Spring boat work

[VA Rifleman]

Weather getting better. Took the covers off the little Boston Whaler and moved it out of the barn to sand / smooth the rough bottom paint.

Didn’t want to work underneath.

Boat has lifting eyes. Wondered about their integrity after 40 years. Figured if the hull has problems, now is a good time to find out.

Pic shows initial lift to remove the trailer.

[VA Rifleman]

Only one attachment per post so a couple more.

Boat now off trailer sitting on tires so lifting slings can be rigged.

[VA Rifleman]

The forks have more lift then the boom pole. Using tires to support while boat rotates to one side. One sling has more load then the other.

That’s the anchor locker cover hanging down.

[VA Rifleman]

Up on one side, mostly resting on tires. All is good. Tried dry sanding 1st. Can see mucho dust on top near stern.

Changed to wet sanding so no dust cloud. Wet sand, rinse and repeat. Bottom came out good. Not as smooth as glass but a LOT smoother.

Previous owner painted centerboard. Argg. Able to cycle board for the 1st time to check function. Centerboard control looks good.

Pic showing “as found” bottom. Some dry sanding near stern before changing to wet sanding. The two metal fittings near the stern are bailers that work at rest or underway.

[VA Rifleman]

Back on trailer and a quick wash.

[BUGEYE]

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, for looks and utility, it’s right up there with the Cutty Sark.

[Lloyd Smale]

a whaler of any kind is built like a tank and i wouldnt worry one bit.

[VA Rifleman]

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, for looks and utility, it’s right up there with the Cutty Sark.

Thanks Bugeye. You have a fine eye for sailing dingys.

[Ranger99]

Hard to go wrong with any boat with a
Boston Whaler on the side of it
I've fished out of a few and they're
very well behaved navigable boats 
A friend had the 13 that rode as well
as a boat twice as big

[VA Rifleman]

I see that craft does not have a mainsheet traveler, or jib sheet tracks. I assume it's a fractional rig _ _ is there a back stay bridle for tensioning and bending the rig.? Do they sail this boat with a gennaker or spinnaker? Spinnaker halyard would be above and outside the forestay.
Nice looking day sailer hull lines. Should surge onto plane at times when things are just right.

I assume it has a foldup center board into a trunk. What keeps the center board down and not folding up if you get going fast?
.

Hey TM.

Simple fractional rig with no traveler. Jib sheet tracks are inboard, aft of the cuddly. Some Harpoon 5.2’s had a optional symmetrical spinnaker but not this one.  160 sqft of main and jib.

Both rudder and center board have down hauls.

Been running the little 4hp Evinrude in a barrel. Starts 1st pull every time and still cool after a hour of running. Think that means it will conk out at the worst possible time.

Rigged it yesterday but didn’t bend on the main cuz wind from wrong direction. Checking outhaul, Cunningham and reefing. The roller furler works great.

Only boat I’d like better is a Beneteau First 18 SE. 10 x the cost of the Harpoon! Not many in the states and few used boats available.

[VA Rifleman]

Hard to go wrong with any boat with a
Boston Whaler on the side of it
I've fished out of a few and they're
very well behaved navigable boats 
A friend had the 13 that rode as well
as a boat twice as big

Those restored 13’s are going for big bucks now days. Neat little boats.

[VA Rifleman]

Another pic showing the lines. Designed by C&C who did a lot of bigger boats.

Boat is just the right size. About the biggest I would want to rig and launch by myself.

Working on neighbor to go sailing. Huming tune from Giligans Island while saying probably won’t get sucked down into dam intakes cuz boat unsinkable.  Following up with...lake has several islands. Shouldn’t take more then a day or two to get rescued.

[VA Rifleman]

Raised the main for the 1st time yesterday. More effort then I expected during raising but sail falls freely when halyard released. 

Straightened the fitting where the main halyard attaches to the head.

Not totally comfortable with the four battens. The top has a Velcro closure for tensioning while the others don’t. Hopefully they will stay in as they are finicky when removing. (Don’t want to damage sail).

Odd in that the boat has a hull number of 028 while being a 1980 boat which is in the middle of Harpoon 5.2 production. 

Pic showing raised main with no battens. Didn’t leave it up for long. Wind still there and bad form to leave a luffing sail. Topping lift still attached and no tension on the boom vang so not totally rigged for water.

Learned a couple things and good practice.

[VA Rifleman]

Sure. Don’t need one with swept back spreaders. You can feel the mast lock in when setting the fore stay. C&C design with Kenyon spars

The mid boom main sheet seems well positioned as the skipper will be slightly aft of amidships. (Fore and aft balance).

Like this Harpoon 5.2 crew reaching with just the main. Note the weather helm with no jib.

[VA Rifleman]

Roller jib is great except for storing and the extra weight when raising the mast. Uses a flexible plastic track that may or may not take a set if stored crooked.

Following the previous owner, During the season,  keeping it secured to the mast and covered in plastic wrap. Neat idea. Keeps the track straight, the sail clean and ready to rig.

Boat came with a motor. It’s vintage. Seems a cream puff like the boat. Shaft length and tilt looks good. Trailer angled down somewhat.

[BUGEYE]

I don’t have a clue about the nomenclature of sailboat parts.
I have quite a bit of sailing experience but it’s been on my buddy’s 14’ Hobie.
I was the jib man and the counter balance when flying the hull.

And, we were struck by lightning while putting up the mast on the beach at Tampa.

[VA Rifleman]

I don’t have a clue about the nomenclature of sailboat parts. I have quite a bit of sailing experience but it’s been on my buddy’s 14’ Hobie.
I was the jib man and the counter balance when flying the hull.

And, we were struck by lightning while putting up the mast on the beach at Tampa.

Bugeye. I should have done a better job explaining the parts

Battens are long strips of plastic that go in pockets on the trailing edge of the main sail. They help to shape the sail like a airfoil.

Other parts like the boom vang, Cunningham, outhaul and such do the same in that they provide a way to tune the sail shape. In general, tighter sail for high wind and looser sail for low winds. Sort of like a aircraft wing when flaps are used for low speeds.

Total cost so far is less then a good bass boat trailer. Cheap fun and something to do.

I need someone to run the jib. Bugs, do you have waterproof matches and other survival gear?

[BUGEYE]

Bugs, do you have waterproof matches and other survival gear?

I do now. 
I didn't know about those plastic strips on the sail.
On the Hobie there was a cloth strip attached to each side of the sail and when that strip was flat against the sail you knew that the shape of the sail was correct and was catching optimum wind.
But, both myself and my buddy are too old to sail anymore. :'(

[VA Rifleman]

On the Hobie there was a cloth strip attached to each side of the sail and when that strip was flat against the sail you knew that the shape of the sail was correct and was catching optimum wind.
But, both myself and my buddy are too old to sail anymore. :'(

Bugs. Yours is a perfect description of a telltail in the sweet spot. Knew you would be good crew.

[BUGEYE]

On the Hobie there was a cloth strip attached to each side of the sail and when that strip was flat against the sail you knew that the shape of the sail was correct and was catching optimum wind.
But, both myself and my buddy are too old to sail anymore. :'(

Bugs. Yours is a perfect description of a telltail in the sweet spot. Knew you would be good crew.

Thanks, my wife, who was afraid to get on it, became an avid passenger after one sail.
It's so nice to speed along without a motor roaring behind you.