On Sun, 08 Jan 2006 09:11:36 -0500, Ryk
wrote:


I'd have emailed except for the nospam address.

OK. You I know, so it's fine to drop a line...G

You mentioned racing on a Newport 27 out of Toronto. Do you know
anybody who might be looking for a cheap Newport 27 to fix up and go
racing against you?

The owner sold his last year to a couple in the club next door and
bought a CS 30, of which we have at least a six-boat fleet for racing.
I didn't race in '05, concentrating on cruising. I may race in
'06...haven't decided yet.

My son owns one in Kingston and won't get to sail
it for the next 3 years because of his coop program, so it's probably
time to sell. It's fundamentally sound with a good A4 and blown out
sails.

Wow. Access to an A4 on a Newport 27 would be a bitch G.

the N27 I sailed on for five years: The former owner despaired of
selling his. He eventually settled, after several months of brokerage
and private lukewarm interest, for just $12,000 (he wanted $18,000).
His had some little two-stroke gas engine...not an A4...although it
pushed the boat well enough. The condition wasn't bad, particularly on
the interior, as the boat hadn't been cruised or even slept on...just
raced. So going to a well-earned "semi-retirement" as a fast
daysailer/overnighter for a couple starting in cruising made (and
makes) sense.

Anyway, what I'm saying is the market is very soft for under 30
footers with Atomic 4s, but it's mainly just that there's so many
1970-1985 "classic plastics" out there whose orginal owners are
getting up in years, and either moving up or getting out of sailing.
The market's flooded with little boats. You can get a race-ready Shark
for four grand.

So I would suggest the following: if he likes the boat and it will
suit him in the future, maybe he could "lend-lease" it to his club as
an " learn to sail" boat, with a three-year-term. His club keeps it
clean, keeps it maintained and hauls, launches and stores it. In
return, he buys any major failed components not directly attributable
to misuse, and provides all maintainence logs, spares, etc.

He might even get a tax write-off out of the deal.

Sea Scouts/Cadets might jump at that, as might a club offering learn
to sail for adults or for disadvantaged kids. One such organization is
our club's Broad Reach Foundation. You can read about them he
www.thenyc.com/newsletter/05July/05July.pdf

or go to http://www.sailbroadreach.org/home.html for more info.

They are usually *given* old boats, but I bet they'd be flexible on
that point...

Hope these suggestions help,
R.