[Rampant]

 

I am very glad to report that Hull #53 has been rescued by a fellow member of our Nic 38 group!  I transferred ownership of Rampant and all of her gear to Nicholas Fairhurst earlier this month.

I am confident that Nick will be an ideal custodian of Rampant, so I feel very fortunate that we have found each other, and I have this forum to thank!  I look forward to seeing posts from Nick as he begins his restoration and recovery of Hull #53.

Thankfully, our insurance company paid us out in full, and with the proceeds (and then some), my family and I have purchased another cruising sailboat.  So this is the way my family’s 47 year relationship with Rampant comes to an end.  But despite the tragic sinking, it is a happy ending!  We will gain a newer boat more suitable to our cruising plans, and Nick will gain a vessel and project that he has fancied for some time.  Let us all wish Nick and his family all the best so that they can return Rampant to sail again before too long.

Charles

 

[Rampant]

Hi Marilyn,

Thanks for your thoughts and kind words.  It is a sad time for us indeed.   We hope that our loss will create an opportunity for another owner.

When we were out for the weekend, the winds were light so we mostly motorsailed.  We were not heeled over. Yes, we do have the original cockpit drains.  I am not sure how we took on water.   The bilge pump was tested later and found to work.  It is truly a mystery how she sank.  According to the marina, she was up in her slip in the evening, and then in the morning was on the bottom.  I am sure it sends a shiver through every boat owner’s spine.  We will need to float her and find out where, and if she still leaks.

Charles

 

 

[Rampant]

The helm station is quite inspiring! And the laminated davits are indeed beautiful to this eye. Thank you for posting.

Charles
“Rampant” #53

[Rampant]

Hi Michael,
I am interested to see your solution. Where can I go to see your posted picture.

Charles
“Rampant” #53

[Rampant]

Hello Peter,

Belated thanks for your reply. From the photos, the Walker Bay 8′ looks like a lovely solution for Alexina. How do you secure the dinghy from rocking in a seaway? What kind of hoist system do you use to get the boat up including motor?

Anybody else have a davit hard dinghy solution they are able to share? Thank you!

Charles
“Rampant” #53

[Rampant]

Hi Van,

Thank you for confirming about the restrainer. We will plan to include that. I appreciate your additional comments. What is the weight of your furling headsail?

I suspect you do more heavy air / seas that we do. On the Chesapeake we often get winds 25-30 but the seas are not very big. I normally fly the genoa until it consistently gets above 25 kts. After that point I would like to roll it in to 80% (or maybe all the way). I hope my new genny built for roller furling will have better performance at 80%.

I haven’t set the working jib in years, but when I go off-shore next I am sure I will be glad to have it.

For light air I am planning on adding a loose-luff A-sail. But that is next year’s project!

Cheers,
Charles
Rampant #38

[Rampant]

Hi Marilyn,
Your topic is very timely since adding a roller furling genoa is my current winter upgrade to Rampant. We have been hanking on the genny all these years as well (42 and counting!).

I had a Harken Unit 1 recommended to me also so I am glad to hear that it has been a good choice for you. We are also having a new purpose-built genoa made up (135% was recommended, 6.63 woven polyester).

I really appreciate your photos. They will help me with my process. And you description helps me understand what it will be like in practice. While I have used furling headsails on charter boats, it’s quite a mental leap to think of using one on our Nic 38! So would you say the halyard restrainer is mandatory or recommended?

I am most curious about your “if we had to do it again” thoughts. I would think a roller furling genny would be able to be reefed enough that it could work as a storm jib and thereby remove the need for the solent stay. We also got quotes on A-sails (loose-luffed). But that is another project and another topic! Our boat came with a club jib which we have never used. Anybody have experience with this little headsail?

I would like to mount the drum lower than you have. We do not have as big a anchor roller as you do. Our current genoa tacks about 1′ above deck level and I would like to stay low to increase sail area. Chesapeake winds are usually light and we haven’t been offshore in a while. Your thoughts?

Anybody else have Nic 38 roller furling experience to share?

Cheers,
Charles
Rampant #53 (Chesapeake)

[Rampant]

Hello,

I want to bring this to your attention one more time. I have been storing this engine in the garage for a year now. Can anyone use this combo or just the rebuilt trans? We will entertain any serious offer. Thank you.

Charles

[Rampant]

We still have our original “Fiesta” ware. The bowls, mugs and small and large plates all fit properly in the original holders. Bowls and mugs over the galley sink and plates outboard of the icebox. Our items came in 5 colors (red, lt blue, dk blue, lt grn, dk grn).

We really enjoy them because they say “sailing” to us and we love the colors. I have been using them aboard Rampant for 40 years (since age 6) and now my kids enjoy them. So we have a lot of tradition here. Over the years we have broken a couple of items and would like to replace with an identical set if possible.
Charles

[Rampant]

Hi fellow Nic 38 lovers,
We have been undergoing a major refit of Rampant since the end of last season. The various contractors at Herrington Harbor North just south of Annapolis, MD have been completing the work. If I were clever I would have found this forum before we began! We have focused mostly on systems. Here’s what we have had done.

Engine/drivetrain replacement – Yanmar 54hp.
Electrical system replacement with new inverter/charger, fusebox, AC power system.
All new standing rigging. The existing was original from 1970.
Fridge install – Seafrost DC system.
Rudder repair including steering gear and mizzen mast step.
Refinish teak – with Cetol.
Portlights – Remove and restore. A number were leaking.
Headliner – remove and replace with hard ABS with teak trim.
Thru-hulls – replace all.
Wind/depth/exterior lighting/music system/cabin fans. Using LED lights in the new lighting.

So you can see it has been a huge undertaking! We are about two months behind schedule, but we hope to be launched in the next two weeks! I welcome any discussion about any of the above topics.

Charles #53

Fridge installation

[Rampant]

In response to a question from Marilyn, we had to get work done on our mizzen mast step. The fiberglass under the mizzen mast had given way and we had to have it reconstructed and reinforced. There was also corrosion on the end of the mast and we had to have it cut off (about 1″) and a plinth built for it to retain the same height. I will post a more complete overview of all we are having done to Rampant.

[Rampant]

Hello Marilyn, thanks for your patience. I will need to learn how to upload, etc. The rudder work is being done remotely so I haven’t had hands on. But here is the report I received when first digging into the issue. Hope this helps! Charles

o The rudder itself appears to have some structural issues as the body of the rudder moves free of the structural internal armature. We will need to inspect this once the rudder is off the boat, but it looks like some work will be required there.
o The lower rudder shoe has a significantly worn bushing. (photo 7, 8 and 9). This is part of why the rudder port has been leaking so badly over the years. Excess play in the rudder bearings places unacceptable loads on the rudder port making it act as a load carrying bearing. This installation will need to be corrected during installation.
o The middle gudgeon was completely corroded and de-zincified. (pictures 3, 4, 5, 6) The bright red metal visible in the breaks indicate the extent of de-zincification that occurred. This component obviously needs to be replaced.
o The rudder shaft coupling was corroded and seized to the shaft and had to be cut away in order to free the rudder for removal. This will need to be replaced during installation.
o The steering linkage that connects the gear box to the tiller arm is completely frozen and corroded. (photo 10) This will need to be replaced during installation. The rest of the steering mechanism will be cleaned and inspected and serviced as appropriate. Any further damaged parts will be brought to your attention as that work progresses.

[Rampant]

Hello to all, new member Charles from s/v Rampant #53.

We are having our rudder rebuilt now in Deale, MD. There was some movement of the rudder from the shaft and it was putting stress on the rudder port. We had it cut open and had an additional bar added to the internal metal structure to strengthen it. Hopefully it will be better than new!

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