New to Heron sailing

[Iowa Heron Sailor]

Just bought a homebuilt Heron in imaculate shape, Familiar with Flying
Junior, Catamarans, and an 6.5M Spirit and was wondering if I there
are any problems you forsee. Also, If anyone has information on Heron
groups in the USA, please let me know. Next weekend is the initial
run if I am lucky!

[Rhys Llewellyn]

Welcome to the Heron world. This is the first Heron I have heard of in
the USA.
A couple of quick things to look at.
Make sure the gaff halyard is in good condition.
Water can leak into the boat via the centre board pivot bolt.
Check centre board case is firmly attached to the floor.
Check the tanks are firmly attached to the skin of the boat.
Check the condition of the mast step and the king post.
Finally, getting the rudder blade position so that the front edge is
vertical, reduces the weight on the tiller.

[David Johnson]

And make sure there is somewhere to put the packets of chips and chocolates.
They seem to disappear somewhere under the seat a few minutes before the
start of a race - which is usually when the crew gets hungry.

David J

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups
"Heron Sailors".
Please feel free to reply to this message to keep discussions going.

[PATTISON Mary-Ann]

Hello Rhys,
I have sent you details to a family who worked in Brisbane Australia for a
couple of years sailing herons with great skill before returning to their
home town in America. So if you get an email from Mark or Kathryn Brunette.
They are in Seattle.
Not sure if that is anywhere near you.
Enjoy your little boat I have been sailing herons for 40 years initially
with my father and later my own children . We have a fleet of boats as the
girls don't want me to sell their little boats even though they no longer
sail them due to University commitment.
Once in you will be hooked.

Mary-Ann Pattison
Brisbane Australia

[Iowa Heron Sailor]

Fell in love with herons when in the UK on a deployment years ago.
This boat is virtually unsailed, no scuff marks on the varnish on the
mast or the step. Will check all of your suggestions out. I ran across
this in a friends garage who bought it from a Doctor in Missouri that
had a private lake. He inherited a cape dory 14 and needed the room. I
paid 1K US for boat, trailer, accessories, and life preservers. The
boat is so new that there are still price stickers on the hardware.
Can I post pictures? Will try to figure it out.

Thank you

[Rhys Llewellyn]

The UK and the Aust Herons are a little different to each other as
each has developed to the needs in each country. I would love to see
some photos. It sounds like quite a find.

[Iowa Heron Sailor]

Just finished transfering ownership of Heron (Sail Number 7034) and
got the paperwork that came with the boat; OH MY GOD! interesting to
say the least.
The minority of the documents include:
Membership card from the Y.W. Heron Sailing Association of Australia
for 1972 and 1973.
Made from 1/4 inch Marine Grade Mahogany Plywood ($19.51 US)
Reciepts for everything used in building it
Appears to have been christened "MELBA"
Reciept for sails from Rolly Tasker in Brighton, Victoria ($78.50 AU
or US unknown)
Unused "We SAIL A HERON" Window decal (you can bet that is not going
on a car until I make sure I can find another)
Booklet: How To Build THE YACHTING WORLD "HERON"
RONSTAN "Fitting Out Guide" for the Heron with parts list and diagram
FICO "Fitting Out Guide" for the Heron with parts list and diagram
Letter indicating it may have been featured in Y.W.'s newsletter and
should be an "A" class Heron.
Lots of other letters from suppliers and a narrative of the building.
Boat was started in May24 1969 (we are picking it up May 24 2012) and
launched late May1972

Sails are in good shape although a little stained.

I a few have pictures on facebook and will scan all the paper that
came with it for posterity!
If any of you are facebook users, let me know how to look you up and I
will add you as friends so you can see the pictures.

The owner that sold it to us told us I was the only one of the lookers
that qualified since I knew the historical origins of the Heron class,
know how to bend wood for boat building, and appreciate wooden boats.
Thank God for my wide range of experiences or I would have had to buy
a FJ and missed out on this most unique find!

Be still my beating heart!

[White Pointer]

Hi Jim,

 

I usually travel to the US once or twice a year.  Usually to Nashville.  I might see if I can drop in on you next trip and help you tune your Heron up.  Of course, I will have to take it for a sail, and maybe a race to really do the job properly ;)

 

(On my bucket list - Race sailing boats in as many other countries as possible :) )

 

Stephen Swavley 

[Iowa Heron Sailor]

Stephen,

Glad to have you. Nashville is 667 miles from my place but we do have
an international airport in Des Moines. I am still working on
absorbing the whole thing and getting it on the lake this weekend.
will try to find a race aroune here and join the club so I can compete
ocassionally.

[Iowa Heron Sailor]

Ok, finally understand all the rigging and have replaced anything I
thought might have deteriorated due to age. Any advice on how to get
stains out of sails? There are some rust stains here and there that I
would like to clean up.

We are also thinking of finding a way to display something that pays
homage to the Australian heritage of the boat (according to the
original builder’s journal), what would be appropriate from your
perspectives? A small naval ensign (or maybe a club pennant) attached
to a stay and the U.S. on the other? Any guidance from the group will
be appreciated.

What publications should I be on the lookout for that are heron
specific and how likely is it to find a set of plans from the 1969 era
in the event I want to repair or even build another one?

While governmental issues have made it difficult to register the boat
without a lot of hoop jumping, I finally completed that yesterday and
now can try to get it in the water without fear of citations. We are
christening the boat “Siobhan” in honor of my wife and her heritage
and really want to get it out on the lake this Friday. It would have
been a lot easier if I had built it myself; thank heavens for all the
documentation that came with it!

As soon as I slow down a little, I will get pictures available and
bore all of you to tears with my exciting “new” discovery that all of
you have been enjoying for years.
Found out the bad news that there are no dinghy sailing clubs nearby
so I will not be racing it any time soon. Also looking for specs on a
Genoa and Spinnaker or a source of supply for approved sails.

Since the vessel was originally registered with the Y.W. Heron Sailing
Association of Australia, is there any possibility of renewing
membership or enrolling in another club as a “distant cousin” member?
Kind of feeling lonely out here in the hinterlands without any other
Heron sailors within several thousand miles.
Thank you all for being helpful and tolerant.

Regards,

Jim

[bunabaroo]

Google oxalic acid, it's very good for removing rust stains, just
remember to wash it out once it has done its job.

[Fraser Galloway]

Put sail into swimming pool for 24 hr always gives them a good gentle
chlorine bleach clean without damage.

Fraser Galloway

----- Original Message -----
From: "bunabaroo" <saltencrus...@bunabaroo.com>
To: "Heron Sailors" <heron-...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Thursday, June 07, 2012 7:49 AM
Subject: {Heron Sailors: } Re: New to Heron sailing


>
>

> Google oxalic acid, it's very good for removing rust stains, just
> remember to wash it out once it has done its job.
>

[Iowa Heron Sailor]

Well, my wife and I just took 7034 out again and have finally discovered the points of water ingress.  It appears the largest leak is at the pivot for the centerboard and the secondary leak is at the rear of the centerboard box about half way up the casing.  I am cutting new washers and will have them installed but am puzzling about how to fix the one on the centerboard casing without disassembling the box. Will probably let it go until I can remove the board and thoroughly clean and coat the inside of the box with a good epoxy paint.  Really like how well it responds in light wind.  I am amazed that so many people and other sailors express an interest and try to close with us to see what kind of dinghy we have.  Wish I was there with other heron sailors!

[bunabaroo]

Great to hear you are out sailing. I had a leak from the same place, I stood my boat on its transom with the tip of the bow against a wall and I could get epoxy to run into the rear end of the centreboard case, filling the cracks from the inside, with a little luck a similar trick to this might fix your problem. Enjoy your Heroning!