Let's Get Something Going Here

[latitude_chaser]

I own "Pairadice", a C-28. Her hull # is 464. She is currently in a slip on Lake Norman in the Charlotte, NC area but we intend to have her trucked to the coast next year.
I've only owned her for a month and have been working steadily on various projects. As a novice sailor (this is my first sailboat), I can't really offer any serious input on sailing characteristics to anyone thinking about buying a Columbia. I can say, however, that I really enjoy every trip and am constantly learning as I go.
Projects include but are not limited to:
Wiring; painting the cockpit, decks and cabin trunk; sewing cushions and repairing sails; plumbing (redoing the entire system); cleaning; and various others.
I'd like to see other Columbia owners or prospective owners post info of their boats and projects. Maybe we can get a decent source of info going here?

Regards,
Rick
S/V Pairadice

[Columbia9_6]

I own a 1977 Columbia 9.6; hull #101. This boat sails wonderfully. I bought it last year and sailed it on Seneca Lake, NY. I found the lake a bit small. When the winds are from the east or west... otherwise, running and reaching are fun.
This year, we'll be moving to Oswego, which is on Lake Ontario for a greater challenge.
Over the winter, the bottom was stripped and inspected for blistering... none...and is now being epoxy sealed prior to painting. I did replace the wire cable halyards with rope. I had help from Halls Spars & Rigging. They were great help in the modification! Currently I'm building new grabrails. Some of the other external teak was removed and refinished during the winter and is waiting to be re-installed.

[Jim H]

I don't own a Colubia, but I've checked out a 29 and a 24 Challenger. The 24 Challenger is still available at the Sea Scouts base on the Columbia River (Portland, Oregon).

I'm hoping someone will check out the 24 and restore it. It has great lines, but needs a lot of work. It's just like the "Pink Cloud" in Royce's Sailing Illustrated books:

http://www.columbia-yachts.com/c-24chal.html

I couldn't talk my brother into buying it, even though it's only $850 and comes on a great trailer. The hull and decks look good, and it even has an older roller furling on the headsail. It was once raced, based on the remaining instruments in the bulkhead. The problem is that the interior is pretty much rotted, the internal engine is gone, and it doesn't appear to have sails. It won't be worth much even restored, and doing the interior over again would be a major project.

Anyway, thought I'd mention it. When finished, it would be a fine (but slower) Columbia River cruiser, and the trailer would make it a nice pocket cruiser to pull up to Puget Sound.

Jim H