Bringing a Boat Back from the Dead

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Penny Can

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Feb 14, 2011
6
C-Lark 14 Maryville, TN
Hi,

I am resurrecting a 14' sailboat, and I do not know what it is, or anything about it other than it's a sailboat. It looks somewhat like an Albacore, and in fact I am using a modified Albacore sail plan.

I need to make a sail for it; (Yes, make a sail. I am poor, and I like to work with my hands.) I also need to figure out how to rig this thing, sheets lines and all. How do I do this? No idea where to start besides what's already attached to the boat. BTW, I got no sails with it. I assume it had a main and jib based on what I see.

Anyone have any good resources or ideas? Keep in mind, my only sailboat ownership experience before this was a plywood dinghy built by yours truly. Lateen sail, homemade. I suppose I'll feel uptown when this boat is up and running!

Thanks.





 
T

tommays

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Oct 2, 2006
1,517
Jboat J24 commack
Well

I would do a firm ID on the boat and then search for used sails for as most likely you will find something fine for less than the cost of the sail cloth to do a DIY

There are places like http://www.baconsails.com/ that have all manner of used at very good prices
 
Ol Dave

Ol Dave

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Feb 26, 2004
98
Pearson 365 Ketch Memphis, TN
Check for a serial number on the transom (back). If it is new enough, it will be in a code that will give you the maker and the year of manufacture.

I would suggest a used sail from http://minneysyachtsurplus.com/ in Costa Mesa, CA. If you need help figuring out the size of the sail you need , or want to compare used prices, go to http://baconsails.com/sailsearch.

I hope you got a centerboard and rudder with it or else you really will get to "work with your hands". Google "yacht club knoxville" and you'll find people sort of close who could help you.
 
Ed Schenck

Ed Schenck

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Jun 2, 2004
5,802
Hunter 37-cutter, '79 41 23' 30"N 82 33' 20"W--------Huron, OH
You really do need to know the boat manufacturer. That interior is very familiar but I cannot confirm. Tried looking at some boats I thought it might be. Knowing what it is will make finding sails and how-to-rig infinitely easier.
 
kloudie1

kloudie1

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Nov 6, 2006
10,052
Hunter 34 Mandeville Louisiana
Interesting boat ! Congrats ! There is some "go-fast" stuff in the pictures so ya may be right on with an Albacore.. I hope you have the thing that bolts to the centerboard trunk forward end.. and the centerboard.. ?? Keep the group posted as ya discover who she is and prepare her for sailing ! CAUTION !! It is very addictive!
Best to ya and welcome aboard!
 
Joe

Joe

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Jun 1, 2004
8,164
Catalina 27 Mission Bay, San Diego
Pull the thing out of the garage and step the mast.... Then take wider pictures of the boat so we can see her profile. Also, when you get the mast up you will have a better idea how it is rigged... what is missing etc. You have a rudder and centerboard, I hope, because those are usually pricey items that are design sensitive....

Start googling for 14 foot sailboats...... Oday was popular... try some others.

14 feet... I'm thinking an O'day Javelin... here's an example...

http://www.sailingtexas.com/sodayjavelin101.html

http://www.odayjavelin.com/

Even if it isn't an Oday Javelin you can copy the rigging onto your boat because it looks pretty similar. Unless you're class racing it doesn't make any difference.


Don't be too anal about finding original parts.... most small boat parts were made by outside manufacturers, not the boat builder... hardware changes were common within the boat's production run.

This boat should give you a lot of pleasure, have fun.
 
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Penny Can

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Feb 14, 2011
6
C-Lark 14 Maryville, TN
I do already have the (metal) centerboard and the non-kickup rudder. The trunk top for the centerboard is missing, I do have a plan to fabricate a replacement.

There are absolutely no plates, markings, etc on the transom at all. Also none forward of the mast step. My best guess is that it's a pre-'72. It's been registered in at least two different states, this will likely be its third.

I have not stepped the mast yet, but I did lay it all out in the driveway to see what is missing aloft. So far, the spreader bars seem to be gone, that's it. I figure I can use some standard 1/2" aluminum tubing after looking at Rig-Rite. The mast and boom are Kenyon.

And the sails? Oh, I could go with sailcloth but I have had luck with polytarp in the past so that is the route I'll be going until I can find a better set of sails later. Trying to keep this a bottom dollar experience; it fits in well with my budget and general stinginess.

I will try to take more photos when I get a chance to get out and work on it. It's pretty dirty from its hay field experience over the last couple of years.

Thanks for the input! I am excited.
 
Alex Dare

Alex Dare

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Apr 15, 2009
302
C&C 30 Annapolis
14 foot sounds a little short for an Albacore. It's possible it may be an older Jet 14 in which case it takes a Snipe rig and sail plan.
 
shemandr

shemandr

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Jan 1, 2006
7,472
Slickcraft 26 Sailfish
The polytarp option is viable. But spend some looking at sail design perhaps on the sailrite web site. If you achieve a good shape you will enhance your sailing by a lot. You can also tape along known stress areas.
I'm glad you're excited. You don't need a lot of money to go sailing.
 
mark_swart

mark_swart

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Sep 25, 2008
385
Harpoon 5.2 Honolulu, HI
Pennycan -- I'd take those sail dimensions and go to ebay. Use "sail" and "main" as your search terms. Keep an eye out once a week and something will come up cheaper than you willl be able to make sails for. I bought a decent sail for a Hunter 34 for $75 and I sold my old sail for $40 if that gives you any indicator. And those were big sails!
Also you can do a nationwide search of craigslist and maybe find used sails that will fit.
 
P

Penny Can

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Feb 14, 2011
6
C-Lark 14 Maryville, TN
Wow! You people are amazing. It is in fact a C-Lark, has the angled centerboard trunk and all. Very cool.

I am a little leery of running as much sail as is shown on those plans! I want this to be a cruiser, not a racer. Should I cut sail area down a bit? If so, where?

Also, anyone have experience using polytarp and a bolt rope vs. sail slugs? My past tarp sail was on wooden spars so it wasn't an issue.

I guess I need to get to work on cleaning/registering this puppy! I am hoping to be in the water as soon as the weather improves.
 
CalebD

CalebD

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Jun 27, 2006
1,479
Tartan 27' 1967 Nyack, NY
Are you sure you have to register the boat?
In NY State you would have to register the trailer with DMV. You would only have to register the boat if you put a motor on it. I'm not sure you would really need a motor for this boat.
Rules in TN will be different.
Great project. Good luck.
 
FastOlson

FastOlson

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Apr 8, 2010
2,091
Ericson Yachts Olson 34 28400 Portland OR
Penny Can said:
Wow! You people are amazing. It is in fact a C-Lark, has the angled centerboard trunk and all. Very cool.

I am a little leery of running as much sail as is shown on those plans! I want this to be a cruiser, not a racer. Should I cut sail area down a bit? If so, where?

Also, anyone have experience using polytarp and a bolt rope vs. sail slugs? My past tarp sail was on wooden spars so it wasn't an issue.

I guess I need to get to work on cleaning/registering this puppy! I am hoping to be in the water as soon as the weather improves.
Click to expand
I would not change the sail plan. Why mess with the characteristics of a proven design? Cruising and Racing are just words... it's a capable little day sailor. If you decide to enter races to accelerate and improve your sailing skills, then it's a "racer" while you are racing. :)

The poly tarp may well have the half life of a gnat. With an accurate set of sail measurements in hand, start talking to all the places that well used sails. There are a lot of similar-size dinghies around and probably some decent used sails waiting for yours, on the cheap.

L
 
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Penny Can

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Feb 14, 2011
6
C-Lark 14 Maryville, TN
Still working on the boat, getting closer every day. Thanks for all of the info!

Does anyone know what length the stay spreaders should be on this boat, or how I would go about measuring? The stays are obviously too long without spreaders, and brackets exist on the mast to accept the spreaders.
 
Bill Roosa

Bill Roosa

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Jun 6, 2006
6,990
currently boatless wishing Harrington Harbor North, MD
You can us trig to calculate the stay lengths. You would need to know the height of the stay above the chain plate and the length of the spreader for that solution though.
 
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