Cross posting this from the Starwind owners Facebook group.
Looking for suggestions for low-cost upgrades. We have a 1985 Starwind 19 that we trailer around for 3-10 day cruises (my wife, son, and I - we often camp on the shore to give ourselves a little more space). Last summer was our first season with the boat, and we fixed most of the must-do items (replaced cockpit drains, resealed windows, replaced the wiring and added a solar panel, took care of the woodwork that needed it, etc). The only remaining urgent item is to finish the gel coat repair from a rock hit last summer, and we think the remaining work will be time consuming but not expensive. We are now considering what improvements, if any, to make that would make life on the boat a little easier when we are out - without spending too much money. A few ideas have come to mind - some sort of tiller tender/clutch, simple lazy jacks, etc. Any recommendations from this group?
Our criteria:
- low cost - ideally we aren’t going to spend more than a few hundred dollars on the boat this season (we’d rather put the money into gas to get us someplace interesting)
- as much as possible, should not negatively affect the ease with which the boat can be rigged/de-rigged, since we don't leave it on the water.
We know that soon enough new sails will be in order - the main and working jib might be original, and they are showing their age. So, also a consideration: should we just save the money toward the eventual new sails?
Thoughts?
Looking for suggestions for low-cost upgrades. We have a 1985 Starwind 19 that we trailer around for 3-10 day cruises (my wife, son, and I - we often camp on the shore to give ourselves a little more space). Last summer was our first season with the boat, and we fixed most of the must-do items (replaced cockpit drains, resealed windows, replaced the wiring and added a solar panel, took care of the woodwork that needed it, etc). The only remaining urgent item is to finish the gel coat repair from a rock hit last summer, and we think the remaining work will be time consuming but not expensive. We are now considering what improvements, if any, to make that would make life on the boat a little easier when we are out - without spending too much money. A few ideas have come to mind - some sort of tiller tender/clutch, simple lazy jacks, etc. Any recommendations from this group?
Our criteria:
- low cost - ideally we aren’t going to spend more than a few hundred dollars on the boat this season (we’d rather put the money into gas to get us someplace interesting)
- as much as possible, should not negatively affect the ease with which the boat can be rigged/de-rigged, since we don't leave it on the water.
We know that soon enough new sails will be in order - the main and working jib might be original, and they are showing their age. So, also a consideration: should we just save the money toward the eventual new sails?
Thoughts?