This page will be evolving as a result of asked problems or opinions. Please field questions in contact us page and you will see answers here.
Before we go to any specific question – the most is: Power or Sail?
In short we repeat after Jere Lull: A powerboater gets in his boat to go someplace; a sailor steps onboard and is already there. With raising cost of fuel and desire to go green, sailing appears to be the way to go.
Water ballast versus fixed led or cast iron ballast laid inside the hull at the lowest point. Is the boat tender since she doesn’t have the typical keel?
The answer needs to be divided into few parts:
First, a centerboard allows the boat to have minimum draft – an asset in exploring shallow waters, where the centerboard can be dropped partially, as much as the depth allows.
Second, the in-hull ballast to work properly and to make the boat seaworthy, needs to be firmy attached to the hull to avoid the shifting movement between the ballast and the hull (water has tendency to shift due to some air residue in tanks and the flexibility of tanks themselves), and to be laid as low as possible to keep the lowest possible center of gravity (water losses in this aspect in favor to led pellets in about 9.5:1 and to cast iron blocks in 8:1).
Third, if the above is combined with a cross-section of the hull resembling the wide shape of the canoe rather than the v-shape of the power hull – this results in TES sailboats stability admired by their owners. This makes the Fine TES Sailboats the seaworthy shallow draft cruisers with the CE “B” certificate.
Why TES sailboats use a swing centerboard rather than a vertically dropped dagger board?
Dagger board, while using less space in the cabin, will not lift itself when you hit a shallow. In this situation either the dagger board brakes or the board damages the hull. On the contrary, the swing center board on TES boats is pivoted and can swing completely inside the hull when the boat hits the shallow. Since the board is a ½” of solid steel plate Zinc plated or Stainless Steel, its weight caused dragging force against the bottom to slow the boat down. The semi-flat central portion of the hull allows the hull to seat straight on the bottom on tidal waters with tide down. Also the line lifting the centerboard is hidden inside the centerboard trunk and above the water level.
How the TES sailboats lower their masts on the water with the A frame on their front decks?
The A-frame is a part of the easy mast rising system which allows to lower/raise the mast on the boat without external assistance by one person form the cockpit. The system while popular in Europe, is new to North American sailors. The inside stays are used to hold mast sideways to prevent from swinging from side to side. This is a “must have” system to clear the bridges “on the go”. Please ask TES owners how they feel about it or see contact the dealers or representatives for more info.
How long will the balsa core last?
TES Yachts do not use balsa core during manufacturing process. The hull is constructed of multi-layer solid fiberglass core, while the deck features Airex core, which does not deteriorate as a result of moisture.
Is crane required to launch a TES Yacht?
No, because of shallow draft, all swing-keel versions of TES Yacht can be launched anywhere a speedboat can be launched.
Will my new boat be custom-built to order, or is it in the inventory?
Your new boat will be custom-built to order just for you.
Do I have to worry about freezing the water leftover in the water-ballast compartments during the winter? What about the algae growth?
TES Yachts use solid weighted ballast as opposed water-ballast. There is no freezing in the winter and no algae growth.