OK Attalia owners!
We are not a very talkative bunch! Probably quiet and unassuming and just prefer to go sailing.....
Waymar (our 1983 Attalia) has been on the hard for 18 months and it looks like I'm going to miss another seasons.
. So I'll jsut throw some random stuff out. feel free to react/respond (or not)
. If English is not your first language, no matter... give it a try. I'm sure we can communicate
To keep my sanity, I need projects. We sail on Lake Ontario.
Bryan, your trip to the Rock (Newfoundland to the non-Canadians) sounds pretty incredible. I envy you able to confidently sail "real" water. You obviously have lots of experience. Did you go as a single boat or were there more of you? Keep us posted on your project to sail to warmer waters. Did you install the new composting Head yet?
Taking the boat up the St-Lawrence and into the Gulf (of St-Lawrence) and beyond ("To the Rock") is one passage I do intend to make.
Anybody have a windlass on their Attalia? Although, I guess it depends on where you sail and how much chain rode you have..... It all boils down to there is lots of stuff you can put on a boat but all that extra weight adds up...
We also have tiller steering (which I did not like at first but now I really do not see the point of wheel steering). Anybody have trouble with the rudder so far?
The engine is a 13hp Yanmar. Works extremely well. we can easliy motor a 5-6 knots. "diesel mileage" is great at about 1litre/ hr.
Other projects:
1)upgrade the sails and sail covers (dodger). Anybody not have a bimini? Our boat came with one but I'm not sure I want to keep it on the boat, I usually fold it up.... useful when it rains.. but I like the sun.
2) upgrade electricals/wiring. I really don't like the mess of the battery bank underneath the bunk in the aft cabin. 2 load batteries and 1 starter. I'll have to do some more reading and redo the wiring. it really is a mess...:
3) I am looking to maximise comfort and performance (in that order). Hot water is probably the #1 priority. A new genoa is a close 2nd. Has anybody experimented with sizes (110%, 130%, 150% or in between?) Has anybody purchased from FX sails? The price seems right.
4) Galley: Has anybody upgraded their refrigeration? Installed a small microwave? Waymar has, what I think is, the original refrigeration. Works fine. When we go on longer cruises we use an additional 12v cooler.
5) LEDs in the cabin is a no brainer. It's just a question of time (and money).
Anybody else have any experience with upgrade (and maintenance) they would like to share?