Thanks guys!
I'm new to sailing as well as sailboat ownership. I took my BKS/BCC classes early this year and just fell in love with the aesthetic, being out there on the water, and the tranquility. Just for fun, I started looking around at sailboats for sale, and what started out as a crazy "wouldn't this be cool" idea quickly turned into a serious search. I was advised by a friend of mine in Florida who's been sailing his entire life. Every boat I ran past him garnered at best a lukewarm reaction until the J/30 came along, at which point he told me "survey it and buy it." I've had a few people in addition to him tell me that J/30s actually make great starter boats.
Chanson is pretty venerable, and not without problems. In fact, the engine died on the surveyor and I while we were just leaving the harbor on our way to a haulout. We eventually found and fixed the tiny little hole in the fuel line that was sucking air, but the engine stopped drawing water and overheated on the way home the next day. So, engine issues, for starters.
Her lifelines were pretty much gone, which I replaced. Same with the running rigging - I had no idea lines could become that stiff. She also needs bottom paint, which I am waiting on until I can trust the engine. The diesel heater works fine. I have not tested the alcohol stove or the head.
I'm also undertaking a number of improvements. Going to replace all of the winches, most with self-tailing models. I'm adding a roller furler for the jib and a Strong Track system for the main. I've commissioned a new main and a 95% jib for the furler from Pineapple Sails in Alameda. I'm putting in an i70 display for instrumentation, and an ST-2000 tiller pilot. I'm looking at the EZ-JAX system for a retractable lazyjack for the main.
One area for improvement that still concerns me is the reefing system. Currently only the halyards and the cunningham are led aft. I would like to be able to reef and unreef the main from the cockpit alone, but not sure if that's at all possible or feasible. Any ideas?
-Alex
