Introduction

[sildene]

I found this forum while searching for rigging information, and was amazed at the well informed posts in regards to that and other topics. I find the administrators, moderators and contributions here of such a high standard that I'm simply grateful to be able to join.

After contemplating things for a year, I am working to get my sailboat ready for offshore use. I am currently in Australia and she is a relatively narrow beam, 43ft moderate fin keel built in fibreglass in the 1980s (designer Peter Cole).

I am currently up to my elbows in grease smears based on the somewhat contradictory premise that, before I venture out under sail, my inboard diesel engine must be in good order. Next step would be to replace the standing rigging with bronze turnbuckles and Stalok (or similar) swageless terminals. All these things seem to take much longer than they should, but at least I'm improving my modest maintenance abilities along the way.

Regards
Martin

[swagman]

Welcome Martin,
If I recall correctly the Cole 43 did well on the race track when it first came out - so will be interesting to hear how she goes as a cruiser.
Cheers
JOHN

[SkiprJohn]

Aloha Martin,
Welcome aboard!! Hope you enjoy the forum. Lots of good information.
Kind Regards,
JohnL

[mudnut]

Martin,at 43ft,what is a realative narrow beam,14ft or 12ft.Less would be a bit freaky as she was most definatly built for speed.Mudnut.

[sildene]

Hi Mudnut, it's a touch under 12ft, but does not really come across as freaky (how dare you refer to my baby as a freak!). And underwater profile is very much wineglass with conservative keel, so lots of surface area ensuring that latter day flat bottoms will readily slip past. I was after some upwind ability, so happy to take a hit on accommodation volume.

Regards

Originally Posted by mudnut

Martin,at 43ft,what is a realative narrow beam,14ft or 12ft.Less would be a bit freaky as she was most definatly built for speed.Mudnut.

[munter]

I put together a small website about the Cole 43 and specifically our family boat which is now for sale. There's a copy of the sailplan and hull drawings on the site if any one is interested in seeing what a cole looks like. The link is below:
RumrunnerII - RUMRUNNER IISail No. 159 _uacct = "UA-2690070-1"; urchinTracker();

A very sea kindly design with a good racing record.

Cheers,
Munter

[sildene]

Originally Posted by munter

I put together a small website about the Cole 43 and specifically our family boat which is now for sale. There's a copy of the sailplan and hull drawings on the site if any one is interested in seeing what a cole looks like.

Hi Munter, nice web site; particularly liked the 80s vintage reviews. I'd be very interested to know whether you (or previous owner) have ever dropped the keel on your Cole 43. If you have, can you mention whether it slipped off painlessly, and what shape the keel bolts were in?

Martin

[munter]

Thanks. The reviews make for interesting reading - even though one of them is from 1972!
We've never pulled the keel off ours so I'm afraid I've got no advice regarding the condition of keel bolts. They look OK from on top that probably isn't where you would spot a problem from is it? Are you wanting to inspect them to ensure they are in good condition before heading off on a cruise?

Cheers,
munter.

[captncruise]

Hi all you fellow Cole 43 owners. My wife and I have owned and sailed Bacardi for the last 15 years. Bacardi was the first Cole 43 out of the mould in 1970. She was Peter Cole's own boat.

We haven't examined the keel bolts but earlier this year I noticed the strop that comes down from under the deck to the keel/mast step was loose. Closer inspection revealed the mast step had almost rusted away. After 3 days of drilling, griding and cutting we managed to get the old step out. Andrew Raoke, shipwight at Yamba Marina, was a great help and fabrictaed new S/S maststep for us. While we were at is we decided to remove the chain plates and found they both had hairline cracks about 3/4 of the way across. Andrew made up new chain plates and we were able to get back to Broken bay without losing the mast.

We plan to sail back up to yamba next April and haul out to re paint the hull and will probably drop keel as weell to check keel bolts.

Keep your eyes on your tell tales

Graham

[sildene]

I have taken the liberty of resuming this discussion in a newly created thread, entitled "Cole 43 Yachts", in the Monohull Sailboats forum. It seems more appropriate than the Meets & Greets forum.

Please refer to that thread for continuance.

Martin