New acquisition

[gadget99]

Sort of prep related.

Living on the Isle Of Wight.

We got ourselves our retirement present.

Good prepper transport also.

Our 1981 Hummingbird 30 sailboat.

[Jackalope]

    Very nice!  So can it be used for ocean crossings?

[gadget99]

    Very nice!  So can it be used for ocean crossings?

With a little amount of prep and fitting she would be ok for a crossing no problem.

For info. Here is a link to the data on these boats. Mine is fitted out as per the photos.

https://www.yachtsnet.co.uk/archives/hummingbird-30/hummingbird-30.htm

[JohnyMac]

Congratulations Gadget!!!

Double keeled boats are great as they sit on the hard when the tide goes out. This makes it easy to work on during those times.

I have lived on, delivered, and generally had a bunch of sail boats. If I have one piece of advise for you when you buy a used boat is remove and then rebed all through deck items, e,g, cleats, winches, steering pedestal, etc. There is nothing worse than climbing into a wet bunk after being on a long wet & cold watch.

If you have any need for some advise please do not hesitate asking me. 

[Nemo]

Come west.  Up the Chesapeake, up the James and dinner is on me.

Nemo

[CJS06]

Gadget

Congrats!  Johny Mac's advise is is like gold when it comes to a boat.  If there is a place where a hole has been put in the boat make sure to remove and rebed the fittings.  This includes small hardware that seems innocuous.  Also if your the boat was stored as in the pics, with the rig up, make sure that you do a full proper inspection of the standing and running rigging as well as the fittings and wiring that is run up the mast.  So much easier to inspect and or fix anything when on the hard or if necessary you can take the rig down. Once at sea, simple items become major problems.

Looks like a great pickup.

Chris

[zeerf]

Congrats and looks like fun!

[gadget99]

Hi all

Thanks for all the good advice.

We got lucky on the purchase. The owner of the boat was the owner of the boatyard. So she has been looked after well.

We are going to be renewing the deck fitting and window seals over the rest of the winter. As well as the running rigging.

Standing Rigging will be fully replaced later in the year.

[Nemo]

Be sure to keep it ready for a final evac route should zombies be able to take the island.

Nemo

[gadget99]

Be sure to keep it ready for a final evac route should zombies be able to take the island.

Nemo

Yep....

All part of the grand plan...

[gadget99]

Woo Hoo......

She was relaunched yesterday morning. Went down and caught the mid day night tide to move her up river to her new mooring.

We got lucky and have a walk on pontoon birth on the outside on the river channel. So easy to approach and leave.

The mooring is cheaper due to the fact that it dries out on the tide. That is why we bought a bilge keel. The two keels will rest on beep mud very well.

She really handles well under power. That huge rudder makes a difference at slow speeds.

Will get some interior pics posted at some point.

Cheers.

[JohnyMac]

Suggestion...

Even if you are not a amateur radio operator, when you have the standing rigging replaced have the standing rigging that runs from the top of the mast to the stern (Backstay) rigged with insulators.

The reason being is that you can use the backstay as a antenna for your future transceiver/radio. Insulated backstay>'08 gauge jumper>tuner>transceiver.

If you do that you will need to add a grounding plate to the bottom of the hull at low tide one day. Once accomplished then ground the new transceiver to the ground plate. VIOLA, you can talk around the world.

Actually, many manufactures ground the boat electrical system to the boats thru-hull fitting's which works OK. A better and safer way is to use the newly installed ground plate to ground all.

There you go, just spending your money for you gadget. 

[Nemo]

There you go, just spending your money for you gadget. 

Sounds like a wife across the water.  He may never make it back now.

Nemo

[gadget99]

Sound advice JM.

Will look into it when the time comes.

[gadget99]

A few more pics. She is a bit old yet solid built and a bit of refit will freshen her up.

[JohnyMac]

As you wrote, "...a bit of refit will freshen her up."

What make is the engine? Gas or diesel? Size?

The control panel as you come down/go up the companionway is a weakness of the design. In a bouncy seaway, I could see a foot causing some exciting moments. Maybe a clear box with lid is appropriate. 

[CJS06]

Gadget

One easy thing to take a look at that is an easy fix......until it is needed when underway is to check your hoses for your sink, shower and head drains.  Depending on when they were installed or last serviced these have a tendency to be made from a material that is notorious for getting brittle. If they crack while underway they can let a ton (literally) of water in before you may get a chance to close the seacock. most marine heads use a salt water flush as well so check that while you are at it .

As Johny mentioned some form of a cover for the control panel at the bottom of the companionway is a good idea.  to go along with that if you do decide to go offshore a simple set of weatherboards to block at least part of the companionway opening would be good to have when underway.  Helps to keep more of the weather and sea outside the boat.


Again congrats on the purchase! Two of the happiest days in my life are when I got a boat.........and then when I sold it 
Chris

[JoJo]

 Definition of a boat. "A hole in the water that you throw your money into"

[Nemo]

Break Out Another Thousand.

We will soon be hearing he has some jewels from some crown collection for sale.

Nemo

[gadget99]

Break Out Another Thousand.

We will soon be hearing he has some jewels from some crown collection for sale.

Nemo

Definition of a boat. "A hole in the water that you throw your money into"

Ah yes......

However it is OUR money pit.

The utility that the boat will provide far surpasses the cost to maintain it.

Unlike some. We went into it well informed. As well as staying under budget on the purchase. We put aside a healthy budget for keeping her running.

Plus living on the Island. It has the utility of allowing us to pop across to the mainland to bulk shop for stuff.

To take the car across during peak periods can run average £200 round trip on one of the car ferries.

Cheers all.

[JoJo]

Ah yes......

However it is OUR money pit.

 Just joking. I live 4 miles from the Delaware bay and 12 miles from the ocean and I see boats every day. They are a large part of our economy.

[gadget99]

Ah yes......

However it is OUR money pit.

 Just joking. I live 4 miles from the Delaware bay and 12 miles from the ocean and I see boats every day. They are a large part of our economy.

Yeah knew it was joking.

Thought it is an important thing for people to remember. It takes money to keep a boat going as well as constant maintenance.

We were very pleased to take this route for a few reasons.

1. Due to our location we can get a good amount of use out of her.
2. We intend to travel a good amount with her.
3. She serves as an independent means of transport off the Island.
4. She has multiple uses in terms of prepping.

Cheers

[JohnyMac]

When MrsMac and I lived in Seattle we had a buddy who lived on San Juan Island, Washington. Rather than take a ferry to Vancouver Island (Sidney to be specific) where he had some business interests, he would jump onto his small trawler and spend about an hour traveling to the island. Once there, he would clear customs via phone, walk a block from the marina to a place that he stored a car and off he would go.

To take a ferry and his car it was a long drawn out affair. The time he spent to queue up to board the ferry, then the travel time which involved the ferry stopping at other islands for pick up/drop off, and then customs - Five hours had passed. The cost was reasonable at $35- or so each way with a vehicle under 22-feet, so time was the big issue.

[gadget99]

As you wrote, "...a bit of refit will freshen her up."

What make is the engine? Gas or diesel? Size?

The control panel as you come down/go up the companionway is a weakness of the design. In a bouncy seaway, I could see a foot causing some exciting moments. Maybe a clear box with lid is appropriate.

Hi JM....

Sorry I have not gotten back to you on this. Been doing a bunch of planning on updates to the boat.

It has a Vetus marine diesel engine in it. Inboard on shaft. I forget the HP. Has a 70 litre stainless tank in the engine bay.

The good thing is it was recently fitted. so has less than 300 hrs on it.

As can be expected she is well fitted due to the model being a high spec boat in her day.

1. Hot and cold running water heated by shore power or engine heat.
2. Hot air heating run by electric or propane.

Planning out the running rigging update for this ailing season at the moment. Will have the standing rigging replaced when she gets lifted out in October. She will winter on the hard each year from October to April as is usual here for most boats. That is when we will do any heavy maintenance for the next season. We intend to do coastal and day sailing around the island and the solent this season to get to understand the boat.

Then after the winter refit and maintenance this coming winter. We will be sailing farther afield. Probably do a trip down to Cornwall and a cross channel trip to France.

Cheers

[JohnyMac]

Cool beans brother!