Hello Reid,

I have learned a couple things about my Nacra 5.2 the hard way.

1) Do not store it on the trailer over winter. It seems like a good way to protect the hulls from blistering, but the trailer pad punched through my port hull in a snow storm last winter. It was fixable - but took about a month of evenings.

2) Tension the rig before sailing - especially in light wind. The shroud adjusters get stress corrosion cracking and low cycle fatigue problems if subject to shock loading.

3)There is a roller inside the rudder casting that the down line must pass over. If you miss this roller the down line will stretch and the rudder will not cleat fully down.

4)Make sure the bearing tangs on the beams are against the plates riveted to the hulls before tightening the beam straps. This sounds easy but if you have a tramp that has lacing in the rear only you will need a couple (really big) friends to help stretch it when assembling the boat. Let the tramp sit in the sun for a while before trying to spread the hulls. This is the toughest part of assembly

5) The traveler car bearings are loose! If you take the car off the track you will have a handfull of steel balls and 2 or 3 in the grass.

6)Check the hulls for water often the first time out. The blind rivets (not fond of blind rivets for this application)let water into the hull on windy days and when you have extra weight aboard. The daggerboard cases and inspection ports can leak too.

7)Tighten the rudder pivot bolts so the rudders have no play in the castings.

8)Check the cotter pins on the rudder pintle rod. These can get snagged by the rudder up/down lines. If this happens the rod will slowly work it's way out while you are sailing. Sailing home without the rudders is tricky - especially down wind. Stop laughing.

Did I happen to mention I love the boat? When everything is working right it is just a joy to sail. These boats aquire sentimental value quickly.

Have fun with it!
colin pitts