Fortunately for us, a previous owner performed an extensive refit in 2007 that addressed many of the Tritons’ know issues. Fortunately for Selkie, that previous owner was a well respected marine surveyor, so we feel confident that all those projects were done right. Here’s a list of the items that we know have been rebuilt, refit, revised or generally improved upon:

Roller Furling added – Pro Furl brand furler with a big old genoa.  There are pros and cons, but overall we’re happy the furler’s there. (Roller furler – mechanism that winds the headsail on the forestay)

New mast –  The original mast was replaced with a mast from a Westsail 32.  We’ll love the extra 5’4” of height in light airs…we’ll report back on our opinion of it when we get surprised by a chubasco. It also has a separate track for the trysail, a very good thing when the weather gets rough.

 


Bowsprit added – See above for thoughts on the extra sail area in the foretriangle. The new rig has the forestay led to the masthead, altered from the ⅞ fractional rig of Alberg’s original design. Weighing anchor should be more pleasant for us and easier on the topsides.

 


Chainplates moved outboard – We’ll give up some sheeting angle, but we’ll gain overall strength for the mast and simplicity for attachment. (Chainplate – Fitting that attaches stays and shrouds to the hull)

Deck hardware epoxy plugged – Tritons, at least those built on the East Coast like ours, had balsa core decks.  This in itself is acceptable, but they foolishly chose not isolate the balsa from water intrusion, which often led to rotted balsa cores and spongy decks.

Mast support reinforced – Another weak link in the original design, Selkie has beautiful, heavy oak posts and beam to transfer the mast’s compressive forces to the keel.

Forward lower shroud added – Redundancy good! Redundancy good! (Shroud – wire rope that supports the mast side to side)

Inner forestay added – We now have ourselves a double headsail sloop.  Redundancy in the rig is always a good thing, and the ability fly a storm jib off the inner stay will be nice in heavy weather. We’re particularly excited about being able to fly double headsails and no main when running downwind. (Forestay/Backstay – wire ropes that support the mast fore and aft, and can also hang sails)

Isolated backstay added – We don’t have an SSB (single sideband radio) at the moment, but we’re ready for it if one comes our way.

Propeller refurbished – Bronze blades were recently (2012) brought back to fair after some galvanic corrosion issues.

 

 

Custom hard dodger – More than a dodger, really, it’s almost a pilothouse.  We still have some concern about the added windage should a hurricane or chubasco nail us.  The past two owners have loved it though, and assured us that they would never dream of removing it.

Insulated coachroof ceiling – We’ll love it as the sun beats down from above. Hopefully we’ll stay a cool 85 instead of 95 down below. We’re not sure how difficult it will be to access hardware.

One of the great joys of owning a boat is that you get to get to constantly tinker on them. One of the curses of owning a boat is that you have to constantly tinker on them. We also have a list of our own projects that we’re going to undertake to make her a bit safer and a bit more comfortable before we set out. That post will be coming soon.

Any gadgets or systems to recommend?

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