Awesome Pic From Saturday's Sail
- Thread starter rgranger
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Great Picture ! The important part is that the boat is in the water and sailing - All the rest is just details.
Speaking of Fenders.
I'm a fan of the video blog "Keep Turning Left", filmed in the UK.
http://www.keepturningleft.co.uk
I noticed in almost all the videos, nearly everyone has all their fenders hanging, which here would label you as either a nube, or having entered your "forgetful years".
Is this the custom in the UK? I was thinking it might have something to do with a canal heritage.
Just wondering...
rob j
I'm a fan of the video blog "Keep Turning Left", filmed in the UK.
http://www.keepturningleft.co.uk
I noticed in almost all the videos, nearly everyone has all their fenders hanging, which here would label you as either a nube, or having entered your "forgetful years".
Is this the custom in the UK? I was thinking it might have something to do with a canal heritage.
Just wondering...
rob j
I don't think Dylan Winter is either a nube or forgetful, more likely unconcerned with who's looking.
It comes with age and experience.
It comes with age and experience.
Hey, I'm just taking my cue from the OP.
But my original question got lost in the fender discussion - how does it sail? I've always liked those B26's, though they're too heavy for me to tow and therefore out of the running when looking for the next toy. After following the keel restoration closely for the last couple of months, I'm curious how it sails. :dance:
Sorry.... it did get lost. She sails very well. This Saturday was the second shakedown cruise. On the first we had all sorts of small--ish problems, with rigging, the outboard and water coming in around the pivot pin. Spent a few hours each night and got it all fixed during the week.
We had a modest breeze of 8 to 10 mph and the thing I notice most was how smooth the ride felt. My little MacGregor 22 was a lot more "lively" in the water. My youngest daughter was down below napping when I hoisted the sails and after a few moments she asked.. "hew dad, why is the boat leaning". I think she thought her brother was hanging in the rigging. Since she couldn't feel the boat rocking up and down so much nor could she hear the slap through the hull (like you do in the Mac 22) she didn't realized the boat was under sail. The Balboas are VERY STIFF! and quiet under sail. The heavier gauge rigging probably also contributes to less wind noise through the wires...I think I'll really appreciate that when I get to take her out in some 15 to 20s....
I've read a few reviews where they mention weather helm as an issue on the Balboas. In 8 to 10 mph wind, the helm was perfectly balanced. However one of the previous owners had replaced the stock rudder with one from Ida Sailor. It is a really nice HDPE foil blade... So maybe that has something to do with it. The balboas have a very uniquely designed rudder. In the sole of the cockpit is a rudder trunk that goes all the way through to the water. The rudder post passes through a removable insert that goes into the rudder trunk. So when you want to beach the Balboa or raise the rudder for trailering, you just pull up on the tiller to slide the insert out of the trunk, then you turn the insert 90 deg. on the post and set it cock-eyed across the trunk opening (I might have to take pics for this to make sense).
Anyway, it is a cool design that allows for a retractable spade rudder which leaves the transom open for a center mounted outboard. And the trunk opening doubles as a cockpit drain.
On stepping the mast... the Balboas have a little bracket on the bottom of the mast facing forward that allows the boom to be used as a gin pole. You run a line through fair leads back to a winch and crank it up...So far I've raised and lowered the mast four times and have it at about an hour. I think I'll be able to get the boat in the water in under 45 min with a bit more practice.
Towing: The Balboas have a displacement of 4400#. I have a Chevy Silverado with a gross towing capacity of 7000# but I'm still surprised at how well it tows. I have to be careful not forget it is there. I've also pulled the Balboa with my Astro Van. It has a towing capacity of 5000#. Pulls okay but hills are a bit of a strain. This is my first duel axle trailer and I have noticed the difference towing with surge breaks. It is a real plus. There is a gravel road with a deep pitch as I approach the ramp at my marina and the trailer breaks lock up as I go down this hill. I see the tires dragging in the gravel in my side mirror. It really helps keep the trailer BEHIND the truck. And this past weekend an opossum stepped out in front of my truck. I had to break hard and the trailer breaks locked up and I could feel the drag holding the truck straight. I don't think I'll ever want a trailer without breaks again.
I really loved my Mac 22' She was very fast for a 22 and I had a large enough sail inventory that I could balance the sails in 25 mph and sail feeling safe... I already miss her. But the Balboa 26 will certainly make a better coastal cruiser. During Saturday's cruise, my wife started talking about a trip to Tangier Island.... that was a first. She has never been the first one to suggest a sailing trip... so!!! Maybe the Balboa has already done her job
The Balboa does not really feel like "my boat" yet but I guess I need to have a few adventures in her first. The interior is HUGE compared to the Mac 22 and significantly larger than the Mac 26C (which is the other boat I was looking at before I got the Balboa). I've never sailed a Mac 26 but I imagine they are fast responsive boats much like the 22.
The Aquarius 23's have a similar rudder setup, though my A7.0, which was an A23 with some small differences, had a transom mounted rudder and an off-center OB. I bet the PO spent a pretty penny on the new IdaSailor rudder. Good stuff, but far from cheap.
The Aquarius 23's have a similar rudder setup, though my A7.0, which was an A23 with some small differences, had a transom mounted rudder and an off-center OB. I bet the PO spent a pretty penny on the new IdaSailor rudder. Good stuff, but far from cheap.
Yes I got lucky with this find... the PO had also recently purchased a new mainsail from JSI, and had put all new cushions throughout the boat. Also wainscot in the salon and fresh paint. The P.O. actually found me on his old list serve so I know some of the history. He traded it in to a dealer as part of a Seaward 26 sale. The dealer sold it to a guy in Wisconsin. On the first attempted splash, the guy drove the raised mast into an overhead power line as he approached the ramp and bent the mast. We don't know where the boat went next but we do know it eventually ended up in Michigan because it had Michigan registration numbers when I got it. The guy in Michigan put it on eBay and listed it as "needing a new mast". A guy in West Virginia bought it with hopes of cruising with his wife (newly retired) but she wanted a cabin cruiser so he only held onto it for 3 months.... then I got it. Because of the mast issue, this boat sold for a lot less than it should have... I got it for $3K. I put the mast between two posts in my garden and pulled it straight-ish with a come-along jack.
It seems like yesterday when you had the retractable keel off the boat. Congrats! It must be a thrill to sail it after all that effort. I remember your post about your cruise with your daughters to the OB and hope you all enjoy this boat to the utmost. I'm not surprised it is stiff with that monster retractable keel (With the boot).
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