Dart 15 Forums

Kevin Wilkinson wrote:

1) Did the Dart18 come first and the 15 a miniture? Watching an 18 on beach in Spain wishing I had my 15 (Perhaps next year but dont tell the wife!) It went out in all sorts flew hull and never seemed to nose dive, therefore is easier to sail? Not that I'll change as I roof top with caravan!
2) With thoughts of rooftopping, I have pu trolley in caravan for short journeys, but would it be feesable to cut trolly in half and make it like a split mast to put in back of car? Anybody tried?
3) Dragging a Dart up and down a sandy beach, how many times before you cause permanent damage so I could leave the trolley at home. (I have 1515 and not into racing etc, just used as a 'plaything'!)
Any comments and thoughts greatly received ready for next year!

Bob replied:

Yes the Dart 18 came a few years before the 15. Being 3 ft longer I believe that they are less inclined to pitch pole but they are not the same versatile boat as the 15 (not car topable, not rightable single handed, etc).
I do not understand your problem with the trolley. The endcups and wheels come off easily for transport with the removal of two screws (one on each side). If it has not been apart for a long time you may have to lubricate it with WD40 etc to get it apart for the first time. If you then grease up the sliding sections it should be easy in future. Many people with caravans do however put the trolley together with the beams and sails in the caravan.
Best Wishes
Bob

Kevin W replied:

Hadn't realised they are that easy to take to pieces, will go up to sailing club armed with WD40! Dont want to put in caravan as we like to tour with van empty for overnight stops, but now kids grown up more room in back of car!
Thanks again

George Stephen replied:

Kevin

Assuming you car top the hulls upside down, you can put a hull carrier upside down on each hull, with the axles inwards over the other hull if your car is narrow, where they are very much out of the way - they take up a lot of space inside a car! The central tube, with some old supermarket bags round the ends to prevent staining sails, can go in your sail bag.

Note that you need to stow the spacers safely - generally about 3cm of plastic tubing to prevent the wheel rubbing on the hull carrier. Also, the central tube will probably have a short length of aluminium tubing at each end, reducing the internal diameter to that of the axles on the hull carriers. I always used to reinsert and retighten the bolt and screw to prevent loss....

I took my D15 to the south Vendee coast a long time ago - great to have the heat and also get cooled by water sprayed from the front end. Some of your family might become converts....

George

Kevin replied:

Thanks for suggestions, however who said anything about converts in my family? I WANT TO PLAY OUT ON MY OWN AND DO WHAT I WANT WHEN I AM HOLIDAY, I GET FED UP OF MY KIDS BORROWING DADS BOAT THEY DONT NEED ANY ENCOURAGEMENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!