New To ME Mirage 275

[bushrat]

Ahoy,
Hope there is room for a newbie hailing from Killarney, Ontario. Well I did it I finally did it. Put the money down on a sailboat!! I've been dreaming about getting a sailboat forever. The used market was just to good to pass on any longer. Now what I've only enjoyed the odd cruise with friends. Never owned a sailboat. I've spent a lot of time in small power boats(former small marina owner, now I get to have fun ). Any suggestions regarding what to look out for ie: transporting her, re-rigging after transport, tips etc. Any other Mirage 275 owners out there.

[sailingdog]

Congratulations...However, I'm not familiar with the Mirage, so I can't really help you there.

[Sailormann]

Congratulations ! Good Choice !

Mirage is a well-made CANADIAN boat. Produced in the eighties. Have a reputation for high-quality fibreglass and a decent turn of speed, although not in the J-Boat category.

As far as transport goes - check out http://www.boatforsale.net/class/default.asp

Before you do anything with the rigging, get a Loos gauge. There are two sizes. You might be able to get away with the smaller one - it's about 10 bucks cheaper. Find out what size the rigging wire on your shrouds (the cables on the sides of the boat that go to the mast) are. If the clerk in the store tells you you don't need one unless you are racing - tell him I said he's an idiot. (just kidding - tell him you want one anyway)

Read the little booklet that comes with it and follow the instructions when you are re-rigging the boat.

Before you take anything apart - take pictures and label it. You don't need to undo the fastenings at the top of the mast. Just undo all of the fittings at the deck and then wrap your stays and shrouds around the mast.

Be sure to inspect to top of the mast to make sure everything is working (lights, antenna, etc. and make sure that nothing is siezed/broken/corroding before you put it back up.)

When you have the boat moved and re-rigged, come back and ask some more questions.

Good Luck - you're going to really enjoy your boat.

[AboardIndigo]

Hi bushrat. I'm wet behind the ears here myself, but from what I've seen so far, this is a great place to be!

I sail Lake Ontario - shall I Google Killarney, or can you give me a more adjective-laden description of the area?

[bushrat]

Hi AI, Killarney is at the east gateway to the "North Shore" of Georgian Bay. It's a boating paradise with wind swept pine and pink granite shores with the white quartz ridges of the Lacloche mountains as a backdrop! Oh and the islands. I heard there were 48,000 of them somewhere!

[Gary M]

Bushrat you forgot about the great fish and chips at the dock.

He lives right in the centre of one of the finest cruising grounds in the world. He can go east or west and it is really stunning, lots and lots of anchorages, fresh water and great fishing. The better known spots are quite crowded during July and early August but there are plenty of little places to anchor that hardly anyone goes to.

The 27 is a great boat, if by transport you meant a trucking company there is a really great operation in Bothwell that I would highly recomend. PM me if you want.

Gary

[bushrat]

Sailorman thanks for the tips. I think I'm going to get some help from Killarney Marine and Rigging for the mast as I have zero experience. Just wondering what I should be checking for. My biggest issue is that I am relying on a Marina in Annapolis MD to take things apart. Hopefully it isn't left in a rats nest of gear. Gary, I hope Dave at Bothwell can do the trucking for me. I had arranged it all only to find out that the marinas travel lift was down when the truck was in the area. Dave was gracious about it and all my conversations with him tell me he is the right guy for the job.

[Gary M]

Yes Dave is he, brought a 30 footer from Boston for me. Super service and price.

Gary

[bushrat]

Gary you know the fish and chips are good when flights come in to get it. You can't get any better. Usually the fish isn't frozen as they own their own boat. If you ever go in early spring its the great when the whitefish comes out of the cold water. I crave it as soon as the ice is out. They sell it to the locals fresh. Cut it up in big chunks, salt pepper and onion, throw it in the pot thats it, parrrfect!

[susiejava]

We have a Mirage 275 on Long Island sound (NY side). It's a great boat, but there weren't too many made - fewer than 30 I think. There's a great Mirage group on Yahoo where you can find lots of information on Mirage boats in general, and some details on the 275.