Hi, I am in the process of buying my first boat, an Irwin 42 Ketch. Her name is 'Intrigue' and I plan to live aboard her. Her current owner is the original owner and she is hull #7. I have an engineer and a shipwright who say she is a good, solid boat and I should have little trouble with her. What tips does anyone have for storage and maintenance. I currently have little sailing experience but plan to get as much as possible over the fall and winter so I'll be ready come springtime to take her out on the Chesapeake. The next few months will be spent in updating and sprucing her up, both interior and exterior. Thanks, Sue
Buying my first boat
- Thread starter Sue22348
- Start date
- Status
need stands
Congrats. #1 rule. Keep everything up as it breaks. Paint, varnish, wax, etc as needed (don't fall behind on any of this. NEVER wax the ceiling, interior floors, or any grips. Fold your sails properly after every sail. Cover them too. Roller jib? Make sure it is VERY secure after every sail. You never know when a storm will blow in. Keep track of the hours/time cince you last changed the oil. If diesel, use oil for that. If you don't have it, install a fuel filter and check it regularly. If near Annapolis, go to Eastport and hit the bars. Talk to the patrons and tell them you need sail time, on YOUR boat, and would anyone be crew? Let them sail your boat, and watch how they do things. If you are lucky, you will get a tweaker who will show you the ropes and tell you what they are doing as they do it. READ - getting Cruising World, Sail, Practical Boat Owener (from England). The price for what information they contain is cheaper than taking sailing lessons. Visit other boaters in the area. See how they do things. I learned from one couple to keep all my clothes in plastic containers ($4.00 or so for each - on sale at KMart or Wal-Mart) Moisture won't get in and your cloths will stay fresh longer. Wipe tools and such with a fine oil, like 3-in-one. Or wax them twice a year, and wax the ones you use ater each use. Listen to the weather radio, study NOAA weather, and become a weather expert. It won't take long to get there. Plan for emergencies, practice man overboard drills, learn to steer with your sails only.
Congrats. #1 rule. Keep everything up as it breaks. Paint, varnish, wax, etc as needed (don't fall behind on any of this. NEVER wax the ceiling, interior floors, or any grips. Fold your sails properly after every sail. Cover them too. Roller jib? Make sure it is VERY secure after every sail. You never know when a storm will blow in. Keep track of the hours/time cince you last changed the oil. If diesel, use oil for that. If you don't have it, install a fuel filter and check it regularly. If near Annapolis, go to Eastport and hit the bars. Talk to the patrons and tell them you need sail time, on YOUR boat, and would anyone be crew? Let them sail your boat, and watch how they do things. If you are lucky, you will get a tweaker who will show you the ropes and tell you what they are doing as they do it. READ - getting Cruising World, Sail, Practical Boat Owener (from England). The price for what information they contain is cheaper than taking sailing lessons. Visit other boaters in the area. See how they do things. I learned from one couple to keep all my clothes in plastic containers ($4.00 or so for each - on sale at KMart or Wal-Mart) Moisture won't get in and your cloths will stay fresh longer. Wipe tools and such with a fine oil, like 3-in-one. Or wax them twice a year, and wax the ones you use ater each use. Listen to the weather radio, study NOAA weather, and become a weather expert. It won't take long to get there. Plan for emergencies, practice man overboard drills, learn to steer with your sails only.
Lots to learn
Thanks for all the info and tips! I know about maintaining tools and I am a weather observer/controller for the FAA.... weather is us!
Sue
Thanks for all the info and tips! I know about maintaining tools and I am a weather observer/controller for the FAA.... weather is us!
SueMy First Boat: Maintenance Manual
Welcome to the world of sailing. I am developing a general maintance and outfitting manual (a living document and work in progress)for sailboats that I would be happy to provide to you in exchange for your feedback. These forums are really great, but its nice to have all the information in one document that can easily be searched. Just send me your email address and I will send it along. Harry Anderson FREEDOM hsanderson2@aol.com
Welcome to the world of sailing. I am developing a general maintance and outfitting manual (a living document and work in progress)for sailboats that I would be happy to provide to you in exchange for your feedback. These forums are really great, but its nice to have all the information in one document that can easily be searched. Just send me your email address and I will send it along. Harry Anderson FREEDOM hsanderson2@aol.com
Maintenance Manual
Hi Harry, I think the manual is a great idea. My email is geezlooeese@cox.net I'll go through it and as I go through learning my boat I'll let you know how things go, don't go. Sue
Hi Harry, I think the manual is a great idea. My email is geezlooeese@cox.net I'll go through it and as I go through learning my boat I'll let you know how things go, don't go. Sue
Welcome
Hi Sue, I have a 41' CC Ketch, congrad. We presently live onboard every weekend. Is she presently in or out of the water? For your first winter I would keep keep her on the hard. We are going into our third winter of ownership. We try to do one year on the hard, one in the water, its time we take her out. This year, we are also shrink wrapping with masts in. Probably next year will be the first we take the masts down. If possible, try taking a weekend in June with Sharon Greenlaw-Renk (www.sailing in maine.com) she is reasonable and only works with women. Best course I ever had. Anyways I'm glad to see a bigger irwin, there are not many of us out there. Ps My dad was a FAA-ATC Mary Gentle Breeze 1983 41'cc irwin ketch
Hi Sue, I have a 41' CC Ketch, congrad. We presently live onboard every weekend. Is she presently in or out of the water? For your first winter I would keep keep her on the hard. We are going into our third winter of ownership. We try to do one year on the hard, one in the water, its time we take her out. This year, we are also shrink wrapping with masts in. Probably next year will be the first we take the masts down. If possible, try taking a weekend in June with Sharon Greenlaw-Renk (www.sailing in maine.com) she is reasonable and only works with women. Best course I ever had. Anyways I'm glad to see a bigger irwin, there are not many of us out there. Ps My dad was a FAA-ATC Mary Gentle Breeze 1983 41'cc irwin ketch
Hi
Hi Mary, Intrigue is in the water and the weather over the winter is mild enough to leave her there. In fact we often have days in the 70's over the winter months which will allow some wonderful sailing. I will look up Sharon and see if work schedules permit going for a sail. Since your Dad was ATC you understand the goofy schedules. What facility did he work in? The owner of Intrigue is the original owner and her hull number is 7. It seems a bit hard to find any boat with only one owner these days. He loves the boat but must sell due to health reasons and I am the lucky one to get her. When she is all mine I will send pics. Sue
Hi Mary, Intrigue is in the water and the weather over the winter is mild enough to leave her there. In fact we often have days in the 70's over the winter months which will allow some wonderful sailing. I will look up Sharon and see if work schedules permit going for a sail. Since your Dad was ATC you understand the goofy schedules. What facility did he work in? The owner of Intrigue is the original owner and her hull number is 7. It seems a bit hard to find any boat with only one owner these days. He loves the boat but must sell due to health reasons and I am the lucky one to get her. When she is all mine I will send pics. Sue
HI
Welcome to the Irwin family!! My husband & I live on our 1984 41'Ketch on Kent Island... Mary do you have any pictures of your boat? I have pics posted on the MSN Irwin site... I would be glad to share any info... good luck to you both! Shirley
Welcome to the Irwin family!! My husband & I live on our 1984 41'Ketch on Kent Island... Mary do you have any pictures of your boat? I have pics posted on the MSN Irwin site... I would be glad to share any info... good luck to you both! Shirley
Got her!
Sorry to have been late in answering. First, I now HAVE my boat and am in the process of moving aboard so therefore the computer was not available. I do have a roller furling jib which was unfurled for the first time last weekend. The sail is in fine shape. I will be replacing all the rigging lines as many are old and have some worn spots. My first 3 days aboard her were spent during a nor'easter here in Norfolk. Talk about rock and roll. I didn't mind that as much as not realizing what all the noises were so I kept waking up thinking I was banging into something, sinking or who knows what. I have it all snugged down and have learned what most of the noises are. I did get some leaky ports but that was because I didn't have them snugged down tight. My learning curve is completely vertical! Thanks for all the suggestions. Sue
Sorry to have been late in answering. First, I now HAVE my boat and am in the process of moving aboard so therefore the computer was not available. I do have a roller furling jib which was unfurled for the first time last weekend. The sail is in fine shape. I will be replacing all the rigging lines as many are old and have some worn spots. My first 3 days aboard her were spent during a nor'easter here in Norfolk. Talk about rock and roll
. I didn't mind that as much as not realizing what all the noises were so I kept waking up thinking I was banging into something, sinking or who knows what. I have it all snugged down and have learned what most of the noises are. I did get some leaky ports but that was because I didn't have them snugged down tight. My learning curve is completely vertical! Thanks for all the suggestions. SueATC
Hi Sue, Just getting back on line, have been updating my kitchen and worrying about Gentle Breeze. We are presently under the assumption that she was put on the hard on fri. We will be checking tomorrow. She was suppose to be taken out in Oct. We have had a weathery fall and finally got her to our new marina as of Nov 1. But it has taken them this long to get her out. We really hoped to do some work on her when it was warm. Except for the batteries will have to wait for spring. My dad started in Boston and the spent the majority of time an the Northeast center in Naushua, NH. Mary Gentle Breeze
Hi Sue, Just getting back on line, have been updating my kitchen and worrying about Gentle Breeze. We are presently under the assumption that she was put on the hard on fri. We will be checking tomorrow. She was suppose to be taken out in Oct. We have had a weathery fall and finally got her to our new marina as of Nov 1. But it has taken them this long to get her out. We really hoped to do some work on her when it was warm. Except for the batteries will have to wait for spring. My dad started in Boston and the spent the majority of time an the Northeast center in Naushua, NH. Mary Gentle Breeze
Pictures
Hi Shirley, No I do not have any on line as of yet, though she was highly photographed on Yachtworld, when we were purchasing her. I guess this is my next thing to learn is how to scan and insert pictures. I will check yours out, I'm always looking for ideas for down below. Most of our work has been topsides, though this year will be below. Mary Have you girls thought to post on sailnet. com shesail/
Hi Shirley, No I do not have any on line as of yet, though she was highly photographed on Yachtworld, when we were purchasing her. I guess this is my next thing to learn is how to scan and insert pictures. I will check yours out, I'm always looking for ideas for down below. Most of our work has been topsides, though this year will be below. Mary Have you girls thought to post on sailnet. com shesail/
MSN Irwin web site?
Shirley, can you post the complete URL link for the MSN Irwin web site? I did a search at MSN.com but didn't turn anything up.
Shirley, can you post the complete URL link for the MSN Irwin web site? I did a search at MSN.com but didn't turn anything up.
Rod & Lynn
Welcome to the Irwin ketch world. We now live on ours and have had no probs afloat these past 3 years! Being in Norfolk, let me know if you visit the Albemarle....we'd be glad to host ya'.
Welcome to the Irwin ketch world. We now live on ours and have had no probs afloat these past 3 years! Being in Norfolk, let me know if you visit the Albemarle....we'd be glad to host ya'.
Rod& Lynn
If ye be an Faa WX Briefer...then we may have spoken.... I call 'em each flight I make.
If ye be an Faa WX Briefer...then we may have spoken.... I call 'em each flight I make.
Irwin 42 suggestions
Sue, Congrats on finding Intrigue, I know she will treat you well. I have a 42 cc ketch, Moondance (hull #56 laid in 1977). I keep her on Lake Michigan. I met her 5 years ago and we are still having a good time. Sadly, my wife does not like my mistress so I singlehand most of the time. Last summer I even raced singlehand from Chicago to Makinac Island. (see solosailor.org) Moondance is wonderful, she moves well from a close reach almost to a dead run and can handle heavy winds. She is even faster than I expected in light air. Others have already given you very good general advice, so I'll stick to a few 42 cc ketch comments. First, expect leaks from the caprail. The hull deck joint under your caprail is NOT watertight and water filtering through cracks in the cap or down the stantions or down the chainplates will penetrate inside. The "BIG" cure is to pull the caprail and rework the join, but that is a major project. The short term measure is to seal everywhere water can get in and remember to check often for signs of water below. The other potential water damage risk is delamination caused by water penetrating to deck core through screw holes. There has been a lot written about how to find that and how to fix it. Look on the Irwin Yahoo and Sailnet sites as well as this site for more info on deck leaks (as well as other good advice). Intrigue will likely be a bear to steer under power. The rudder is fat and almost all of the rudder will be in the disturbed water behind the prop. She just will not be as responsive as she is under sail, watch out for that. Last, she will love winds around 12 - 15 knts. Put her on a reach when you have the room and play with the set of the mizzen until she tracks straight and true - she will sail herself like that for hours! Have fun. Bob Meador bobmeador@hotmail.com
Sue, Congrats on finding Intrigue, I know she will treat you well. I have a 42 cc ketch, Moondance (hull #56 laid in 1977). I keep her on Lake Michigan. I met her 5 years ago and we are still having a good time. Sadly, my wife does not like my mistress so I singlehand most of the time. Last summer I even raced singlehand from Chicago to Makinac Island. (see solosailor.org) Moondance is wonderful, she moves well from a close reach almost to a dead run and can handle heavy winds. She is even faster than I expected in light air. Others have already given you very good general advice, so I'll stick to a few 42 cc ketch comments. First, expect leaks from the caprail. The hull deck joint under your caprail is NOT watertight and water filtering through cracks in the cap or down the stantions or down the chainplates will penetrate inside. The "BIG" cure is to pull the caprail and rework the join, but that is a major project. The short term measure is to seal everywhere water can get in and remember to check often for signs of water below. The other potential water damage risk is delamination caused by water penetrating to deck core through screw holes. There has been a lot written about how to find that and how to fix it. Look on the Irwin Yahoo and Sailnet sites as well as this site for more info on deck leaks (as well as other good advice). Intrigue will likely be a bear to steer under power. The rudder is fat and almost all of the rudder will be in the disturbed water behind the prop. She just will not be as responsive as she is under sail, watch out for that. Last, she will love winds around 12 - 15 knts. Put her on a reach when you have the room and play with the set of the mizzen until she tracks straight and true - she will sail herself like that for hours! Have fun. Bob Meador bobmeador@hotmail.com
- Status