BLUEMOMENT

Here is a few pics of Vital Spark sitting in this garden for 10 years
I just read a few books on what to look for in a GPR boat so did not have a survey done and so far no nasty problems just a lot of cleaning inside

The keel needs sand blasted and repainted and hopeing to epoxy bottom of hull before I put her in loch lomond
if not will anti-foul and plan for end of season
I can post more photos as i refit if anyone is interested a sort of before and after
thanks
alex

Port side



Starboard side


will post after sandblasted
thanks
alex

Nice boat, looks a little 'sporty' for me - too many winches! (been there)
I'm sure it'll clean up chust sublime, and be in fine trum by Spring.
I know you're focussed on the keel, but do make sure McPhail looks after that trailer, especially if you use it to splash her. It's amazing how a silly bit of rust can embarras you out on the road...

Hi Sahona
A few days before the pick up I went and did the full workover on the trailor ie all the wheel
bearing checked and greased brake shoes checked and adjusted and from where I hope to
put her in loch lomond she will have to be lifted in
Then during the summer will sandblast the trailor and fit it out a bit better
but it's fun pulling a load with a boat with just over 10ft beam up the top of loch lomond

alex

You could always launch at Balloch and sail/motor up to Ardlui or wherever. You don't have to navigate the narrow roads after Tarbet and save the cost of a lift. The trailer does get wet, but fresh water is fairly benign.

You have to rig the boat on the carpark as there is nowhere to do it afloat at Balloch, which I think is a bit pants. Mid week you may get away with using the jetty at the slipway but on a W/E they want you to clear off ASAP 'coz it's busy.

Nice looking boat, I bet it sails well.

Hi aquaplane
To late she's up at the brother-inlaws house across from the Drovers pub I did not
want to say where I was putting her in for fear of looking like some kind of free advert
but it will be ardluie as I work just up the road from there so handy to get to and from
and as I said before this is my very first sail boat so loch lomond will be good from the
fact that is should be very hard to get lost
thanks
alex

Ash keeps his Albin Vega "Mistral" at Ardlui, you'll be neighbours.

Where is Ash? They must be keeping him busy collecting beer tokens.

Good choice. My uncle has one at Tighnabruaich. Just remember to reef early to keep her upright and they do sail really well.

Regards
Donald

If its in LOch Lomond, will it need anti fouling? My understanding is that fresh water does not?

I was told that for Windermere "Dulux" has been used in the past, so I think it's probably the same.

Having said that, I gave Chiron a £40 treat with her being new to us and all that. It's part of the new season ritual is antifouling.

Hi Alex

I'm too slow to welcome you to the forum so let me welcome you to Loch Lomond.

As already said, we have Mistral on Pier 2 of the marina at Ardlui, since April 2003 and had our Leisure 17 on the jetty for 3 years prior to that.



Ardlui is at the 'wrong' end of the loch for a saily boat - the narrow strip of water and the surrounding mountains mean that you spend a lot of time tacking. You might expect that 50% of the time should be downwind but just as when riding a bicycle it doesn't seem to work out that way. Despite that, we like it up there - there are 3 or 4 other yachts other than us which are used on a regular basis.

Keep on eye out for Wild Goose - I'm fairly sure that she's an Eygthene 24 - though she has a saildrive and I think a single cylinder diesel. She has a mooring off Burnfoot, and used to winter on her trailer at Ardlui next to our Leisure but not for the last few years.

Give me a shout if I can be of any help, or can provide info.

Ash

vital spark wrote:........
but it's fun pulling a load with a boat with just over 10ft beam up the top of loch lomond

alex

Deep breaths and patience for the guys behind! Better on a 50's mobike that far up the loch if I remember.
Anyway, you're all set up now, --enjoy, and seasons greetings to you and yours.

Fine choice of boat. There are several in Kip. One owned by a mate of mine had a problem fairly recently. Water was getting in around the base of the keel, and on investigation there was a wooden spacer between the keel and the hull. This had rotted allowing the keel to move. I think that he dropped the keel(or had it dropped) and a new spacer made from some kind of plastic. Anyway it might be worth checking. A lot of older generation quarter tonners really do make super small cruising boats. Enjoy.

Ash,
What is the blue boat in the foreground, a Foxterrier?

Gardenshed wrote:Ash,
What is the blue boat in the foreground, a Foxterrier?

The picture is a couple of years old, so I have a new neighbour ( They seem to change on a regular basis - not sure why - we're very friendly - and quiet - and we can park OK )

Anyway - IIRC - she's a Hunter Medina - 20', lifting keel - does that make sense? I think that she left Ardlui last summer - her owner moved up to a Dufour 1800 which is now further out on our pier.

There was a fixed keel Hunter about at the same time - a 701? but I'm sure that she's on another pier at the time of that photo.

Ash