Sarah and Sebastien are not great sailors. It is through his father's passion that Sebastien discovers the pleasure of being on the water. Windsurfing, surfing, Hobie Cat are the first supports of the young man to go on the water. But now with a wife and daughter, he decided to think bigger.
A precise specification
The project is carried by the couple: we are going to buy a sailboat to enjoy cruising. The specifications were quickly drawn up. Madam wants a livable and luminous unit, " not a cave ". He would like to practice sailing, without being sporty, and if possible to go fishing occasionally. The choice of a fifty sailboat is quickly obvious. And after a few visits, they decided on a two-hulled version of the Évasion 29.
In the winter of 2021, he finds a second hand car in La Grande Motte, an Evasion 29 from 1983. The transaction is concluded at 8000 euros. " The boat is really in its juice. All the linings are peeling off. The varnish on the woodwork is showing its age. The engine is not blocked, but it does not start. All the ropes seem to need to be changed "says Sébastien. But the couple who is not afraid of the work launches out in the adventure.
A return by truck
The boat is repatriated by truck to Capbreton where a place of port awaits it, not far from the couple's home. The first year, with the boat dry, was spent renovating the interior. Sarah says: " We collected all the old linings to use as a template to cut the new ones. The hardest part was to find the right glue to install them. Indeed, with Neoprene, the smell was too strong and made it impossible to work in the cabin. In the end, we got the best result with a lino glue, because it gave us time to reposition the pieces before it set. "
To remove the coatings, the windows had to be removed first. " We took the opportunity to redo the waterproofing "explains Sébastien, " The hardest part was the reassembly, because we had several hundred screws not all of the same length. A real headache! "
A very clear interior
Finally, the new flooring is white. The original varnishes are covered with a light wood imitation lino and the kitchen furniture is painted with a kitchen or bathroom paint. As a result, this interior, originally a little dark, now breathes luminosity.
The lighting has also been replaced with reading lights that incorporate USB outlets. A few LED strips complete this now cozy interior.
Restarting the engine
On the technical side, Sébastien and his dad are working on the engine, a 50 HP Perkins. In addition to the filters and the oil change, the injector seals are changed and the batteries replaced. The drain pump tends to leak when the engine is running. It is removed when not in use. For safety, the rather inaccessible stuffing box is replaced. A manual bilge pump and an electric one are installed. The fresh water circuits are also replaced with a new tank and pressure unit.
From ropes to winches
On deck, all the running rigging is new. The genoa will remain on board, but a new mainsail is ordered. To protect it, the couple decided to install a lazy bag. The winches were greased or replaced for those that showed signs of weakness. Today, the Evasion 29 deserves a new hull and deck paint to look as good as new!
Summers in Arcachon
This family uses their boat mainly on sunny days. " We like to sail in the Arcachon basin. We take it out at the beginning of the season to take a mooring at the bottom of the basin. This way we enjoy it with our family." The delivery from Capbreton is done in 11 hours. It is exactly what it is necessary to leave with the full sea of Capbreton and to arrive at the full sea in the passes of Arcachon. "We even had the opportunity to test the beaching. In the basin we were surprised and we had to stay dry for the duration of a tide. But no problem with the keelboat which remains horizontal. "Otherwise the boat is also used for sailing trips off the Landes. " I like this sailboat which offers good performance under sail and motor. Under 15 N of wind, we go at 5 knots with the engine supported by the mainsail and when the wind strengthens, we find the same speed, but under sail only. "
This Evasion 29 has a double helm station. A tiller in the cockpit and a steering wheel in the inner wheelhouse. The two are continuously connected by lines. " I used the inside helm once when I arrived in Arcachon in a squall. I was happy to protect myself inside. But with no wiper on the front windshield, I must admit that the visibility is not great. "
6 berths on board
The Escape 29 has a rear cabin and a cabin in the bow. A large head completes the layout. " We decided to modify the table in the saloon to turn it into a double berth. For this we add the cockpit cushions to form a nice double bed. "This bed is reserved for the parents while their daughter occupies the rear cabin. The front is mainly used for storage. " Storage space is a strong point of this model. The cockpit locker on the starboard side is huge and easily accommodates the tender and its engine. In addition, all the berths have hidden lockers. With this, there is no need to exploit the underside of the saloon floors. "This is where the 100-liter water tank, 100-liter fuel tank and batteries are located.
Change of program
After these big works and 2 years spent sailing with the family, this Évasion 29 has just been put on sale. Barely a week later, she has already found a buyer. No doubt that the new owner should take advantage of this unit with undeniable sympathy capital.
