5Yr plan - am I crazy?

[bearmcnally]

For $19.000 what more do you people expect to get ? That is one nice Top Hat, even if it's not a Mk 1 ! If you bought a $7000 Top Hat and spent $10 000 on it you wouldn't come close to what is offering in "Cool Change" And further more if your not capable of doing the work yourself it will cost a lot more than $19 000 !
Bloody well buy it before you miss out !
If you 're worried about a to friendlier crew member, buy a dog or better still a parrot ?

Pills ?...... where are my bloody red pills !!

Cranky Bear

[Peter57]

I sort of agree with Bear and I am not the smartest bear in the room! She looks nice and is set up well. SHe has 2 quarter berths so no worries about getting cosy with crew members unless you want to!!! However, it makes me realise how great Marinka is. A solidly rigged boat with over sized rigging and attachment points; a good diesel motor in a 10 HP Nani, an original plug and well set up. I do like having diesel and in Marinka with its nice diesel and being well set up as she was she was worth every penny. Then again many advocate the outboards. However, I do think Cool Change looks a good buy and is nicely set up for what Di wants to do. For our situation I am happy to move to our Rival 34 as a cruising and live-aboard boat that we may sail to our second home in Canada. Go for it Di!! Cheers Peter

[Peter57]

oh, and I forgot to add, I recently sold my BMW R1100RS and also my R/75/6 and before had a succession of Nortons and Triumphs. I currently have a Yamaha WR250F for sale as I simply don't have the time to go trail riding and boating. What is it about boats and bikes??? Di, if you are around and would like to go sailing for a day on our Rival out of Mooloolaba let me know - email phurrey@tpg.com.au or phone 0417720150. I have a lot of respect for the Top Hat and have very fond memories of her but Pauline wanted a bigger boat to live on so hence the Rival 34. About 15 months ago I did a leg on a Hanse 40 as part of the Ocean Yachtmaster and while we had great weather it made me realise the beauty of a full keel and its sea kindly motion. Cheers Peter

[MelF]

Hi,
Just a quick comment about the location of the gas bottle in Cool Change: in Victoria, they need to be vented to the outdoors...not sure if the arrangement shown in the photos is safe or legal...? Or perhaps the gas bottle is just in storage? Hard to tell without a look...
Hey Di, go take a look and report back!
Cheers all,

[di_namic42]

report on Cool change ....
A lovely top hat that has been dumbed down to a day sailer.
I did my inspection assisted by Dave skipper from sv Bardoo (www.bardoo.net)
where I am Crewing for the next 5 days around great keppell island.

Are u all waiting .... A first cursory look.....
Yes, she is lovely. I should have take more photos but I had people waiting for me.

1. About 25 mm of water in the bilge. There was even a mouldy measuring stick, so obviously an ongoing problem.
We ran the pump which reduced it to about 15mm. With an outboard in a well shouldn't it be a dry bilge? It seem there are a some problems with the windows, and that the rubber was pulling away and the water came from there. It was fresh water.

2 in head, 3 x 4cm circles of paint was peeling off to reveal a repair had been done at some time, which was just visible on hull as an an area of duller paint. Maybe that was what initiated the new fitout? Fibre glass appeared fine, but paint wasn't adhereing.

I intend to make an offer in next few days.
but I have to budget for ...
New standing and running rigging after transport back to brisbane
Transport and lift on and out
Surveyor
Replace Thu hull fittings while out
Touch up antifoul
My mooring and tackle

3 outboard leg had some area of corrosion. May or may not be serious.

Soonish .....
bimini and solar panels and wiring
Roller furler and sail modified


Stay tuned for next installment .....

[di_namic42]

Also .......
Berths extend under galley and chart tabel. Tight but functional. Fine for crew. Photos didn't reveal that.

Gas stove is a propane cartridge stove so is ok I think, but has no thingys to hold kettle/pot in place.
Obviously not gimballed.

Nice little fridge, but genset has to go... Sails and solar panels is way I wish to go.

[di_namic42]

Thanks peter
I would like to sail with you an pauline. Thanks for invitation.

[Ianb]

Fridge needs lots of power, hence genset. If you have lpg stove you need gas detector.

[MelF]

I intend to make an offer in next few days.

Wow...exciting stuff!!
Yay for you...let us know when you have news...

[Peter57]

Hi Di, with what you have mentioned I would exercise some caution before making an offer. I may well be wrong however a few months ago a beautiful Mk1 named Pippin came up for sale with a Nani diesel, new sails and in very good order for the same sort of dollars. An inboard diesel in good order has a lot to recommend it especially for coastal cruising when you have to spend a lot of time motoring and the purr of a diesel and the fuel economy is very much appreciated rather than listening to the drone of a heavy fuel consuming outboard. For that money if you wait for another great boat like Pippin or for that matter Marinka to come on the market it could be worth the wait. I am not a fan of LPG on a boat, but know many who are. If you have any LPG stove, that should be installed with proper lines and have a gas certificate, especially for insurance purposes. As a lawyer and former shipping inspector I do not recommend cutting corners with this sort of stuff. When looking in a buyer's market it does not hurt to wait. Just a few thoughts. Cheers Peter