Been a member of my club for a year, exclusively using club boats. They are 4 Sunfish, 2 Lasers, 1 Capri 14, and a gaggle of Optis. Boat repairs are usually on an as needed basis by whomever is willing and able. But since we'll be using these boats for the foreseeable future, my husband and I decided it would be in our best interest to help maintain them and there is at least one other family that feels the same. So I find myself, having been the one that presented the idea, as heading up the newly minted boat maintenance committee. The boats are not neglected, just suffering normal age- and use-related problems. We have a torn sail, broken bailers, a bent gooseneck (thanks to my daughter and HOW?!?!) and undiagnosed hull leaks - suspected from deck/cockpit joint in at least one boat, possibly hull/deck. I emptied probably 4-5 gallons from one of the boats last weekend.
Sunfish are the first order of business, since they are used most often. Optis are numerous enough for the youth classes, members that sail Lasers all have their own.
Getting the hulls waterproof is the biggest job, and fairly high priority, since they are used by beginners they capsize often! I plan to take an air compressor down this weekend to leak test them. My question about this---is there any down side to installing inspection ports in boats that get used regularly by people that don't know anything about boats?
Next question is about one of the sails. It has an L-shaped tear that goes through the foot. I would guess that each side of the tear is 4-6" long. Our sailing grounds are Galveston Bay, so 10 knot winds are normal, and 12-15 have been more the norm this summer. Is this repairable with sail tape? I was thinking one long piece that folds over the edge and covers both sides. It doesn't seem worthwhile to have it repaired by a pro when we can get a replacement from Intensity for under $150.
Third question: why would the plastic cap come off the bottom of the vertical spar? The bolt is still attached, the spar just seems to have slid out. We are hoping just loosening the bolt and reattaching will do the trick.
There will probably be more later, but that's all I have until I'm back out there this weekend.
Thanks, Ali
Sunfish are the first order of business, since they are used most often. Optis are numerous enough for the youth classes, members that sail Lasers all have their own.
Getting the hulls waterproof is the biggest job, and fairly high priority, since they are used by beginners they capsize often! I plan to take an air compressor down this weekend to leak test them. My question about this---is there any down side to installing inspection ports in boats that get used regularly by people that don't know anything about boats?
Next question is about one of the sails. It has an L-shaped tear that goes through the foot. I would guess that each side of the tear is 4-6" long. Our sailing grounds are Galveston Bay, so 10 knot winds are normal, and 12-15 have been more the norm this summer. Is this repairable with sail tape? I was thinking one long piece that folds over the edge and covers both sides. It doesn't seem worthwhile to have it repaired by a pro when we can get a replacement from Intensity for under $150.
Third question: why would the plastic cap come off the bottom of the vertical spar? The bolt is still attached, the spar just seems to have slid out. We are hoping just loosening the bolt and reattaching will do the trick.
There will probably be more later, but that's all I have until I'm back out there this weekend.
Thanks, Ali