Skii breeze

Got this Ski breeze sailboat as my first to learn in.
Built in sweden between 1957-65.
5,6x1,8m 340kg displacement.
Only done 5 short trips yet, but it is very addicting.
Unusual boat and hard to find anything on the web about it.
Anyone having any experience with such a boat?

 

Welcome to the forum

The sailing bug bites again.
Pretty little craft.
Looks very standard for 60's dinghy.
Quite stable and capable of a bit of speed if only loaded with a lunch basket and partner.

 

On the bigger and heavier side for the type though I would think.
The double rudders sets it apart as well.
But I agree it is probably fairly typical.

 

That’s a cool little boat. They don’t pop up often, even here in Scandinavia. Post some photos when you can — would love to see it under sail!

 

With the centerboard up, there is no need for deep waters.

 

Hi Karl, nice to see another ski-breeze! You’re right, very little info out there on these capable large dinghy’s. I’ve been sailing one for the last few years in the Göteborg archipelago. The marking on my hull is 63. She’s seen better days, very soft in the hull, hogged aft of the centerboard trunk from too many years hung with an unnecessary giant outboard and I think even original sails. Otherwise in her prime! I have added a watertight bulkhead under the mast step and have plans to remove the motor well and add a watertight compartment aft in the spring, and if I’m lucky, remove the hog.

Do you have any specific questions about the Ski-breeze?

Lilla Skurken Ski-63

 

What kind of wind and waves have you managed with this boat?
Any reefing possibilities or how do you cope with stronger winds?

 

You are brave enough to sail her without an engine?

 

Waves, hard to say. I prefer to stay in the relative shelter of the Göteborg archipelagos, but sometimes sailing out to Vinga can be pretty exciting, or rounding the western side of the islands during a typical westerly blow can pull up some swell. I’d say I sailed through max 1 meter swell if I would have to guess, but the biggest issue was not the waves but the squally wind conditions with 60 year old sails and rig. Being alone most of the time with an old rig, soft hull and with only oar as backup propulsion, I tend to baby her and make sure home or civilization is aways downwind in these circumstances.

I’ve managed more than gale and even had her relatively heavy hull up on a plane with careful sheeting and 4 of us in the boat. When alone I’m much more timid and reef often and deeply. If gusty and over 20 knots I have only the main and one reef by wrapping the main around the boom. I don’t really like this style of reefing, but the boom can be pulled out of the gooseneck and the sail wrapped around the boom for infinite reefing of the main. It has saved me in some heavy conditions.

unfortunately I only have this photo of the reefed main. Often my hands are too busy during reefed conditions for photos. Photo of Kajsa Strand and Lilla Skurken with single reefed mainsail and no Genoa. Location in the ferry channel between Asperö and Rivö on the way to Brännö Varv.

 

Mine seems stiff in the hull and sails are about 10 years old I think.
Never thought about that kind of reefing. Being a novis on sailing off course, but that should be supporting the sail even better than usual reefing points I would like to think?
Very interesting.
Thank you!

 

You then have the line to the main all the way out to the tip off the boom I assume?

 

@Karl Vesterdahl @printornaut

Great pictures of both boats. I have a roller boom on one boat but have yet to use it. I haven't finished my reefing claw nor I have I been out in 'reefable' wind in this boat. It has a mid-boom bale for the 4:1 mainsheet that works well.