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Stephen D. Regan's avatar

While I never sailed a boat like the Sea Pearl, I have thoroughly enjoyed read Stephen Ladd's writings. His comments are interesting and I am pleased that SCA proffered them. Rowing takes work, I will stick to my electric motor!

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Jim White's avatar

As a follow up to Stephen Ladd's comments on the Sea Pearl he was at that time one of my heroes and still is. I followed his modifications to their Sea Pearl on SCA and copied some of them.

My wife and I felt that the Pearl was a bit tender so one winter I took out the centerboard and sealed and reinforced the slot. Then I made leeboards and all associated hardware and installed them on the hull locating them from a Sea Pearl photograph. Also , instead of rubbing boards between the hull and leeboard I used teak handrails which gave us grab points where we might need them.

However the most important and gratifying modification was next.

I got (4) steel plates 1" X 12" X 12" and had them hot dip galvanized. These I fastened securely in the bilge laying down in a fore and aft row configuration. That gave us 160 lbs of ballast exactly where we wanted it.

The Pearl was stiffer after that and sailing became much more comfortable with the added benefit that the cockpit " sleeping " area was opened up.

Eventually age and hard use got the Pearl and we sold her but she is probably the sailboat we loved best.

Jim & Carol

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