The search is over!
Picked up a very clean Prindle 18!
It moved here to Utah from Connecticut 11 years ago, but was never sailed here for $950. It is a freshwater boat, the sails look perfect, but had no trailer. I was able to pick up a trailer locally from Tony for $240 that needed lights.
Still a lot to get done before we get her wet but we are pretty excited about it.
Congrats on the new baby! Still trying to find mine here in Mandeville, LA!
Can't go wrong with the P18, very stable and forgiving platform, can be sailed solo or with up to 3 adults and is very quick.
1) Get the rudders dialed in, there is a section in the Tech Album on how the Prindle rudders work, check all through bolts as they do get bent from pulling on the "up" lines or from trailering with the rudders in the "up" position.
2) Check all sheaves on the mast, they get brittle and break, replace if necessary. The main halyard can be washed and will look like new again.
3) Check all standing rigging, if coated and coating is old and cracked, shave brittle old coating off with a sharp knife, look for broken wire strands and rust.
4) Wash all running rigging in washing machine with oxy-clean, let it pre-soak overnight first.
5) If sails are dirty soak in a large tub (my jetted tub worked great) overnight with oxy-clean, agitate frequently by stomping, use luke-warm water only.
6) Practice rigging in back yard, the mainsail uses the "hook and ring" to secure, raise sail to the top, haul on up-haul line untill you hear the ring hit the mast head, keeping tension, rotate mast using mast-rotator, release tension and pull down on sail tack to check if hook engaged ring, repeat in necessary.
7) Practice raising the jib, it uses the ring and "S" hook method to secure raised jib and can also be a little tricky at first. Once "S" hook is engaged, crank on down-haul, there is a small down-haul line on tack of jib and a cleat just above it, line goes through the turnbuckle, through grommet "eye", back down through turnbuckle head giving you 2:1 purchase, and cleats off on small cleat on jib tack.
8) Download the Prindle manual from this website and get very familiar with it.
Finally, get contact with Quarath, Dustin lives in Utah and has a "squadron" of Prindles, maybe you guys can go sailing together....... :top:
I have heard horror stories of washing machines and lines not mixing well together but don't know first hand.
I found soaking lines overnight in fabric softener worked great.
4) Wash all running rigging in washing machine with oxy-clean, let it pre-soak overnight first.
MN3
I put my lines in a mesh bag and run then through the washing machine and the come out great.
I have heard horror stories of washing machines and lines not mixing well together
Quite correct, & I spent the money to prove it! An agitator type spells trouble, you are fine with the front load machines.
If you have an agitator machine, the meash bag works, but it is hard to find a bag to accommodate the large lines, like righting.
E C Hilliard
Nacra 5.7
Bombardier Invitation
Thanks guys,
The sails and rigging are all immaculate, kept inside the house no less. Only the boat and mast were stored outside. The PO is a very meticulous guy, you can tell by his house and other toys.
I have a folder about an inch thick with the owners manual, original invoice, and what looks to be every scrap of paper ever having to do with this boat!
I am sure Dustin will be great resource, and Tony the guy I got the trailer from has a couple of 18's and a 16. There seems to be a Prindle cult here in Utah π Who knew?
Kevin
The sails and rigging are all immaculate,
unless i know for a fact the rigging is less than a year old, I replace all standing rigging when i buy a used catamaran.
new standing rigging is not that expensive (3 shrouds) and a great investment
it may save you headaches on the water (or beach)
You will need them eventually and if you get them now, your current set becomes spares for when you break a shroud.
PS congrats, she's a bute' enjoy
(edit) the spreader wires are also part of the standing rigging,and should be replaced too but break much less frequently, but when they do.... $$$
Edited by MN3 on May 29, 2013 - 11:10 AM.
MN3
Hey cellguru. I live in Magna and would be more than willing to help you sort it all out. Send me a PM and i give you my cell.
Also on June 8th at the Utah Lake State Park Marina there will be the USA Summer Game which will include Keelboat cat and dingy regattas. It is hosted by the Utah Sailing Association. There should be quite a few cat sailors there. Sailing out of the marina is a pain in my opinion but doable.
If you like Bear lake you may want to join and get primo camping on 3 major holiday weekends at Bear Lake. It is hard to get sites for those time unless you really plan ahead so its a great bargain.
Dustin
Magna, UT
Prindle 18