| T.R | Title | User | Personal
Name | Date | Lines |
|---|
| 575.1 | time for a survey? | PULSAR::BERENS | Alan Berens | Tue Jun 16 1987 15:23 | 10 |
| At the risk of sounding like gloom and doom, who says the boat is in
excellent condition? A surveyor you've hired? The owner? If the owner,
get a survey. I would be very, very concerned about rot and delamination
in a 20 year old fiberglass-covered plywood hull.
See also the ealier notes about the value of survey and sea trials.
Good luck!
|
| 575.2 | | CASADM::THOMAS | | Tue Jun 16 1987 16:33 | 20 |
| There used to be a big fleet of Thunderbirds in Scituate but age
and plastic have taken their tolls. I've spoken with folks who've
sailed on them and all the comments were favorable. By all means
take Alan's advice, and mine, and have it surveyed.
BTW It's a hard chine hull. The Rainbow has a fin keel. The term
hard chine refers to an angular turn in the hull. As in:
| |
| |
| |
\ / <---- chine
\ /
\ /
\_______/ <----- chine
If I got this wrong would someone explain it correctly. I think
I've got the drift right.
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| 575.3 | F..A..S......T | CURIE::DEVITT | | Wed Jun 17 1987 11:49 | 8 |
|
Yes, it's a very fast boat, both in its age and even now !!
If it's in good shape you'll have lots of fun.
I can't catch one
<< ENSIGN 399 >>
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| 575.4 | magazine article | EXPERT::SPENCER | | Wed Jun 17 1987 13:51 | 6 |
| I recall that several years ago Woodenboat Magazine did a lengthy article
on Thunderbirds -- history, performance, construction, racing etc. Might
worth finding a back issue to look at.
John.
|
| 575.5 | Designed for Amateur Construction | 3D::GINGER | | Wed Jun 17 1987 14:18 | 11 |
| Thunderbird was designed by the Douglas Fir Plywood Assoc and plans
were (maybe still are) sold for a very reasonable price. Lots of
them were built by amateurs, but I never heard of a kit. I also
question the line about 'the factory rep certified it was built
right'
I have every issue of WoodenBoat and will copy the article if someone
can identify the isse- I dont remember seeing it.
Ron
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| 575.6 | early WOODENBOAT | EXPERT::SPENCER | | Thu Jun 18 1987 18:06 | 11 |
| Ron,
RE: I have every issue of WoodenBoat and will copy the article if someone
can identify the isse- I dont remember seeing it.
It was a *long* time ago; I stopped getting it regularly about the third
year of publishing (1975??) and it was before then. Can you check any
annual indexes? Sorry I can't shed any more light on it than that.
J.
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| 575.7 | June 79 | 3D::GINGER | | Fri Jun 19 1987 16:26 | 8 |
| Found it- June 79 a 2 page article with some good photos.
SOme brief notes- the design was made in 1958, about 100 kits were
sold by the original designer. Over 1100 were registered with the
association. Plans cost $2.
Ron
|
| 575.8 | In case you're still looking... | HIGHFI::CORKUM | CYBORG::/FRSBEE:: CORKUM | Wed Jun 24 1987 13:35 | 21 |
|
I have a friend that has a Thunderbird and have also sailed on it. They
are good performers. One thing to point out though, these boats are homemade
and it's a matter of who built it and with what materials that should
determine it's value. If the builder stuck to the design plans and used the
prescribed materials that's one thing, the workmanship is another.
I'm not trying to turn you away from this boat. On the contrary, I second
Alan's recommendation that you contact a surveyor and preferably one
with an exposure to Thunderbirds. I've seen a number of them in
Scituate and Hull. Perhaps you can look for a surveryor in that area.
I've heard that there's a Thunderbird racing fleet over there but that's all
I know.
I' also aware of two for sale (the one I mentioned above and another in
Beverly). Contact me off-line it you want more info.
Good luck,
bc
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