Wind Strider's History

 

Hull Raiser on Lake Michigan

Hull #17 History:

Dragonfly 1000 Hull #17 was manufactured in 1995 and delivered new in March 1996 to August Ritcher of Lake Forest, IL.  She was named “Voulez Vous Volanta”.  Translation from French: "Do You Want to Fly?"

Fred Grenning of Lake Bluff, IL bought her in August of 2001 and renamed her “Hull Raiser.”  He did not do a renaming ceremony, stating he is not superstitious.  He stated he had her at 18.6 knots on a beam reach with 25 knots wind and he eventually put one reef in the main and genoa.  2.5 hours dock to dock from Waukegan to Chicago.  While he did the 18.6 knots, he only did it once not caring for the risk.  However, 14 knots is routine.

She’s been fresh water boat having been used from late spring to early fall on the waters of Lake Michigan.  She was moored in a slip in Waukegan Harbor about 30 miles north of Chicago.  The winters, of course, on the shores of Lake Michigan.

Kelly and I purchased her in May 2011.  We took delivery in Waukegan and spent 2 weeks there getting used to the yacht.  On Tuesday after Memorial Day, we set off for our Lakes Michigan and Huron Adventure.  Returning to Waukegan in mid July, she was trucked to Anacortes, Wa, and renamed "Wind Strider" for her distinctive water strider (gerridae) stance.

Making her our boat:

As of Winter 2011/12:

• Replaced OEM head with Raritan PHII lower body (happy wife!)
• Replaced all lights with LED
• Connected galley overhead light to the under cabinet light. Now all galley lights are operated by 1 switch. The two remaining starboard side overhead lights (forward of galley continue to operate as normal.
• Head light and galley-under-cabinet light are now dual white or red.
• Moved thermostat to cabin centerline, just above the table on the mast trunk
• Installed MasterVolt battery monitor where t-stat was
• Installed MasterVolt battery charger
• Improved ventilation around refrigerator by cutting a lot of vent holes in plywood cabinet base
• Installed a ventilation mat under v-berth cushions
• Installed 6" inspection port in the saloon deck in vicinity of galley. Very convenient for a 6" fan to keep air circulating through bilge.
• Replaced a lot of the running rigging including some amsteel synthetic for the ama in/out

 As of April 2012:

• Installed CALB 180aH LiFePO4 (working great!)
• Replaced 12 year old 120 watt (total) solar panels with new 300 watt (total). Mounted a long, thin 25 watt panel on each aft aka, mounted a squarish 25 watt panel aft of the aft hatch on each ama, mounted a 100 watt panel on each ama forward of the aft aka. So, 100 watts available when folded, 300 watts spread, controlled through a port and starboard MPPT. Still experimenting with various loads, but to date, in cool weather, 100 watts are keeping up with the refrigerator...systems working great!
• Got a nearly new asymmetric spinnaker: .75 oz Doyle, 44' 3" luff, 40' 6" leech, 26' 1" foot.
• Replaced the Finder 26.03 latching relays controlling the saloon lighting. Found a distributor in Knoxville willing to sell in quantities of less than 10. I balked at ordering via Europe just to avoid a $57 shipping charge. Found the relay failed because the momentary switch had failed creating constant contact.

As of June 2012

• Add port of call, name:  Wind Strider; Anacortes, WA
• Replaced red graphics with maize and blue
• Replaced cockpit canopy with dark blue canvas with a lot of windows
• Replaced red sail cover with maize
• Replaced Pioneer radio with Sony with CD and aux

As of April 2013

• New bottom paint (Pettit Trinidad SR) including epoxy barrier coat
• Repaired sticking centerboard, it was catching on the trunk, about 9" down.  Fully retracts now.

Original Equipment List:

VC-17 bottom paint (Replaced with Pettit Trinidad 2013 and freshened 2015)
Refrigerator 12V Isotherm CR49 (2011)
ARDIC - Diesel Furnace
Wallas 85D 270 ceramic cook top – (2009)
ARDIC 4 gal Hot water heater
Stern Pulpit (with ladder)
Anchor fitting with rollers
Cockpit Dodger (2007) - Full enclosure
Shower w/ curtain & sump pump
Shore power - 15 amp, cable & charger
Holding Tank system
Fuel Gauge
Water Gauge
Bowsprit/Stainless steel & teak
ST60 Plus Wind Vane System (2008)
ST50 Plus Speed System
ST50 Depth System
ST50 Plus Multi-repeater
ST50 Plus GPS System
ST 4000w Autopilot
VHF - Shipmate 8300 (Replaced with Standard Horizon GX2200)
SmartController Wireless Autopilot Remote
Solar Vent in head (2007 replaced 2015)
Shower on transom w/ Y valve
Solar Panels (2) 50 Watt (2000?)
Pioneer Radio and Cassette Player (Replaced by Sony Marine 2012)
XM radio and adapter (Removed 2012)
Cabin Speakers
Cockpit Speakers
Cradle for Winter Storage
Canvas Cover for Winter Storage
Roller Furler for Bowsprit
Screecher (Light Wind Sail)
Lightning Grounding strap
Leather Upgrade
Upgraded fabric
Waterstays (October 2005)
Garmin GPS Map 376c with Great Lakes and California map info
Bug screens for main cabin and v-berth hatches
Custom made teak folding table for cockpit
Leather bound wheel
Volvo Marine Diesel MD2020, 18 Hp 3-cylinder