Steve Pope

McGregor 65, up there with the big Spencers and Birdsals!

I know of a whiting 29 that might be coming onto the market, could find out if you are interested?

Listen to the Panther he has been there done that. There are folk who will only see potential problems that generally never come to pass. Do a couple of shake down cruises to sort out any fitout defects, there will be some. We have friends who sailed the world for 25 years, in that time they experienced only 1 storm, less than 10 gales. They sailed the seasons to ensure reasonable weather.

Looks reasonably calm, maybe they will put another diver down?

Can you run open CPN on a mac? Or an Ipad?

definitely a highly strung boat!

I welded steps up the back of the rudder just for such an event. with relatively high topsides it was an impossibility to get back on board.

It is a pretty straight forward, basic seamanship applies, if you have a GPS, (handheld is good) you can plot your course to miss any rocks that are close to the direct route. Passing through (inside) the Cavalli's shortens the trip a little and is worth it, just to experience sailing in confined waters as you exit the southern channel, try and time it so the tide is in your favour. There is a rock that has caught several yachties out near the southern part of the Cavalli bay, GPS will show it or / and check it on a paper chart. It would be on your Starboard side. Or you can sail around the ou

it's right way up on my iMac.

Looks very similar to a Gulf 30 (birdsall) great gulf cruiser.

wouldn't the "back" sail be the main sail? I like the idea of sailing on and off the anchor, a lost art these days.

Far East Sails, Lee Sails, have been around for many many years, As long as you give them the right information you will get a sail that is equal at least to what the local sailmakers can make. If your yacht is a known design they will have it on file. I have bought my sails locally, (small loft) working on the basis that we need our own industry here, but have been frustrated not to get their best price first! Having to shop around, come back with a price that they will then meet, but not necessarily better. The big lofts (international) should have pencils sharp enough to compete with these

Good one Babe, looked out for you up, there before we went across to Fiji, just so many beautiful islands.

Sounds like a win to me!!

scrape the paint use a dehumidifier for a day or 3 to dry out the bilge, then check for rot as Wheels suggests. Re soaking epoxy into ply or any soft wood for that matter, a local boat builder suggested using epoxy mix diluted at 75% with meths x 2 applications, this allows the epoxy to get good penetration, then 1 coat of normal strength epoxy, sand and paint if so required.

Most cruisiung Cats become displacement craft by dint of the amount of gear that gets put on board, you need to be a minamalist to keep the speed advantage.

Re max's mention of the limits of draft, Centre boarders don't have those problems.

Suggest if you are still following Hineka do check out the rust situation as rumour has it she alledgedly has had some repairs to rust holes penetrating right through the plating, from the inside, hope this isn't true. Also although she is 70' long the interior space is not much more than you would get with a good cruising 40 footer.

Hineka is a fast but tender boat, has been on the market for a while, I would suggest a very careful survey of the hull etc. before buying, and of course it is a buyers market. For me she would be too big, think maintenance, gallons of antifoul, gallons of paint, slipping charges, sail size, replacement costs. etc. etc. etc. Great for space on board at anchor, but to sail short handed and without a lot of experience is a big ask, you could find yourself totally reliant on others for crew, can't go, can't get a crew, Mid 30' to max mid 40' is a good size for a cruiser lots of good designs ou

Tell us more Grant!