Bought my first sail boat!

[Bob Barker]

It's a very old Aquadyne Sailbird 18 trimaran. I'm not sure the year it was made, not sure how long it's been since it's been sailed, and I have no clue how to set up all the rigging. But it's mine now. Anybody know how to operate a sailboat on here? Got some tips on a certain book or website that will help me?

[Bob Barker]

On a semi-related note, I am selling my Kimber Stainless II .45 ACP. PM if interested!

[JoFotoz]

I've done a bit of sailing Bob....



...I used to Captain this puppy....and was raised in dinghys.

I'm more than happy to talk you through it on the phone...

...or, if you have a local yacht/sailing club, go down early one Saturday
and chat to the people setting up their boats.
Some yacht clubs even offer basic sailing lessons...which I would suggest

PM me if you want to chat about it.

ATB

Jo

[Bob Barker]

That thing is HUGE! Makes me blush a little just looking at it...

As soon as I get some needed maintenance worked out I'll be practicing set ups. I Have looked online for some definitions of the basic terminology, learned plenty there about direction descriptions on the boat but not a lot to tell me how to set things up, and what certain things do and how they do it! I have to replace the canvas tramps with some actual trampoline material first. Then the gel coat is chipped and faded in many areas so I will be figuring out how to either repair or replace it. Hopefully I can actually sail the boat within a month as warmer weather is already here in central FL.

[JoFotoz]

Sounds good...watch for leakage into the two outrigger hulls.

Feel free to hit me up if you want to go through any of it.

Jo

[Bob Barker]

I laid the mast and boom on the ground today and was able to get the sail fed into that groove on the mast. Looked neat lying on the ground, but not so useful that way! What would be an easy way to get the mast mounted and erect by myself? It doesn't weigh very much as it's aluminum but dang that thing has some leverage on the far end!

Also, there is a pair of pulleys, or blocks I guess? on the back where I assume the boom will attach and pivot, but seems like there is an extra set? What all goes on at the rear of this thing?

[JoFotoz]

A quick Google found an owners forum.....


http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sailbirds/

I'd suggest you look around that site for info first.
If you join, you'll have access to a data base etc.

Google also has images of rigged boats that should help you.

Stepping the mast on your own is very hard unless you have
a tabernacle on deck that allows you to attach mast base with
a through bolt or clevis pin, and pivots.

jo

[tjh]

Once upon a time in Vero Beach there where sailing classes. I suppose there may still be some.

[Bob Barker]

Thanks for that Jo.

I found a sailing course in Sanford, on Lake Monroe. It's on someone else's boat but a cheap enough class and it's only $35 for each additional parson to me, so I could get a couple people in with. I think it will teach me enough to get started, then it's time for hands on learning.

[JoFotoz]

I think thats a good move Bob.

The basics are all the same,...
...you'll learn standing rigging/running rigging/sheets/blocks etc.

That knowledge will all transfer to your Tri in terms of set up.

Have Fun

Jo

[Bulldoggie]

Sailing is relatively easy. It's the shape of the sail that allows you to sail against the wind.
Sailing with the wind is just grabbing as much as you can.
Rigging your boat so it is ready might take someone with experience to guide you.
I do recommend a sailing course, because sailing has a subset of rules of the road for tacking in a crowd, and not knowing them will earn you more than an earful.
Enjoy your sailboat. It looks like it will be a lot of fun. The fuel is cheap too!

[Bulldoggie]

And Jo, that boat is gorgeous!

[CoastieCosta567]

Lucky, thats a sick boat Mae, congrats on a beauty. BTW, I'll be around the corner from where u live. Staying in Casselberry for 4 months, on Red Bug Lake Road.

[JoFotoz]

Thanks Dude...

And Jo, that boat is gorgeous!

...she's a beauty.

I'd agree with everything you say except relative to going "against the wind"

Sail shape does play an important role......
...but its more a funtion of Laminar Flow and Hydrodynamic lift from the keel.

Hence multi hulls are renowed for crappy upwind performance...
You can shape their sail any which way you choose, but because
they have no keel...they slide sideways and dont have the lift/flow
of the keel to "act' like a wing and turn side force into fwd motion.



Jo

[CoastieCosta567]

Thanks Dude...



...she's a beauty.

I'd agree with everything you say except relative to going "against the wind"

Sail shape does play an important role......
...but its more a funtion of Laminar Flow and Hydodynamic lift from the keel.

Hence multi hulls are renowed for crappy upwind performance...
You can shape their sail any which way you choose, but because
they have no keel...they slide sideways and dont have the lift/flow
of the keel to "act' like a wing and turn side force into fwd motion.



Jo

I have never thought of that, that makes total sense.