pivoting mast

[sharpii2]

Originally Posted by nate teach

roger that, it was just one of those moments where I said "self, you have to replace the mast step anyway....can you make it better?" and since I have absolutely no idea what the h#ll i am doing, I thought I would ask the group.I tinker, and usually wind up making things work better but in this case i just don't know enough to do anything. I know what needs to be done, but the materials required, best brands, what to use where,. all of that is making this very slow going, plus im deployed right now so nothing is getting done, and I have all day to brainstorm and think about what to do. Im just chomping at the bit to get it in the water. but its gotta be right. I don't like rigging stuff unless I have to. what about the keel, best and most cost effective way to handle it?

One thing to daydream about is adding a retractable bowsprit to fly an enormous asymmetrical spinnaker. It would work mostly downwind, but could very well make the boat plane, giving ten knots speed or more. Believe me, if your boat ever reached that speed, you would think you were flying.

And it's a whole lot easier to deal with than a conventional chute.

The nicest thing about such a plan is that you are adding something to the boat, not changing something that's already there.

But, I agree with other posters. The main thing is to get it ready for the water the least expensive and least time consuming way possible and get to know it.

Even if it is less than pristine during its 1st season, it is certainly better than no boat at all. You can up grade it bit by bit over the years on a pay as you go basis, instead of borrowing a butt load of money all at once. If I had handled my first real sailboat that way, I would still have it.

From your picture, it looks like it has around a 3 ft draft. Trailering it is not going to be fun. This boat looks like it needs a slip.