Hello,
Do we have a maintenance string on this forum, or does anyone know of a dynamic J30 forum that addresses maintenance, hull work, Yanmar information, standing/running rigging . . . etc.?
While recently looking for my 'next' boat, I regressed to the familiar and did shake-downs on several different cruisers; Hunters, Catalinas, Columbia, Persons, which is what I thought I wanted - that is until I went to look at a J30. I bought her.
Reflecting on my years of cruiser 'racing', I recall back in 'early 80 when someone at the club entered one of those new
J/Boats. Jaws dropped in awe when we first saw her, 'Where's the cabin?', 'The deck is so flat!' 'She flies!', 'We can't compete against a 'racing' boat'. So, we all were content with racing with our lucrative handicaps - crossing the finish line hours later and still winning - while that little J30 flew around the course and consistently passed the committee boat first - even once when they had to round the buoy twice.
Well, a few years (. . . ahem. . . ) later, now I'm the proud and excited owner of a 1979 J30 and have instantly fell in love with her lines, design, functionality, and performance. Unfortunately, she was neglected (perhaps abused). Perhaps as a '79, one would imagine that there would be some work needed to get her back to the state she was when first launched. But she has some glass damage where the hull meets the deck from the dock where she apparently wasn't secured and rubbed against the piling without a rub rail. Fiberglass is some strong stuff, but the piling won. What is the composite of the J30 hull? Is she solid fiberglass, or is her hull wood cored?
As a mechanic, welder, machinist, and wood worker, I will do the repairs myself (just feels better that way) having worked on many boats in the past. However, I'm a firm believer in research and information sharing to ensure the most recent techniques are used as well as the age-old secrets that someone discovered in their garage which always makes the job more fun as well as greater quality.
If there's not an established forum for this fine J racer, is anyone on this site interested in doing one here? I would imagine that
I have many questions about my new purchase and would like to be able to discuss them with other sailors of the J30.
For example: this boat didn't apparently come with a docking rub rail. Consequently, with her wide beam, she's been damaged on two spots on the top of the hull amidships. Nothing that can't be repaired (though I really wish I didn't have to. . .). Has anyone done work on their hulls, or installed rub rails?
I appreciate any help here. I've read this entire site and already found a tremendous amount of information - thank you for that. With a dynamic forum on repair and maintenance, it would be icing on the cake!
Thanks, all.
Michael
Pensacola, FL
