Hey folks
Love your forum. I have been lurking for a week or so finding tons of info to a lot of questions about my newly acquired 1979 Prindle 18 plus nice trailer to boot. I got a heck of a deal from a friend who wanted my old eddyline xt kayak that needs a lot of work. I found it on a river in Utah cracked up and ditched which is a whole other story. To say the least I feel I got a great deal. The P18 needs some love to get back on the water. But is very doable. It is just money and time.
I have found a soft spot about 2X3 feet on starboard pontoon. Plus some cracking and moisture on the port side hull stern. Neither of which do I think will be difficult to fix. The keel is a little worn with some glass showing. I am thinking of running some glass tape down the keel and painting the hull. The boat has been sitting outside for a number of years and the tramp is looking rough but usable. The rudders are pretty much all there and in decent condition. The mast and all running rigging is straight and in great shape. He replaces and of the standing rigging 4-5 years ago and only sailed her a handful of times on fresh water here in Michigan. The mast was actually stored inside. Basically I need to do the glass work, replace all of the lines on the running rigging and decide what to do with the sails. Here is where the question arises. I have the time but not the money. Well I can find the money but how is it best spent.? The sails which were sitting on the tramp outside for at least a couple of years rolled up on the boom look like crap. He said they were pretty much blown out before it sat outside. I have all the battens except for the small one at the head of the sail. The luff has moss growing on it and the head is pretty dirty. There are a few small tears etc. I am wondering if I should drop the 1000-1200 bucks and buy new sails including jib, or find old sail from someone who might be reading this and sell it to me cheap and then I can take to a loft and have reconditioned. I could also just take my crappy sails to a loft and see what they can do for me. A thousand bucks seems like a lot to spend on a boat of this age that I got basically for free or maybe that is why I should. I figure for less then a 2K and some work I could have an excellent P18. Is it worth it? What do you guys think about the sails?
My other idea was to part out all of the great stuff and invest in something else. I know there are a few of you drooling over the parts but please don’t let that sway your advice.
Justin
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Michigan
P18
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