SunMaid 20 Mass

In 1984 a number of Sunmaid 20s were weighed on public weighbridges as part of a VYC (now Yachting Victoria) measurement push. ARIADNE (No 154) was found to be 1120 kg, NURGLER (No 102) was 1070 kg and CURRENT AFFAIR (No 20) with two suits of sails, weighed 1140 kg and was estimated to be 1125 with one suit of sails. The weights given are those in "VYC CONDITION" ie the "VYC mass".

The VYC mass is that of a bare boat, dry, complete with all permanently built-in and attached equipment and fittings and the following loose equipment:

  • Engine

  • Rudder and tiller

  • Bunk cushions

  • Set of five sails

  • Mast, boom and all rigging

  • Spinnaker pole

  • Set of sheets and blocks

For an estimate of the mass to be towed on the way to the ramp it is necessary to add an allowance for the remainder of the equipment required on any outing or for any race or cruise. Of course, there will be variations from the following list:

  • Petrol and water

  • Anchors, chains and ropes

  • Wet weather gear

  • Reefing pennants

  • Flashlights

  • Boarding ladder

  • Compass

  • Buckets and bilge pumps

  • Mops and cleaning gear

  • Porta-Potti

  • Stove and metho

  • Personal gear including clothes

  • Food and drink

  • Painters and mooring lines

  • Cooking and eating utensils

  • Fenders

  • Boat hook

  • Boat battery

  • Table

  • Boom tent

  • Sleeping gear

Plus all the safety gear which includes:

  • Flares

  • First aid gear

  • Fire extinguisher

  • Radios

  • Vee sheet

  • Lifebuoys

From measurements taken on individual items of ARIADNE'S equipment, the above list adds 221 kg to the VYC mass of the boat, making the total mass on the water 1341 kg.

Now, add the mass of the trailer (460 kg for ARIADNE) and there is a load of 1800 kg behind the family sedan. In practice, the rudder and engine are removed from the transom and carried in the car boot, thus reducing the towed mass to 1755 kg. For the past twenty-five years, ARIADNE has been towed behind a number of Ford Fairmont models, all fitted with Hayman Reese load distributing hitches and with operating override brakes on the trailer, without any serious incident.

Joe Hemingway
2005