Local race on Saturday on my I-20, I was the only cat in the race. There were about 4 lasers, 4 San Juan 21's, a Catalina 22, and a few other mono's. I get off the beach, sail for about 10 minutes, and the realize that my jib halyard is slipping. So I head back to the beach, and as I pull up on the beach, POW!, my lower casting breaks. Sucks for me ! Anyway, the little bushing had broken and the spring pin had bent...and one thing leads to another. No racing for me, but I got to watch a bunch of lasers flip over, and a 470 try to sail under jib alone (funny funny).

On to my question: Have any of you other I-20 sailors had any problems with the rudder kicking up? Secondly, anyone got a lower casting laying around that could be had (c'mon, help out a nearly broke college kid )??? Bring 'em on!

I`m having trouble understanding the concept of "nearly broke college kid" and "owns Inter-20" being used in the same sentence. Perhaps you spent your student loan on the boat, and now have to figure out how to pay for your classes ??

Steve

That's a good question. In all reality, I have been saving my money for a boat like this for nearly 6 years, so it's been a long time coming. I started with a sunfish, and have worked my way now to the I-20, and I plan on staying.

The boat's nickname is "Sunfish Pimp" considering the fact that Trey can buy and sell small boats with the best of them. I'm still in awe of his business abilities.

Secondly, who warned you, saying "Dude we're going to break something, and it aint worth it racing around on lake wheeler!" :P

I only know better because of the amount of carnage I put my boats through :P

Try Kirk Newkirk at www.keysailing.com (Pensacola, Fl.) he might have some spares lying around and can ship overnight if you need it quickly. Too bad, it would have been fun using the upside down Lasers as turning marks...

Sucks to break stuff I know. I'd be interested in seeing a picture of your broke lower casting. I'm not aware of that being a problem with I20's. The only casting breakage I'm aware of is when you are going out through waves and your boat moves backwards breaking the casting off.

I think you are kinda hosed on finding a lower casting cheap. Not many folks keep those around as extras. I would develop a relationship with a dealer and work with him.

Congrats on the I20. Will we see you in the Tybee?

Mike Hill
www.stlouiscats.com

Mike:

Will you see us at the Tybee?

Yes, if we stop breaking stuff on the boat

I keep a spare lower casting and rudder with my F18...I think the parts are the same. If time is an issue, you can buy mine (it's unused) for whatever it will cost me to replace it with an equal unit.

Well, I actually have another complete rudder/casting/etc for the boat, but it IS the spare. It is a different style, a prototype rudder casting, and it looks very similar to a hobie's system, but it it for the I-20. It just came as an extra with the boat.

This is a college kid with his priorities straight! Think of all the good things he can learn in just one regatta: Geometry, law (in protest hearings), critical decission making, leadership, accounting (for when he has to pay for more broken stuff), foriegn policy and diplomacy (crowded starts and mark roundings), meteorology, geography (finding your way to a regatta) and as Tad point out, business. I'm sure there are a few other skills that I haven't mentioned here. I wish I had this kind of foresight when I was in college. Instead, I used my student loan to buy a house.

Steve,

Unfortunately, you can't get college credit for time on the race course.

I tried actually. Seriously.

(tried to convince them to give me credit for time on the sailing team as PE credit instead of having to take "PE run-hundred")

Well, I got another rudder bracket! Hats off to Mark at the Cathouse, he's a great guy. He had exactly what I needed and for the right price too. I'll definitely be doing more business with him...now to call about the self-tacker.....
Trey
I-20 314

Save your dough on the self-tacker. Just beat your crew until they're as fast as the self-tacker.

Hear that Tad?.....Let the beatings commence!! Great advice waterbug. I'm getting a spare spinnaker instead for the time being.
Trey
I-20 314

The self tacker is nice, but I didn't like it for a long time. I was bored, particularly on the upwind legs. Now, though, I realize how much it has let me focus on the fleet, keep my head out of the boat, and now my gybes have gotten really crisp. Took a while to change my mind, and maybe just as long for my ability-level to catch up so I could take advantage. I'll probably add one to the 4.3 this year!