Messages

1

Deck Mounted Hardware / Teak Coaming replacement

« on: September 08, 2016, 12:16:54 PM »

On Carefree Highway I have teak on the cockpit coaming. I notice that many of the pictures I have seen of the 323 that teak was either an option, or was removed rather than maintained. I need to make a decision on either replacing mine (has been sanded and refinished too many times) or remove and refinish the coaming top. Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance!

2

Sails and Canvas / Mainsail Slides/Slugs

« on: November 15, 2015, 07:47:14 AM »

I have bought a used mainsail for Carefree Highway that is in pretty good shape and I would like to make sure the the slides on the sail are going to fit the tracks in the mast and boom. Does anyone know what size these need to be?

3

Engine and Drive Train / Re: MD11C saga continues (aka need new engine)

« on: August 31, 2015, 07:50:10 PM »

John,
I think you might be talking about a D1-30? This is the engine I have in my boat. I'm pretty sure it can be mounted frontward or backwards, but my D1-30 has a saildrive and mounts forward. The PO of Carefree Highway had it put in and the work had to be quite extensive. It has a Engine Bed that had to be glasses into the hull.

How well this will ultimately work out, I do not know. Just about every newer sailboat I have seen  these days has adapted the saildrive type of propulsion system. I was told by the mechanic that checked this motor/drive system out when I bought it that I gave less for Carefree Highway than it cost to have the motor/drive installed. The engine has less than 250 hours on it now, but it sat a couple of years with old fuel in the tank and it needs to have the tank polished.

Good Luck!

Randal

4

Sails and Canvas / Re: Hello Everybody!

« on: August 12, 2015, 08:16:36 PM »

Thanks for the reply Guys! I can live without the dodger, but I will need a bimini. I like the idea of an on-the-rail mount type, but I can't seem to find one online. And I live a couple of hundred miles inland (my sister lives on the coast where the boat is), so the local canvas shop doesn't exist. I can get most of the parts on eBay but I am hoping someone can put me onto a size/type that has worked for them. At any rate I'm having fun learning to be a sailor, and am so glad this web site is here!

Randal

5

Sails and Canvas / Hello Everybody! Dodger?

« on: August 10, 2015, 10:02:05 PM »

I wanted to introduce myself. My name is Randal Williams and I am the new, proud owner of hull #281, 'Carefree Highway'. I have owned her for almost two months and she is my first sailboat. As I was in need of a maiden voyage to learn how to sail, my youngest son and I took her on a four day trip from Clear Lake Shore Texas to Fulton Texas where she is now moored. I have a lot of work to do on this boat, and I hope you folk will give be gracious enough to help a new sailor figure things out. For starters, where would be a good place find a dodger? Would it be possible to build one? I've already seen Dolce Vita's bimini and will be looking for something similar. If you can help with information, I'm all ears. And thanks in advanced!

Randal