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Picked up my Swanson Dart on flatbed from Yamba to Gympie.

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Created by Windancer > 9 months ago, 10 Dec 2017
Windancer
QLD, 106 posts
10 Dec 2017 8:17AM
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Hi,
Picked up the Swanson from Yamba. Its was a 3 am start from Gympie. The unofficial capital of Queensland! (just kidding) Set of in pea soup fog and headed south of the boarder. As mention in earlier posts bought the boat sight unseen. Seeing it in person I was quite relieved as I know boats always look much better in photos than in real life. It wasn't long before I was off the swing mooring and tied up to a jetty for the dismasting.Then had to wait our turn to use the crane lift so we went for some well deserved lunch. Finally our turn and we reversed the truck onto the dock and lifted the Swanson out. Cleaned the hull and started to lift her onto the deck of the truck. At first we thought the truck was too high and the lift was not going to set her on.The crane driver had to put her back in the water and adjust the cables and seating of the straps and try again. She just snuck on with a couple of centimetres to spare.Phew! Strapped her up and headed back north. Returned at about 9:30 pm. Tired and a bit sunburnt. Now building a cradle for her to sit in so we can take her off the truck and start some resto work on her. More posts to come if anyone interested.















samsturdy
NSW, 1659 posts
10 Dec 2017 9:26AM
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Well done Windy. The boat looks fine and there's nothing like a successful operation. Good luck with the resto.

DarrenJoey
7 posts
21 Dec 2017 4:14AM
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Hi Windancer, just picked up my Swanson Dart 22 yesterday from Moruya NSW and transported it to Brogo NSW. Mine is an abandoned project but why you abandon it so close to finishing is beyond me (hull completely rubed back and repainted, internal fibreglass work all completed, no soft spots). I was wondering if you took any photos of the rig in place as I have a box full of fittings and no idea of where they go. Thanks Darren


Ramona
NSW, 7658 posts
21 Dec 2017 8:37AM
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DarrenJoey said..
Hi Windancer, just picked up my Swanson Dart 22 yesterday from Moruya NSW and transported it to Brogo NSW. Mine is an abandoned project but why you abandon it so close to finishing is beyond me (hull completely rubed back and repainted, internal fibreglass work all completed, no soft spots). I was wondering if you took any photos of the rig in place as I have a box full of fittings and no idea of where they go. Thanks Darren



Well done. That was an absolute gift. I was flat out trying to get people to buy this vessel. I'm sure there must be a story here somewhere why this vessel came up for sale in this stage. It was on eBay several times before it even got a bid! The steel frame alone is worth having. Keep an eye out for some truck drop axles to make a 4 wheel boat trolley for slipping purposes.
Where do you intend to sail this vessel?

Plenty of info about on these still. Check out Google images. bondi.australialisted.com/2026/boats-yachts-parts/swanson-dart-22-an-excellent-daysailer_18440335.html

They are fairly simply rigged and most will be self explanatory. If you get stuck just post up pictures and there will be plenty of suggestions.

DarrenJoey
7 posts
21 Dec 2017 7:55PM
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The story so far is that the previous owner had her pulled out and delivered to to the shipwright for a complete hull rub down and repaint. The previous owner helped a little with the original clean up put a bit of money into the restoration than was never seen again. The shipwright handed the restoration onto his son apprentice shipwright who then proceeded to complete the work. I saw it on gumtree about a year ago or something like that and it popped up on ebay a couple of weeks ago for $900 nobody bid on it then returned with $500 I convinced the accountant (wife) that it was too good an opportunity to miss so I bought it.
The hope is to modify my flying 15 trailer to suit (flying fifteen suffered from delamination) then to sail her at Eden, Wallagoot Lake, Bermagui and Batemans Bay and other regattas.

Ramona
NSW, 7658 posts
22 Dec 2017 7:29AM
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DarrenJoey said..
The story so far is that the previous owner had her pulled out and delivered to to the shipwright for a complete hull rub down and repaint. The previous owner helped a little with the original clean up put a bit of money into the restoration than was never seen again. The shipwright handed the restoration onto his son apprentice shipwright who then proceeded to complete the work. I saw it on gumtree about a year ago or something like that and it popped up on ebay a couple of weeks ago for $900 nobody bid on it then returned with $500 I convinced the accountant (wife) that it was too good an opportunity to miss so I bought it.
The hope is to modify my flying 15 trailer to suit (flying fifteen suffered from delamination) then to sail her at Eden, Wallagoot Lake, Bermagui and Batemans Bay and other regattas.


You have done exceptionally well! I tried to get my son to buy it several times.

DarrenJoey
7 posts
1 Jan 2018 3:43AM
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Ramona said..

DarrenJoey said..
The story so far is that the previous owner had her pulled out and delivered to to the shipwright for a complete hull rub down and repaint. The previous owner helped a little with the original clean up put a bit of money into the restoration than was never seen again. The shipwright handed the restoration onto his son apprentice shipwright who then proceeded to complete the work. I saw it on gumtree about a year ago or something like that and it popped up on ebay a couple of weeks ago for $900 nobody bid on it then returned with $500 I convinced the accountant (wife) that it was too good an opportunity to miss so I bought it.
The hope is to modify my flying 15 trailer to suit (flying fifteen suffered from delamination) then to sail her at Eden, Wallagoot Lake, Bermagui and Batemans Bay and other regattas.



You have done exceptionally well! I tried to get my son to buy it several times.






DarrenJoey
7 posts
1 Jan 2018 3:46AM
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DarrenJoey said..

Ramona said..


DarrenJoey said..
The story so far is that the previous owner had her pulled out and delivered to to the shipwright for a complete hull rub down and repaint. The previous owner helped a little with the original clean up put a bit of money into the restoration than was never seen again. The shipwright handed the restoration onto his son apprentice shipwright who then proceeded to complete the work. I saw it on gumtree about a year ago or something like that and it popped up on ebay a couple of weeks ago for $900 nobody bid on it then returned with $500 I convinced the accountant (wife) that it was too good an opportunity to miss so I bought it.
The hope is to modify my flying 15 trailer to suit (flying fifteen suffered from delamination) then to sail her at Eden, Wallagoot Lake, Bermagui and Batemans Bay and other regattas.




You have done exceptionally well! I tried to get my son to buy it several times.


Flying 15 main fits. Bonus at least some of the old girl will get back on the water (main Boom and some fittings)



Windancer
QLD, 106 posts
1 Jan 2018 1:08PM
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Excellent buy! Sensational! So sorry for late reply but I have't been on line over the break.
I left a message for the previous owner to buy it as well as I thought combining the two boats if one was average was still a cheaper way to go but he didn't respond. I now have a fellow Swanson Dart owner to talk to!
I took these photos before I dismasted her but I see by your photos you have figured her out. I see your flying fifteen mainsail does the job as well. Mine is now on a dis-mantlable cradle which Lorry( in the photo) helped me build out of 50mm x 5mm Galvanised pipe and knuckles with grub screws. Just started to strip the old anti foul off but has been very hot up here and my work is preventing me to get a quick start. Rocket (Rodney in the photo) is helping me here with the anti fowl removal. He is a fibrerglasser and spray painter and works as a sub contractor for my company. The restoration needs to be completed by end of February as we lose the site as its being developed.The last photo is of a Swanson 36. You can immediately see the similar lines that the Dart was designed from as a scaled down sister ship.
Have you had a chance to put her in the water? Where's the hard top? I saw it in the ebay photos.


















DarrenJoey
7 posts
3 Jan 2018 2:44PM
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Hi, to answer some of your questions No she hasn't been in the water yet still some work to do. The hardtop isn't in great condition but I do have it, it needs a rub back and respray. The cradle mine is on will become a road trailer soon. I need to get her in the water by the end of Feb for the Eden regatta. I have bought a jib from Canberra that will need to be cut down to fit but the kite that came with the boat is in good condition. Do you have any idea of how much the boat weighs? I'm thinking in the region of 800kg but am not sure. Will your Dart be moored or trailered?

Windancer
QLD, 106 posts
3 Jan 2018 5:51PM
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DarrenJoey said..
Hi, to answer some of your questions No she hasn't been in the water yet still some work to do. The hardtop isn't in great condition but I do have it, it needs a rub back and respray. The cradle mine is on will become a road trailer soon. I need to get her in the water by the end of Feb for the Eden regatta. I have bought a jib from Canberra that will need to be cut down to fit but the kite that came with the boat is in good condition. Do you have any idea of how much the boat weighs? I'm thinking in the region of 800kg but am not sure. Will your Dart be moored or trailered?





HeY,
I think the hard top should be easy to restore. I think it makes the boat as well as giving you some shelter. The previous owner of mine
had restored the cabin top so mine is in excellent condition. I will be mooring mine as I think it will be a chore to launch and retrieve with a keel. It would be interesting if any body does launch theirs from a trailer. I would like to see the set up. I am assuming you may need a trailer draw bar extension especially if launching or retrieving from a boat ramp at low tide.My mainsail is average and I believe the headsail is good to excellent. To be honest I haven't inspected them as yet. I have no spinnaker, pole, or set up so a little disappointed that it is lacking one. Weight wise I was thinking closer to the ton mark. May be more as these were built old school with lots of glass and resin. However a J22 weighs 812 Kgs so you may be on the money! PM me if you like with your number and we can chat. Noticed another one for sale on Gumtree today in Sydney.
Cheers.
P.s...I think you got yourself a great bargain and well done to you. A LOT of boat for the money. Yes you may need to spend some more on it like I am doing but I think it will be more than worth it once finished.

DarrenJoey
7 posts
5 Jan 2018 4:35AM
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Hi I don't know how to pm through this site my email is darrens.messages@gmail.com send me a message and I'll send you my number. Thanks



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"Picked up my Swanson Dart on flatbed from Yamba to Gympie." started by Windancer