G'Day folks,
Newby here. I wanted to post some pictures and find out what I have here. I have many questions about this.....ummm....boat?....canoe?...not sure. It was painted and modified to compete in a solar race but I can see some leftover fittings from a sailing rig. I don't really know much about sailing but I am intrigued and keen to learn.
dimensions are: length 18ft(5500mm), about 3ft wide(970mm at the widest point), about 340mm deep. I can see the words 'Sada Viman' under the paint on each side and a sticker with 'Sada' on the inside. There is also a circular logo repeated twice. Could this be the brand?

I will appreciate any info about this boat and what it can be used for - or mybe you know another forum where I can ask?

Cheers,
S

That's what I thought, thanks Subsonic.
I will take her out on the weekend to see how she floats.

I am wondering what type of sail I could fit and what size, mast size etc. - something suitable for a beginner? How about some sort of lugsail? Looks fairly easy to do.

I would need to spend some time getting her back into shape, patching some holes, redoing an ugly existing repair and maybe repainting. I wonder where is the best spot for the beer cooler?

Are there any canoe sailers on this forum?

ST said...

That's what I thought, thanks Subsonic.
I will take her out on the weekend to see how she floats.

I am wondering what type of sail I could fit and what size, mast size etc. - something suitable for a beginner? How about some sort of lugsail? Looks fairly easy to do.

I would need to spend some time getting her back into shape, patching some holes, redoing an ugly existing repair and maybe repainting. I wonder where is the best spot for the beer cooler?

Are there any canoe sailers on this forum?

Have a wander about your local rubbish dump recycle shop for a windsurfer sail and bits.
Wont take much sail area to drive this, cut down windsurfer sail with maybe the luff round cut out to make a lug sail. It will need a centreboard too. Cut down windsurfer mast would suit too but these are hard to come by, I buy all the ones I come across!

slainte said...

Agree Romano, if all else fails try here www.seabreeze.com.au/classifieds/Results.aspx?search=PPE4JOFi29QV%2fzvO5peLYQ%3d%3d

Its Ramona and I was thinking more like a maximum of $5. I pick them up occasionally for the battens but some of are just too good to cut up.

If your after new cloth to make a Dacron lug sail the stuff sold on eBay for model yachts would be ideal. I bought a few metres off UK eBay a while back, its about 2 ounces and about $5 a metre.

Thanks Ramona, great tip! I am now proud owner of 2 windsurf sails with carbon fibre masts. Free!

I am thinking of using one mast and sail as the main. I could then use the second mast to make a boom and maybe the second sail to make a jib later. But I have a million questions if you guys don't mind.....

Is the size and shape of the windsurf sail suitable for this application? I would use a wooden dowel inside the carbon fibre mast to attach the mast to the boat. Would the mast be strong enough without forestay and shrouds? (see, I have done some reading )

With the boom attached to the bottom of the sail it would not be horizontal. Does this matter? As an advantage the tack could be lower and I would still have some headroom at the end of the boom.

Is the sail likely to move with the boom when tacking or would the luff being sleeved over the mast not allow this?

I would like to hear your opinions!

Cheers,
S

Ramona, great advice again! Cheers!
I have done some reading on Finn and OK and got some good ideas from them.

I have solved the issue of the rotating mast with some electrical conduit sleeved over the wooden dowel. The conduit is a perfect fit and rotates easily in the box section of the hull. The dowel also goes inside the carbon fibre mast for a bit over a meter and should help strenghten the mast at the base. Somehow, I have a feeling that the first mast I will be using will break due to my inexperience. I will keep the better sail with wishbone until I have gained some experience and start by cutting down the smaller sail and make a boom to fit.

I have started stripping the paint off the hull and my next step is to patch all the little screw holes and to redo the existing bodgy repair.

I also need to do some work on the box section for the centre board which leaks. The hole which has been fiberglassed over at the bottom doesn't hold any water. There is a crack somewhere in the thin plywood and the water ends up inside the hull. I am not sure if I can just glass over the plywood or need to rip the whole lot out and start again. Has anyone got any advice on this? I don't think it would be good to leave the ply there if it can get wet all the time and rot. Is it possible to seal the centreboard hole from the exposed side? I can't think of a way to get a brush in there. Who has built sections like this before and can give some advice?

Cheers