Islander 28 New to me

  • Thread starter Mike Holtzinger
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Mike Holtzinger

I just purchased an Islander 28 that is fully equipped and in absolutely super condition. I am looking for any comments or relevant info that would be of help concerning this design. Also The head has three pepcocks and I see one that goes to a manual bilge pump mounted on the head cabinet near the sink that is teed into the hose that goes to the holding tank and then to the pump out fitting. What is this all about? Also, I found myself in 25+ knot winds the other day and rolled in the furler and was dumping air from the main. I really didn't want to heal her more than 10 degrees as the admiral who is new to sailing was aboard. I finally dropped the main into the lazy jacks and motored into port. My question is how well does the Islander 28 handle heavy air like this? Also the main seemed to stop about 6" from the top of the mast upon raising the main. Is it supposed to raise to the very top or stop abouth there? The luff looked tight. I love the boat and am looking forward to many years of great sailing in the PNW. Mike H
 
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Thomas Hundley

Islander 28

If your main is not going to the top of the mast you might have a sailmaker look at the sail for measurements. I sail in the s.f. bay and 25 knots wind is nothing,i sail 90% of the time with a 95.7% head and if it weather starts build set 1 reef in the main.I took my I-28 out with 25-35 gusts with a 70% up front and 2 reefs and other than getting wet the boat was VERY stable,as for your 10 degree-- life begins at 20-30 if you have the proper sail for that condition. Hope this helps, Thomas I-28 RESPITE
 
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Mike Holtzinger

Thanks

Thomas, Thanks for the info. The main is taught and I now give it a cronk to tighten up with the winch. I am used to 10 to 20 degrees in my last boat and will move to a more exciting angle as time goes on and the Admiral gets her sailing legs. I am also looking into a good way to reef the main from the cockpit. Any suggestions? A diagram would help. I've been looking at other boats but haven't seen anything yet on that subject. Mike H
 
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Thomas

I-28 reefing main

Stop! think, in order to reef the main,you have to lower it? How and where do you raise it at? At the mast right? Now you wnat to reef the main,1st you have to lower it that means going to the mast.It sounds like that goting to the mast is what you wnat to pervent? You have opened uy pandora's box. You can count on about $1500.00-$2000.00 to get this done.Try 1st listen to the weather for that day. PLAN your DAY. If the weather is for afternoon high winds THEN reef before you leave. How cares how fast you are going. I went out solo this weekend,weather,small craft warnings afternoon -15-25 knots I LEFT WITH A REEf by the timw i got back they all had reefs.In closing if you will send me your addrees i will send you all the photos wiht what i have done to my I-28. sailinginthebay@prodigy.net Thomas RESPITE
 
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Mike Holtzinger

Reefing

Believe me I am "thinking" and do take considerable time for planning. The other day there was no weather report for high winds and all was well until 4 pm, then things got hairy and in a hurry. The wind went from 4 knot to 29 knots in less than a minute and stayed that way until early evening. I am able to lower the main from ther cockpit and I want to come up with a proper way of reefing from the cockpit. I have no desire to go up on deck in 3 and 4 ft seas, even with jack line and a harness unless absolutely necessary. I also carry a NOAA weather radio but in Puget Sound things can change without warning in a hurry and often in small localized areas. Also, this is my first real true displacement hull boat. All others were planing hulled boats or swing keel boats requiring crew for ballest and hanging out there without the ability to reef or furler. This truly is a different experience learning the characteristics of a displacement hulled boat and how it "feels". My e-mail is pastormike@vvbca.org Mike H
 
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Mike Holtzinger

Refing the main

I found a reefing kit and diagram on Harken's site. http://www.harken.com/rigtips/reefing.php I think I have answered my own question! Mike H
 
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Van Tunstall

Good Boat Chioce!

Mike, I hope that you are enjoying your Islander 28. I have had my I28, WindWalker, since 1982 and can tell you it is the sweetest sailing little boat on the planet. Since you were used to planing hulls and swing keels, it takes a little time to get used to continually having the lee rail under water. I can say, however, that once you get in the groove and get used to it, you'll get hooked. Use the traveller to dump some air if the Admiral gets too nervous. I usually sail in 15-20 knots of wind here on Monterey Bay and use either a 130% or 105% jib, no reef. If it gets over 20 knots, I drop to a 80% and a reef. I have a fully batten main and would highly recommend it. I have a jiffy reefing system installed. You have to leave the cockpit to work it but it's fast and simple. I had a chance to have an E mail conversation with Bob Perry, the designer, and he said that the Islander 28 was one of his favorite designs. He was specially proud of how he got 10 feet of beam in a 28 foot boat without it looking fat. I hope that you have as much fun with your boat as I have had with mine. Enjoy!
 
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Zen

Reefing

Greetings I have A I-29 with a dutchman system. This came with the boat. I am new to this boat and system. however I am loving it, so far. I can reef easly from the cockpit I also have the ability to do manymany reef points all set from the cockpit...sweet! I always find it best from my other boat to plan ahead and set my reefing before I go out.
 
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Mike Holtzinger

Dutchman system

Thanks for the reply. Iam familiar with the harken sysytem but don't know the dutchman system. Would love to hear more about.
 
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Mike Holtzinger

I-28 new

Van, Thanks for the encouraging reply! I am enjoying the boat a bunch. This boat has been completely gone through in the last 5 years and everything is new but the main, which is in great shape. I think the only thing I will be doing to this boat in the next year or so is purchase a fully battened main as you suggested, especially in the winds up here in Puget Sound at times. I am now getting ready to winterize and contemplating taking the headsail off which is on a Harken III furler. I am not sure how to do that but I am considering it. I also am going to pull the main. and then put a tarpaline over the boom to cover the cabin and more importantly the new dodger. Any comments would be appreciated.
 
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zen

Dutchman

here is some info on the dutchman http://www.mvbinfo.com/dp_03_SF_brochure.html
 
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Mike Holtzinger

Dutchman System

WOW! Very nice. But I'm not sure wich topping system I have, so I'll have to go look. The find a sailmake to make the modifications. North Sailmakers are here is Seattle so if I get serious about this I'll talk to them. I really liked what I saw! Thanks a bunch.
 
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