pivoting mast

[nate teach]

Hello again all! so I am starting to get a plan together in regards to my '70 Coronado 23, and I am wondering, would it benefit me to turn my mast into a more modern pivoting mast like on the Macgregor's? any thoughts? I am not above using their same setup for my mast, i am just wondering if it will actually do any good for me or just be a waste of time. I hear it can give you improved responsiveness and better sail trim.

[sabahcat]

How much of a speed increase do you expect it will make on a 4 knot boat?
How clean is your Teflon coated bottom?
What sort of condition are the cuben fibre sails in?
How clean flowing is the shape of your depleted uranium keel?

[nate teach]

well lets see, the hull is getting refinished with gel coat only no biocide, im trailering it. right now its gutted so the sky is the limit for how it gets set back up, I really don't know what to say about the keel...is it really depleted uranium? I was tinkering with the idea of making it a water ballast boat like the macgregors, don't know how feasible it is but its a thought. the sails aren't the original ones definitely not cuben fiber or CARBON FIBER either, they are still brand new in the bag, tagged 2002, so whatever it was they were made of then I believe its referred to as sail cloth or a word that starts with a c. anyway im still just learning about all this, been sailing and loved it, can handle a boat but as far as names of stuff and what do do for repair im a baby. Which is why I bought this boat, 600.00 bucks complete, not a heart breaker if i mess it up. i have some pictures posted on the thread "so I bought this boat...." I think you can see the keel in them, its starting to split down the front and is corroded as all get out on the sides but survived the hammer test so I don't know, was just going to glass it in and make a new one later.

[nate teach]

and in case you were thinking otherwise, i got the joke...no its not a race boat, but I like to take old things and make them modern, saw the pivot mast and thought that it might be a good idea, just looking for anyone with more experience to clue me in to what to watch out for. But humor works to...Thanks!

[masalai]

Weighing in for the sake of it... "Read between the lines Luke", as Obiwan might say...

It is a matter cost/benefit, if you are SERIOUS in RACING to the last 100th and can ignore the expense then... If you gotta ask you are possibly NOT anywhere near that standard...

Enjoy the sheer pleasure of sailing and keep the boat clean and tidy will keep your wallet depleted...

The more complexity you include/introduce, the more things to go broke or confuse the issue of ENJOYING SAILING and HAVING FUN in good company... remember KISS

[nate teach]

thanks for that reality check! lol no I am most definitely not a boat racer, I crew black hawks for a living in the Army so I am plumb full of near death experiences thank you very much, no need to go adding any more! I guess my next question is, what does it actually do for the boat? just give a better sail shape and allow for more aggressive downwind runs?

[masalai]

and impress the "bar captains" at the local yacht club, until they see you coming last at the clubs 'Social Saturday Cruise'... (Benefits - buggered if I know...)

[nate teach]

so, short of getting a different boat, what improvements would you recommend that will make this boat a nice weekender / day sailor?

[masalai]

I do not know the design but I am assuming it is somewhat similar to the Macgregor? - Kit it out to a similar style of the original design - is there any class racing - are the numbers/interest sufficient to see a fleet of Coronado's? - If so, then the retention of "original condition" could be advantageous... and Owning as 'original condition', has its own benefits and advantages when on-selling in a couple of years ... when family size may determine a bigger boat or even a cat...

Daysailing find an 'esky' that will stow neatly & securely, and maybe a second smaller one for drinks/nibbles whilst sailing... Weekends, buy camping gear that will facilitate easy stowage within the size constraints of your boat for the overnight outings... Go minimalist to enjoy the sailing, companionship and socialising with new friends with similar boats...

[Doug Lord]

Originally Posted by nate teach

Hello again all! so I am starting to get a plan together in regards to my '70 Coronado 23, and I am wondering, would it benefit me to turn my mast into a more modern pivoting mast like on the Macgregor's? any thoughts? I am not above using their same setup for my mast, i am just wondering if it will actually do any good for me or just be a waste of time. I hear it can give you improved responsiveness and better sail trim.

--------------------------
Nate, in sailing there are different kinds of mast pivoting. On some boats the shrouds have little levers that can be released downwind to allow the mast to pivot forward. My experience was that that helped-but very little downwind.
The other kind of pivoting is really called "canting" and that is when the mast can be held more or less vertical while the hull heels. The rationale is to keep the power at 100% rather than allowing it to bleed away slightly as the boat heels.
I really don't think you need the hassle from either of these at this point. Just get her sailing and enjoy!

PS- thanks for your army service!

[nate teach]

yeah when it comes to this boat....I have no idea about its rarity, there is only a few listed for sale here and there, usually about 2500 -5000, and this is the only MK1 i have seen, they changed the boat in 71 to the MK2 which is apparently more common, heck, I cant even find a brochure on this one. some old guys at the marina were excited about it, and knew right off what it was, said it was a glass tank, whatever that means, im thinking heavy duty judging from the thickness of the hull and no wood to speak of, just glass. it does resemble a macgregor, and has a head, sleeps four, and outboard, 1100 pound external keel though, cant beach like they can, my luck isnt that good so I seriously doubt that i bought a rare "gem" in downtown clarksville, TN.

[masalai]

If the MK2 is centreboard, contact the manufacturer and ask if a centreboard can be fitted and do they have suitable molds/boards for sale as beaching capability and lower CG on the trailer would be a decided advantage and a good place to spend if that is the best option? (A "tank" by the old hands), could mean HEAVY... read difficult to launch and with a keel, watch the shallows... Be careful of expenditure as one cannot make a silk purse out of a sows ear... or an F! racer out of a model T...

Contact the manufacturer and seek info on any Coronado class associations...

[nate teach]

this is all I have been able to find, and the brochure is for a MK2

[nate teach]

Originally Posted by Doug Lord

--------------------------
Nate, in sailing there are different kinds of mast pivoting. On some boats the shrouds have little levers that can be released downwind to allow the mast to pivot forward. My experience was that that helped-but very little downwind.
The other kind of pivoting is really called "canting" and that is when the mast can be held more or less vertical while the hull heels. The rationale is to keep the power at 100% rather than allowing it to bleed away slightly as the boat heels.
I really don't think you need the hassle from either of these at this point. Just get her sailing and enjoy!

PS- thanks for your army service!

Its my pleasure sir. as far as the pivoting question, i might be calling it by the wrong name, what is it called when the mast can turn on its vertical axis? only reason I ask is because this particular boat has a mast step that bolts to the top of the cabin with no internal support I was thinking it would help alleviate some of the torquing stress on the old glass cabin.

[masalai]

On the trailer the keel does not look as deep as in the drawings ??? - - A sweet day-sailer for family outings... and occasional overnight camp-outs... Make sure the bowls/pots and stuff can be securely stowed... blow-up mattresses and ground-sheets could be stored under the seat-cushions... Do not push her too hard, - those foam cushions make life very uncomfortable to sleep on, if they get wet in a broach..

Inability to beach mean a "rubber duckie" to get ashore?