DiMoCA
New Member
So I bought this 1982 fish, in a hotel parking lot with no time for inspection, because it was in a town I was driving through and 1982 was my high school graduation year. It was cheap and presented as "sail ready", and it literally had water still in the mast step from being sailed the previous weekend.
However. It is fairly banged up, with a lot of bad repairs and more that need to be done. Spider cracks all over the hull, bottom and top both. I weighed the boat and it is about 40lbs over the 1982 spec. So I know I am in for a drying out period over the winter, and at least two inspection ports.
The most often advised spots to put them, seem to be at the bow and stern ends. But I am considering a third 4" port right behind the splash guard, because then I would have the chance to put in a backing plate for a hiking strap. On the other hand, I'm not sure whether I can reach the stern end of the cockpit for the other backing plate.
I guess my question is, how many of you have added a hiking strap to a boat this old? I learned to sail on Lasers so I instinctively look for one, but it might be better to learn to sail this boat without, if it's the normal thing. If I have to accept it as my learner/ cruising boat, and not try to rig it out for racing at all, I can deal.
However. It is fairly banged up, with a lot of bad repairs and more that need to be done. Spider cracks all over the hull, bottom and top both. I weighed the boat and it is about 40lbs over the 1982 spec. So I know I am in for a drying out period over the winter, and at least two inspection ports.
The most often advised spots to put them, seem to be at the bow and stern ends. But I am considering a third 4" port right behind the splash guard, because then I would have the chance to put in a backing plate for a hiking strap. On the other hand, I'm not sure whether I can reach the stern end of the cockpit for the other backing plate.
I guess my question is, how many of you have added a hiking strap to a boat this old? I learned to sail on Lasers so I instinctively look for one, but it might be better to learn to sail this boat without, if it's the normal thing. If I have to accept it as my learner/ cruising boat, and not try to rig it out for racing at all, I can deal.