4 — Wednesday, Jane 7, 1989 - Capilano Chronicle “LIVING ON the coast,. it naturally occurs te many of us that we should be enjoy- ing a closer relationship with those. sparkling salty waves below us. Pr But boats. are like dogs — ’ there’s so many kinds that it can be hard to include them in. the same species, ’ - ‘Fo choose one you have to start by considering the kinds of activi- ties you're likely to enjoy on the water. wes If you want to do more than pile a.canoe or dinghy on your camper, . the first decision is whether to join up with the sailors or the power boaters. They’re two very distinct close to the water being splashed by the waves. You have to be aware of your environment, rely- ing on nature,”’ says Joanne Savory, secretary of the Hollyburn Sailing Club, where she keeps her little Topper. . . Roy Donaldson of Harbor Yacht Sales. notes that power boaters are interested in getting to their destinations and then fishing or water skiing. “Sailors are interested in the process of getting there — and they love the quietness of sailing,’’ says Donaldson. Ernie Bernard deals in power boats at the Boat. Centre, and notes that his buyers are busy peo- ple who may work six days a week and do not have the time that sail- ing requires. “You can get to Pender Harbor in two hours rather than eight or nine (sailing) and go fishing, and then you don’t have to depend on Mother Nature to get you back,’’ he points out. . Sailing also requires a certain amount of training and skill, though Donaldson thinks it is more relaxing than power boating which requires you to look ahead vigilantly for deadheads. Some sailors will prefer a trim spartan number for racing, while others want a more comfortable lay-out for touring with the family. Cruising is the most: popular sport with boats ranging from 20 to 50 feet, and an average size of 27 to 35 feet. . Second time buyers, tired of crouching, will often want to . buy-up: past 26’ to a size that allows for some headroom. Others, like Hugh Johnston, - have lost their ‘‘crews’’ (the kids have grown up) and may decide to sell the big boat and go for a small racer. ‘*Racing is a way of honing your skills and it gives you a chance to try things you might not do if you were thinking carefully,’ says 2YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD NEWSPAPER * 1139 Lonsdale Avenue North Vancouver, B.C. V7M 2H4 Display Advertisin 980-0511 Classiiled Advertising 986-6222 Newsroom 985-2131 Distribution 986-1337 FAX 985-3227 Publisher Peter Speck Managing Editor Sarrett Fisher Advertising Manager Bruce Methven The Capstano Chronicle is etvetad monttiy to evary tt 00K. z, Westview, Upper Lonsdale, The Capdano Chronicle 3 a amsion of Narn Shore Free Press Lia. Circulation 12.237, Submissions are welcor e but we cay not accept fesponsi ity for unsolicite material incl ing manuscripts and pic- tures which should be accompanied by @ stamped, self-addressed envelope. Entire contents © 1989 North Shore Froe Press Ltd. All rights reserved. Johnston, who is out on the water participating in Hollyburn Sailing Club races and camping weekends from New Year’s Day, on. . weather conditions (you’re more board motors, which can get the boat up to a speed of 40 knots. Inboards are less efficient and boast an average speed of 25 knots, | . Hugh Johnston recommends that second hand boat buyers have can occur when the outer gelcoat layer is permeated by salt water, creating a reaction with the ace- tone in the fibreglass. Still, Smith thinks highly of fibreglass as a boat material, followed by aluminum, which is photo Nell Lucente BUYING A boat seems a natural investment when you live right near the water, but when it comes to actually choosing the type and size of your craft, the decision isu’t so easy. There’s a fot to consider when making such 2 major purchase. Joanne Savory, above, enjoys a sail off Ambleside Beach in her 12-foot English Topper. to and more at the mercy of the elements). The local market for sailboats tends to be predominated by se- cond hand sales. “You can usually get a good boat for far less money,”’ Donaldson has found. New sailboats (from the U.S. and eastern Canada), even homebuilt ones, are terribly expen- sive, while used models often have radios, cooking facilities and other features that former owners have added. The opposite is true in the power boat market, where sales of new boats predominate’ and second handers are hard to come by. A popular feature, particularly for fishing enthusiasts, is the cen- tre console. This usually involves a boat with the steering wheel in the middle, surrounded by a_ large open area. Power boats, manufactured locally and abroad, range in size from 18 feet to 100 feet or more, although 20 to 32 feet are average buys. . Waterskiiers tend to prefer out- their prospective purchases check- ed out for hidden damage or struc- tural problems. “If your engine quits out in the bay you can’t pull over to side and call B.C.A.A.,’” he warns. A survey inay also be required by the buyer’s insurance company and bank, and many will only ac- cept work done by a naval ar- chitect, journeyman shipwright or marine engincer — as in the case of Barry Smith of North Van- couver. The cost, depending on the size of the boat, can range from $150 to $3000. Hulls made of ferro—cement or “stone boats’? are completely x- rayed. “Some of the home-built hulls, if not done right, are not worth a dime,”’ says Smith. Fibreglass huils are checked with a moisture meter and by sounding. If de-lamination is suspected (the layers of fibreglass coming apart) Smith may recommend that a plug be drilled out for analysis. Repairing de-lamination can be expensive, as with blistering, which BOU Burgers, Munchies} Aduring Village Rock with the | Classics. Charbroiled & Suds. ont Come and visit us NT BOULEVARD peli tit 4 UVER 980-55 35 “closed “Mon Come.in and § subject to problems caused by electrolytic and galvanic action. Surveyors, who charge out from * $60-90/hour will often refer the engine check to a marine mechanic who works for $45-50/hour. “I also recommend the buyer take the boat out for a sea trial be- ao Water Analysis. If you're a little anxious about pool care, maybe you need analysis. BioGuard Computerized It’s tough to choose what boat to buy fore hiring a surveyor,” says Smith. Other problems that Smith sees can have to do with dangerous use of propane for stoves and heaters (he prefers alcohol stoves) and in- adequate and infrequently in- spected fire fighting equipment. Donaldson at Harbor Yacht . Sales often reminds boat buyers of the extra costs accompanying their purchases — starting with . moorage. Moorage costs rise according to _ the desirability of their location. Boaters’ come out from . Chilliwack’ to launch at Sewell’s Marina in Horseshoe Bay, for in- stance. ; “‘No matter what’s happening in Georgia Strait, we've still got the good cruising and fishing waters of Howe Sound to sail in,” says owner Dan Sewell. . The availability of moorage has improved at North Shore marinas " and yacht clubs. The new owner of an average sized boat may have to wait only six to eight months for a. berth, compared to the four- to five-year wait common a few years ago. - Sewell, who recently brought his marina up to 400 spots and added Power and water services, thinks the shorter waiting period. is a result of improvements to local marinas along with the slowing of new boat sales during the reces- sion. : Some of those who have been trailering their boats and launching at local sites have been choosing to take up moorage spots during the summer months. — - With moorage, 2s well as sales and services, readily available on the North Shore, there may never be a better time to join the armada of seagoing recreationers. test and analyze it free. Then we'll prescribe a .. treatmeat plan just right for your pool. Our trained professionals can detect problems before they start and save you money on “over-treatment”. __ Take the worry out of pool maintenance. Bring your pool to BioGuard. 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