Can anyone lend in their expertise or guidance? We purchased this boat for a project for my son and husband. In doing research we're coming up pretty dry. Definitely a Sears boat, see the plate with legible model and serial number. Unfortunately, we think the mast that came with the boat is not original to the boat. If anyone can shed any light or point us in a direction to get this boat sailworthy, we would greatly appreciate it.
Sears Crestwind???
- Thread starter Adamscc
- Start date
A quick search on the web found this:
http://sailboatdata.com/viewrecord.asp?class_id=6873
http://www.shortypen.com/?boat=43
Second link isn't the same hull ?
http://sailboatdata.com/viewrecord.asp?class_id=6873
http://www.shortypen.com/?boat=43
Second link isn't the same hull ?
Thank you so much for taking the time to do a quick search. We had seen those entries, but still can't figure out what kind of mast this boat should have in terms of the size. It seems clear that the one that came with it is not correct. Again, thank you for your help.
jssailem
SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
- Oct 22, 2014
- 23,306
Many a small boat (like this 14 footer) can have the mast bigger or smaller than the designer indicated and no issues occur. I would first see if the mast fits the holes of the boat. Can you attach the mast and the shrouds to the deck? Will it stand up on it's own when fastened? Do your have sails? Do they go up the mast? Do the appear to be sized reasonably?
You can test all of this on dry land on a calm day. It's called dry sailing. You rig the boat with all the sails and see where everything goes. If it all seems to fit together and stand up on it's own then put on some life jackets and see if she floats. Small lake, warm water, bathing suits, and a camera. More fun than a barrel of monkeys.
If the mast is too long then the sail will not fit properly, the boat will look and feel top heavy, the shrouds will not fit in the turnbuckles and deck fittings.
Again camera picture and post the results here.
Or you can try to find a sailor in the local area who is handy with boats to ask questions.
Boats like that are great fun for the family.
You can test all of this on dry land on a calm day. It's called dry sailing. You rig the boat with all the sails and see where everything goes. If it all seems to fit together and stand up on it's own then put on some life jackets and see if she floats. Small lake, warm water, bathing suits, and a camera. More fun than a barrel of monkeys.
If the mast is too long then the sail will not fit properly, the boat will look and feel top heavy, the shrouds will not fit in the turnbuckles and deck fittings.
Again camera picture and post the results here.
Or you can try to find a sailor in the local area who is handy with boats to ask questions.
Boats like that are great fun for the family.
Which might confirm your notion that the mast is not original. However, the same may be true of the sails. Many owners of boats this size, when faced with a need for a new sail, choose to buy a used sail, in a size that works but is not perfect. It's a way to decrease costs and increase sailing time.
The person we got it from said he had no information about the boat as the previous owner had passed away.
jssailem
SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
- Oct 22, 2014
- 23,306
Adam
Again a great reason to raise the sails in the driveway.
Give it a go and let us know your experiences.
I looked at the boat plan listed here. It appears that the mast sits in the bottom of the boat and the sail rides high about the cockpit. A lot of this type of boat has a bit of extra room between the bottom of the boom and the heads of the crew sitting in the cockpit. Not all boats but often the ones sold as "starter boats", if there is such a thing, allowed for this extra space. It served the purpose of fewer crew hit during the learning period, as the boom sweeps across the boat in a gybe.
Again a great reason to raise the sails in the driveway.
Give it a go and let us know your experiences.
Hello Adamscc, Is there a daggerboard with the boat? I can not recognize one in the pictures you included. Probably wooden like the rudder. The daggerboard would slide down into the slot in the center of the hull.
Thanks so much for responding...yes there is a dagger board that slides down into the slot in the hull.