Phoenix Posted September 27, 2011 Report Share Posted September 27, 2011 Ok, my old man's maricat 4.3 is looking pretty sad, and I might repair his rather than buy a new boat. But how do I tell if it's a Mk.1 or Mk.2 ? All I remember is it's white with a multicoloured sail and black anodised spars and I think boom and mast. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knobblyoldjimbo Posted September 27, 2011 Report Share Posted September 27, 2011 This is my understanding - I'm sure others will chime in. Mk2 has an integral mainsheet traveller moulded into the rear beam. Also the boom has a track moulded into the top - I think the mk1 boom is a simple oval shape. If you want to race there are a few things. Google Maricat association - there's a bit of a writeup on that site about doing stuff. It's amazing what a high pressure cleaner can do. You'll probably need to replace the hatch covers because the gasket gets lost and it'll let water into the lockers which isn't good. Also check the transoms to see if the aluminium straps inside haven't corroded (they can expand and crack the fibreglass then cracks let in water and eventually you need to put a rear hatch in to fix it all up - all perfectly doable). If the main is in reasonable condition you could get a sailmaker to add a bit of extra bolt rope (or do it yourself). I've done this on a couple of sails and the new ability to pull the downhaul makes a tired old sail work well. The boltrope tends to shrink and stiffen. On my mari sail he cut the old bolt rope from the 'anchor' at the tack and put in a short length of new without splicing it to the other bit - result - nice and flexible. Take care not to overcapitalise though but bang for buck I don't think you can go past them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phoenix Posted September 27, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 27, 2011 I know that a new tramp is needed, so that's what $500 right there. Plus the bottoms of the hulls are a bit sad and need some work, maybe a good 2nd hand one would be a better proposition.... I'll have a look one day and see what mark it is, thanks for the info. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knobblyoldjimbo Posted September 27, 2011 Report Share Posted September 27, 2011 Talk to a local sailmaker first (but make sure they've made the tramps before) and Darcy second - you should be able to score one about half that. You are right though it is very easy to overcapitalise but you're unlikely to find a second hand one with a good tramp at a good price. A well set up tramp can make a big difference to the stiffness of a mari. If it's a Mk1 then don't worry, Mannering Park has #16 which still goes like a veritable rocket. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phoenix Posted September 27, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 27, 2011 Ok, I think that fixing up the cat and trailer will definitely cost more than a good 2nd hand cat. Not a pretty picture. Pics. [ATTACH=CONFIG]370[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=CONFIG]369[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=CONFIG]371[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=CONFIG]372[/ATTACH] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
korwich Posted September 27, 2011 Report Share Posted September 27, 2011 Definitely a Mk1 does'nt look too bad though, just a bit grubby. Though inside may be a different story, can't tell from photos. I'd go through the watertight tests as detailed on the Mari website and see how many leaks there are. Then you can make a decision from there. Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phoenix Posted September 27, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 27, 2011 THe mess in the photos isn't too bad, but many of the fittings are a sad story indeed. The minister for finance is iterested in getting a boat, but would prefer a smaller boat. Trouble as much as anything is time. We'll see what happens. This is also a pretty heavy boat as I recall, and there is certainly one large repaired section on the rear LHS hull where the boat was blown onto it;s side on a windy day with the trailer attached being towed behind the car along a causeway. a lot of caravans were killed on the same stretch of road that day as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Peter Posted September 29, 2011 Report Share Posted September 29, 2011 Pheonix, This is possibly a curlier question than it appears on first blush. For example: Time vs. money. You have to ask yourself some things. Like do you enjoy working on boats? Do you like spending money? I'm not so keen on spending money - unless I see value in the result and what anyone values is subjective? I have a boat which is absolutely tied up with my memories of my deceased eldest son - its priceless - TO ME. To anyone else - hmmmm. How much is this boat tied up with your identification of your Dad? But I have stripped bare, without any remorse, boats I have no personal connection with. If the boat cost nothing to begin with then the arithmetic is pretty simple. You might get a grand for a really good Mark 1 on a registered trailer. Its more likely to be half this - so there is your limit. Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phoenix Posted September 29, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 29, 2011 Yes, I think by the time I get a trailer, say $1500, tramp, $400, that's already the price of another mari on the gold coast i've been eying off. Even including transport to melb (melb to tas is more like a $1000 cost if I drive over and pick up, so that part hurts). My memories of that boat are of sailing, not of the boat in particular, and the boat has had a rough life. Take into account time and yes, it's not reall;y a viable proposition. Mind you, i hadn't looked at the tassie freight cost until this morning, and that may be a sticking point in the whole thing for any mainland purchase. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Posted September 30, 2011 Report Share Posted September 30, 2011 Plenty of Maricats in Tasmania (over 150 were sold here), but most of them are Mark1s. Not a lot of performance difference between a late Mark1 and a Mark2 - it is boat weight that is critical. A few Maricats (including mine) still race out of Lauderdale Yacht Club. A good one will bring $1500 to $2000 depending on the condition of the sail - all the raced Maricats have modern sails. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phoenix Posted September 30, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 30, 2011 G'day Pete, nice to hear from a tasmanian owner . I did see that lauderdale was still racing maris. Nice to see. I honestly didn't think that there were many about until I started looking online a couple of weeks ago, how wrong was I !!! Unfortunately Time, money and distance negate me from buying the unit in QLD that I wanted to get, or even the reasonable looking one on ebay at the moment. So perhaps slowly fixing up the old man's will be the go to getting me back on the water. If you ever see any tasmanian boats for sale shoot me a message Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phoenix Posted September 30, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 30, 2011 I had a look at the old girl today, maybe at first look I was too keen for it to be bad so I could justify buying a new boat Doesn't look too bad. I dug the sail out, it still seems reasonably crisp and solid. Sail No 1391 and still the rainbow sail. Hull fittings look ok mostly, a couple of bits of silicone around the drain plug fittings, so maybe a little work there as well as putting some more glass on the hulls (or whatever it needs where it is worn through). Maybe I will get a new trailer and do the old girl up after all, watch this space! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darcy1945 Posted September 30, 2011 Report Share Posted September 30, 2011 I can get very well made diagonal cut tramps for $250, about $20 postage to Tas. Definitely stick with the Mari, rebuild or by another and have plenty of parts, Ph 02 43591729 with any questions or for advice, I have rebuilt dozens of 14s Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Remo Posted September 30, 2011 Report Share Posted September 30, 2011 Hi Phoenix, Just a thought for you. Early 4.0 and 4.3 Maricats can sell for as little as $200-300 in this market. I have SOLD a couple around this mark and still made money off them.. The way the economy is means there are plenty of deals out there and a lot more neglected boats. It may be worthwhile to buy one cheap with a trailer and use the best parts from both. You will find as soon as you want a part for yours, you will pay through the nose. This soon adds up and eventually will be 2-3 times the cost of just getting a whole boat and trailer. Then sell the leftovers!!! Good luck with it... Remo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Peter Posted October 3, 2011 Report Share Posted October 3, 2011 Recycling It may be worthwhile to buy one cheap with a trailer and use the best parts from both. You will find as soon as you want a part for yours, you will pay through the nose. This soon adds up and eventually will be 2-3 times the cost of just getting a whole boat and trailer. Then sell the leftovers!!! Good luck with it... Remo This worked for me. Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manderson Posted February 24, 2012 Report Share Posted February 24, 2012 Hi Phoenix, Are you still thinking of doing up the Mari? I would be happy to see if I can helpo at all too as I am going through the process myself. re the trailer, you may well be able to find one second hand for a LOT less than that you are looking at for a new one, and with a little work, it could come up quite nicely. Have a ferret around. I got my tramp remade by a local canvas place for $250. I am really happy with the results, so you could look into that. Though, they would probably need at least half of the old one to model it off. I gave them my old one that was all ripped up and they made a replacement from it. Keen to see how you get on. Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phoenix Posted July 29, 2014 Author Report Share Posted July 29, 2014 Been a while since I posted this thread, or even look at it (sorry for not replying for a while) This one is still on the go, sort of, but the challenge is more that of time than dollars as with the kids, a few businesses etc there isn't much time to go around. So I'm on the lookout for a 2nd hand mari, or similar, down here, funny as a result of sailing a Calypso Resort 4 in Fiji. Apparently I looked happy because on return to shore I was asked if I wanted to put one on my christmas list from santa, never say no to an offer like that! So looking about for one to get and at worst the other boat gets used as spares. Trick is, Cats seem thin on the ground at the moment so casting a wide net to see what I can find in my $1500 (ish) budget. Tassie would be better, but we will see what comes up (trouble with mainland boats is the spirit is so expensive). Thanks for all the previous advice etc, I will be checking back into this advice regularly One question though, I recall a dent in the roof of a previous car from a failed rigging, can a ball step type fitting be put on an early mari ? (I think I read later Mk.2's had these from new) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darcy1945 Posted July 29, 2014 Report Share Posted July 29, 2014 The mast step has never changed on 4.0 and 4.3 Maris. Any advice on rebuild or 2nd hand parts Ph 02 43591729 for my email address. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knobblyoldjimbo Posted July 30, 2014 Report Share Posted July 30, 2014 Couple of thoughts:1. if you look up the Paper Tiger newsletter there seems to be a resurgence of these in Tas, upward of 20 boats out on racedays, not bad.2. http://www.easytrailer.com.au/folding_trailer_info.html sell folding trailers - looks like for around $800 you can have a new trailer that should be able to be modified for a cat. No connections, just saw this a while back and thought it would be good. Mari hulls are usually quite sound and if the beams and mast are ok then you could be going for not much more coin than your budget. KO Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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