siren 17 sailboat camping

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It’s small-boat adventure time

Over the years, as the owner of two full-displacement keelboats, I’ve often fantasized about going smaller. Don’t get me wrong: Big boats are fun, but sometimes, with all their inherent expenses and hassles, it just seems like there’s got to be a better way.

The fantasy has always been this: A trailer-sailer small enough to be towed by my Toyota Rav4, but big enough to reasonably accommodate my family of four. The boat would have a nice-sized cockpit for daysailing, and a cuddy cabin big enough to hold the various pieces/parts of the boat, as well as camping equipment for the occasional foray. “A pup tent on the water” is the phrase I always had in my head; one big enough for several people to get out of inclement weather in; or, if underway, for a crewmember to rest in.

I’ve been obsessed with small-boat canal travel ever since reading The Unlikely Voyage of Jack de Crow, in which a school teacher in England traverses much of the European canal system on a modified Mirror dinghy. And I’m also eager to get back to the Maine Island Trail, the massive network of islands ideally explored on a small boat with shallow draft. Part of the fantasy of owning a trailer-sailer, too, was imagining the boat parked in my driveway, where it could easily be tinkered with and gazed at longingly.

The last requirement was that it would have to be cheap. There are plenty of modern go-fast, sub-20 footers out there, but new boats are expensive.

The irony? This was the very boat I was looking for four years ago – I’d more or less settled on the 19’ O’Day Mariner – when I stumbled on the Craig’s List ad for Good Buddy, the 1966 Pearson Commander I finally sold last fall. All that searching and planning, and checking of various criteria boxes, right out the window the minute a pretty boat appeared.

With Good Buddy gone, it was time to get back on track. Beyond the O’Day Mariner, there were three or four other small-boat designs I had my eye on, each with its own shortcomings. Cheap construction, poor sailing characteristics, flimsy hardware, overly expensive . . . these were the characteristics I was trying to avoid.

One boat, the Canadian-built Siren 17, kept insinuating itself onto my list. Owners of the class frequently cited the quality of the build, and the boat’s excellent – albeit tender – sailing characteristics. Even early models (Hull #1 appeared in 1974) came with roller-furling genoas and mains, and built-in flotation. The boat’s designer, Hubert Vandestadt, clearly intended the boat to go places.

The Siren 17 is a popular boat in Canada – over 3,000 of them were made between 1974 and 1987 – but rarely do you see them in the Lower 48. So imagine my surprise when no less than two of them appeared on Craig’s List at the same time. I still had Good Buddy cash in my pocket, so off I went to visit the nearest one.

You know how this ends, of course: I bought the boat. Practically sight unseen. It had been in long-term storage, for nearly 20 years in someone’s yard, and was still draped in no less than two layers of tarps. But within five minutes of meeting the owner I knew I’d buy his boat. A certain percentage of sailors – and probably powerboaters, too – have anal-retentive personalities, some to the extent that they might be classified as “persnickety.” The persnickety sailor can be a pain in the you-know-what to sail with, but would you buy his or her boat? Of course!

Over the years this particular gentleman had tricked out his Siren with every imaginable doo-dad, much of the stuff custom-made, to make trailering, rigging and storing the Siren as easy as possible. He’d upgraded the already substantial rigging. He stored the sails and cushions in a climate-controlled location. All the standing and running rigging was neatly coiled and bound with color-coded Velcro straps, and there was a tackle box full of stainless steel fittings and various pieces/parts you’d need to keep the outboard running. A place for everything, and everything in its place. The trailer was fairly new, and, of course, had paperwork. He wasn’t asking much. It was an easy decision.

However, once the boat was in my driveway, I discovered that the deck around the mast was soft. Over the years the hardware there had been re-bedded, but in all likelihood too late. With COVID craziness, and the kids being home from school, this was a project long-delayed.

Recently I set aside an entire week, re-positioned the boat in deep shade, and tackled that very nasty job. I went in from below, to preserve the integrity of the non-skid, and re-built the deck. We named the boat Scout, after one of our beloved cats, and today she sits fully rigged at a local boat club.

Small-boat voyaging? I think I’ve got the right vessel.

It’s time to choose an adventure.

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• Sailboat Guide

Siren 17 is a 17 ′ 1 ″ / 5.2 m monohull sailboat designed by Hubert Vandestadt and built by Vandestadt and McGruer Ltd. between 1974 and 1987.

Rig and Sails

Auxilary power, accomodations, calculations.

The theoretical maximum speed that a displacement hull can move efficiently through the water is determined by it's waterline length and displacement. It may be unable to reach this speed if the boat is underpowered or heavily loaded, though it may exceed this speed given enough power. Read more.

Classic hull speed formula:

Hull Speed = 1.34 x √LWL

Max Speed/Length ratio = 8.26 ÷ Displacement/Length ratio .311 Hull Speed = Max Speed/Length ratio x √LWL

Sail Area / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the power of the sails relative to the weight of the boat. The higher the number, the higher the performance, but the harder the boat will be to handle. This ratio is a "non-dimensional" value that facilitates comparisons between boats of different types and sizes. Read more.

SA/D = SA ÷ (D ÷ 64) 2/3

• SA : Sail area in square feet, derived by adding the mainsail area to 100% of the foretriangle area (the lateral area above the deck between the mast and the forestay).
• D : Displacement in pounds.

Ballast / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the stability of a boat's hull that suggests how well a monohull will stand up to its sails. The ballast displacement ratio indicates how much of the weight of a boat is placed for maximum stability against capsizing and is an indicator of stiffness and resistance to capsize.

Ballast / Displacement * 100

Displacement / Length Ratio

A measure of the weight of the boat relative to it's length at the waterline. The higher a boat’s D/L ratio, the more easily it will carry a load and the more comfortable its motion will be. The lower a boat's ratio is, the less power it takes to drive the boat to its nominal hull speed or beyond. Read more.

D/L = (D ÷ 2240) ÷ (0.01 x LWL)³

• D: Displacement of the boat in pounds.
• LWL: Waterline length in feet

Comfort Ratio

This ratio assess how quickly and abruptly a boat’s hull reacts to waves in a significant seaway, these being the elements of a boat’s motion most likely to cause seasickness. Read more.

Comfort ratio = D ÷ (.65 x (.7 LWL + .3 LOA) x Beam 1.33 )

• D: Displacement of the boat in pounds
• LOA: Length overall in feet
• Beam: Width of boat at the widest point in feet

Capsize Screening Formula

This formula attempts to indicate whether a given boat might be too wide and light to readily right itself after being overturned in extreme conditions. Read more.

CSV = Beam ÷ ³√(D / 64)

One of the most successful production sailboats built in Canada (in this size range).

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Siren 17 info...?

• Thread starter finding41
• Start date Apr 6, 2014
• Forums for All Owners
• Trailer Sailors

I just acquired a Siren 17. I need sails... I'd also like to put any info about this boat in one easy to find spot. Right now there is a Private yahoo group... So if anyone has sail sizes and boom tent sizes and or drawings I'd love to copy them and put everything together. If you have a link that may be heplful please pass it along. Here is the sailboatdata.com link: http://sailboatdata.com/viewrecord.asp?class_id=3870 Thanks all!  

Attachments

The IJPE specs shown in Sailboatdata should get you far in selecting/ordering sails. I ~= jib luff J = distance from tack fitting to mast P = main luff E = main foot (boom length)(try an 8'x6' tarp for a trial boom tent)  

daryl.ramage

Siren info A good guy to contact is Pat Reagan (Shoretyus) on the Trailer Sailor forum. He used to have a Siren and has moved bigger to a Sirius. Pat is very knowledgeable about modifications. DAryl  

Something doesn't seem right with the sailboat data spec for the sails, 22 ft luff on a 17ft boat would be a pretty tall rig. Eyeballing the picture, if it is to scale looks like it should be smaller. Also, looking for new sails came across FX sails that has different dimensions for the sails for your boat. See link below and scroll down to Siren. I would confirm the dimensions over on the yahoo group or measure your own boat before ordering sails. Never owned a Siren but when I first stated looking for a boat I came across a couple. http://www.fxsails.com/quoter/selectboat.php  

Tom G said: Something doesn't seem right with the sailboat data spec for the sails, 22 ft luff on a 17ft boat would be a pretty tall rig. Eyeballing the picture, if it is to scale looks like it should be smaller. Also, looking for new sails came across FX sails that has different dimensions for the sails for your boat. See link below and scroll down to Siren. I would confirm the dimensions over on the yahoo group or measure your own boat before ordering sails. Never owned a Siren but when I first stated looking for a boat I came across a couple. http://www.fxsails.com/quoter/selectboat.php Click to expand

Thanks all! I was granted access to the Siren 17 Yahoo group today. There is allot of info on the site. I'm not sure why it's private...? Anyway here are a few things I found about the sail size... Every thing I could want! SIREN 17 Sail Dimensions [FONT=&quot]From Sailrite Sailplan Database [/FONT] [FONT=&quot]http://www.sailritesails.com/[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]THE STANDARD BOAT DIMENSIONS[/FONT] ​ [FONT=&quot]Data courtesy of: [/FONT] [FONT=&quot]sailrite[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]I[/FONT]​ [FONT=&quot]J[/FONT]​ [FONT=&quot]P[/FONT]​ [FONT=&quot]E[/FONT]​ [FONT=&quot]I2/P2[/FONT]​ [FONT=&quot]J2/E2[/FONT]​ [FONT=&quot]17.167ft (5232mm) [/FONT]​ [FONT=&quot]6.42ft (1956mm) [/FONT]​ [FONT=&quot]17.50ft (5334mm) [/FONT]​ [FONT=&quot]8.50ft (2591mm) [/FONT]​ [FONT=&quot]CONSTRUCTION AND BACKGROUND DETAILS [/FONT] ​ [FONT=&quot]Length:[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]17.17ft (5233mm)[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]Source of Data:[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]Owner Measurements[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]Builder/Designer:[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]Vandestadt and McGruer [/FONT] [FONT=&quot]URL:[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]http://sailquest.com/market/models/siren.htm[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]Production Status:[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]Out Of Production[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]Description:[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]L.O.A.: 17' 2" (5.24m) L.W.L.: 15' 0" (4.57 m) Beam: 6' 8" (2.03 m) Draft: 8" to 4' 3" Displacement: 750 lbs. (340 kg.) Ballast: 130 lbs. (59 kg.) [/FONT] [FONT=&quot]SAIL DIMENSION TABLES (the more popular sails only) [/FONT]​ [FONT=&quot]SIREN 17 MAINSAIL[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]Price This Sail[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]Luff[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]17.5*ft (5333mm)[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]Foot[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]8.5*ft (2590mm)[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]Leech-AftHdBd[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]19.1*ft (5821mm)[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]Tack Ang[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]88*[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]Diag (clew/head)[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]19.19*ft (5849mm)[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]Head (inches)[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]4*in (102mm)[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]Area (no Roach)[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]77.4*ft2 (7191mm2)[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]Comments[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]SIREN 17 GENOA[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]Price This Sail[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]Luff[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]16ft (4876mm)[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]Foot[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]11.25ft (3428mm)[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]Leech[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]15.5ft (4724mm)[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]Perc LP[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]172.17*[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]Length Perp[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]10.33*ft (3148mm)[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]Deck Angle[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]3.85*[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]Area[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]82.67*ft2 (7680mm2)[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]Comments[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]160% furling genoa[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]SIREN 17 JIBSAIL[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]Price This Sail[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]Luff[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]16.5ft (5029mm)[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]Foot[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]8.25ft (2514mm)[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]Leech[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]14.25ft (4343mm)[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]Perc LP[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]118.67*[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]Length Perp[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]7.12*ft (2170mm)[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]Deck Angle[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]10.83*[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]Area[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]58.78*ft2 (5461mm2)[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]Comments[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]SIREN 17 ASYMMETRICAL[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]Price This Sail[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]Luff[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]17.13*ft (5221mm)[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]Foot[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]9.9*ft (3017mm)[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]Leech[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]15.76*ft (4803mm)[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]Perc LP[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]165*[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]Area[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]127*ft2 (11799mm2)[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]Comments[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]SIREN 17 DRIFTER[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]Price This Sail[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]Luff[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]16.75ft (5105mm)[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]Foot[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]8.75ft (2666mm)[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]Leech[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]15.25ft (4648mm)[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]Perc LP[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]132.00*[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]Length Perp[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]7.92*ft (2414mm)[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]Deck Angle[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]5.71*[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]Area[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]66.34*ft2 (6163mm2)[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]Comments[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]estimated drifter based on original track locations[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]SIREN 17 JIBSAIL[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]Price This Sail[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]Luff[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]16ft (4876mm)[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]Foot[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]7.42ft (2261mm)[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]Leech[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]13.58ft (4139mm)[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]Perc LP[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]104.67*[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]Length Perp[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]6.28*ft (1914mm)[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]Deck Angle[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]12.79*[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]Area[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]50.21*ft2 (4665mm2)[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]Comments[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]Furling jib[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]SIREN 17 GENOA[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]Price This Sail[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]Luff[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]16ft (4876mm)[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]Foot[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]10.67ft (3252mm)[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]Leech[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]15.58ft (4748mm)[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]Perc LP[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]154.21*[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]Length Perp[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]9.9*ft (3017mm)[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]Deck Angle[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]1.35*[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]Area[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]79.22*ft2 (7360mm2)[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]Comments[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]150% furling genoa[/FONT]  

Hi folks, i am looking for a pair of jib cam cleats that attach to a 1inch T track on my siren 17. anyone have two for sale or can send me in the right direction? thanks  

Do you mean something like this, a sliding fairlead with cam cleat? http://www.apsltd.com/dinghy-jib-lead-port-bullseye-swivel-h365-carbo-cam.html I guess it all depends on the dimensions of the t-track. Worst case scenario, you can get a whole C-track setup and just replace the works. For example, one of these: http://www.apsltd.com/jib-lead-kit-horizontal-cam-composite-line-guide.html  

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The Siren 17 is a 17.17ft fractional sloop designed by Hubert Vandestadt and built in fiberglass by Vandestadt and McGruer Ltd. (CAN) between 1974 and 1987.

3200 units have been built..

The Siren 17 is an ultralight sailboat which is a very high performer. It is stable / stiff and has a low righting capability if capsized. It is best suited as a day-boat.

Siren 17 for sale elsewhere on the web:

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Original Siren 17 Brochure (1980s)

Daysailer, Weekender or Cruiser?

The Siren is actually all three and perhaps a bit more. It is the most versatile and inexpensive introduction to cruising we can think of. This is why more than 2,300* have already been sold and it remains Vandestadt & McGruer’s best selling boat.

Daysailer - The Siren 17 has a full seven foot long self-draining cockpit, mainsail and furling jib. She is easy to handle, comfortable and dry.

Weekender - Weighing only 750 lbs. the Siren 17 is easy to trail, even with a 4 cylinder car. Your cruising area is greatly expanded and with the optional boom tent enclosing the whole cockpit she can even be used as a camper en route. Many Sirens have been used for continental tours and sailed literally from the Atlantic to the Pacific ocean.

Cruiser - Siren 17 is the perfect introduction to cruising for those on a limited budget. She sleep two adults and two children. With built in icebox, stove recess and space for an optional toilet she provides quite luxurious camping afloat. The galvanized steel centerboard and mahogany kick-up rudder make it possible to come close to shore or even beach her.

Safety & Quality - In any Vandestadt & McGruer design, safety and quality of finish are essential. The Siren l 7 has Positive Foam Flotation which makes her unsinkable. Quality of finish is guaranteed and all Sirens have a two year limited warranty.

Hubert Vandestadt, a naval architect from Holland, and Fraser McGruer a boat builder from Scotland, have been building boats together in Owen Sound [Ontario, Canada] for 20 years. They have produced over 6,000 boats from daysailers through the popular Siren 17 and the larger Sirius 22 and 28. They are personally involved in the design, construction and finish of every Vandestadt & McGruer boat.  

Colour Choices

Hull - Eggshell White or Blue

Deck - Eggshell White

Waterline and Sheerline - Brown, White, Blue or Red

Standard Equipment

Foam backed fabric hull liner

Mainsail with jiffy reefing

Furling jib

Anodized mast and boom

Stainless steel rigging

Self draining cockpit

Ventilated gas tank compartment

Stove recess

Built in icebox

Provision for toilet

Kick-up rudder

Cabin top hand rails

Sheets, halyards, boom vang and topping lift

Specifications

Length overall: (LOA) 17’2” (5.23m)

Length on waterline: (LWL) 15’ o” (4.57m)

Beam: 6’8” (2.03m)

Draft: 8” - 4’3” (.20 - 1.29m)

Displacement: 750 lbs. (340 kg)

Keel weight: 140 lbs (63 kg)

Sail Area: 145 sq. Ft. (13.47 m2)

*Specifications and standard equipment are subject to change.

Sources & Discussion

Siren 17 Manufacturer and Promotional Brochure . Siren 17 FB Group Post , 12/1/2017

Review of Siren 17

Basic specs..

The hull is made of fibreglass. Generally, a hull made of fibreglass requires only a minimum of maintenance during the sailing season. And outside the sailing season, just bottom cleaning and perhaps anti-fouling painting once a year - a few hours of work, that's all.

The boat equipped with a fractional rig. A fractional rig has smaller headsails which make tacking easier, which is an advantage for cruisers and racers, of course. The downside is that having the wind from behind often requires a genaker or a spinnaker for optimal speed.

The Siren 17 is equipped with a swing keel. A swing keel is a pivoting lifting keel, allowing to sail both coastal and inland waters.

The keel is made of iron. Many people prefer lead keel in favour of iron. The main argument is that lead is much heavier than iron and a lead keel can therefore be made smaller which again result in less wet surface, i.e. less drag. In fact iron is quite heavy, just 30% less heavy than lead, so the advantage of a lead keel is often overstated.

The boat can sail close to the beach as the draft is just 0.20 - 0.30 meter (0.66 - 0.96 ft) dependent of the load. See immersion rate below.

Sailing characteristics

This section covers widely used rules of thumb to describe the sailing characteristics. Please note that even though the calculations are correct, the interpretation of the results might not be valid for extreme boats.

What is Capsize Screening Formula (CSF)?

The capsize screening value for Siren 17 is 2.93, indicating that this boat would not be accepted to participate in ocean races.

What is Theoretical Maximum Hull Speed?

The theoretical maximal speed of a displacement boat of this length is 5.2 knots. The term "Theoretical Maximum Hull Speed" is widely used even though a boat can sail faster. The term shall be interpreted as above the theoretical speed a great additional power is necessary for a small gain in speed.

The immersion rate is defined as the weight required to sink the boat a certain level. The immersion rate for Siren 17 is about 62 kg/cm, alternatively 348 lbs/inch. Meaning: if you load 62 kg cargo on the boat then it will sink 1 cm. Alternatively, if you load 348 lbs cargo on the boat it will sink 1 inch.

Sailing statistics

This section is statistical comparison with similar boats of the same category. The basis of the following statistical computations is our unique database with more than 26,000 different boat types and 350,000 data points.

What is Motion Comfort Ratio (MCR)?

What is L/B (Length Beam Ratio)?

What is a Ballast Ratio?

What is Displacement Length Ratio?

What is SA/D (Sail Area Displacement ratio)?

Maintenance

When buying anti-fouling bottom paint, it's nice to know how much to buy. The surface of the wet bottom is about 11m 2 (118 ft 2 ). Based on this, your favourite maritime shop can tell you the quantity you need.

Are your sails worn out? You might find your next sail here: Sails for Sale

If you need to renew parts of your running rig and is not quite sure of the dimensions, you may find the estimates computed below useful.

This section is reserved boat owner's modifications, improvements, etc. Here you might find (or contribute with) inspiration for your boat.

Do you have changes/improvements you would like to share? Upload a photo and describe what you have done.

We are always looking for new photos. If you can contribute with photos for Siren 17 it would be a great help.

If you have any comments to the review, improvement suggestions, or the like, feel free to contact us . Criticism helps us to improve.

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Locking a Rudder Down - Siren 17'

• Thread starter Woodbinekeith
• Start date Sep 28, 2010

Woodbinekeith

Petty officer 3rd class.

• Sep 28, 2010

I just bought a 17' Siren and am running into problems with the rudder staying down. It will go down, seem to be OK, and then sporadically it will pop up - usually at the most inconvenient times. It takes a person leaning out over the back to get it back down but this is not a good thing for single handing - or even with two people. I'm looking for a solution(s) to make an attachment that will keep it down with zero possibility of it popping up. There are no holes, attachments, devices, etc. on the rudder right now, other than the rope/cleat that is used to tie(lock) the rudder in the up position.  

Petty Officer 2nd Class

Re: Locking a Rudder Down - Siren 17' I looked at a pic of this boat. The solution might be to adapt one of the beach catamaran methods for holding the rudder down. Put a pin through the stock about an inch aft of the leading edge below the top of the stock. Place another pin on the leading edge of the rudder below the break. Tension a spring or shock cord between the pins on either side of the rudder. This should hold the rudder down. You could also apply the method used to hold the rudder up. A line, block and jam cleat could be rigged to the leading edge of the rudder to pull it down. This method won't give if the rudder hits something.  

• Oct 1, 2010

Re: Locking a Rudder Down - Siren 17' I found the proper method for the Siren. One hole at the leading edge of the rudder (closet to the boat) and another hole opposite and on the aft edge of the rudder. A cleat on the starboard side of the rudder towards the top and above the holes. One piece of rope - feed the two ends through the holes from the same side as the cleat. Knot the ends so they cannot slip back through the hole. Push the rudder down and to keep it down, cleat the piece of rope closest to the boat. To keep the rudder in the floating position, cleat the piece of rope closest to the aft edge of the rudder. It works fine.  

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New to the Siren 17

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Good timing. I spent a couple of hours yesterday helping a new Siren 17 owner sort out the rigging on his boat, adding a topping lift and repairing the outhaul. Ask your questions and I'll try to help.  

Thanks for the reply. Would you be willing to receive a phone call ? (my dime) I have a few questions, Frankly I'm a bit embarrassed to ask on the forum. Here are two: One has to do with the proper rigging of the "jiffy-Furling" Another is regarding the main sheet system.  

btw, for more info, here is that address of the owner's group: sirenowners : Siren Owners  

The pictures and drawings are worth their weight in gold. Again, thanks mate  

I'm a new sailer about to dump 2000 bucks into a 1977 siren. All that info was pretty useful in regards to what to inspect. Before I seal the deal is there any advice on where to look for defects that would cost big bucks to fix. The hull and spars look good and I don't mind investing a bit of sweat equity but I dont want to invest a ton of cash. A checklist would be usefull Many Thanks  

Tomeg, check out the "Boat Inspection Tips" thread in the Boat buying forum here. Lots of good info on what to look for. The Siren is a pretty straightforward and relatively robust boat.  

Just reading the info here is very helpful to this new 1981 Siren 17 owner and I can surely put it to good use. My boat is in pretty good shape, but need to replace the side windows and seals. The front window is OK and may have been replaced already. Does anyone know a source to aquire the side windows and seals for a Siren 17?  

I have a similar question, although I'd like to replace the front window entirely, with one that can be opened. Does anyone know of custom window makers in Canada?  

I just bought a 1974 Siren 17 this afternoon. Pretty big project, but didn't pay too much. Had a few question to start: 1) any suggestions or sources for a mast tabernacle? The one currently on there is bent and I'd like to replace it. 2) Cockpit floor is a little soft, any suggestions on how to address? 3) Recommendation for replacement jib fairleads rubber grommets. I'm a novice sailor, sailed some with my grandfather as a kid, but that's about it. Mostly motor boats since then, own a 91 Mastercraft ski boat in addition to the siren 17. Anyway, many questions to come, but trying to get her ready to use. Thanks in advance, Joe  

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Go to 1985 Vandestadt & McGruer Siren 17 184 COMMENTS siren 17 newbie Just purchased siren 17 and looking for diy ideas on making boat easy to sail and interior storage ideas. looking forward to camping on my boat. My boat cabin is maybe about the same size as yours. I have lots of little space saving tricks. One that is pretty common with small boat sailors is the galley box. Siren 17 vs Tanzer 22 If you ever plan to trailer sail (launch/sail/retrieve) then the Siren is your better choice. If you are planning on taking passengers that might be against heeling, the tanzer is probably the better choice. Also the Tanzer has a decent handicapped rating. S/V "Ragtime," a 1984 S2 7.9 sailing Smith Mountain Lake, VA. Siren 17' marathon key trip I had a Siren 17 back in college, fun little boat. We used to go camping, in much colder water than the Keys, for the weekends during the summers. ... I am new to sailing and I just bought a Siren 17, which needs new paint. I noticed that you painted the hull of your boat solid white. I have been told that I need to use bottom paint for the ... Siren 17 as First Sailboat? The boat is light and has a centreboard so stability is not as great as the larger boats, but it's still safe. The boat is a camper - not a cruiser. You will be able to do some weekending but don't expect much in the way of comfort at all. $2,000.00 for the Siren is a fair price. They hold their value. SIREN 17 40 to 50 indicates a heavy bluewater boat; over 50 indicates an extremely heavy bluewater boat. Comfort ratio = D ÷ (.65 x (.7 LWL + .3 LOA) x Beam^1.33), where displacement is expressed in pounds, and length is expressed in feet. Capsize Screening Formula (CSF): Designed to determine if a boat has blue water capability. Sailing on Lake Champlain for one week in our Siren 17 In this video, we take a trip to Lake Champlain on the border of Vermont and New York and go sailing in our Siren 17 sailboat. It was a great trip but very ... Compac 16, siren 17, American 14.6 Posts: 7. Compac 16, siren 17, American 14.6. My husband and I have been interested in Sailing for a while. We live on a tidal creek. At high tide we basically live on a lake, low tide it's a more like a stream/river. Very little boat traffic so it's a good place to learn. We've gone out on a friends boat a couple times and did a course. Siren 17 Siren 17 sailboat with trailer. The Siren 17 is a small recreational keelboat, built predominantly of fibreglass and foam flotation, with mahogany wood trim. It has a fractional sloop rig, with a hinged mast step and jiffy-reefing, a transom-hung rudder and a retractable centreboard keel.The cockpit is self-bailing and 7 ft (2.1 m) long. It displaces 750 lb (340 kg) and carries 130 lb (59 kg ... It's small-boat adventure time One boat, the Canadian-built Siren 17, kept insinuating itself onto my list. Owners of the class frequently cited the quality of the build, and the boat's excellent - albeit tender - sailing characteristics. Even early models (Hull #1 appeared in 1974) came with roller-furling genoas and mains, and built-in flotation. Siren 17 Handbook+ Containing the original Siren 17 Manual plus a collection of user upgrades and suggestions from the Siren 17 Owner's Facebook Group. Siren 17 One of the most successful production sailboats built in Canada (in this size range). Embed this page on your own website by copying and pasting this code. Siren 17 is a 17′ 1″ / 5.2 m monohull sailboat designed by Hubert Vandestadt and built by Vandestadt and McGruer Ltd. between 1974 and 1987. Siren 17 info...? Something doesn't seem right with the sailboat data spec for the sails, 22 ft luff on a 17ft boat would be a pretty tall rig. Eyeballing the picture, if it is to scale looks like it should be smaller. Also, looking for new sails came across FX sails that has different dimensions for the sails for your boat. See link below and scroll down to Siren. Siren 17 The Siren 17 is a 17.17ft fractional sloop designed by Hubert Vandestadt and built in fiberglass by Vandestadt and McGruer Ltd. (CAN) between 1974 and 1987. 3200 units have been built. The Siren 17 is an ultralight sailboat which is a very high performer. It is stable / stiff and has a low righting capability if capsized. Original Siren 17 Brochure This is why more than 2,300* have already been sold and it remains Vandestadt & McGruer's best selling boat. Daysailer - The Siren 17 has a full seven foot long self-draining cockpit, mainsail and furling jib. She is easy to handle, comfortable and dry. Weekender - Weighing only 750 lbs. the Siren 17 is easy to trail, even with a 4 cylinder car. Siren 17 9 posts · Joined 2011. #1 · Jun 15, 2011. Greetings! I just bought a Siren 17. The former owner didn't understand much about how she ought to be rigged. I can't make much sense of how to rig the mainsheet. It appears the line from the boom would lead to a small block on the port side of the stern, then to a block on starboard with a cam cleat. Exploring Lake Superior on a 17-foot Sailboat In July 2021, we set off to explore Lake Superior's Apostle Islands, to date our most ambitious journey aboard Sundance, a 17-foot trailerable sailboat. This... Review of Siren 17 The Siren 17 is equipped with a swing keel. A swing keel is a pivoting lifting keel, allowing to sail both coastal and inland waters. The keel is made of iron. Many people prefer lead keel in favour of iron. The main argument is that lead is much heavier than iron and a lead keel can therefore be made smaller which again result in less wet ... Siren 17', 1979, Hinsdale, Illinois, sailboat for sale from Sailing A little about our boat for sale: She's a Sweet little 1979 Siren 17' Sailboat - self-righting when centerboard is locked down. Good condition single axle tilt trailer with newer lights and tires and swing front wheel for easy moving. Fully retractable 150# centerboard. 1 Main and 1 roller-furling jib with stowage bag Both main and Genoa are in ... Locking a Rudder Down Re: Locking a Rudder Down - Siren 17' I found the proper method for the Siren. One hole at the leading edge of the rudder (closet to the boat) and another hole opposite and on the aft edge of the rudder. A cleat on the starboard side of the rudder towards the top and above the holes. new siren 17 owner new siren 17 owner. hi, just joined . looking for a siren 17 owners manual. any assistance would be greatly appreciated !!! Joe. Congrats on the recent purchase. Im sure you will find other owners here. I brought a Siren 17 home this past weekend! If you haven't found the manual yet, it can be downloaded from the Siren Owners Yahoo site. New to the Siren 17 The Siren is a pretty straightforward and relatively robust boat. Just reading the info here is very helpful to this new 1981 Siren 17 owner and I can surely put it to good use. My boat is in pretty good shape, but need to replace the side windows and seals. The front window is OK and may have been replaced already. Siren 17 sailboat for sale 1985 Vandestadt & McGruer Siren 17. The perfect trailer sailor. This pretty coastal cruiser has just completed its most recent voyage - Lake Champlain, Lake Placid, Cayuga Lake, and Lake Chautauqua. Jiffy reefed mainsail and a roller-furled headsail for shortening in a blow. Four foot draft with swing keel down: it is quite stable and easily ... catamaran motorboat powerboat riverboat sailboat trimaran yacht