San Juan 21 Class Association

Hello! I am the new owner of hull 843 and am excited to join this community. I noticed this boat was registered during at least one of the races so someone here might know a bit more about my boat than me

I picked this beauty up for $1800 and the hull seems sound. I haven't pulled any fittings from the deck or transom to really verify yet because I don't know how to rebed them (or if I have to) afterwards. But the deck is really solid and I dont see any signs of water intrusion.

It came with a really (really) heavy duty trailer. Main, Jib, and Gennoa look very old and perhaps original. All standing and running rigging seem to be there but will probably be replaced soon. It also has a 5 hp Gamefisher outboard that runs good.

I live in East Tennesse (Johnson City) and will be sailing this boat primarily on Watauga Lake. If anyone nearby wants to hang out on the water pm me. I am free Mon-Wed most weeks.

I am thinking I want to name her "Travler" which is an old nickname of mine.

I will be making a different post to ask some questions about it in the future, but first I just wanna get out on the water.

Welcome! I’ve really enjoyed learning to sail on my SJ121. I sail on lake Mendota in Madison Wisconsin, keeping the boat on a mooring during the sailing season. Unfortunately, I just hauled it out last weekend and put the rig in storage for the winter....

How about sharing a few pictures of your new boat and trailer?

@BadgerJuan I grew up in Northern Wisconsin on Lake Superior and all of my (limited) sailing experience is on the big lake. Thanks for the reply!

Wow she is in great condition looking at the pics! I don't think it would take much to get her near perfect. Great find for the price. Is that a metal tiller and rudder stem with the shock in it? Someone had definitely set her up nicely for single handed sailing. Awesome!

@Gman, yeah the rudder looks to be plastic with a stainless bracket thingy I don't really know anything about it but I also have the original but it's in poor condition and doesn't seem to be anywhere near the quality of the new one. There is a line attached to it that has a handle which makes it seem like it can be pulled up, but it is very difficult/near impossible to actually pull it all the way up with just the line.

The guy that sold it to me tried to show me some things that indicated a few customizations for single handing, but I don't really know alot about sailing so they went over my head.

Hey Travis! Did you ever get out on the boat before it got cold? I finally found what rudder that was, it is a Ruddercraft type. They start at around $500. https://store.ruddercraft.com/index.php ... ath=182_62 I would love to have one of those! The stock rudder on my San Juan is one of the hardest things to use on the boat. It does not like to go down or up unless I hang precariously over the stern boat and push it down or up with my hand. I have a line going to the original hole and I also have a line going through the gudgeons that only halfway works to put it up or down. If anyone out there has any ideas on how to work the stock rudder on these 21s I would really appreciate any advice. Thank you

Yeah, the rudder is a pain in the ass. Mine also requires you to lean over the transom and putting it up to be able to drive out of the water is a real pain. I have no help for that, but I do recommend you to cut out a big chunk of the teak block between the aluminum cheeks. I did that and cut out the middle of the cheeks and it is much lighter.

I like it! I’ll bet that really lightens it up. Does it do any twisting when you are heeling?