Sounds like you've got a good plan, Matt, especially with 3 days a week for the boat and somewhere else to live.  As I said in my last email, I was also too optimistic and realise after looking into it that I could not afford to sell Arion for $20,000 and hope to get afloat again in a decent fibreglass boat, especially if I want to convert it to junk.  I will just have to keep chasing rust, and one of these days we can cross tacks somewhere on the east coast and compare boats!  In the meantime, if you want to come up for a few days at any time and get some junk sailing experience, you're welcome.  But one disclaimer - I am told I snore, so bring your earplugs!

Matt Waite wrote:

David – I got my hands on some line drawings of the accommodations of the Compass 28, I’ve emailed them to you separately. I hope my post didn’t sound like I was impatient – I am indeed very grateful that you’re willing to have a look. I understand how busy you are with projects.

No worries.

And the more I think on it, the more I reckon I’d like to try my hand at making a wooden mast out using the stave method in the files. Just need to find somewhere to make it.

However, the diameter of a wooden mast would be greater than that for a hybrid mast, and since you're a bit tight on space where the mast will have to go, the latter might be a better bet.

Hi Matt,
I'll continue emailing you but thought I'd post here for the benefit of others interested in JR conversions.  I am sympathetic with your situation, having been there myself.  I took 10 years once to rebuild an old boat, working weekends and annual holidays.  The junk conversion of your boat though woud be a lot less work. On Arion I had to cut and weld but you could do the work afloat, if they will allow you to in your marina berth.  Apart from cutting the hole in the deck, you will mostly be cutting bits of wood with your jigsaw and mixing up epoxy resin.  There will be a bit of power sanding here and there, but it is manageable.  If you built your own mast, either of timber or alloy base/timber top like Annie, that would mean you'd need some hard stand space to do it, likewise you'd need some space to build the sail.  You could buy an alloy mast like I did ($4000 from Federation Flagpoles in Adelaide - there goes your budget!) and get a sail professionally made for a similar amount.  A friend welded up my mast step and partners in about 20 hours, another 10 to apply several coats of epoxy paint.  I could build an epoxy/ply step and partners in a similar time, about a month of weekends I think (I have done a lot of epoxy work in my time).  I'll let others talk about building masts.  I just got a masthead cap welded up, riveted it on, slung the halyards, spend about 20 hours making a nice set of cedar wedges and called in the crane.  Making the yard, battens and boom out of alloy is also pretty fast.  It is just a matter of cutting and riveting saddles here and there.  I think you could do all that work on deck.    It is hard to put an exact number of hours on things as we all work at different paces.  I have friends who work slowly and meticulously.  I tend to work on the good enough principle and work pretty fast.  I think you could do the whole job in 6 months of weekend and evening work.  What you do about a mast and sail will be your biggest challenges, given your budget and lack of a suitable space to make them.  I think there will be a lot more work bringing the boat up to ocean cruising standard (self-steering, dinghy stowage, navigation equipment etc) than the actual junk rig conversion. 

Hi Annie and thanks for the warm welcome.

 

Yes, 28 feet is plenty for me and the dog, though it gets a little squeezy when I have feminine company.

And I agree; I admire and follow Roger Taylor’s endeavours, but for me the ‘right’ boat for my ambitions will be somewhat different. I can and do live aboard semi-minimally, with the dog, but food, clothing and entertainment gear, as well as the boat’s gear and tools, seems to consume my available space pretty thoroughly. And I’m yet to figure out a dingy plan (what type and where to store) which hasn’t been a problem so far as I’m living in a marina. Holding down a white collar job just doesn’t appear feasible on the hook. At least I haven’t figured out how to do it.

 

And Peter – thanks, I’ve always admired the Contessa 26, kind of like a ‘cruiser’s Folkboat’. My only lament about the Compass’s lines is that the rudder isn’t hung on the transom, because I’d love to have trim tab self steering rather than servo-pendulum. No real experience with either, just a preference based on guesswork and a desire for less transom clutter.

 

As I intimated, my plan is to wander far and wide in my little floating home. And at 47 years old, I want to get going asap. My wanderlust has gone too long unsatisfied!

 

With my current working/saving timetable, I’ve calculated that I’ll have a generous cruising kitty for a 2 year sabbatical in SE Asia, including repairs and an emergency cushion, by this time next year; Feb 2015. After that I’ll need to pick up the occasional job – teaching English most likely.

I have an ocean-capable boat worth about $20k, and a modest ‘re-fit’ fund of about $5k or so.

I’ve been pestering David Tyler for a up-sized Fantail sail plan design for the Compass, ever since I read your article, Annie.

 

So my dilemma, and the reason that Arion has piqued my interest, is whether to convert the current boat, or sell her and buy a ‘ready-made’ junk rigged boat.

 

I like working on boats, I restored an old 19’ plywood keel boat some years back, but it took me 18 months of every weekend. I can earn quite well when working full time (I’m an accountant and teacher, more of the latter lately, which I enjoy more)  so in some ways it makes more sense to work and save, then buy ready-made, than to work part-time and re-fit and convert the Compass.

 

When I read of the conversions of others, including yours Annie, I notice that I don’t have the space, or network of knowledgeable local friends, or the time, to do it in the same way. I just finished reading “As Long As It’s Fun” about the Pardeys, and one of the things that stuck in my mind was that when either re-fitting or boatbuilding, Larry did boat work full-time, for three years in the case of Taliesin. The age-old question “Do I want to go cruising or do I want to be a boat builder?” is an easy one for me – cruising! BUT, the Compass would make a lovely junk...

 

I’d be VERY interested to hear from JRA members who’ve done conversions, just how long the conversions took, including sea trials and tweaking. I think estimates in terms of hours might be the most meaningful, to help me in my vacillations.

 

Matt

Welcome back to the JRA. 

The little I know about the Compass 28 suggests she'll be ideal for your wanderings.  Last year I bought a Contessa 26 which I'm refitting for ocean cruising.  You'll find lots of good ideas here.  I've openly borrowed several :-)

Good luck with the conversion.

Peter