1977 Endeavour 32
Name: Terry and Diane Brant healthtrust@ilnk.com
Boat Name: Faremar
Year: 1977
Hull: 261
Size: 32' sloop
Date Purchased: 2000Boat History:
Previous owner: Mr. Richard Priester/deceasedExperience:
3 yearsBoat Review/Upgrades:
Started sailing a couple of years ago with a 1978 Hunter Sloop. A great boat. After adding roller furling and getting the boat brought up to where I wanted, I decided I would like to have a larger boat with inboard diesel, wheel steering and roller furling. This boat was at my dock, needing TLC and all wood on deck refinished. It had been sitting for about 1 1/2 - 2 years due to death of previous owner. I thought the price was right, and except for cosmetics, "Faremar" appeared sound, so I traded my little Hunter and went to work in my spare time getting her in proper condition. The first trip out was most revealing, both as to a characteristic of the boat and my lack of experience with same. After starting the engine and putting the transmission in reverse, I discovered that "Faremar" had an awful tendency to immediately start "walking" to port, not the way I wanted to go! My wife had no hesitation in telling me that, like buying a new car, I should have "test driven" the boat first before buying it. After getting over that rather humiliating experience, I have learned that indeed the boat is literally impossible to back in a straight line from a stop under certain conditions. I have since moved to a new slip that allows me to take advantage of the tendency when exiting the slip, and I have learned that a breeze off the starboard side will tend to cancel out the port "prop walking" characteristic. This was the only real problem I have had with the boat concerning handling. The boat sails extremely well, being both responsive and stable under the conditions I have sailed. Up to 15-25 knots of wind I have never reefed the main, and twice at 20-28 and gusting, I shortened the roller furling genoa (which is 130%), which made handling and heeling more comfortable. The only other exasperating event was having to replace the transmission control cable. The Edson pedestal is a real bear to deal with. It is difficult to believe that improved access to the cable and its attachments could not have been provided by Edson. Virtually everyone I have run across, including owners and mechanics at the marina, tell me this is a very labor intensive and generally difficult replacement. Having changed my cable twice since owning the boat, my last experience took me around 2:30 - way too long!