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Hi Marc,

I don't think we're disagreeing too much at all, actually.

I think Little Minute is a beautiful example of the Contessa 26. I do, however, think it's important that people realize that refurbishing an old sailboat does not make it a new sailboat. That new 26 foot sailboat has twice the interior volume of a Contessa 26, opening ports, a dodger and bimini, a cockpit dancefloor that'll handle twenty, sleeps 6, and what's more, has the backing of a manufacturer that is still in business. They are very different things.

I think he did a brilliant job on Little Minute, and I am sure you did a brilliant job on Sun Wave. But to expect to recoup your costs for refurbishing the boat isn't realistic. It's the same with houses, cars, boats, motorcycles, anything. With a few exceptions (very rare, specialized cars and motorcycles come to mind), the resale value of a boat that has been very well refurbished will not be that much higher than the cost of a similar boat that hasn't been refinished.

At $18,000, I think Little Wing would be a serious bargain. At $23,000? Not as much. And it seems the market agrees with me, since she's been listed for sale for almost two years.

That doesn't stop me from looking at the photos of her again and again though.

Absolutely. Seems to me that the space is too tight for air cooling, unless you built ducting and had a fan, etc. Seems all around much easier to just stick a marine engine in there?

Rumor has it that the Bukh 7hp engine is in fact simply a marinized Faryman 18w.

I just did some basic research on the Kubota in that boat. It's a model OC60-E, a 6HP, single cylinder engine that is apparently 'oil/air' cooled. I find this intriguing. First, I think the 6HP might be a bit low for this boat, though on the other hand, I am all about sailing instead of motoring, and 6HP should be enough for the situations in which a weekend warrior like myself would used an engine.

Even more interesting is that this engine may never come in contact with water, since it's air cooled. I wonder how much it heats up the cabin. Would be great on those fall days, but imagine that  on one of our 35 degree days? Wouldn't it just start rusting to hell in a salt-water environment?

Can you push the tiller over far enough to clear the cockpit?

And to what extent does the traveller improve the sail handling?

No sign of them yet, but it did bring to mind an idea I had a while ago, which was to print out some cards containing some information about the association and this site that association members can carry. Then when they spot an unknown (to us) Contessa in some far-flung marina or mooring field, we can encourage them to join the association and the forums.

I'll post those up to the gallery today, PNW.

Sounds most excellent. I will do my best to attend this time, now that the baby and mom are settled down a bit.

Of course, I have a son heading off to university this weekend, and two others starting school next week as well, so it is a bit hectic.

But I'll try.