Conference unifix::sailing

    I cannot help on trailers, but can make some comments about restoring a
    wooden boat.
    
    
    1) Make sure you understand how much work you are buying into.  I along
       with a friend have been redoing a couple of SNIPES.  One was a total
       wreck the other one looked pretty good until we dug into it.  On the
       final one we just refused to do any major work.  The first boat has
       been an ongoing project for over 2 years.  It is now done but I
       doubt that I would do it again.  
    
    2) Everything in a restoration takes longer and costs more than
       expected. When you figure out what we spent on material we could 
       have built a new one for half again what we spent.  When you factor
       in time it would have been faster and cheaper to built on from
       scratch.
    
    3) I do not know about the Thistle class but the rebuilt SNIPE is
       heavy, pretty and not worth racing.  Also it is fragile which is a
       big consideration at the sailing club.  We have to take special care
       with docking, storage, and restricting who can use it.  
    
    
    I am glad that I did it, and yes I knew what I was letting myself in
    for. Never agian, well not for a club maybe for myself.  See other
    notes about restoring wooden boats for general comments and help.
    
    
    Forrest

    To respond  to point 3: Rebuilding an old wood thistle may well be
    a  lot of work, but it can result in a very fast boat. Number 1 is
    still  winning  her  share  of races. Because wood is no longer an
    approved  material,  the only way to get a wood boat is to rebuild
    an  old  one,  and many people feel that the stiffest thistles are
    wood  ones  rebuilt  using WEST system epoxies. There are always a
    few wood boats in the top 10 at the nationals.

    Thistles are  great boats, and still my favorite boat to sail (Ok,
    Ok,  sometimes  I  remember  all  the  fun  we  had in 505s, but I
    couldn't even consider the work to keep one competitive.)

--David

    I agree with the speed of rebuilt Thistles.  The key is, even with
    new production boats, is the weight which you can deal with.
    
    I believe that you can still build a wood Thistle if you use the
    approved materials and process which currently does not allow the
    WEST system or like cold mold laminates.  With cold mold its the
    stiffness of the structure which can exceed the non-carbine fiber/
    glass structure.  This other factor is cost. Hand layen wood is
    more costly the glass.
    
    Thistles are great boats and a very competitive class.  Both my
    wife and I have skippered and crewed them for the last 13 years.
    

    I put several years into rebuilding a wooden Snipe. After laboring
    over every inch of the hull and rig, the thrill of sailing her was
    great. No other boat (especially plastic hulls) has given me the
    same feeling. After you put in all that work, the boat becomes part
    of you.
    
    If you enjoy working with wood, have the time, patience, and an area 
    to set aside as a workshop - I highly recommend it. 
                    
    -Paul
    

    
    	I bought a used trailer for a 19' O'Day last year.  The prices
    	ranged from approx. $300 used to a little over $1K new.  If
    	you're going to be trailering all over the place (rather than
    	just to/from a mooring or yacht club every year) you might want
    	to think about getting a new (or fairly new) trailer.
    
    	Check boat dealerships in the yellow pages; they often get	
    	trade-ins on trailers and you might find yourself a steal...
    
	Tom--
    

Sears carries inexpensive trailers:  ~$400+ for a 600-lb capacity.  It 
comes in a less-than-trailer-size box; you assemble, which is part of the 
savings.

J.

    	If you want something unique/special in a trailer, and have
    the space, tools and time to do some work, we should talk.  I built
    a trailer from mail order parts, steel angle, plywood, and other
    parts for a special application: the totally enclose volume is about
    40" X 40" X 12' long.   It uses GM X or J car hubs so I don't have
    to carry a spare (my cars are X and J), I located the axle so that
    the tounge weight is just right, I rounded the edges so the drag
    is low, etc.  
    	If you want to, you can easily and cheaply build the 'perfect'
    trailer.   - Chris
    

    I bought a small boat trailer at Monahan's Marine in Braintree a
    few years ago for $350.  They're a surprisingly well stocked marine
    supplier.  Sorta like a south shore version of Marine Speculator.
    
    There is also a boat dealer in Dedham on rt. 1 just east of rt. 128.
    I've forgotten the name but the trailers are plainly visible - they're
    stored on the roof of the building. 
    
    If you're into custom fabrication, Kelly Welding in Swamscott will
    weld a trailer to fit your boat.  Scott Kelly has done many E22,
    J24, and Rhodes trailers for North Shore customers.
    
    - gene