• Edchris177
  
  

  • Rank: Chief
  • Registered: Nov 26, 2009
  • Last visit: Aug 10, 2024
  • Posts: 2531

  Posted: Nov 21, 2012 - 07:30 PM

  One other idea, that only costs a couple of bucks, & will improve your tiller connections, is to use those little black chips, with a concave face on one side. They make the task of locking two tubes together very easy, without allowing them to "work" the bolt.
  You will find that the vertical bolt through your tie bar & tillers will eat material & enlarge the hole, making for sloppy rudders. These little chips make a big difference & great improvement in the connection.
  
  http://www.murrays.com/mm…-0061&Category_Code=C-RC
  
  --
  Hobie 18 Magnum
  Dart 15
  Mystere 6.0XL Sold Was a handful solo
  Nacra 5.7
  Nacra 5.0
  Bombardier Invitation (Now officially DEAD)
  Various other Dock cluttering WaterCrap
  --

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• smackdaddy
  
  

  • Rank: Lubber
  • Registered: Jun 12, 2012
  • Last visit: Mar 04, 2013
  • Posts: 19

  Posted: Feb 24, 2013 - 09:02 PM

  DamonLinkous

  How about a sailing report, did you get out on the water?
  
  Could you create a "restoring a Spirit 17 album in the "Beachcats Technical" section? Your practical advice and pictures will really help the next guy faced with restoring a beachcat, regardless of brand.
  
  And one more thing if it's not to much trouble, I noticed we don't have a "Spirit 17" album in the "Beachcats Identification" section. Please create one with some of your good complete boat pictures, any info you have about the brand, and a clear shot of the sail logo. Will help a lot the next time this mystery boat comes up.
  
  Thanks,

  
  
  Did I get her out on the water? Well, ahm, yeah, for a very short time...
  
  Because I have no shame, let me share my inaugural beach cat sail with the world:
  
  http://www.bfsshop.com/ca…age=page&id=49&chapter=4
  (See "The Birth of 'Fiasco'" to revel in my humiliation.)
  
  Post repair Round 2 is coming up in a couple weeks when I take her down to the Gulf. What could possibly go wrong? Heh-heh.
  
  (PS - Thanks for the tip ed. I'll get those chips.)
  
  
  
  Edited by smackdaddy on Feb 24, 2013 - 09:05 PM.

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• DamonLinkous
  
  

  • Rank: Administrator
  • Registered: Jul 19, 2001
  • Last visit: Feb 20, 2025
  • Posts: 3455

  Posted: Feb 25, 2013 - 08:34 AM

  smackdaddy

  
  Did I get her out on the water? Well, ahm, yeah, for a very short time...
  
  Because I have no shame, let me share my inaugural beach cat sail with the world:
  
  http://www.bfsshop.com/ca…age=page&id=49&chapter=4
  (See "The Birth of 'Fiasco'" to revel in my humiliation.)

  
  
  Loved it! "Cascading Failures"
  
  Just remember, "bad times make good stories".
  
  Don't feel too bad, all of us have done everything you did wrong at one time or another.
  
  Your experience actually reminded me of my first launch of a catamaran in salt water when I tried to launch off rip-rap into a building storm. Got away with a broken off daggerboard and scratched hulls, but I didn't get to sail at all that day.
  
  I'm really glad you got to experience a little of the thrill of beachcats, I'm sure the families current attitude would be very different if you had just recovered the boat off the rocks after the initial launch problem.
  
  --
  Damon Linkous
  1992 Hobie 18
  Memphis, TN
  
  How To Create Your Signature
  
  How To Create Your Own Cool Avatar
  
  How To Display Pictures In The Forums.
  --

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• smackdaddy
  
  

  • Rank: Lubber
  • Registered: Jun 12, 2012
  • Last visit: Mar 04, 2013
  • Posts: 19

  Posted: Feb 25, 2013 - 01:03 PM

  DamonLinkous

  
  Loved it! "Cascading Failures"
  
  Just remember, "bad times make good stories".
  
  Don't feel too bad, all of us have done everything you did wrong at one time or another.
  
  Your experience actually reminded me of my first launch of a catamaran in salt water when I tried to launch off rip-rap into a building storm. Got away with a broken off daggerboard and scratched hulls, but I didn't get to sail at all that day.
  
  I'm really glad you got to experience a little of the thrill of beachcats, I'm sure the families current attitude would be very different if you had just recovered the boat off the rocks after the initial launch problem.

  
  
  Yeah, despite the disaster, we had a freakin' blast! I'm telling you - flying a hull for the first time was easily one of the coolest experiences I've ever had. We're all ready for Round 2.
  
  And "Fiasco" is really the perfect name for this boat. If we're able to keep her in one piece - I'll finish out the striping and get the name on her soon.

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• Edchris177
  
  

  • Rank: Chief
  • Registered: Nov 26, 2009
  • Last visit: Aug 10, 2024
  • Posts: 2531

  Posted: Feb 25, 2013 - 04:42 PM

  70' there is no sugar coating that, reality bites!
  I sold a Cat trailer last year, the buyer also agreed to give me $100 gas money to move it 300km. I pulled into the parking lot we had agreed to meet at, clipped the side of a narrow bridge crossing a creek in the lot. Busted the trailer all to H*ll, not 20' from where the fellow was waiting to take delivery.
  At least no one got seriously hurt, you can always find or fix another boat, though that is small comfort when you've put that much work into a project.
  Spring is approaching, I'd be tempted to fix the leaks & sail the crap out of it. Wait til next winter to redo the cosmetics.
  
  --
  Hobie 18 Magnum
  Dart 15
  Mystere 6.0XL Sold Was a handful solo
  Nacra 5.7
  Nacra 5.0
  Bombardier Invitation (Now officially DEAD)
  Various other Dock cluttering WaterCrap
  --

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• captnickm
  
  

  • Rank: Lubber
  • Registered: Nov 11, 2012
  • Last visit: Nov 28, 2023
  • Posts: 11

  Posted: Feb 26, 2013 - 06:41 AM

  Hey Smackdaddy. If you have not found them yet there is a cat group in your area called austincats.net. They could give you some insight as to some good places to launch and they also do some test sail/clinics a couple times a year. I loved the story! Thanks for sharing!
  
  
  
  Edited by captnickm on Feb 26, 2013 - 06:43 AM.
  
  --
  Nacra 6.0na.Sail #111
  Nacra 18 Square. Sail #1004
  --

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• spoulton
  
  

  • Rank: Mate
  • Registered: Dec 18, 2009
  • Last visit: Oct 10, 2019
  • Posts: 117

  Posted: Feb 26, 2013 - 09:04 PM

  Great story. Sorry to hear about your misfortune but I'm sure your family will remember that day for the rest of their life. Hope you get back on the water soon and have some fun. Do you have trap lines and harnesses. No better feeling than to be flying in your cat while trapped out on the hull.
  
  --
  Scott
  ARC 21
  Prindle 18
  Annapolis, Maryland
  --

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• coastrat
  
  

  • Rank: Chief
  • Registered: Jul 16, 2009
  • Last visit: Oct 28, 2014
  • Posts: 1271

  Posted: Feb 27, 2013 - 08:14 PM

  Quote

  Spring is approaching, I'd be tempted to fix the leaks & sail the crap out of it. Wait til next winter to redo the cosmetics.
  

  
  
  that's what i'm talking about...at least until you make sure you have fixed all the stuff. my buddies and i have an approach to old used boats- patch them up and sail them the first season and see if you like it/what really needs repairs/what you want to do with it...then remember it's a boat and you will be fixing things every year so you don't have to do everything now, just stick with priorities this season.
  
  believe me, your kids have told that same story as much as you! good times indeed
  
  --
  Check out "Prindle Sailors" on Facebook!
  bill harris
  hattiesburg, mississippi
  prindle 16- "BLUE RIBBON"
  --

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• smackdaddy
  
  

  • Rank: Lubber
  • Registered: Jun 12, 2012
  • Last visit: Mar 04, 2013
  • Posts: 19

  Posted: Mar 01, 2013 - 04:30 PM

  Thanks guys. Actually, we've already got her all patched up and good as new. All the work shown here:
  
  An Epic Tale of Repair
  
  And don't worry - we'll sail the crap out of it!
  
  And thanks for the tip on the austincats.net thing. I'll definitely check them out.
  
  
  
  Edited by smackdaddy on Mar 01, 2013 - 04:32 PM.

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• golfdad75
  
  

  • Rank: Mate
  • Registered: May 29, 2010
  • Last visit: Apr 28, 2015
  • Posts: 454

  Posted: Mar 03, 2013 - 09:46 AM

  Great article, I think only a cat sailor can understand your pain and laugh thinking yea I have done that.
  
  --
  Nacra 5.2
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