Hello everyone, hopefully my new to me 1990 will be delivered on friday. It is currently being decomissioned in Chicago for its move to SE MI. I have many questions and have done research on the sight for hours with good results, however, I still have a few questions maybe the org could help with. The boat has been on the hard since last year. I am wondering if I can just add fuel and start the engine or is there a recommendation for comissioning an engine besides fluids and fresh fuel? Also, I am a novice sailor and I am intimidated by commisioning the boat. The very small yard(few sailboats) is going to help me step the mast and assist me in rigging the boat. The problem is I am partially clueless about what goes where. I do not even know how to tension the rig or reattach the wind instruments to the mast. How do you know how tight to tighten the turbuckles for rigging? I am not sure I even know how to get the headsail on the harken furler. I know I have some terribly novice questions, but would appreciate any feedback.
Thanks, Bill
Hi Bill and welcome
Reading your post I would recommend that you find someone experienced locally to help you set up everything the first time. Theyt will spot a problem you didn't even know could be a problem, and help you to solve it. I would ask around to find an experienced rigger to come to the boat with you, and then watch carefully, takes lots of notes and photos.
Re the engine, Nigel Calder wrote an excellent article in Sail magazine about a year or two ago. His book on boat maintenance is really worth reading in the winter and keeping on board in the summer. There are lots of things you will want to check before attempting to start the engine, although I would have thought that the engine would have been inspected and started as part of your survey. If you didn't do it yet, get an engine surveyor to do this for you, preferably one from a company specialising in the Universal marine engine. If he makes recommendations, you can always come back to this board for advice before spending money... some thoughts for you
Tony
The engine was not ran, as the boat was surveyed on the hard. The boat was in great shape so I took a chance. I am going to recieve help from a worker in the yard in stepping the mast and he said he could help me with the rigging.
Bill
The Manuals page of our website would be of interest to you. http://www.c34.org/manuals/index.htm
Also read the "Updated Guide to the C34 Website" thread, third one down on the Message Board list.
For rigging, either buy a book or Google "masthead rigging guide" and I'll bet you'll find lots of information. CY used to have information in the manuals, but I didn't see it when I looked today.
Finding a neighbor who's there with you on site is a very good recommendation. Hope you can find someone, but keep comin' back here, we'll see what we can do to help.
Along with the wonderful information on this C34 Association site, we became friends with another C34 owner of a boat one year newer than ours. What he taught and showed us was of great value. C34 owners want to share and help, as you will find out in this form. Good Luck!
Hi Bill,
Congrats on your new purchase. It's both exciting and daunting at the same time especially when experience with this type or size of boat is lacking. I would suggest that you let us know where you will be sailing from and I will bet that you will find a fellow owner not too far away that could offer a few tid bits here or there and may take you out for a sail on his/her boat or might go along with you on yours. A fellow I knew purchased a new to him C-36 and he did not have a clue about anything. I am FAR from an expert but we went out on his boat, I had he and his wife join us on mine and sort of mentored him in what to do from my knowledge and experience. We became fast friends and he gained much confidence in his abilities through the relationship. This board will be another source of much help as you have already seen and I would agree that you rely on experts for help with rigging, mast head equipment, etc. The one thing you don't want to happen is to step the mast only to find that you shudda done something or another at the top before you put the mast up!
Best of Luck with your "new" boat!!!
Hi Bill,
Congrats on the boat. In addition to all the great info found and feedback on this board I would recommend to a novice sailor to try and hire a licensed captain/Instructor for the day to build confidence in your abilities to handle your new sailboat in particular docking, maneuvering in tight spaces, man overboard and basic sailing instruction. If you are a novice to boating I found United Sates Power Squadron has great navigation and safety courses www.usps.org . I found that Chapmen Piloting and seamanship Guide to be helpfull when learning the basics as well.
Again Welcome aboard!!