Thanks for helping me feel good about my decision. It sounds like you were able to do a lot with a similar boat.
The guidepost I initially used was 10 to 20% of the as-new price of the boat; for the 29, that was around $150k I figured (I bought it used). My number over the last 6 years cruising her was probably closer to 10% per year. That was doing a bunch of work myself and keeping everything in good but not flawless condition. Also we had done a major overhaul before cruising in the Bahamas. Chicago is easier on boats generally with the fresh water. Just try to get a slip, as Monroe moorings can be very rolly and beat the boat up a bit. Anyway, half the fun is dreaming about the things you'll do when the summer arrives.
Quite fairly. We've been winning tight races under ORC in Rolex Middle Sea Race as well as in Norway, that uses a single number derivate from ORC.
Thanks Arcas, that's helpful. I did a bottom up estimate and came to around $30K a year all in (e.g., dockage, winter storage, and maintenance). Figuring the cost of a new J/97 would be $200K+, I'm somewhere south of 15% of new. So, hopefully my experience will be similar to yours with a number closer to 10%.The guidepost I initially used was 10 to 20% of the as-new price of the boat; for the 29, that was around $150k I figured (I bought it used). My number over the last 6 years cruising her was probably closer to 10% per year. That was doing a bunch of work myself and keeping everything in good but not flawless condition. Also we had done a major overhaul before cruising in the Bahamas. Chicago is easier on boats generally with the fresh water. Just try to get a slip, as Monroe moorings can be very rolly and beat the boat up a bit. Anyway, half the fun is dreaming about the things you'll do when the summer arrives.
Thanks steele. The one I bought is an older one (a non-e version), which I believe was only available as a tiller. The cockpit seats in it stretch further aft than in the e-version, which I think would be in the way of a wheel.
I am also considering a J111. I'd like to be able to race competitvely and do social sailing. Is there an easy way to switch back and forth from furling?
There is no way to easily switch, the mast needs to come off the boat for the change.
The typical setup is to have the furler on, and have a cruising sail with vertical or furling battens. Racing sails can either be tacked on top of the furler but hoisted without the swivel (can easily be lowered) or at the bow going "around" the furler. Good enough för most club racing (we raced #69 Blur like this before going to a Harken Carbofoil and selling the furling headstay.
I got the impression that MLS73273 was asking about changing out the whole head stay.
It's always a compromise...
I'm not sure they will build one unless they get several orders. Ballpark would be $350k for everything. Makes the used ones seem like a bargain, which is part of why they are moving fast on the market. When we bought ours in the March there were 10 for sale in the US/Canada. We found one that looked great and it sold within 2 weeks of listing. Ended up getting basically the same setup and price from the same area, but our boat never even made it to Yachtworld. I made an offer before it was listed.
Is this true? I'm planning (on my J/111) to ditch the Facnor furler but if it means I have to yank that stick that will seriously impact my plans. Couldn't I just use a few halyards to hold the mast up, and go up to make the change up top?
