Menida

[Barry Dawes]

Very interested to read so much aboat the Ostkust.
I live at Portsea , which is situated at the southern end of Port Phillip Bay, South of Melbourne, Australia.
I purchased Menida pre Xmas at Williamstown near Melbourne, aboat a week later I sailed her 5 hrs home, my own Sydney Hobart.
I have since slipped her , replaced the 8 hp Yanmar diesal with a new Yanmar, replaced the stern tube and up dated to water cutless bearings , small amount of corking , re anti fouled and painted top sides.
Menida has pulpits bow and strern and 2 cables through posts each side, I notice no one else has this set up , Boat look cleaner with out .
Menida is one of only 2 Ostkust in Australia, I am told, maybe someone can help me with this? I am thinking of getting a Jib as the Genoa is abit of a had full by my self,Im also thinking of cleats for head sail also to make
life easier. Maybe others have come across single handed helpers

[seanz]

An Ostkust?
Like this?

http://newimages.yachtworld.com/1/3/1/4/8/1314803_1.jpg?1161068400000

http://www.dngoodchild.com/5168.jpghttp://www.dngoodchild.com/5168pic.jpg

If this is what you have,then you are a lucky man.And you live in Portsea,I'm starting to feel jealous.:)
My opinion is worth what you've paid for it.I'd keep the pulpit and lifelines, Port Phillip Bay chop is a force to be reckoned with.
Also you might do well to re-post your questions in 'misc. boat related' or 'building/repair' sections of the forum.Those sections get more traffic than 'people and places'.
cheers
sean

[StevenBauer]

Do you have any pictures of Menida, Barry? We close on our new (to us :)) Ostkust this week and will have her brought here as soon as I can arrange it.

Steven

[Barry Dawes]

Hi Steven , new toy looks great . Same colours as Menida , I have changed auntifowling to red as I am not big on green. I have sailed all my life, but have never sailed a sweeter boat. Will orgonize photos soon

[nancyverriermoore]

Steven, You must have beat me to Dancing Feather by one day. I am still heartsick. If you hear of another Ostkust for sale, or have second thoughts, I would love to hear from you.

Thanks. Nancy Moore

[CeolBeag]

Belated response from new member:

You can find another Ostkust, on the West Coast USA, at:

http://www.scottleslie.net/ostkust/index.html

Re: your comments:

"Menida has pulpits bow and strern and 2 cables through posts each side, I notice no one else has this set up , Boat look cleaner with out"

Mine didn't even have a toe-rail until the previous owner fitted one. Does look cleaner without stanchions, and it's hard to imagine squeezing past the cabin with a lifeline there. But if the conditions get wild enough, I suppose it would be worth the inconvenience.

"I am thinking of getting a Jib as the Genoa is abit of a had full by my self"

The Ostkust is a fractional-sloop rig, designed for single-handers. It normally has quite a bit of weather helm, under full sail, which can be tiresome, but not a really a problem in a mild breeze.

The idea is, when the wind decides to blow, the sailor can take in one reef (on the main) and regain balance, if the 110 Genoa is working. This means that, in "normal" breezy conditions, the single-hander can pretty much stay in the cockpit. (In abnormally windy conditions, he/she will have to hank on a smaller jib).

This arrangement has its proponents and its detractors. It's interesting that Al Mason, the designer (http://www.a-mason-na.com/ydlib3.html) heard enough complaints to redraw the boat as Ostkust II, with a masthead rig.

[Barry Dawes]

I have concidered my , fence , and am now very happy with it .
Seas in the south of Port Phillip Bay can become very rough, the , fence ,
is much safer one up. I do find the genoa abit big some times, but by
sheeting the main to leaward it d- power abit. I have also put a small post
beside the headsail winch so I can cleat the jib sheet in to a jamb cleat , I found it too hard to go around the winch then cleat the sheet, I only have two hands and one set of teeth . Also I have fitted a tiller lock ,thanks to Ebay, this also makes live easier

[ahp]

It looks very much like a "Spartan", 23 ft LOA, designed by Alan Buchanan, Burnham-on-Crouch. It was a good little boat. I had one built and shipped over in 1957. It hobby horsed a bit, but there was no strong weather helm.