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Calling All North American Spirit 23 Owners

73K views 247 replies 38 participants last post by  Pernerewski0802 
#1 ·
If we get enough action here we may get our own Thread, but these beautiful boats are few & far between.!!
 
#218 ·
''The winch end of the cable is always good. The cable wears & chafes on the fitting leaving the boat inside the keel trunk. The angle to the keel attach point is about 120 deg. That's why I put a pulley up there''

So I take it you opened up the top of the centre board case to install the pully assembly?? do you have to lower the centre board completely to replace the cable. ??

On the motor, I'm looking for a 4 stroke right now (niose and no oil mixing) but I'll definitly keep the offer in mind if the 4 stk dosn't come along.
 
#220 ·
We have our own forum now!

Thanks for all your posts. The administration, is in the process of making a new forum so we're not orphans anymore! This thread will be migrated over there. I'm hoping that it will be broken down into the Spirit 21, 23, 23K & 28 so cross your fingers, & see you over there soon!
 
#222 ·
Well guys, I have to jump ship. I sold my old Spirit and bought a little Catalina 22 project. On to the next one I guess. Will miss this one though. I'll be posting pics of the progress on the other message board... but here are some pics.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.729614015929.2214481.42800403&type=1&l=7afa9f44fc

And pics of my old Spirit and all of the work posted at link below. I think she got a good home though, will definitely be sailed.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.574247327019.2122174.42800403&type=1&l=ede6d30e8a
 
#226 ·
>>>>
Well guys, I have to jump ship. I sold my old Spirit and bought a little Catalina 22 project. On to the next one I guess. Will miss this one though. I'll be posting pics of the progress on the other message board... but here are some pics.
>>>>

Good luck w/ the Catalina 22 - I've sailed on them a few times - Catalina makes a very nice trailerable cruising sailboat. The four things I really like about the Cat22 are:
WEIGHT: 500lbs less weight than a Spirit 23 makes trailering easier
INTERIOR: Most come with a Dinette Layout which I like
FACTORY PARTS: Easy to get anything you might need from Catalina.
POPULAR: Lots of opportunity to meet new sailors and race

But the things I do prefer about the Spirit 23 - bit more room, added weight for stability, and the shoal Keel w/ fiberglass centerboard.

I have my original standing rigging from my Spirit 23 if it is any use for your project - please let us know how the project is going!!:D

Dave
 
#229 ·
I learned on this one too, it's a very forgiving boat. This one was my first one too. None of the lines on mine ran to the cockpit, so it could get a little hairy jumping up to the mast to get a sail down or to reef in some heavy wind, without and extra hand.

Mostly,I just needed something smaller for the moment, or at least until i can get a slip. My little 4runner doesn't respond well to 4000lbs of fiber glass and trailer behind it either. But like i said, the NA23 is hands down a better build boat. Catalinas were built quickly and cheaply, and you can definitely tell a difference once you start getting inside of one.
 
#230 ·
Thanks for the clarification.

I do have to say that I am planning on moving some lines around to make life a bit easier. I picked up a couple flush mount pulleys that I will eventually put on the deck. When I replace the halyards they will run back to the cockpit via the pulleys. I am also going to install a lazyjack, because, well, I'm lazy :). Then eventually a furler. Cheap stuff first though ;)
 
#233 · (Edited)
Mouser370 it's a Helms 25

Just snooping for Spirit 23 info for potential next boat;

From your hull # using uscgboating.org (under Recalls & Defects select Manufacturers Identification) it's made by Jack Helms. 24footer looks different, but has the same trim piece below the hull/deck seam, seems like a signature. Helms 25 looks like the pics you posted 7/11.
Helms 25 sailboat for sale

Rick
Ensenada20
 
#237 ·
Are you speaking of the centerboard cable? IF so, the cable exits along the centerline hump in the bilge down to the centerboard.

You may want to google Spirit 23 centerboard or North American 23 centerboard. There were lots of issues with the setup of raising and lowering the centerboard. The original design was quite poor and numerous cables snapped. A later factory modification set up a winch in the center of the cabin which was aligned with where the cable attaches to the centerboard.

The Spirit 23 was a great sailing boat. But the centerboard cabling I had was an effing nightmare... and led to the selling of my boat. I hope you have a better experience.
 
#244 ·
I can't recall some of the details of how the cable was routed to go through the hull to the centerboard.

There may have been some kind of tubing (most likely stainless steel) that the cable runs through to the bilge and the "epoxy volcano."

As for the small hole in the bilge that the cables runs through, I just don't know how to deal with that.

As I mentioned in a previous post in this thread, this design created a huge issue for owners of Spirit & North American 23s.

Sorry I can't be much help to you regarding this issue.
 
#246 ·
If the centerboard is down while in the water, it should fold back up when you guide the boat onto the trailer.

You might want to see if there is a boat lift in your area so that you can see where the cable attaches to the centerboard.

If you don't expect to do a lot of trailer sailing, and have the boat in the water for most of the time, perhaps you can find a way to thread a new cable from the port side lazarette to the centerboard.

Best of luck.
 
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