Similar to the Illusion 12 but a mystery

[mystery boat]

So I rescued a boat. It's like the Illusion 12 but it's 16 ft. (15.6) 4.7m.
There were two of them for $500, so I had to buy one.
I seem to recall seeing these in the 80's here in the US and I tried to find ANY information on it, but I came up empty.
Both of them had a "Universal Sixteen" on the sides but there are no records that I could find on them.
There are no HIN's on the boats anywhere that I have found.
I'm looking for ANYONE that would remember these and have any guidance to offer.


Once cleaned up, it's in very good condition (pic below)
I could use some help on the rigging though. There was a lot of hardware but no information on what they were used for.

As found

It's twin

First bath

After some serious sanding and buffing, also a mast and boom (sized to the best of my estimates)

 

[FastOlson]

I recall reading, several years ago, that a fleet of very similar boats was being raced by a large YC up in BC Canada. This might have been Royal Victoria or Royal Vancouver...... wish I could remember details, but some searching may turn up some info. Good Luck!

 

[Project_Mayhem]

Whatever it is, it's a sweet little boat. Looks like a blast to sail!

 

[jssailem]

It has similarities to the Mini 12M boats. You get into the cockpit, and all the controls are within arm's reach. They were only 9.8 ft LOA, I think.
Is the keel fixed? If so, it would appear that the boat would be very agile. Able to turn quickly. Maybe a bit squirly on a long tack, as it would require a very balanced sail plan to keep it on track, as the keel appears cut so far back from the bow.

 

[mystery boat]

I've been struggling with what rigging goes with what, but I was stuck at the main sheet handling system.
I think it's missing a component and that was making me look in the wrong direction and questioning everything...in circles..

There are two blocks on the stern (1&2) and I thought they had to be somehow used with the main because there is no evidence of anything else being mounted (but missing) and it has the ratcheting blocks in the sheet path or so I thought.(6, and one on the other side)
So how to control the sheet???
Well, if I add a fidget block with cleat to the lowest available point on the mast, bring the sheet out to the boom far enough to not chafe on the edge of the cockpit, and THEN run the sheet to the "purchase" or "main sheet traveler", all of a sudden the blocks on the stern (1&2), the ratchet blocks in the cockpit (6), now become the blocks for the spinnaker sheets. Suuuuurrrre, I had to through more money at it, but so far seems like how the manufacturer must have had it.. Only thing that makes sense at this point.

Kind of like this.

I still need to figure out number (5). Maybe boom vang or Cunningham??

Going $$ tally "so far", I'm in for $500. I still need the sails....... More to come on that one.

 

[mystery boat]

Whatever it is, it's a sweet little boat. Looks like a blast to sail!

I hope so. Just need to get er done and in the water. Nice little retirement project.

 

[jssailem]

If, like many of these small boats, I suspect the blocks (1 & 2) at the stern are for an asymmetrical or standard spinnaker. Often found on the daysailers used for racing.
If you sit inside the cockpit as I suspect, then you will want the mainsheet to clear your head. The angle from the traveler to the forward block on the boom appears to hit you while sitting in the cockpit. I think you want the mainsheet to enter the cockpit from the mast.

 

[mystery boat]

If, like many of these small boats, I suspect the blocks (1 & 2) at the stern are for an asymmetrical or standard spinnaker. Often found on the daysailers used for racing.
If you sit inside the cock[pit like I suspect, then you will want the mainsheet to clear your head. The angle from the traveler to the forward block on the boom appears to hit you while sitting in the cockpit. I think you want the mainsheet to enter the cockpit from the mast.

Yup, thats where some of the rigging was when I bought the mast and boom from another boat.
If I route the sheet up from the cockpit to a new block on the boom, run it back to another block, I'm right at the purchase. And no haircuts or crainial bumps.

 

[jssailem]

Here is an image of the Mini12M boat. You can see how the mainsheet rigging is handled. The mainsheet uses a fiddle block on the boom behind the cockpit. It goes down to the traveler, up to the boom, and forward to the boom block and down to the cockpit.

 

[jssailem]

This way, you can use the traveler for small adjustments and the main sheet for major ones.

 

[jssailem]

The sail is small, so there is not a lot of pressure on the mainsheet. You can get away with fewer blocks to control the trim.

 

[jssailem]

Ok. Looking at the Harken site, I would use a Becket block.

On the boom behind your head, you tie the mainsheet to the becket. The line runs down to the block on your traveler, then back up to the becket block and forward along the boom to the block near the mast. From there, down to the cockpit and a block with a cam cleat

Here is one that you could attach to the mast. or the front of your cockpit.

There are many different styles. I would look at Garhauer Marine.

 

[mystery boat]

Ok. Looking at the Harken site, I would use a Becket block.
View attachment 239095
On the boom behind your head, you tie the mainsheet to the becket. The line runs down to the block on your traveler, then back up to the becket block and forward along the boom to the block near the mast. From there, down to the cockpit and a block with a cam cleat

Here is one that you could attach to the mast. or the front of your cockpit.
View attachment 239096

There are many different styles. I would look at Garhauer Marine.
View attachment 239097

That middle one looks perfect!

 

[jssailem]

The becket block (#1) is designed for the block behind your head. If you already have that (the mainsheet goes from the boom to the traveler, then back up to the boom, and then forward), then the middle image is for final control in the cockpit. It is more expensive than the Garhauer one. But yes, it is a nice design

 

[jssailem]

All this is my speculation based on what I see in your image. If there is more control hardware not shown in the cockpit, that might change the setup.

 

[shemandr]

A sailing kayak with a keel! You wouldn't get me in it. Too confining. I can't pretend that I don't have legs.

 

[rgranger]

There is one more place you might look but it will be tedious. I just now popped over to sailboatdata.com and sorted their database by length. There are over 70 different 16' sailboats in their database. But to see the image you have to click them one-by-one (I'll leave that up to you )

A also did a google image search that did not add any new info....

And acording to uncle AI, there never was a 16' verson of the Illusion 12.

 

[Ted]

I think the boat you have is an AC 4.5 Here is some info about them. https://www.boats.com/reviews/looks-like-a-full-sized-yacht-look-again/

 

[jssailem]

It is certainly a contender. Looks like strapping yourself into a Formula 1car.

 

[Project_Mayhem]

It is certainly a contender. Looks like strapping yourself into a Formula 1car.

Sign me up!