I'm interested in buying a corinthian

[dgorski]

There is a Bristol Corinthian for sale in my area (Lake Superior). It's in good condition, ready to sail, with trailer and outboard motor. Asking price is $2500. I understand this is similar to a CD Typhoon. My wife and I are interested in day sailing with two very young children. There are no stanchions and lifelines. Will this boat work for us? Is the price fair? Any way to add lifelines at a reasonable cost? If so, approximately how much?

[jerry cureton]

There is a Bristol Corinthian for sale in my area (Lake Superior). It's in good condition, ready to sail, with trailer and outboard motor. Asking price is $2500. I understand this is similar to a CD Typhoon. My wife and I are interested in day sailing with two very young children. There are no stanchions and lifelines. Will this boat work for us? Is the price fair? Any way to add lifelines at a reasonable cost? If so, approximately how much?

I have a typhoon, moored in the Delaware River next to a Corinthian. The owner of the Corinthian frequently sails with his young daughter (about 8 years old). I bought my Ty last year to sail with my kids, then age 7 and 10. They wear life vests and are fine. The full keel makes the boat stable; it won't turn over. Life lines would be safer, but I don't think I would add them. Maybe you could just get a jackline or pad eye to connect a harness for each kid. In any case, I am comfortable with a PFD and some de-powered sailing when the kids are aboard (e.g. a jib instead of a genoa).



jcureton@home.com

[Don Craig]

I, too, was interested recently in purchasing a Corinthian, as there is an active small fleet near my home. I rowed out one evening and inspected 8-10 moored boats. About half of them had, in my opinion, serious structural problems, the major one being an exterior hull/deck joint that is STAPLED (!!!) together. Exterior hull/deck joints are the poorest design because 1) the fiberglass edge is exposed to moisture, inevitably wicks water and delaminates, and 2) because it's the "leading edge" of the gunwale, it always gets damaged when the boat hits docks, buoys, etc. The plastic rubrail can't protect it.

The boat looks beautiful from a distance because it's an Alberg design, but I've owned a Cape Dory, and there's no comparison in the way the two boats are built. I'm sure there are Corinthian owners who love and pamper their boats, but the way they're built would scare (and did scare) me away from buying one. Go with a Typhoon.