Scuttlebutt

Racing on Clinton Lake

Ahoy fellow Quickstep owners.  Here is the spot to exchange ideas, questions and answers, and your latest news with other Quickstep owners.  If you have photos or stories to post on the site, please email them to  Quickstep21@gmail.com

182 comments

  1. Thank you Bill for a wonderful website over the years. I wish you a long and satisfying ‘retirement’. In parting I’d like to tell you how much i enjoy your website photos. Each if them demands close viewing as nearly every square inch of each photo is worthy of framing. I always wished you had a ‘Bill’s Photo Section’. Cheers and best wishes. ChrisD

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  3. Hi – Has anyone replaced the fixed Gooseneck with a sliding one?

    I have a Quickstep 21 and need a downhaul to get wrinkles out and to also raise the boom a bit more.

    Is there something in the Archieves?

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    1. Ahoy there. That’s an interesting question and I don’t think it’s ever come up before. Maybe someone has made this modification and can comment. Good luck. Spring is near! Bill

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    2. Have you considered a cunningham type solution? Put a cringle low on the luff and adjust. Wont allow you to raise your boom at the mast but will assist in the wrinkles? A topping lift will hold the boom up. Is your main stretched/worn/missized..in need of replacement? Fully raised? The correct sails headboard should be a couple inches lower than the extrusion top.

      Maybe reposition the fixed gooseneck on the mast and get your sail recut or a new one a few inches shorter in the P measurement for more room below.

      Adapt a boom from a h14 or 16…are they close? Hobie parts are readily available, cheap and bulletproof.

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  4. HI Chris -Your are correct abotu the stantion! However it was my stantion base broke clean off at the weld! Luckily it did not pull off and damage the fiberglass

    I ordered a 4 degree inboard angle stantion base from Rig-Rite and it is on back order for several months! Oh well, though it would be a quick repair but now will be fixing it “on the hard” this winter.

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    1. Glad you found a replacement. Don’t speed past thoroughly sealing the base to deck and under the bolt heads. That’s where the balsa core gets wet and real problems begin. 3m 410 is the pricey old standby.

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      1. Sorry 3m 4200 I lost l concentration. Loctite males a polyurethane sealant called window and door sealant PL. HD sells it. Practical Boater tested it some years ago and found it to be comparable to 4200. It’s popular around here. I like it better. Half price too.

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  5. What size outboard do you have on your Quickstep 24? Wondering if we need a 9.9hp or if we can’t go a little smaller? Thanks!

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    1. Hi Mary

      I suggest a 9.9. You could use a slightly less powered motor. A 9.9 provides a nice boost which can come in handy dealing with stiff currents or any situation where having a little extra power would be a nice option- should a situation arise.

      I believe always choosing a product which exceeds the minimum requirements as a good habit for insuring safety and confidence while underway.

      Errol Horner, Connecticut

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    2. It depends where you are. If you live on a lake then a 6hp is adequate. A 6 with a 4 bladed prop offers pretty good thrust. Many here use them in much more active areas than a lake with good results. Ted Brewer the boats designer specified an 8hp. I can tell you from my experience that a Toe 8 hp with a 4 bladed prop will get you anywhere around NY,NJ,CT waters including in and out of Long Islands inlets and through the East River’s Hell Gate all of which can offer challenges. A 9.9 certainly will as well. Other things to consider are weight. I sail with no more than 3 people total and at that the boat is squatting more than I’d like. Add a 120lb maxed out Honda Heavyweight 8 or 9.9 and you have some serious squatting at the stern. The Q24 can take water on through the cockpit drains and motor mount if not well sealed when only slightly overloaded and under power. I have to dock my boat in a tight breezy marina where the 8 comes in handy for backing and maneuvering. Even so my next engine would be the 6 with a 4 blade. Doubt I’ll live long enough to need one though. This Tohatsu is very solid. A bit noisier than the Honda Heavyweight 8 but lighter. If you ever get to sail the boat without an engine hanging out back there or use a little tossable 2.5 hp stored below you will see how sweet she sails without all that trim destroying weight aft.

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      1. Hi Chris, You are correct! But my Stantion Base is what broke clean off at the weld.

        Luckily the base did not pull away from theboat and damage the fiberglass.

        Ordered a 4 degree in board angel from Rig-Rite. On back order for several months.

        Thought I’d be doing a quick repair but now be working on it “on the hard” this winter.

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  8. Hi. I’m going to try my hand at making seat cushions for my Q24. If anyone has done this and has any recommendations, I’d greatly appreciate it. Thank you. (I’ve constructed the template already.)

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    1. I made seat cushions for my Q21 many years ago. I chose to make four, two for each side, so that we shove the aft one aside to get into the lazarette. We store them below when we’re not aboard.

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  9. Hello: I just picked up a Scout. Why I’m not sure though it compliments my 24 nicely. I’m hoping someone can answer a couple of questions. There’s a small sump midship that has an expanding plug in it. Does the boat drain with the plug out while underway…or just take water on rapidly? Secondly my Scout us missing wth small wooden cross member that rests on the center board trunk. I’ve looked for pictures but none clearly show this arrangement its attachment or its purpose. Just a nice teak touch or more? If you have time and have pictures would you send them to clamsteam@gmail.com. I’ll probably have follow on questions but this will get me started. Thanks! Chris.

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  10. Hi. Wondering if there might be any used furling jibs (preferably 97% or as close to…) out there for a Q24?

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    1. I have a used furling jib which should work for you. My boat was built in 1988 and purchased by me about 12 years ago. I used this jib for a couple of years and then bought a 120% jib from Quantum because we have a lot of light winds. However, I live in Colorado in the winter, and the jib is in our summer home in Massachusetts, where we will return in early June. If you want it and can wait, please let me know. – Michael

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