New owner of Cal 20

Hello all. Just bought a Cal 20 in pretty decent shape. Looking for others who have one, have worked on one and who have useful tips while I get her ready to sail. She is solid. Picking up new sails for her this week. Finding lots of info online but the info is limited to renovations and I won't need to do much of that. A little paint and a scrub brush is all that is needed right now. Any tips, hints, links you can provide would be greatly appreciated! Hull #823 1966 First project: Need to install nav lights. All she has is a solar powered crappy stern light! haha Second: Will need a tiny fiberglass repair at the starboard aft corner outside, where the previous owner allowed her to rub against the dock. Minor issue. Less than 5 cm x 1 cm. Third: sand and varnish the tiller so I dont get splinters.

Depending om how fast you wanna go sailing, you can just wrap the tiller in tape! George Macon To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com From: el… [at] gmail.com Date: Wed, 6 Feb 2013 15:23:24 +0000 Subject: [Cal_Boats] New owner of Cal 20 Hello all. Just bought a Cal 20 in pretty decent shape. Looking for others who have one, have worked on one and who have useful tips while I get her ready to sail. She is solid. Picking up new sails for her this week. Finding lots of info online but the info is limited to renovations and I won't need to do much of that. A little paint and a scrub brush is all that is needed right now. Any tips, hints, links you can provide would be greatly appreciated! Hull #823 1966 First project: Need to install nav lights. All she has is a solar powered crappy stern light! haha Second: Will need a tiny fiberglass repair at the starboard aft corner outside, where the previous owner allowed her to rub against the dock. Minor issue. Less than 5 cm x 1 cm. Third: sand and varnish the tiller so I dont get splinters.

Quicker to sand it, go sailing, then put a coat of paint on it when back at the dock. Getting the sticky tape off and then sanding doesn't sound like fun. But of course, you were kidding. Allen On Wed, Feb 6, 2013 at 7:25 AM, george macon <ge… [at] hotmail.com>wrote: > ** > > > > Depending om how fast you wanna go sailing, you can just wrap the tiller > in tape! > > George Macon > > > > ------------------------------ > To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com > From: el… [at] gmail.com > Date: Wed, 6 Feb 2013 15:23:24 +0000 > Subject: [Cal_Boats] New owner of Cal 20 > > > > Hello all. Just bought a Cal 20 in pretty decent shape. Looking for > others who have one, have worked on one and who have useful tips while I > get her ready to sail. She is solid. Picking up new sails for her this > week. Finding lots of info online but the info is limited to renovations > and I won't need to do much of that. A little paint and a scrub brush is > all that is needed right now. Any tips, hints, links you can provide would > be greatly appreciated! > > Hull #823 1966 > > First project: Need to install nav lights. All she has is a solar powered > crappy stern light! haha > > Second: Will need a tiny fiberglass repair at the starboard aft corner > outside, where the previous owner allowed her to rub against the dock. > Minor issue. Less than 5 cm x 1 cm. > > Third: sand and varnish the tiller so I dont get splinters. > > > >

I used to own a Cal20, great boats. As happens with us sailors I have aquired 3 tillers for a Cal20 and now have a different boat. I would like these to go to someone who can use them. They are not in perfect shape but are very serviceable. Two are the stock mahogony and one has been reshaped a little and is all varnished. Let me kinow if you are in the SF Bay Area and are interested. I could us hte space in my garage. Scott --- On Wed, 2/6/13, Allen Edwards <al… [at] gmail.com> wrote: From: Allen Edwards <al… [at] gmail.com> Subject: Re: [Cal_Boats] New owner of Cal 20 To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com Date: Wednesday, February 6, 2013, 8:17 AM Quicker to sand it, go sailing, then put a coat of paint on it when back at the dock. Getting the sticky tape off and then sanding doesn't sound like fun. But of course, you were kidding. Allen On Wed, Feb 6, 2013 at 7:25 AM, george macon <ge… [at] hotmail.com> wrote: Depending om how fast you wanna go sailing, you can just wrap the tiller in tape! George Macon To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com From: el… [at] gmail.com Date: Wed, 6 Feb 2013 15:23:24 +0000 Subject: [Cal_Boats] New owner of Cal 20 Hello all. Just bought a Cal 20 in pretty decent shape. Looking for others who have one, have worked on one and who have useful tips while I get her ready to sail. She is solid. Picking up new sails for her this week. Finding lots of info online but the info is limited to renovations and I won't need to do much of that. A little paint and a scrub brush is all that is needed right now. Any tips, hints, links you can provide would be greatly appreciated! Hull #823 1966 First project: Need to install nav lights. All she has is a solar powered crappy stern light! haha Second: Will need a tiny fiberglass repair at the starboard aft corner outside, where the previous owner allowed her to rub against the dock. Minor issue. Less than 5 cm x 1 cm. Third: sand and varnish the tiller so I dont get splinters.

I just read my post and I don't know what I was thinking but I have 3 rudders not tillers. It has been a rough couple of days at work this week... Scott --- On Wed, 2/6/13, scott cyphers <sc… [at] sbcglobal.net> wrote: From: scott cyphers <sc… [at] sbcglobal.net> Subject: Re: [Cal_Boats] New owner of Cal 20 To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com Date: Wednesday, February 6, 2013, 8:48 AM I used to own a Cal20, great boats. As happens with us sailors I have aquired 3 tillers for a Cal20 and now have a different boat. I would like these to go to someone who can use them. They are not in perfect shape but are very serviceable. Two are the stock mahogony and one has been reshaped a little and is all varnished. Let me kinow if you are in the SF Bay Area and are interested. I could us hte space in my garage. Scott --- On Wed, 2/6/13, Allen Edwards <al… [at] gmail.com> wrote: From: Allen Edwards <al… [at] gmail.com> Subject: Re: [Cal_Boats] New owner of Cal 20 To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com Date: Wednesday, February 6, 2013, 8:17 AM Quicker to sand it, go sailing, then put a coat of paint on it when back at the dock. Getting the sticky tape off and then sanding doesn't sound like fun. But of course, you were kidding. Allen On Wed, Feb 6, 2013 at 7:25 AM, george macon <ge… [at] hotmail.com> wrote: Depending om how fast you wanna go sailing, you can just wrap the tiller in tape! George Macon To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com From: el… [at] gmail.com Date: Wed, 6 Feb 2013 15:23:24 +0000 Subject: [Cal_Boats] New owner of Cal 20 Hello all. Just bought a Cal 20 in pretty decent shape. Looking for others who have one, have worked on one and who have useful tips while I get her ready to sail. She is solid. Picking up new sails for her this week. Finding lots of info online but the info is limited to renovations and I won't need to do much of that. A little paint and a scrub brush is all that is needed right now. Any tips, hints, links you can provide would be greatly appreciated! Hull #823 1966 First project: Need to install nav lights. All she has is a solar powered crappy stern light! haha Second: Will need a tiny fiberglass repair at the starboard aft corner outside, where the previous owner allowed her to rub against the dock. Minor issue. Less than 5 cm x 1 cm. Third: sand and varnish the tiller so I dont get splinters.

On 2/6/2013 10:23 AM, duchess287 wrote: > Hello all. Just bought a Cal 20 in pretty decent shape. Looking for others who have one, have worked on one and who have useful tips while I get her ready to sail. She is solid. Picking up new sails for her this week. Finding lots of info online but the info is limited to renovations and I won't need to do much of that. A little paint and a scrub brush is all that is needed right now. Any tips, hints, links you can provide would be greatly appreciated! Welcome to the group of Cal fans. I fell in love with my Cal 20, one that I had purchased as a temporary boat, because of her good sailing manners. It's about 14 years later and the temporary boat is still in my fleet. There is a short list of common weak points. The original spreader brackets, the U-shaped stainless things that the spreader fastens to, were undersized and tended to fail. Steve Seal sells a heavier gauge version. Highly recommended (I saw an old one break while I was helping a friend step his mast). The little aluminum compression tube that keeps the spreader brackets from squeezing the mast together will be corroded into one piece with the stainless bolt that goes through the bracket. Aluminum and stainless steel are not friends. The original backstay was undersized and tended to fail. Mine did so in its first season (I caught it before it parted completely). Steve Seal sells a better one, or any rigger can make one up. Check your keel bolts if you're in salt water. My theory is that boats ought not only be maintained well so they're safe to sail, they should also be maintained visually so they please the eye. Do a proper sanding and varnishing of the tiller. If it's mahogany, sand first, then darken the mahogany with some washing soda (laundry soda) dissolved in warm water, then use a filler stain, then varnish. I also stained and varnished my companionway drop-board just to make it look pretty. If your boat has the peeling paint (or whatever it is) on the insides of the hull below decks, you'll need to do something about that. On my boat, the damned stuff was very tenacious where it wanted to adhere, and peeled where it choose to peel. Big mess. I finally got tired of all the flakes and spent time breathing the toxic fumes of the strongest version of Zip-Strip and removed it all. Then I painted with Pettit's Dura-White, an interior paint that they touted as adhering to everything and as being anti-mildew. I had it tinted to match the original color, a beige. Pettit now uses a different name for it but it's their interior paint. I like it. Others have used semi-gloss house paint or Rust-Oleum. Have fun sailing.... Chris Campbell Cal 20 #1220, /Martha C/

You know how it is when you get something used but new to you and you bring it back to the marina and everyone has to add their own thoughts, suggestions and advice? Running into this and feeling a tad confused and discouraged. I don't want to be stupid (as I am told I am being over and over again) so again, hoping for some advice from the experienced Cal 20 owners. My next list of questions: Shrouds- my shrouds are slightly loose. I read here http://www.onedesign.com/Portals/106/docs/Tuning%20Guides/north-cal20-tuningguide.pdf that they should be. But every sailor who comes by to look at the boat grabs the shrouds and shakes them and says "replace these, they are too loose" My fore deck-I weigh about 120. Why is it when someone looks at your boat after you buy it, the first thing they do is jump on it and start jumping around looking for soft spots? I did this before I bought it, the boat held my weight just fine and didn't sag and didn't make cracking noises. But someone big jumped on last night while I was in my other boat and they start jumping around on the foredeck and all of a sudden I hear cracking and they shout out "SOFT SPOTS!" I see on Seals site he has a foredeck support, has anyone used these and if so how did it work out for you? My tiller is beyond repair. Found another one online, but it says "oversized" Anyone used this and if so, just how oversized is it? http://www.apsltd.com/p-4932-wood-tiller-cal-20-21-60.aspx I am so discouraged at this point. My 3.5 hp 4 stroke died yesterday and needs an overhaul. I can't get through the channel without it, there just isn't enough room to be tacking and if I did I would be tacking every 5 feet- it would take me 6 hours to get through the channel! I have no tiller. I now have cracks in my foredeck. I figure I am looking at huge expenses re-rigging. And suddenly my cheap little $400 boat is nothing more than a large piece of fiberglass displacing water and sucking money out of my pocket! I can't even sail the damned thing now, and thats all I wanted to do!! --- In Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com, "duchess287" <ellieut@...> wrote: > > Hello all. Just bought a Cal 20 in pretty decent shape. Looking for others who have one, have worked on one and who have useful tips while I get her ready to sail. She is solid. Picking up new sails for her this week. Finding lots of info online but the info is limited to renovations and I won't need to do much of that. A little paint and a scrub brush is all that is needed right now. Any tips, hints, links you can provide would be greatly appreciated! > > Hull #823 1966 > > First project: Need to install nav lights. All she has is a solar powered crappy stern light! haha > > Second: Will need a tiny fiberglass repair at the starboard aft corner outside, where the previous owner allowed her to rub against the dock. Minor issue. Less than 5 cm x 1 cm. > > Third: sand and varnish the tiller so I dont get splinters. >

Ah yes. I am intimately familiar with with your situation and current state of mind. I'm going to be blunt here. I've already worked through this process twice, so I'm skipping all the phases of despair, anger, resignation, denial, etc. First, stop letting fat people jump on your deck. Second, you have a $400 boat. That doesn't mean it's a basket case, but -all- boats need work -all- the time. Because your boat was probably lacking preventative maintenance, your boat is going to need more work up front to be truly water-ready. You have two choices - commit to doing the work needed, and learning a lot in the process as well as "bonding" with your boat. Or sell it to someone else and consider this a lesson learned as you look for your next boat. I suggest making a prioritized list of what you have to do to get out safely, add up the time and money and make a decision. I can tell you that a boat you know every inch of is a faster and safer boat than one that you've only had to board and cast off. Good Luck, Rob From: duchess287 <el… [at] gmail.com> To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com Sent: Tuesday, February 19, 2013 11:08 AM Subject: [Cal_Boats] Discouraged New owner of Cal 20 You know how it is when you get something used but new to you and you bring it back to the marina and everyone has to add their own thoughts, suggestions and advice? Running into this and feeling a tad confused and discouraged. I don't want to be stupid (as I am told I am being over and over again) so again, hoping for some advice from the experienced Cal 20 owners. My next list of questions: Shrouds- my shrouds are slightly loose. I read here http://www.onedesign.com/Portals/106/docs/Tuning%20Guides/north-cal20-tuningguide.pdf that they should be. But every sailor who comes by to look at the boat grabs the shrouds and shakes them and says "replace these, they are too loose" My fore deck-I weigh about 120. Why is it when someone looks at your boat after you buy it, the first thing they do is jump on it and start jumping around looking for soft spots? I did this before I bought it, the boat held my weight just fine and didn't sag and didn't make cracking noises. But someone big jumped on last night while I was in my other boat and they start jumping around on the foredeck and all of a sudden I hear cracking and they shout out "SOFT SPOTS!" I see on Seals site he has a foredeck support, has anyone used these and if so how did it work out for you? My tiller is beyond repair. Found another one online, but it says "oversized" Anyone used this and if so, just how oversized is it? http://www.apsltd.com/p-4932-wood-tiller-cal-20-21-60.aspx I am so discouraged at this point. My 3.5 hp 4 stroke died yesterday and needs an overhaul. I can't get through the channel without it, there just isn't enough room to be tacking and if I did I would be tacking every 5 feet- it would take me 6 hours to get through the channel! I have no tiller. I now have cracks in my foredeck. I figure I am looking at huge expenses re-rigging. And suddenly my cheap little $400 boat is nothing more than a large piece of fiberglass displacing water and sucking money out of my pocket! I can't even sail the damned thing now, and thats all I wanted to do!! --- In Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com, "duchess287" wrote: > > Hello all. Just bought a Cal 20 in pretty decent shape. Looking for others who have one, have worked on one and who have useful tips while I get her ready to sail. She is solid. Picking up new sails for her this week. Finding lots of info online but the info is limited to renovations and I won't need to do much of that. A little paint and a scrub brush is all that is needed right now. Any tips, hints, links you can provide would be greatly appreciated! > > Hull #823 1966 > > First project: Need to install nav lights. All she has is a solar powered crappy stern light! haha > > Second: Will need a tiny fiberglass repair at the starboard aft corner outside, where the previous owner allowed her to rub against the dock. Minor issue. Less than 5 cm x 1 cm. > > Third: sand and varnish the tiller so I dont get splinters. >

Your boat is fine. Tell the ass-hole who jumped on your deck to stop breaking your boat. Shrouds should be loose. I have owned a dozen boats at different times and quite frankly, a soft deck doesn't matter, does'nt affect performance, and in 15 years when and "if" it starts to leak you can see if you want to fix it. I have 2 cal25's The boats were designed to flex. Dont overtighten your shrouds or you'll compress the mast step. have fun with your boat. It was a good deal. Wrap your tiller in White tape for now, or find a wheel barrow handle and cut it down. Don't forget, Carribean sailors still to this day, make boats out of floating/found timber and scraps, smuggle goods to the keys and back, all without motors, maps, or navigation lights...Your little cal 20 is milestones beyond these boats, and even falling apart, will last for decades. Have a great time in an awesome boat! George Macon To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com From: el… [at] gmail.com Date: Tue, 19 Feb 2013 16:08:16 +0000 Subject: [Cal_Boats] Discouraged New owner of Cal 20 You know how it is when you get something used but new to you and you bring it back to the marina and everyone has to add their own thoughts, suggestions and advice? Running into this and feeling a tad confused and discouraged. I don't want to be stupid (as I am told I am being over and over again) so again, hoping for some advice from the experienced Cal 20 owners. My next list of questions: Shrouds- my shrouds are slightly loose. I read here http://www.onedesign.com/Portals/106/docs/Tuning%20Guides/north-cal20-tuningguide.pdf that they should be. But every sailor who comes by to look at the boat grabs the shrouds and shakes them and says "replace these, they are too loose" My fore deck-I weigh about 120. Why is it when someone looks at your boat after you buy it, the first thing they do is jump on it and start jumping around looking for soft spots? I did this before I bought it, the boat held my weight just fine and didn't sag and didn't make cracking noises. But someone big jumped on last night while I was in my other boat and they start jumping around on the foredeck and all of a sudden I hear cracking and they shout out "SOFT SPOTS!" I see on Seals site he has a foredeck support, has anyone used these and if so how did it work out for you? My tiller is beyond repair. Found another one online, but it says "oversized" Anyone used this and if so, just how oversized is it? http://www.apsltd.com/p-4932-wood-tiller-cal-20-21-60.aspx I am so discouraged at this point. My 3.5 hp 4 stroke died yesterday and needs an overhaul. I can't get through the channel without it, there just isn't enough room to be tacking and if I did I would be tacking every 5 feet- it would take me 6 hours to get through the channel! I have no tiller. I now have cracks in my foredeck. I figure I am looking at huge expenses re-rigging. And suddenly my cheap little $400 boat is nothing more than a large piece of fiberglass displacing water and sucking money out of my pocket! I can't even sail the damned thing now, and thats all I wanted to do!! --- In Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com, "duchess287" wrote: > > Hello all. Just bought a Cal 20 in pretty decent shape. Looking for others who have one, have worked on one and who have useful tips while I get her ready to sail. She is solid. Picking up new sails for her this week. Finding lots of info online but the info is limited to renovations and I won't need to do much of that. A little paint and a scrub brush is all that is needed right now. Any tips, hints, links you can provide would be greatly appreciated! > > Hull #823 1966 > > First project: Need to install nav lights. All she has is a solar powered crappy stern light! haha > > Second: Will need a tiny fiberglass repair at the starboard aft corner outside, where the previous owner allowed her to rub against the dock. Minor issue. Less than 5 cm x 1 cm. > > Third: sand and varnish the tiller so I dont get splinters. >

On 2/19/2013 11:08 AM, duchess287 wrote: > > > > Shrouds- my shrouds are slightly loose. I read here http://www.onedesign.com/Portals/106/docs/Tuning%20Guides/north-cal20-tuningguide.pdf > that they should be. But every sailor who comes by to look at the boat grabs the shrouds and shakes them and says "replace these, they are too loose" Replace the shrouds? Looseness in shrouds is taken up by the turnbuckles. If you've run out of room on the turnbuckles, either (1) the shrouds were too long (or are so old and over-tightened that they've stretched), or (2) the mast step has sunk some. I'd be inclined to put a little shim under the mast step to raise the mast a tiny bit. Or use a hydraulic jack to raise it from inside, and put some shims under the compression posts (mine have sunk a little over the years and one of these springs I'll do that). > > My fore deck-I weigh about 120. Why is it when someone looks at your boat after you buy it, the first thing they do is jump on it and start jumping around looking for soft spots? I did this before I bought it, the boat held my weight just fine and didn't sag and didn't make cracking noises. But someone big jumped on last night while I was in my other boat and they start jumping around on the foredeck and all of a sudden I hear cracking and they shout out "SOFT SPOTS!" Find a better class of acquaintances. My boat has some plywood under the deck to take forces from winches, cleats, and from the forward lower shrouds that the PO moved inboard. Sometimes those glue joints crackle a little as I walk around. I weigh about 210 and my deck holds me. > I see on Seals site he has a foredeck support, has anyone used these and if so how did it work out for you? > > My tiller is beyond repair. Found another one online, but it says "oversized" Anyone used this and if so, just how oversized is it? http://www.apsltd.com/p-4932-wood-tiller-cal-20-21-60.aspx You could make a temporary tiller from a chunk of 2x2. Unless you go back to sailing with too much sail up (!), you don't need a fancy tiller, just one that turns the rudder. > > I am so discouraged at this point. My 3.5 hp 4 stroke died yesterday and needs an overhaul. Find a cheap used outboard. Use alcohol-free gas and mix your oil carefully. > I can't get through the channel without it, there just isn't enough room to be tacking and if I did I would be tacking every 5 feet- it would take me 6 hours to get through the channel! I have no tiller. I now have cracks in my foredeck. I figure I am looking at huge expenses re-rigging. You only need to re-rig if your standing rigging is failing. If strands are loose, or if the swages have cracks. It's important for boats to be safe and not to ignore signs of failure, but the boat doesn't have to LOOK perfect to be sailed. Fix what's necessary--make a temp. tiller and find a used outboat--then go sailing. Keep that fat-ass "friend" off your boat and tell him to go jump elsewhere. Chris Campbell >

I'll jump in here as well....had simlar situation with my 2-29....bought it and was on top of the world...month went by and I noticed the main shroud chainplate was pulling loos from the bulkhead....didn't even know enough to look at this very obvious pre-buy inspection point when I handed the guy the check....it started a wonderful, albeit expensive, relationship and learning process that one could never have if I bought the boat new off of the shelf. 5 glorious years of annual projects. I'll be honest....I enjoy working and complaining just as much as I do sailing and I love sailing...you become part of a great support group and there's nothing better than having "my boat is worse than your boat" stories at the pub, up the dock, at the grocery store and at dinners. If it isn't the deck today or tomorrow...it will be the "dreaded beam"....something with the engine....it goes on and on. --- In Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com, george macon <george_macon@...> wrote: > > > Your boat is fine. Tell the ass-hole who jumped on your deck to stop breaking your boat. Shrouds should be loose. I have owned a dozen boats at different times and quite frankly, a soft deck doesn't matter, does'nt affect performance, and in 15 years when and "if" it starts to leak you can see if you want to fix it. I have 2 cal25's The boats were designed to flex. Dont overtighten your shrouds or you'll compress the mast step. have fun with your boat. It was a good deal. > Wrap your tiller in White tape for now, or find a wheel barrow handle and cut it down. Don't forget, Carribean sailors still to this day, make boats out of floating/found timber and scraps, smuggle goods to the keys and back, all without motors, maps, or navigation lights...Your little cal 20 is milestones beyond these boats, and even falling apart, will last for decades. > Have a great time in an awesome boat! > > George Macon > > > To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com > From: ellieut@... > Date: Tue, 19 Feb 2013 16:08:16 +0000 > Subject: [Cal_Boats] Discouraged New owner of Cal 20 > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > You know how it is when you get something used but new to you and you bring it back to the marina and everyone has to add their own thoughts, suggestions and advice? Running into this and feeling a tad confused and discouraged. I don't want to be stupid (as I am told I am being over and over again) so again, hoping for some advice from the experienced Cal 20 owners. > > > > My next list of questions: > > > > Shrouds- my shrouds are slightly loose. I read here http://www.onedesign.com/Portals/106/docs/Tuning%20Guides/north-cal20-tuningguide.pdf > > that they should be. But every sailor who comes by to look at the boat grabs the shrouds and shakes them and says "replace these, they are too loose" > > > > My fore deck-I weigh about 120. Why is it when someone looks at your boat after you buy it, the first thing they do is jump on it and start jumping around looking for soft spots? I did this before I bought it, the boat held my weight just fine and didn't sag and didn't make cracking noises. But someone big jumped on last night while I was in my other boat and they start jumping around on the foredeck and all of a sudden I hear cracking and they shout out "SOFT SPOTS!" I see on Seals site he has a foredeck support, has anyone used these and if so how did it work out for you? > > > > My tiller is beyond repair. Found another one online, but it says "oversized" Anyone used this and if so, just how oversized is it? http://www.apsltd.com/p-4932-wood-tiller-cal-20-21-60.aspx > > > > I am so discouraged at this point. My 3.5 hp 4 stroke died yesterday and needs an overhaul. I can't get through the channel without it, there just isn't enough room to be tacking and if I did I would be tacking every 5 feet- it would take me 6 hours to get through the channel! I have no tiller. I now have cracks in my foredeck. I figure I am looking at huge expenses re-rigging. And suddenly my cheap little $400 boat is nothing more than a large piece of fiberglass displacing water and sucking money out of my pocket! I can't even sail the damned thing now, and thats all I wanted to do!! > > > > --- In Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com, "duchess287" wrote: > > > > > > Hello all. Just bought a Cal 20 in pretty decent shape. Looking for others who have one, have worked on one and who have useful tips while I get her ready to sail. She is solid. Picking up new sails for her this week. Finding lots of info online but the info is limited to renovations and I won't need to do much of that. A little paint and a scrub brush is all that is needed right now. Any tips, hints, links you can provide would be greatly appreciated! > > > > > > Hull #823 1966 > > > > > > First project: Need to install nav lights. All she has is a solar powered crappy stern light! haha > > > > > > Second: Will need a tiny fiberglass repair at the starboard aft corner outside, where the previous owner allowed her to rub against the dock. Minor issue. Less than 5 cm x 1 cm. > > > > > > Third: sand and varnish the tiller so I dont get splinters. > > > >

I have to agree with Robert, STOP letting large people jump on your deck. I have a CAL T2 which has a very similar flush deck to the 20, 25, 28. I'm not quite as light as you but as I walk and do a bit of a bounce the deck is fine. However, I'm sure that if I let a linebacker jump around we would hear cracks and see some flexing! If it supports your weight (or maybe a 200lb'er) then you are fine (or at least it isn't something you have to deal with now) Make sure (over time) that you re-bed everything that attaches to the deck to keep additional water out and sail the boat. Take a look at this site. Great info on bedding hardware: http://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/rebedding_hardware&page=1 Rigging, Loose does NOT mean replace! Unless your turnbuckles are taken all the way up. If this is the case, then you have a different issue, like deck sag. This still does not mean new rigging (though it may mean deck core work). If you find cracks in the rigging fittings (turnbuckles and such) or broken wires (also known as fish hooks or meat hooks) then you are probably looking at new rigging. If not, tune the rig and go sailing! (leeward shrouds should be slightly loose when under sail, but I'm sure you'll find tuning specs online for the 20) I can think of two ways a tiller could be over sized. The back end so that it does not fit the mounting to the rudder, of the length so that you wind up in the cabin to steer. if the difference is the back end, you can shave it down. Bit of a PIA, but doable. If too long, cut it off. I would look to cut the back end. Outboards, in my experience, they just suck or at least mine do. Had one serviced last year and the other is now feeling left out, probably have to have it worked on this year ;( You got a great boat at a fantastic price! It is going to require some work, they all do (especially brand new ones!!!) Nothing you've described sounds like you are going to spend all of you time spending and working on the boat. Do what's needed and go sailing! BTW, where are you located? I've run into CAL 20's just about everwhere I've gone in this country. I'm sure there are owners not that far from you. Thanks, Craig Johnson To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com From: el… [at] gmail.com Date: Tue, 19 Feb 2013 16:08:16 +0000 Subject: [Cal_Boats] Discouraged New owner of Cal 20 You know how it is when you get something used but new to you and you bring it back to the marina and everyone has to add their own thoughts, suggestions and advice? Running into this and feeling a tad confused and discouraged. I don't want to be stupid (as I am told I am being over and over again) so again, hoping for some advice from the experienced Cal 20 owners. My next list of questions: Shrouds- my shrouds are slightly loose. I read here http://www.onedesign.com/Portals/106/docs/Tuning%20Guides/north-cal20-tuningguide.pdf that they should be. But every sailor who comes by to look at the boat grabs the shrouds and shakes them and says "replace these, they are too loose" My fore deck-I weigh about 120. Why is it when someone looks at your boat after you buy it, the first thing they do is jump on it and start jumping around looking for soft spots? I did this before I bought it, the boat held my weight just fine and didn't sag and didn't make cracking noises. But someone big jumped on last night while I was in my other boat and they start jumping around on the foredeck and all of a sudden I hear cracking and they shout out "SOFT SPOTS!" I see on Seals site he has a foredeck support, has anyone used these and if so how did it work out for you? My tiller is beyond repair. Found another one online, but it says "oversized" Anyone used this and if so, just how oversized is it? http://www.apsltd.com/p-4932-wood-tiller-cal-20-21-60.aspx I am so discouraged at this point. My 3.5 hp 4 stroke died yesterday and needs an overhaul. I can't get through the channel without it, there just isn't enough room to be tacking and if I did I would be tacking every 5 feet- it would take me 6 hours to get through the channel! I have no tiller. I now have cracks in my foredeck. I figure I am looking at huge expenses re-rigging. And suddenly my cheap little $400 boat is nothing more than a large piece of fiberglass displacing water and sucking money out of my pocket! I can't even sail the damned thing now, and thats all I wanted to do!! --- In Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com, "duchess287" wrote: > > Hello all. Just bought a Cal 20 in pretty decent shape. Looking for others who have one, have worked on one and who have useful tips while I get her ready to sail. She is solid. Picking up new sails for her this week. Finding lots of info online but the info is limited to renovations and I won't need to do much of that. A little paint and a scrub brush is all that is needed right now. Any tips, hints, links you can provide would be greatly appreciated! > > Hull #823 1966 > > First project: Need to install nav lights. All she has is a solar powered crappy stern light! haha > > Second: Will need a tiny fiberglass repair at the starboard aft corner outside, where the previous owner allowed her to rub against the dock. Minor issue. Less than 5 cm x 1 cm. > > Third: sand and varnish the tiller so I dont get splinters. >

Hi dutchess287, Go to http://www.cal20/ class. Dave Ulman has a tuning guide that can be downloaded. You can buy or fine a piece of wood that can be made into a tiller using your old one as a pattern for less than $100 I got my first Cal 20 in 1971 and have had 7 others since. DONT BE DISCOURAGED for long. This is all a part of the ownership package. I cannot tell you how many times I thought of sailing up to the yacht brokers dock. Only my car in the marina parking lot some miles away kept me from doing so. Then next week I was back at it again. Sailing is a bittersweet experience. There are few other experiences that provide the highs and lows,the risk and reward while using the forces of nature for propulsion. Forty years and I still learn something new each time I go out. My Best, Mike Farrell Yellow Jack US57313 From: duchess287 <el… [at] gmail.com> To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com Sent: Tuesday, February 19, 2013 8:08 AM Subject: [Cal_Boats] Discouraged New owner of Cal 20 You know how it is when you get something used but new to you and you bring it back to the marina and everyone has to add their own thoughts, suggestions and advice? Running into this and feeling a tad confused and discouraged. I don't want to be stupid (as I am told I am being over and over again) so again, hoping for some advice from the experienced Cal 20 owners. My next list of questions: Shrouds- my shrouds are slightly loose. I read here http://www.onedesign.com/Portals/106/docs/Tuning%20Guides/north-cal20-tuningguide.pdf that they should be. But every sailor who comes by to look at the boat grabs the shrouds and shakes them and says "replace these, they are too loose" My fore deck-I weigh about 120. Why is it when someone looks at your boat after you buy it, the first thing they do is jump on it and start jumping around looking for soft spots? I did this before I bought it, the boat held my weight just fine and didn't sag and didn't make cracking noises. But someone big jumped on last night while I was in my other boat and they start jumping around on the foredeck and all of a sudden I hear cracking and they shout out "SOFT SPOTS!" I see on Seals site he has a foredeck support, has anyone used these and if so how did it work out for you? My tiller is beyond repair. Found another one online, but it says "oversized" Anyone used this and if so, just how oversized is it? http://www.apsltd.com/p-4932-wood-tiller-cal-20-21-60.aspx I am so discouraged at this point. My 3.5 hp 4 stroke died yesterday and needs an overhaul. I can't get through the channel without it, there just isn't enough room to be tacking and if I did I would be tacking every 5 feet- it would take me 6 hours to get through the channel! I have no tiller. I now have cracks in my foredeck. I figure I am looking at huge expenses re-rigging. And suddenly my cheap little $400 boat is nothing more than a large piece of fiberglass displacing water and sucking money out of my pocket! I can't even sail the damned thing now, and thats all I wanted to do!! --- In Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com, "duchess287" <ellieut@...> wrote: > > Hello all. Just bought a Cal 20 in pretty decent shape. Looking for others who have one, have worked on one and who have useful tips while I get her ready to sail. She is solid. Picking up new sails for her this week. Finding lots of info online but the info is limited to renovations and I won't need to do much of that. A little paint and a scrub brush is all that is needed right now. Any tips, hints, links you can provide would be greatly appreciated! > > Hull #823 1966 > > First project: Need to install nav lights. All she has is a solar powered crappy stern light! haha > > Second: Will need a tiny fiberglass repair at the starboard aft corner outside, where the previous owner allowed her to rub against the dock. Minor issue. Less than 5 cm x 1 cm. > > Third: sand and varnish the tiller so I dont get splinters. > ------------------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Links http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

On 2/20/2013 10:01 AM, mike farrell wrote: > There are few other experiences that provide the highs and lows,the > risk and reward while using the forces of nature for propulsion. Forty > years and I still learn something new each time I go out. Some people get it and some don't. Mike does. I remember once when a friend said "Maybe Chris will take us for a sailboat ride." */A sailboat ride?????/* You don't go riding on a sailboat, you go sailing!!!! It's an interaction with the environment! And yes, I learn something new too. Wouldn't it be dull if we didn't? Since I can't go sailing in the winter and need my dose of cold and discomfort, I bought studded snow tires and fenders for my bicycle and have been riding my bike to work in the snow. It's only about a mile commute but it makes getting there a chance to have fun. Chris Campbell Cal 20 #1220, the lovely /Martha C/ >

If I lived in a house and had all the right tools, I could. But to buy the tools and make it would cost more than buying one. I am putting the old one back on for now, carrying a roll of duct tape in my emergency kit and am gonna sail with the damned thing for now! haha

OK, friends, I was navigating my home computer and found that I had saved a post about /Black Feathers/ sailing to Hawaii. And since we are encouraging the newbie Cal 20 owner, I thought it was worth reposting. Chris Campbell > This site is new to me, but I felt there may be some interest among > this group of the upcoming 2008 Singlehanded Sailing Society TransPac > from San Francisco to Kauai beginning July 12, 2008. I have entered my > Cal-20, Hull #14, produced in 1961, in this race. Obviously this > sturdy little craft has had many modifications made to it which will > cause some distress in the minds and hearts of purists. But, if you > can get past that, you may be intrigued enough to follow her progress > in the race. Information about the race and the various entrants is > easily found within the SSS website located at www.sfbaysss.org. I > look forward to any discussion this forum may generate. > > Robert Crawford > > Black Feathers > > Hello from Kauai! > > Black Feathers arrived in Hanalei Bay during the 19th day of the > race.She won second in her class (small monohulls) and corrected out > 8th in the fleet of 22 boats.This 47 year old Cal-20 performed > beautifully with the only significant problem being the 5 year old > fiberglass rudder broke at the waterline about 1200 miles into the > race.The rudder was replaced with the original all mahogony 1961 > rudder, and no further problem was experienced.I did, however, loose > my balance during the rudder replacement and break the glass on the > solar panal.It continued to work well throughout the race, but I know > it is toast. I took no waves into the cockpit as I had feared might > happen. > > The boat was steered the entire way with the Monitor Windvane.It > worked very well, but had a bit of a problem when the light weight > boat would get kicked about by some waves.This primarily happened when > I was going wing on wing with the main and jib.When I went to two > poled out jibs with no main, she made just as good time, but was > steady as an arrow on her course.Our normal daily run was about 130 miles. > > The only comfort concern I had was being a bit cramped in the cabin > because of all the extra gear I was required to carry.The weight of > all the gear (liferaft, water, food, etc) was 900 pounds which was > distributed fairly evenly throughout the boat. > > For those of you interested, you can find more info at the > Singlehanded Sailing Society site (www.sfbaysss.org).Also Norcal > Sailing has some video only.If you check this out, you can see a short > video of my finish if you go to the Archives and see the finishes that > occurred on August 1st. (www.norcalsailing.com). > > Let it always be clear that the Cal-20 is truly a tough little craft > worthy of her reputation! > > May we cross tacks soon, > > Robert Crawford of Black Feathers > > To see the short video of Black Feathers' finish go to: > > www.norcalsailing.com > > then go to "Movies" and select 2008 TransPac August 1, 2008 > >

Duchess, When I was in Chula Vista and having outboard trouble, I went to JP motorsports. They are right next to the West Marine that is close to your marina. I got parts from them and installed myself. I feel it was worth it to do it myself and get intimate with the outboard. Adam On Sat, Feb 23, 2013 at 7:27 PM, Chris Campbell <cc… [at] lsnm.org> wrote: > ** > > > OK, friends, I was navigating my home computer and found that I had saved > a post about *Black Feathers* sailing to Hawaii. And since we are > encouraging the newbie Cal 20 owner, I thought it was worth reposting. > > Chris Campbell > > This site is new to me, but I felt there may be some interest among this > group of the upcoming 2008 Singlehanded Sailing Society TransPac from San > Francisco to Kauai beginning July 12, 2008. I have entered my Cal-20, Hull > #14, produced in 1961, in this race. Obviously this sturdy little craft has > had many modifications made to it which will cause some distress in the > minds and hearts of purists. But, if you can get past that, you may be > intrigued enough to follow her progress in the race. Information about the > race and the various entrants is easily found within the SSS website > located at www.sfbaysss.org. I look forward to any discussion this forum > may generate. > > Robert Crawford > > Black Feathers > > ** ** > > Hello from Kauai! > > ** ** > > Black Feathers arrived in Hanalei Bay during the 19th day of the race. She > won second in her class (small monohulls) and corrected out 8th in the > fleet of 22 boats. This 47 year old Cal-20 performed beautifully with > the only significant problem being the 5 year old fiberglass rudder broke > at the waterline about 1200 miles into the race. The rudder was replaced > with the original all mahogony 1961 rudder, and no further problem was > experienced. I did, however, loose my balance during the rudder > replacement and break the glass on the solar panal. It continued to work > well throughout the race, but I know it is toast. I took no waves into the > cockpit as I had feared might happen. > > ** ** > > The boat was steered the entire way with the Monitor Windvane. It worked > very well, but had a bit of a problem when the light weight boat would get > kicked about by some waves. This primarily happened when I was going > wing on wing with the main and jib. When I went to two poled out jibs > with no main, she made just as good time, but was steady as an arrow on her > course. Our normal daily run was about 130 miles. > > ** ** > > The only comfort concern I had was being a bit cramped in the cabin > because of all the extra gear I was required to carry. The weight of all > the gear (liferaft, water, food, etc) was 900 pounds which was distributed > fairly evenly throughout the boat. > > ** ** > > For those of you interested, you can find more info at the Singlehanded > Sailing Society site (www.sfbaysss.org). Also Norcal Sailing has some > video only. If you check this out, you can see a short video of my > finish if you go to the Archives and see the finishes that occurred on > August 1st. (www.norcalsailing.com). > > ** ** > > Let it always be clear that the Cal-20 is truly a tough little craft > worthy of her reputation! > > ** ** > > May we cross tacks soon, > > Robert Crawford of Black Feathers > > ** ** > > To see the short video of Black Feathers' finish go to: > > ** ** > > www.norcalsailing.com > > ** ** > > then go to "Movies" and select 2008 TransPac August > 1, 2008 > > ** ** > > > > ** ** > > > > ** ** > > > >