The principle focus of this page will be on "post-assembly" tips for CR 914 owners whose boats are already constructed. The Assembly Instructions that come with CR 914 kits these days are so good that there is very little that we can add to them. For additional help with the initial construction of your CR 914, however, here are two excellent sources of help from Chesapeake Performance Models:

The CR 914 Builder's Page  Here you will find a bunch of useful tips that supplement the information in the Assembly Instructions themselves. Lots of "how to" photos, too.

The CR 914 "How to Build" video  This new video is an excellent learning tool for CR-914 builders. In three hours of instruction, Dave Ramos takes you step-by-step through the entire construction process from start to finish. Includes numerous tricks Dave has developed in the course of building over 400 CR-914s. A must-have for the first-time builder and the veteran getting ready to build his "ultimate" CR 914 as well.

One of the joys of ownership of a CR 914 is the opportunity it affords to tinker with your boat. Not to do things that improve performance, mind you; that is prohibited by the class rules and their interpretations. But to improve upon things to increase reliability and make the boat more convenient, and thus more fun, to sail. Ever since 1996 numerous "after-construction" tips have appeared in the class newsletter, usually in the column called...

In the list below you will find a number of examples of these tips. Click on the bullet to go to a PDF file, usually reprinted directly from an issue of the newsletter, explaining all about it.

	String rings - How to make replacements for boom sliders if they break
	Boom sliders -  How to reinforce them so they won't break
	Glitching and growling - What they mean, and what to do
	Jib topping lift - What it does, and how to make one
	CA glue - Its chemistry, and how it works
	Knots - Focusing on the square knot, and how to improve reliability
	Sheet fouling - All the places it can occur, and how to prevent it
	Mainsheet bridle ring - How to eliminate another common foul-up
	Sail control joystick - How remove the ratchet for smoother motion
	Waterproofing electronics - Servos, switches, and batteries
	Waterproofing the receiver - Another use for Vaseline
	Deck leaks - Tips for reducing leaks through the various ports
	Jib boom padeye - How to make it unbreakable
	Rudder horn - How to repair and prevent fractures
	Hatch cover - How to build a leak-resistant one
	Bow bumpers - How to attach balky rubber bumpers
	Removable rig - How to retrofit one for traveling to regattas
	Boat cradle - How to build Mark Benedict's custom cradle

Do you have other ideas to contribute to this list, or another problem that you would like to see solved? Send it to us by using the following form.