Minette Yacht Rigging

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Cheers Lyn. I have narrowed it down to that the Fiddlers blocks for the boom vang are missing and the blocks for main sail control are single pulleys. The Fiddlers blocks, 2 required need to have cleats on them as the boat has no deck mounted rope cleats. I shall look at the links you offered. But I am still searching. I think the seller kept the expensive blocks and threw in some simple single roller pulleys. The lady has never sailed before and this is her first small yacht, which was sold to her as 'complete'.

Thanks for you help, appreciated.

I would contact a local rigger and rely on his/her expertise....you need to establish a relationship with a good rigger if you are going to be sailing....

Are you sure you have a Minette sail boat? You describe yours as being 16' while the Minette is 18'-9". Recheck the overall length (AOL). Does it have a centerboard or a fixed keel? There are many items for this model located at http://www.sailingjoy.com/sailboat_specs/view/5950/minette. Although it doesn't have the rigging description there is other information that might help you.

Personally I would first attempt to locate some information at a store/marina that specializes in sail boats. They may not have the information you want but may be able to get it or direct you to where you can. 2nd would be a sail maker. They may have some drawings or specs on the sails and rigging. If not they are very accommodating since they want to sell you the next set of sails. If you can't find one look in "Wooden Boat" magazine. Although your boat is not wooden there are numerous sail maker advertisements there. Make a list and start calling them. Third would be a boating store such as West Marine. Again, probably not there but ask for a reference. Next would be a Ships Chandler for small boats. Again they may not have anything but ask for a reference.

The are two listings for the designers of the boat: Bruno Bostrom or Ellnar Ohlson. The builder was Parca Marin. He was either Finish or Swedish. The following sites will be helpful and get you started. The following one has the sail dimensions

http://l-36.com/boat_dimensions_boat.php?boat=MINETTE&i=20.67&j=6.89&p=20.67&e=6.07&isp=&jsp=&py=&ey=&sail=&draft=3.28&disp=1323&wll=15.75

The other ones of particular interest and potential helpfulness are

http://www.sailingjoy.com/sailboat_specs/view/5950/minette

http://www.algonet.se/~kittylou/sailing.html#sec11

http://nationalsail.com/

http://l-36.com/boat_dimensions_boat.php?boat=MINETTE&i=20.67&j=6.89&p=20.67&e=6.07&isp=&jsp=&py=&ey=&sail=&draft=3.28&disp=1323&wll=15.75

http://sailboatdata.com/viewrecord.asp?class_id=4961

http://sailboatdata.com/view_designer.asp?designer_id=370

These should get you started. The boat was first made in 1968 and last made in 1977. There were 120 boats of this design built so this is probably the biggest factor why you are having a difficult time.

Also Google search Binette sailboats Benette sailboat sails and Parca Marin sailboats.

Keep the mainsail filled and the jib tight to the wind. No luffing, keep them trimmed.

Good Luck, Old Salt

Hey guys thanks for the help. Old salt you are on the mark it is 18' 9" and the same builder. Fixed keel. Where I am the closest boat yard is over 100km away. And internet is terrible. But your sites are of help, so it is narrowed down to the boom vang is missing and the boat needs two fiddle blocks, double roller, with a cleat and a single fiddle block at the mast boom anchor, then a further rig the same for the main sail, to allow the boom to swing. So now it is order on line and wait. Lovely, but tomorrow I shall reset the mast to square as it is 15 degrees to port out of square and about 10 degrees forward to the bow. It should be around 7 degrees to the stern. The pulley blocks are all wrong for this boat, all single roller types. About as useful as a trap door in a canoe. With your links I can access the sites, but where I am, getting the links is a mission.

Your help is really appreciated, make no mistake on this. Thanks guys. I owe you all.

Once you have it mostly rigged, you may want to make the masts "verticallity" (new word I just invented!) slightly variable front to back to allow balancing the helm, especially for a lady driver. Who may not be as muscular as some men are....

I have sailed on badly set up boats that had far too much weather helm. This wears out the crew and the boat's gear, as well as being uncomfortable.....also making most auto pilot equipment almost useless....

But make sure that a little bit of "weather helm" stays as this is considered by many to be a point of "safety", as so setup, a boat luffs up to wind with no hand on the tiller....

Lee helm to be avoided at all costs.....

Mast forward = Lee, and mast aft = weather.....assuming that the mast stepping point is good and not far away from the boats point of balance....

I found this for a Hobie cat well explained, but sailing is still sailing so it applies to most sailing boats and craft!!

Adjusting for Lee/weather helm

Thanks Andy. Set the mast today with a slight rake to the stern and centralised the mast. All the turn buckles are to short by approximately 1 inch, (25mm). Four new buckles needed, 2 double roller fiddler blocks and 2 single roller fiddler blocks and a complete new set of ropes required. So I am in for some rope splicing and seeking new blocks. The boat is sound, the lad just did a number on her with the rigging components, so she will not be sailing until she orders up parts needed, as without the correct lengths in turn buckles the mast rake will never be right.

Thanks for the help and the links. It all helps.

Nice work, it would be an attractive job for me too...

Please update us with photos of the boat and the lady concerned and info. Thanks in advance.

Does the mast sit on the keel, on a cuddy cabin or through a cuddy cabin top? If the bottom of the mast is not seated correctly that would make it sit higher and cause the stays to be too short. (When stepping the mast also remember to put a coin in the seat for the mast. This is considered good luck) If the stays are too short for the mast you can easily purchase stay extenders. These are simply a piece of stainless steel shaped in a narrow "U" which is placed between the chain plate and the bottom of the turnbuckle. They are available in various shapes and sizes. They should be available through a sail maker or a sailing supplies marine store. That's where I got mine. My stays were also too short and not enough adjustment in the turnbuckles and that's is how I remedied the problem. Also there are turnbuckle lengtheners which can be used to increase the length of the piece. It is simply a longer threaded part of one or two end rods. The overall adjustment length is the same but it starts and ends at a longer length.

Good Luck, Old Salt

The stay extenders that I described in #9 are readily available is various sizes at the following marine equipment suppliers:

We have been purchasing from Defender for 60 years or more and have been satisfied with them. At the time of my last order they were still good. Shop around for pricing, there is a big difference between dealers for the same brands.

http://www.defender.com/category.jsp?path=-1%7C118%7C2358491&id=2358505

http://www.thechandleryonline.com/index.php?cPath=10_566

http://www.bargainboatparts.com/p-103169-stay-extenders.aspx

http://shop.toadmarinesupply.com/ships_store/?p=categorydetails1&sectionid=10346&parentid=10376&name=Shroud+Adjusters+and+Stay+Extenders

http://www.downwindmarine.com/Johnson-Adapter-Link-Plates-p-90890611.html

Good Luck, Old Salt

Thanks Old Salt. I purchased the items today. Took a long drive to the nearest big town. 7 Hr round trip. The blocks and new ropes cost as much as the lady paid for the boat, but, she can be sailing after I splice eyes in the ropes, install the extenders and reset the rigging. Hopefully she will sail next weekend. If the weather holds.

Thanks to all for the help, it is appreciated greatly.

Unfortunately one the nicknames for a boat is a "bucket with a hole in it". You keep on putting money into it but it seems to never end needing more.

The favorite of my boats is a 20ft Marconi rigged wooden sloop with an overnight cabin. It has been used for trips up to 1,400 miles with two very good friends, but mostly day sailing and overnights. When we were building it we calculated that the costs of the groups of items were: 30% wood, 30% screws and hardware, 20% sails and 20% stays. That does not include the 6hp auxiliary outboard. The cost of the screws and hardware could have been higher since it was over 55 years ago- and the memory has had too much salt air. Stainless steel for the centerboard, stays, mast and deck fittings, plus the bronze screws for the hull planks and misc. brass. upped the prices but galvanized steel would have rusted and let go after 4-5 years.

Don't keep a ledger of the expenses, it will scare you!

Good Luck, Old Salt

Hello Folks, thanks for the help on this Minnette yacht. It is now fully rigged and the lady can sail it single handedly on main and jib sails. We took it for its 'new owner' maiden sail yesterday and it went well. The lady sailed easily and learned quickly to avoid the boom on coming about, a quick hand to the boom, saved her head. She now knows to sit well back of the boom.

Neat and tidy little yacht now.

Re-rigged it today with the sail and jib ready for another run tomorrow after work. Thanks to all for the help on this.

Many thanks for the final infos. Well done on all counts!

The Minette sailed yesterday for approximately 20km, under main and a smaller jib sail. Single handed sailing was a breeze and te boat easily handled. I need to change the kicker (boom vang) connection to the boom, as the original connection is not available.But the modification has worked well. Thank for the help.