40' Tancook Schooner for Cruising ?

[Ben M-P]

I am looking at a Tancook schooner, wood hull refastened/painted '08, unstayed carbon fiber masts, pilot house, 8' beam.
No running rigging or spars save for the masts. Needs some windows.
Reasonable price all things considered.

Any thoughts?

[Butler]

My 2 cents:
Colonial, the outfit selling this boat has been around a long time and does good work on woodies. I don't know the circumstances of the refurb which happend a couple of years ago... might ask some questions regarding that. I've only seen it from the outside and she is quite pretty in spite of the unusual (to me) looking dog house arrangement. The pinks are supposed to be really good sailors. They were asking about 15 earlier but it's a rare arrangement so I'm not surprised she isnt selling.
I think 8500 is a good price but after a thorough inspection I'd respond with a 6500 offer. She'd be a fun weekender and you'd be welcome with open arms at the anual wooden boat regatta Pretty little boat. Your ass is going to get wet with that cockpit!

[Butler]

oh... maybe Robert Perry can chime in on this but I would take a long careful look at the story with the unstayed masts... who made them? When was it done or was it an "as built" arrangement??? Can this be used as a true schooner or is it just a cat-ketch????

[cchesley]

I had always kind of admired this boat as being a woody, it stands out in a crowd. It seems like she'd be a bit tender and wood in SoCal can take a beating. However, at the price of less than $10k, you'd be able to sail a pretty cool boat for a while even if it (safely) sank out from under you. Your annual moorage will practically exceed the purchase price. I'd almost call it disposable if it turned out you didn't really like it.

(Heresey, I know but it's what is)

[MichaelC]

Make sure you get competent advice on the masts. Gaff jaws put a lot of pressure on a mast. Tancooks were built originally with shrouds/stays, as far as I know. Look at the ones in Chapelle's Small Sailing Craft book. Also, it is a centerboarder, is it not. Most Tancooks were.

[Ben M-P]

Thanks for the help, I'll have to give them another call and try to get some more info.