Purchasing a used bluejay

[bishopn]

Can anyone fill me in on this boat''s handling characteristics? (I have limited experience.) Also, do you have any hints/tips for inspection prior to purchase? Any ideas about the ideal, small boat, manageable by a woman who''s not into racing---just likes being out on the water?

[Jeff_H]

I raced Bluejays as a kid. They were the primary Jr. trainer on Long Island Sound. They were typically sailed with crew weights of a couple hundred pounds of less. They were quite weight sensative: too much weight and they were really sluggish, to little weight and they were hard to keep level enough to be competetive enough in a breeze.

Even by the standard of the day they were quite heavy and a bit under canvassed and so were considered pretty slow. They pointed OK but were no match for boats like the Flying Jr. or a 420.

I don''t think two adults are light enough to race one competitively. I could be wrong but it seems like the older kids began to loose competetiveness at some point and moved on.

Still they make nice daysailors for an adult or two and would be fun to own in an envirnment with a bit more breeze than Long Island Sound.

BTW: Is your boat wood?

Good luck
Jeff

[paulk]

The Blue Jay, designed by Sparkman & Stevens, is still the primary Jr. Trainer on Long Island Sound. We have about 100 of them at a regatta at our club each summer. It is a simple boat that works well as a trainer because it has a main, jib, and spinnaker and requires teamwork from the skipper and crew. Fast Opti sailors who move to the Laser get to the 420 and find themselves surprised by things like jibs, spinnakers, and having to coordinate with someone else in the boat. The Blue Jay''s hard chine and adequate, but not overly generous sailplan makes it a relatively stable platform for learners (quite unlike a 420). An adult will find that the size of the sails makes them easy to handle. If the spinnaker gets messed up, twisted, for example, it''s small enough for to stand up, grab the sail and and untwist. Shorter, (younger) hands would find such a maneuver more difficult. The fact that it is a known quantity means that when its time to sell again, there should be a market for one. Older boats may have leaks around the centerboard. I re-glassed ours this season. The keel can also have problems if the boat''s been trailered a lot or left with water in it on the trailer. (The weight or shock of bouncing on the trailer can damage the keel.) Also make sure the air tanks don''t leak too much. (Check the Blue Jay Class Association Website for more info.)

That said, you may find the Blue Jay a bit small for two adults. Something like a Rhodes 19 would give you similar stability, training and resale potential with enough room to invite some friends out with you. You''d also be able to put an engine on a larger boat without totally killing performance. If you look around in your area you will see what boats are there that fit in your niche and suit your needs-- and post again about that one.


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