Starwind 223

Starwind 223

My Starwind 223 is named PERFECTION.  She was designed by Cortland Steck for Wellcraft Marine (the powerboat manufacturer) and later built by Rebel Industries, this was a step forward in design. With its 8 foot 6 inch beam and 22 foot 3 inch length, the Starwind 223 was one of the first trailerable cruisers to take full advantage of revised highway regulations. Its relatively large cockpit, crisp lines, a  performance/cruiser and the simple yet luxurious interior layout encompass the well thought out design.

The Starwind 223 specifications:

LOA 22'3"  LWL 19'4"  Beam 8'6"  Draft Board Up 22"  Board Down 5'0"  Displacement 2435 lbs

Ballast 700 lbs  Sail Area 220 sq ft

Below deck, PERFECTION's generous beam is evident. Steck opted for an open funtional design. The 7 foot 9 inch settee and quarterberths extend well into the cabin and proves more than ample for crew and guests. Placing the wood-bottomed after cushions between the settees forms a 6 foot 6 inch by 4 foot 4 inch double athwartships berth. It is one of the largest on a trailerable 22 plus footer and its location amidships means an easy motion at anchor. This arrangement completely disrupts traffic flow between the cockpit and the head (located under the vee berth), but the berth gets considerable use when the boat is anchored in secluded coves.

The large main cabin and 7 foot cockpit has a vee berth forward, adequate for a couple of children or adults. Unlike many boats advertised to "sleep four," the Starwind 223 has the rare virtue of being very comfortable for a couple. Too often, when a couple sail a small four berth cruiser, they must sleep in marginal berths and squeeze into tiny dinettes which cannot easily be modified because of the almost universal use of drop-in molds. The open accommodations offer a welcome change to that kind of thinking.

A simple cabin finish is typical of this class of boats. PERFECTION's cabin has an elegant interior. Abaft the port bulkhead, is a small galley area with sink and with storage below. The chart table folds down over the countertop. The open hanging locker to starboard is lined with cedar. Touch it lightly with sandpaper once in a while, and when you close your eyes, you might forget you're aboard a fiberglass boat. Carpeting lines the cabin ceiling, a pleasant contrast to slick gelcoat headliners.

PERFECTION's ventilation is superb. The companionway and forward hatches are little short of gigantic. The companionway hatch cover flips up and forward against the mast giving unlimited headroom in most of the main cabin.

Getting around on deck is relatively easy. Although the toerails are molded humps in the deck, the lifeline stanchions are very strong for this type of boat. Reinforcing bails of heavy stainless steel rod extend up from the bases and wrap around the stainless stanchions. A transom-mounted swim ladder folds up to the stern pulpit. The side decks are wide and the molded-in sand nonskid pattern offers good traction without rasping the soles off your topsiders. Deck hardware is backed up with 1/4 inch aluminum plate glassed into the laminate. Rising from inboard chainplates, the shrouds interfere with a trip forward (as they do on most boats). Contemporary thinking seems to dictate that tighter sheeting angles and better windward performance are worth the inconvenience. A self draining anchor locker in the forepeak keeps the anchor and ground tackle out of the cockpit lockers and ready for use.

The Starwind 223 was laid up by hand (no chopped strand) with mat, roving, and Coremat in amounts sufficient to please the meticulous boatbuilder. The hull is smooth and fair, and the tooling would be a credit to a more expensive boat. All fiberglass surfaces are appropriately stiff with one of the best gel coats to touch the water.  True quality throughout. 

PERFECTION has a traditional shoal keel/centerboard. Its trunk doesn't intrude into the cabin, and because the ballast is in the keel, the unballasted fiberglass centerboard raises easily and does not produce wild changes in the boat's stability. You really can sail this boat in shoal water since its draft is only 22 inches.  My preference is to sail with the centerboard up.  It's more exciting to have the gunwhales close to the water.

Setting the mast for the Starwind 223 for sailing takes a hour or so and that includes launching.  Retrieving and packing up is about the same.  It's not a draw back to the Starwind 223, but she is a bigger boat and a little more complicated.  It is a two person operation but a single person could do it with little difficulty.  You are dealing with a longer mast, weight of the furling genoa, attaching and tensioning six stays (which one stay always seem to get hooked on something while raising) antennas and assorted accessories.  Once she is in the water, she is like stepping into a luxury home that rocks and rolls from the waves.

Under sail, she is fast and predictable, if unexceptional, on all points. Even with the board retracted (the pennant is easily reached in the cockpit), the boat fights to stay on its feet and her helm exhibits no bad manners. The high quality sails and the moderate aspect ratio rig are forgiving of inattention; sail controls are basic and straightforward.  Lazy Jacks and a boom vang were later accessories that I added.  The main and furling 150 genoa are nearly automatic in their operation.  In later years, I added a jib to the sailing inventory.  I find myself using the jib in lieu of the furling genoa.  I find dropping the jib as easy as furling the genoa.

Accessories and changes added have been many.  Every winter, my refit season, the ideas from the previous season are considered and many are added to her.  Ideas such as a tiller tamer and deck hardware to allow all control lines to lead back to the cockpit for easier control of the sailing surfaces.  The running lines are all color coded.  I use variations of red and green lines for Port and Starboard control of the sails.  A cockpit tent offers relief from the sun while at anchor.  To aid in raising or lowering the mast, a bridle system of my design, is easily installed and removed.  The bridle controls the side to side lateral motion while raising and lowering the mast.  An additional winch was installed on an extended trailer winch post for the mast raising or lowering process which takes about two minutes on a bad day.  The electronics suite consist of a compass, depth detector, VHF radio, LORAN, GPS, a marine stereo and iPod with six speakers round out the entertainment system.  I added a master battery switch cutting off all circuitry for security purposes when the boat is left till the next sail.  PERFECTION has two breaker panels, one at the navigation center and a second at the main hatch.  I split up the electronics to make the breakers easily accesssed.  Those electronics that I use from the cockpit are wired to the aft breaker panel below the hatchway entrance.  The electronics needed for the nav center are wired to the forward breaker panel.  The electrical system has a common ground.  I ran two heavy gauged insulated copper cables from the port and starboard stays to the water to act as grounds for lightning protection.  The last 12 inches of the cables are bare wire.  This part of the copper cable is under the surface of the water.  The original two piece hatch board has been replaced by a three piece for easier storage.  The top hatch board can be replaced with a hatch board with a large screen installed.  A tiller extension allows for rudder control from any where in the cockpit.

A 9.9hp Yamaha four stroke, High Thrust, electric start outboard propels PERFECTION in and out of port or when the wind dies out.  The ouboard is nearly silent when running.  It has never let me down.  The alternator keeps the battery at a full charge.  The Yamaha is more than enough power especially with the High Thrust Prop.  I ran some speed runs and found that anymore than half throttle does not increase hull speed significantly if at all.  One is just wasting a lot more fuel being used at the same top speed.  A six gallon external fuel tank is more than sufficient for a half season or more of sailing.

The Harding single axle galvanized trailer with its bunk board style cradle is perfect for the Starwind 223.  The trailer uses a surge braking system.  I did install a 12 foot sliding tongue extension.  The tow vehicle stays dry during launching and retrieving.  Bearing Buddies are a must.  I also added two cranking foldup support jacks at the trailer's rear.  The stabilizer jacks raise the weight off the tires and springs during winter storage, tire changing and added stability when raising or lowering the mast.

Seasonal maintenance consist of inspection of all running gear, clevis pins, cotter rings, cables, life lines, stays, sail maintenance, electrical inspection, outboard maintenance, replacement of fuel lines, polishing with a good wax and bottom coating.  After owning her for the years I have, maintenance is a therapy that I enjoy.

PERFECTION has been mine for many years that are full of sailing memories.  Without fail, there is always one sail a season that is etched in my mind that was the sail of the year.  She is pure luxury inside and has a beautiful silhouette at the dock or on the water.  To me she is the "Mercedes Benz" of her class.  Her sharp hull lines cut through the water while the white sails full of wind tests your ability and periodically wear out your leather sailing gloves.

SeaWard Fox 17

SeaWard Fox 17

“ARROGANCE”, a 1990 Seaward Fox 17, by Starboard Yachts Company, is a beautiful sea worthy pocket cruiser that I feel was ever produced to date.  The SeaWard Fox 17 lineage began years ago as the Slipper 17.  The "Fox" has a very classic "nor’easterner" look to her... eight feet wide at the beam (nearly half as wide as she is long creating great stability), lots of curve to the shear, and some decent tumblehome back aft.   She'll handle any weather while allowing one to remain confident and safe.  With the bow pulpit, an extra two feet are added to her overall length of 19 foot plus.  Having owned a Com Pac 16 and a 16/2, the SeaWard Fox 17 is a much better choice.  Arrogance has the look of a traditional “cat boat” but retains the sail configuration of a sloop with a main sail, jib and for some excitement, a spinaker.  With the main and jib, you have 170 sq ft of sail area powering a boat weighing a mere 1300 lbs of which 425 lbs are ballast.  Being the eye catcher that she is, I spend more time on the launch ramp explaining her attributes to the many curious sailors than it takes to launch her.  One person can easily rig, launch, sail and retrieve her.  I bought the for a several reasons, her unique lines and for one day, my retirement boat.

With the sloop configuration for sails, three stays and a single pin at the mast tabernacle holds the mast up.  Both side stays need only be set once.  Only the front stay is attached and removed when one raises or lowers the mast.  The mast is relatively light.  Tightening of the forward stay turn buckle is easily accomplished in a few seconds.  The attachment of the boom and sails but a few minutes more.  No need for a boom vang as the center car traveler controls the main.  The jib is a free setting sail and is easily brought down and stowed in the jib bag.  The furling main sail has full battens and they are tensioned to form a “wing”.  I installed sail slides versus the use of the rope slide configuration.  This avoided the “binding” I sometimes encountered early on raising and lowering the sail.  The Lazy Jack Lines, I installed, provides for an uncluttered cockpit when removing the sail cover and sail ties or dropping the mainsail when returning to port.

Under sail, I have found the SeaWard Fox needs to have more weight in the bow for optimum performance.  I tend to store some heavier items in the forward portion of the vee berth and sit middle cockpit.  The “cat boat” style rudder is fixed but allows for very quick decisive turns.  She regains speed quickly when coming about.  Having a free setting jib, the only sail controls one needs to set is for the main.  Later models, produced by Hake (SeaWard) Yachts, came with a single carbon fiber mast, making the SeaWard Fox a true cat rigged boat.  Unlike a cat with nine lives, the new design was short lived and so ended the Seaward Fox production.  Hake Yachts produces some wonderful sailboats of very high standard for sailors wanting a unique combination of quality, performance and the versatility.  They truly have a dedicated following of owners of past and present models, treating them with great respect.  Additional information on the "vintage" SeaWard Fox can be found at: http://www.seawardyachts.com/vintage.html

ARROGANCE has a fixed wing shoal draft keel.  No mechanical issues with a drop down/swing center board.  The wing holds the hull in the water when heeling.  Because of her wide beam and the winged keel, there is never a worry about going over.  I've had many exciting runs with the gunwhales near the water.  I find myself challenging her "to go over".  The winged keel does not pose an issue when launching and retrieving.  She has a draft of 19 inches which allows one to get pretty close to the shoreline.

The cockpit is spacious with comfortable seat cushions and nice back support. There is plenty of leg room for all onboard.  I modified the sail control lines and they lead to the cockpit.  No more leaving the cockpit to raise or drop the sails.  An easily read compass and fish finder/depth detector are the only electronics in the cockpit.  I replaced the single cabin hatchway board with a two piece oak board hatchway (easier storage) and added a screened vent to improve air flow in the cabin.  A tiller extension comes in handy when moving forward.

The cabin interior is a lacking the "full wood decor" I have in my Starwind 223 but it is very clean and functional.  Arrogance has two long cushioned bunks stretching under the cockpit and a stepped vee berth.  Headroom is a drawback but considering you are out there to sail the cabin has all the requirements that one needs.  Plenty storage is under both side bunks and especially under the V-berth.  The forward hatch is smaller than one would like but it does allow for excellent ventilation.  There is a molded sink in the cabin.  I relocated breaker panel so it’s more accessible.  While relocating, I decided to upgrade the panel.

Several 12 volt receptacles were added also.  I changed over to LED interior and exterior lighting.  The battery is a 12 volt gel cell stored aft of the hatchway entrance and under the cockpit with a "trickle charger" attached.  I installed a 120 volt AC system so if you are dockside or in winter storage for conveinence.  I also have a solar panel that is easily plugged into the electrical system to keep the battery charged while sailing or at dockside.  A VHF radio is easily accessible from the cockpit or in the cabin.  The porta-potty is just aft of the cabin hatchway so it is also out of sight and out of the way.  Between the outer and inner hulls is foam flotation.  There is no way you are going to sink her.  I did add several access hatches to access between the two hulls and for running the additional electrical wiring.

She came equipped with a Honda 2hp four stroke outboard.  It is a great outboard, problem free and enviromentally friendly.  However, with no reverse gear, one has to be ready to swing the engine 180 degrees for reverse and be very nimble holding onto the throttle.  This can be an issue when operating in close quarters and timing of your movements is critical.  This year I am switching to my classic Evinrude 4.5hp two stroke.  Weight is a little more than the Honda but the added power and convenience of a traditional F-N-R should make up for the difference.  The Honda has an internal tank so one needs to carry a spare fuel tank.  The Evinrude utilizes an external three gallon fuel tank. It will be an experiment I am looking forward to.  If a "green lake" is my destination, I have a six speed, 47lb thrust Minn Kota that is easily installed.

The Performance trailer with its low profile wide tires makes towing, launching and retrieving a breeze.  “Bearing buddies” are on the hubs.  I installed an eight foot long sliding tongue extension of two inch square tubing.  My tow vehicle never gets wet on the ramp.

When transporting or storing, the mast rests on the mast support between the bow pulpit and the taller mast support in the cockpit.  The cockpit mast support has a roller at its top.  The angle is such allows one to walk the mast to the mast tabernacle without any obstacles in the way.  Both mast supports are removed before launching and stored in my tow vehicle.

ARROGANCE is a definite eye catcher on land or in the water and above all, she's a classic great performance pocket cruiser ready to take on any sea state.