In this regard I have viewed a GRP Pacer on Ebay

Fortunately she is relatively local so I had the opportunity.

In terms of size , weight etc I believe she is perfect for us. Not too big fo when I am with one of my kids but as we are a small family I hve no doubt we can all squeeze aboard for some fun.

The boat has a trailer which is a real bonus as whilst I will likely join an inland club I would love to do some open water sailing also.Trolley is there albeit with a broken wheel which I am toold are cheap to buy.

The mast and sails look decent but the ropes need renewing.

Turing to the hull all the fixings seem to be there and seem solid.

Problem is thereafter I don't know what to expect.

She still has the original gel coat which I believe is a positive. It looks like a good coat of paint would  do her the world of good as finish badly faded but I understand painting GRP is not a good idea.

She has one repair on the front underside probably where she was dropped on a trolley but it looks sound.

The top edge is a little crazed but i believe that to be quite normal and she has the odd small chip around the edges.

Basically she looks 25 years old but I think she is generally sound.

I understand however that GRP boats are harder to do up than wood but equally maybe nothing is needed if I am not worried about beauty awards.

I have no idea how everything fits together but the seller assured me it does.

No cover which is an issue as I understand they are not cheap to make-any ideas.  

GRP is fine to repair. No big problem at all really.

And, I am betting that a good scrub, along with judicious use

of t-cut and a polish, will make the boat look just fine.

You might be surprised what a bit of elbow grease can achieve.

Good luck.

 

CS

Like rust it attacks plastic as rust does metal.

For example, I sailed a GRP Enterprise one afternoon, and it was nice and responsive, so seemingly nothing amiss..

I offered to crew that evening in her,but it wasnt Ent friendly weather, so 2 /one woodie one fibreglass ones went over, in a short space of time.

'Our one' had near zero buoyancy, so we had a ride back to shore and a half submerged boat towed back thanks, to the safety boat/crew.

The owner spent a week rubbing down all the surface gunk covering the oesmosis pin holes and filled it. Like rust it can be made invisible which is why plastic lead mine buyers, are advised to get a proper yacht survey done.

He had a shoulder complaint-probably due to all the capsizing, sold it and has now relinquished the Webmaster job to yours truly, for what its worth.

Not such a departure from the Pacers thread really, because the wooden one I had reminded me of a cross between an Enterprise but with much less sail area and Mirror like(cockpit),also I may do an article on them for our club mag.

As quite a lot of boats do find me, usually when I'm not after one, it was when an elderly couple who used to sail at our club eoins and light years ago, rocked up and asked if anyone was interested in the boat they had tucked away in a dry barn, that various fingers pointed in my direction(but not for the usual abusive reasons or effects)The commitee were running a book on what boat would be arriving next.

Went to look, quite liked what I saw, (the orange hull being debatable), but it grew on me.

They were well known fruit drink producers and that was their logo colour, so it stayed as per.

Anyway, all the rigging and foils etc were sound, and price agreed, went back, got my trailer and dosh, handed over, picked her up.

First impressions nice 2 chime shape, pointy bow(not a luvvr of snub nosed craft)rear very beamy, which was deamed its one failing for racing, or so an expert informed me on his factual fault finding mission..one unclosetted from his armchaired enthusiasms in the club lounge. Well actually he now owns a sail company so probably knew his onions.

Very roomy for a lardy large like me and quite forgiving of my weight as I hope the 'new Phantom will be once I get the foot print hole in the first wood skin fixed..That too I should check very carefully, but I doubt plastic pacers are double skinned because the buoyancy tanks double as seats-could be wrong never actually seen a GRP one!.Only went over once and the mast came down as I was relying on the probably oringinal leather ties for the stays-no damage just a bit uncool, as a great nephew present put it.

That said apart from a narrow ridge, theres not much to perch your bum on hiking out, as again very Mirror like .

Sails are something pole?yetheline-poleythene?, in other word plastic so ultra hard wearing.

The mast should be in 2 halves with the main and jib halleyards running inside, so you have to carry the two bits together. However no mast support on a trailer is required.

If its the correct boom the kicker should slot into a cup holder type, to hold it in place on the flat planed underside. They are oblong in end elevation.Mosr have a brace to hold the mast in position my early Puffin didnt so you could move it back and forth.

Kites are optional.

 

Jack Holt designed them  for Puffin Paints in 1970, but people usually went the Enterprise route.

 

I sold mine as too many boats, needed revarnishing due to not having a proper cover outside, again where a plastic boat wins out, to a guy from Tolshant Darcy wanting it to give his son for his 14th birthday.

Usually my boating is self financing but I just got my dosh back and he got a great bargain, as usually people tell me.

They were kind enough to send  a nice letter saying all about their first year with her, including being sideswiped by an oppie, in the round Mersea Island Race. As a result she was revarnished and repainted, the same original orange, but the lad wanted to go up classes for racing and I saw her sell on EBay, for rather more, good luck as she looked very smart and the price no doubt was representative of all the hard work.. 

Hope this isnt too long winded and of some assistance in your quest-go for it . 

know nothing about the pacer but that looks like a few hundred quids worth of anyones money. Trailer looks sweet. Her hull looks fairly sea worthy and quick too.

Is the boom missing?

Does she have any reefing? Essential if you sailing with kids. If she doesnt your looking at making a claw for roller reefing.

Your going to struggle a bit for class specific spares, but what the hell, go for it, dont like it sell it for what you paid.

Kev

Jack Holts designs are often well related-I only ever sailed an Enterprise the once but they were a bit of Mr Holt outdoing himself, so I would say the Pacer is a smaller version in some ways that like a GP a very good all round General Purpose Dinghy' with some of the Mirrors practicality.

I'm not sure if a roller reefing system is necessary. The jib isnt really big enough and the boom can be done with the old 2 strap system and rolling the boom before attatching to the goseneck but then there is an issue with the kicker.

I dont think the sail area is big enough to cause concern to any competent sailor.

Couldnt resist the add- on like a sliding seat /Minisprint, Toy, Moth ( sic 1st pic) to avoid that uncomfortable Pacer sides,and fill a gap.

Hence the claw.  Thats if the is a boom to roll it round!

She does look liker a sweet boat, Id be tempted.

Kev

The Pacer is smaller but still has an open deck with lots of room and is very light.

I love the look of wood but I have to be realistic. With 3 kids under 7 and a wife that is allowing the purchase reluctantly the idea of me spending hours maintaining let alone sailing is a no no.

 

I need something that will allow me onto the water with my kids and then I suspect in a year or two if it all works out we may be looking for something a bit sportier and up to date.

 

I love the look of the N12 but no good for me now.

I think the Pacer is a good choice for you.

I wouldnt be too put off by wood, the secret is getting a good one to start off with., then its just staying on top of it. it doesnt take inordinate amounts of time just small amount of time quite frequently. I normally get the kids off to bed and then do an hour. And its enjoyable to do, which is the main thing.

When I started I was hesitant of a wood boat, what was I thinking! I love it! Ive even started a full nut and bolt rebuild on boat no.2 this year!

Anyhow good luck and if you do but Im sure I will see you over on CVRDA site.  Though thats dangerous in itself before you know it you'll have a 90 year old gaffer!

Kev

 

There is the original point of view to take on board, buying from a beginners perspective. I really like well kept wooden boats but would say to a begineer, who is likely to maybe bump into a few things and not want to spend a lot of time 'loving' there boat that GRP is a much better option. If you hole the boat, can't repair it yourself and then take it to a boat yard, chances are the yard will charge less for a GRP repair due to the fact that they find it really straight forward as their currency nowadays will be mostly in GRP boats. You could throw one of the apprentices on the job instead of getting the older more skilled expensive boat builder to do the work.

 

Simple fact outside of sailing is that maintenance cycles have increased in periodicity within work boats since the move from wood to composites. Fibreglass is so good it's becoming a problem as what do you do with it at the end of it's life, if essentially the structure is good but the design is completely out of favour and past it's economic life. Do you attempt to flog a dead horse, dump it up an etuary or recycle it? Unfortunately, not enough people are aware of or select the last option.

I have garage like that too.  Only with more motorcycles in it, whats wrong with you only 3 

cant see how that one works but the problem with those unless you run a line back  that the kicker pulls it along the mast ripping the main as it goes....

Kev

Gotta leave some room for the Sportscar