I would recommend checking with Seco South in Largo FL (727 536 1924) for anything in the way of standing rigging and lifelines. They are an OEM supplier to some higher end boats built in the Southeast US, but also sell to retail customers like ourselves. I've used them several times to replace complete standing rigs and been very pleased with the service and the price. I'll use them when I get around to replacing the rig on my Contessa. Chris
2 2008-12-17 16:23:56
Re: Truck and Trailer for rent (1 day job)?? (3 replies, posted in General Questions/Comments)
Actually, yes. My sister has a place in Cape Vincent, and I'm in the process of negotiating on a small commercial building there. It's a great place to spend time in the summer, and after having sailed in many salt water locations over the years, the Great Lakes offer the best combination of clean water(that happens to be fresh!), a virtually unlimited number of destinations, and distances that make for trips that are practical and reasonable for those of us who still must work. I can live w/ the 5 hr drive to get there. The NJ shore is only 90 minutes(at 2AM), but it's wall to wall people(and traffic), and lost the appeal it had when I was kid in the 50's and 60's.
3 2008-12-17 04:45:50
Topic: Truck and Trailer for rent (1 day job)?? (3 replies, posted in General Questions/Comments)
I bought a 1974 Contessa earlier this year in Buffalo where it has spent its' entire life. The Vire engine is inoperable, and I'm not going to invest heavily into restoring a 35 yr old gas engine. The boats new home will be Cape Vincent NY (240 road miles). Is anyone who owns a trailer and truck interested in informally contracting w/ me to move this boat? Thanks, Chris
4 2008-12-17 04:33:48
Topic: Need my Contessa Trucked, Buffalo to Cape Vincent NY (0 replies, posted in Wanted)
I recently bought a 1974 Contessa in Buffalo where it has spent its' entire life. The Vire engine is inoperable, and I'm not going to invest heavily into restoring a 35 yr old gas engine. The boats new home will be Cape Vincent NY (240 road miles). Is anyone who owns a trailer and truck interested in informally contracting w/ me to move this boat? Thanks, Chris
5 2008-12-17 04:29:54
Topic: Need my Contessa Moved, Buffalo to Cape Vincent(NY) (0 replies, posted in Wanted)
I recently bought a 1974 Contessa in Buffalo where it has spent its' entire life. The Vire engine is inoperable, and I'm not going to invest heavily into restoring a 35 yr old gas engine. The boats new home will be Cape Vincent NY (240 road miles). Is anyone who owns a trailer and truck interested in informally contracting w/ me to move this boat? Thanks, Chris
6 2008-10-04 08:52:04
Topic: Outboard Motor Bracket for 9.9 4stroke (2 replies, posted in Repairs/Modifications/Upgrades)
I have a 1974 JJT model w/ a tired and apparently frozen Vire. I've recently acquired a Yamaha 9.9 4 stroke hi thrust 25" leg outboard(by far the most sophisticated outboard I've ever owned) in near new condition. I'm sure this is ample power for the boat. A little heavier than I'd like, but w/ all the features(removable tiller can be mounted conveniently in the cockpit) it's going to replace the Vire, and I'll gain a lot of space under the cockpit sole. Furthermore, should I take the boat to Staten Island and leave it moored there, I won't have to deal w/ impossible to control fouling on the prop that's indigenous to Great Kills Harbor.
My problem is to devise and fabricate a totally fixed bracket w/ no moving parts(not sure if the 25' shaft length will allow that and be effective/efficient), or a bracket w/ one moving part that allows the engine mount to slide vertically 5-10 inches to be deep in the water when in use and up high w/ the motor tilted fwd when not in use. I see a number of Contessa's w/ very small OBs, and these are people who are crossing oceans and will have limited need for the OB. Does anyone have any firsthand experience mounting a 10hp 4 stroke motor on their Contessa?
Thanks, Chris Bell
7 2008-06-01 12:05:31
Re: Weather Helm? (29 replies, posted in Boat handling / Performance)
Relative to tuning the rig and shroud and stay tensions, I've just bought my Contessa and expect to replace the standing rigging, among other things, but does anyone have any demonstrated data relative to optimum tensions for the rig? I've also just bought a Loos tension gauge for use on this boat and a PS Orion I also have, so I'll be figuring out how to make the best use of that, too. So after fooling around w/ sailboats for 40 yrs I ought to be able to do things a little more professionally.
thanks, Chris Bell
8 2008-04-29 05:51:38
Re: How old are your sails? (55 replies, posted in Sails & Rigging)
I'm new to this site as I have just bought my first Contessa, but I've been around sailing for over 40 years. Relative to new sails and sailmakers, it seems that many of the bigger national names in sailmaking have been going to China for sails for regular guys like us sailing regular boats like ours. Especially for mainsails where there's more labor involved. The sails they do still make are the exotics, and of course they do repairs. The local lofts are still likely to make the sail themselves.
I have a Pac Seacraft Orion that I'd like to replace the sails on and the Contessa which really ought to get a few new sails, and I'm having some heartburn supporting a business that exports the workmanship and behaves largely as a middleman. I'll have to see just how expensive it is to keep the work here in North America. If the spread is not greater than 25% I'll try and stay local. I'd hate to see the local guys put out of business.