Here are a couple of photos of our new bimini from 
outside looking in and
outside looking in and
inside looking out.
Our canvas smith is still working on the shade cloths which will zip onto the sides of the bimini for angled sun protection. We will be able to fold the bimini back just before mizzen and just in front of the back rail. When open the two folding parts of the bimini are connected with a canvas bridge that wraps around the mizzen sail. When in the folded position, each bimini component will have a protective boot. We wanted our shade to be removable in case of high winds, following seas, and evening star watch.
Looks like our number of vicarious sailors is growing. We are excited that we can keep in touch with you. If you have a digital photo to share of your smiling face, we would love it! Until next time!
G'Day,
ReplyDeleteI am in need of your help!
I am in the process of selling my house & I am looking at a Nauticat 44 as my livaboard retirement home, & am looking at a few in the U.S.A.
Because I have a physical disability I would be installing boom furling... I like the furlboom and and the Reef Rite systems and I would appreciate your input as to why you chose Furlboom and any shortcomings you have found with it.
I am a grumpy old (61) batchelor but am under pressure from family (sister) and friends to do something "sensible" like buy a condo & a little "tinnie" to do some fishing.... like you I have dreamed of some "adventure" in my life for the past 40 years!
I would (and others no doubt) appreciate some more photo's of your boat & the imrovements/systems you have put in. I am jealous as hell & look forward to following your adventures.
P.S. The boat I am seriously looking at http://www.pilothouseforsale.com/nauticat44b.html looks like a good buy.... what do you think?
Hello jbarker0,
ReplyDeleteWe love our Natuicat Pilot House. We have been in contact with the owner of the Pilot House you are considering. He was very helpful in answering questions about his bimini before we had ours sewn and installed. His boat looks like it is in beautiful condition, but then we are only seeing it in photos. The layout looks very similar to ours. Ours has a shower on the starboard side in the master stateroom, very nice feature.
Have you boarded and sail tested the boat? When I board a boat, it must smell good. Open all the cupboards, floorboards, setees, engine compartment, etc. I look for a dry bilge and as little head odor as possible. Sometimes, old hoses will still cast off odor, but those are easily changed.
Since just the two of us plan to sail, we have been rigging the boat for just one in case the other is incapacitated. We love the Furlboom. My husband did a lot of research and we looked at other furling systems, but liked this one the best because of the installation that seemed less invasive on the mast. He and our son installed the boom themselves.
We had a new full baton main sail made and our boat speed increased by a knot with the wind blowing at 12 knots. Because the NC44 is a heavy displacement boat, you need a pretty good wind to get moving. So we were pleased with the results. My husband bought a large drill and had a winch bit made for it, so raising the sail is quite easy now. He usually raises the sail at the main mast while I hold the boat into the wind. I think you are supposed to be able to do this even if not directly into the wind, but we haven’t tried that – old habits. I would have liked to have had a push button electric winch operable from the aft steering station, so that we could have done everything from a single point. Maybe sometime in the future, but that definitely might be something you would want to consider if you will be sailing without crew.
The other wonderful advantage of the Furlboom is that if you are in strong winds, by lowering the sail to different batten points it makes an easy reef. I never liked my husband climbing on top of the cabin to flake and tie down the sail, too dangerous particularly in high winds.
Once we bought our Natuicat, everything else pales by comparison. We saw a new Natuicat at the boat show a couple of years ago, same design, hardly any changes in 25 years, but the price was nearly 4 times the amount the asking price of the boat you are looking at. We paid a little less for our boat 8 years ago, but it did not have a bimini and needed a lot of cruising gear. We will be looking to insure it for much more with all of the enhancements we have made. There is a lot of wood on the boat to maintain. Realistically, I hope you like doing bright work and lots of little projects that will keep your boat dry and beautiful.
Hope this information is helpful. Best wishes to you. SV Worrall Wind