back in the rode. The bitter end is a fixture in the forward chain locker. The rode attaches one end to the fixture and travels up through a spill hole, hawser hole, up to the windlass. The rode then wraps around the wheel of the windlass. The wheel is known as variously: gypsy, wildcat, chainwheel, or warping head. The wheel engages the rode for letting out and drawing in. Finally, the rode goes out the windlass wheel, over the bow roller, and attaches to the anchor. The windlass wheel can orient horizontally or vertically. The horizontal way is called a windlass, the vertical a capstan. We assume the windlass as electrically powered. Continue reading “Anchor Windlass Types – Vertical, Horizonal, Capstan” »
Sailboat Rudder Types – Full, Spade, Skeg, Outboard
The four rudder types are: full, spade, skeg, and outboard. This article discusses the advantages and disadvantages of each. Continue reading “Sailboat Rudder Types – Full, Spade, Skeg, Outboard” »
September 8, 2009
C&C 38 Landfall Review: Racer is Real Cruiser
Landfall 38 PDF Brochure (Click to Download)
In 1969, C&C officially formed. The four principles: Hinterhoeller Ltd., Belleville Marine Yard Ltd., Cuthbertson & Cassian, and Bruckmann. Ian Morch of Belleville was president. Cuthbertson ran design, Hinterhoeller production, and Bruckmann commissioning. After in fighting in 1973, Cuthbertson became president. Robbie Ball headed the design studio. Cuthbertson ran C&C and produced fast, sleek racers and racer/cruisers. C&C became an industry leader and the pride of Canada boating. Victory after victory with boats like Red Jacket increased the brand’s fame. But Cuthbertson had an awakening in 1977. These racers are fickle and not for the masses. He realized the big market was in cruisers. He decided to start the Landfall series. In 1979, Cassian would have a hard attack and die. Then, a corporate take over of C&C took place. Finally by 1986, C&C was in receivership. During this period, they built the 38 C&C Landfall. What a era and what a boat. Continue reading “C&C 38 Landfall Review: Racer is Real Cruiser” »
Valiant 40 Review: The Original Performance Cruiser
Valiant 40 PDF Brochure (Click to Download)
The Valiant 40 is known as the first performance cruiser. Valiant started when Bob Perry, Nathan Rotham, and the Dabneys met. The Dabneys were looking for a fast cruising design instead of the Westsail 32 genre. The Westsail 32 is a great cruiser but also a “wet slug” – slow in light airs. Perry was an up and coming designer, and Rotham an ambitious business kid. In 1972, they stumbled together at Jay Benford’s Ferrocement boatyard. Soon later, they were talking design. The Dabneys had an Islander 36, a fast sloop. Their dream boat was a cruiser with the performance of their Islander. Perry had been thinking along the same way for some time. Why do all cruising boats have to be slow? Dabney, Perry, and Rothman struck across a Scandanavian boat “Holga Dansk” in Soundings magazine. Perry started drawing the lines with the Dabneys input. By 1974, Perry was ready. The Dabneys wanted one built. And Rotham was looking for resin. Continue reading “Valiant 40 Review: The Original Performance Cruiser” »
September 5, 2009
Vancouver 36 Review: Smaller Version of 42 Tayana
Vancouver 36 PDF Brochure: A Tough Lady (Click to Download)
In 1972, Robert Harris opened his own design studio in Vancouver, B.C when he left Sparkman & Stephens. He branded his designs “Vancouvers.” Harris started with the 27 Vancouver, a nice pocket cruiser. According to Andrew Dandridge, Harris originally designed the wooden 27 for a Vancouver couple to sail to New Zealand. In 1974, Dandridge’s father, the owner of Pheon Yachts, secured Harris’ permission to produce the 27 in the UK and built a wooden 27 called Strider. Then, Pheon made a mold and went into production. During the same period Harris designed for Pheon a 32 Vancouver. Later, Ta Yang out of Taiwan would produce 32′s along with Pheon. With the lessons of the 27 and 32, Harris moved to the 36 Vancouver. This is a no nonsense tank – a boat that is meant to go places. Just slip the dock lines and head for the horizon. Continue reading “Vancouver 36 Review: Smaller Version of 42 Tayana” »
September 4, 2009
River Reach, Fort Lauderdale – New River Dockage
River Reach Logo - A Private Island Community
River Reach is a beautiful condominium community in Fort Lauderdale. It hugs the eastside of the South Fork of the New River after the river splits. River reach is just north of the Davie bridge and the Citrus Isles. To to west is I-95. North is the Little Florida Bend. River reach is an actual island surrounded by an 70 foot wide moat. River Reach provides protected dockage along the north and south sides of the moat for residents. Continue reading “River Reach, Fort Lauderdale – New River Dockage” »
