All Forums » Designs » Let´s talk about Beneteau First Class 8
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If you owned a FC8 or similar I would like to know your experiences with it, talk about sails, trim... Regards
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Hi, Just doing the deal on the purchase of a FC8 and don't have much to offer yet, maybe we can help each other with a few pointers. Do you know of any tuning guides or a web site that exchanges any info about this boat?
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John, I think you are going to buy a good saling boat. I found some interesting information about tuning in this web http://nsweb.itinfo.dk/uk/Tuning_FirstClass8.asp
Take a look.
Best regards -
I own one of the rare in the US beauties. I have owned it for around three years. I club race the boat in non- spin class.
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This is such an old post, but I have one in the US also. I'd love to connect with anyone else that has one here. I can be emailed at Robert@robertleary.com. I race with DISChttp://discsailing.org is our site. There are some shots of my Beneteau here. I love my boat and I know a few people that would like to by it or any other FC8 that we can find in the US.
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Hi, All (all three of us)
I just wanted to post my e-mail for any First Class owners interested in swapping stories about their First Class 8 jrdesign@yahoo.com
Thanks
John Ross -
In the interest of sharing upgrades and repairs I have added pictures to a separate site. The pictures are posted on Shutterfly and if you e-mail me I will send the link.
John Ross -
Hello there,
I am at the final stage of buying a 83' FC 8 in the Netherlands. Good price considering the boat is in need of some TLC... One of the topics to fix is to replace the backstay and to service the keel winding mechanism. Is there anybody who can help me with advise, pictures, recommendation etc? In case I should look at other sources: this guidance is appreciated too.
Hope to hear from one of you.
Best regards,
Charles -
Charles, For the Backstay:
Adding a flicker and rope backstay to First Class 8
Mast and crane for First Class 8 are from US spars
Mast section Z230 R
Parts:
Davis Windex 15 with J base (J base mounting holes are the drilling location for Flicker)
Backstay flicker from a Melges 24 from RBS batten systems I ordered mine from
APS www.apsltd.com/
Back stay line Ultrex 12 diameter 5/32 (4mm) 34 feet long
Pulley one Harken H404 16mm single
Shackles: 2 "D" Shackles 1” x 5/8 wide stainless or equal
One custom stainless strap for top ½ in s width and 3 5/8” long
Drill to match windex J base and bend down 30deg. Drill tip
For shackle to tie line into. The other end ties onto existing
Backstay pulley.
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Charles
For the Keel question:
For related pictures e-mail me and will direct you to my Album on Shutterfly
Replacing the screw jack:
To replace the screw jack you must have access to the clevis bolt with the keel in the full down position.
With the keel fully extended unscrew the upper half of the assembly from the lower screw and clevis. Remove out the top from inside the cabin the upper half of the screw jack assembly.
Unbolt the clevis from the keel and lower the screw from the board box below.
To reassemble insert the upper assembly into the board box and start screwing the lower screw jack from below into the upper half when you have a few threads started bolt the the clevis onto the keel. Make sure to grease the threads of the lower screw jack with generous amounts of white lithium waterproof grease. You should clean and add new grease every season to keep the system working properly and reduce wear.
Note: Not sure what year the system was redesigned but the newer screw jack has a bearing on the top section. My 1986 boat had the old system that was replaced with one with the new style. If you hit an underwater object the keel will rise up by pushing the upper assembly out of the top of the board box and let the keel swing up. When you clear the underwater object the keel will drop and if it is any distance it can shear off the clevis from the lower screw or bend the upper tube. Be carefully that you do not hit anything! To aid in not shearing off the lower clevis make sure the keel screw assembly is fully extended so that when it comes back down from hitting an object it will just swing to the end.
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Charles,
For more information look on Google discussion groups, and look for the forum fc8usa http://groups.google.com/group/fc8usa?lnk=srg
John
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I have started a discussion group on Yahoo and hope Beneteau First Class 8 owers will join to exchange information.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/firstclass_8/
Thanks
John Ross
