Hi all. Time is coming to haul out my lady and one of the tasks on my list is to cut the modified keel (2.4m draft) back to it's original spec. There are a few specs for her online from 1.6 to 2.1 metres so I'm keen to find out the history of her and find out what she was. The keel was extended supposedly for 2 Sydney to Hobarts in 1997 & 2000 but her previous name (Bluebottle) is not mentioned in any race history and can't find boats that match. She was built to survey in 1982 by Prestige Yachts in WA number 745. If anyone has any ideas as to finding a boats history I'd love to hear it.

Thanks.

The S&S 39 Magic did 1997 and 2001, but not 2000 and she's still racing in Victoria. There was no production S&S 39 racing in 2000, as if there was we'd have been racing her.

"Boss Bluebottle" raced in 1995 and finished where an S&S 39 could be expected to finish. I may have a programme for that year in the shed.

There's an old ORC or IMS certificate for Bluebottle from 1994 listed on the ORC website that is cheap to get and will give you her specs as of that time. It will probably show the modified keel. Maybe she also had a bigger rig to match? The certs for the S&S 39s Magic and Galaxy III are available for free on the ORC website so you could use them for comparison. They have draughts of 2.177 and 2.22m. The two original custom versions (IIRC) were Mark Twain and Perie Banou III/Pilgrim and they also have expired ORC/IMC certs which would show the draft.

Assume you are aware of this site from 2012

sites.google.com/site/ss39australia/

The site is a bit unfinished - it is obviously one of the free website types and only the Home page works but the links to boats there has some information about 4 boats. They might still be contactable for information.

As per Chris's post;

1 Michael Spies would presumably be able to provide information from the Mark Twain restoration effort.

www.sail-world.com/news/212912/Its-all-about-the-training

2 and it would be good to check your rig size so that it would match your cut down keel size etc.............or not.

Assume you have the details of how the keel was lengthened so that you can reverse the engineering involved in this and get back to the original keel without jeopardising the whole keel's structural integrity under all the keel design load cases including full lateral capsize to 90deg heel and sand back grounding at some speed. Keel lengthening projects must be very rare? And keel unlengthening projects even rarer? Assume you have your reasons.

the other one on yacht hub is 2.1 draft
yachthub.com/list/yachts-for-sale/used/sail-monohulls/sparkman-stephens-39-comprehensive-offshore-inventory/242046

The keel was removed and completely replaced by a company in SA and I'm trying to track them down. It's a solid lead keel in 1 piece. I need to track them down and check on bolt length prior to cut but all specs I've seen so far put me in the clear.
The mast and sail area are as to spec.

r13 said..
And keel unlengthening projects even rarer? Assume you have your reasons.

The Davidson 34 "Chutzspah" here has had her keel shortened. I think it was done so she could enter various ports on the East coast and also use the slips easier.