Whittaker Columbia 8.7 User manual

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA YACHT
Columbia Yacht was founded in 1960 in Costa Mesa, California. It started out
as small company named Glas Laminates which produced camper tops for pickup
trucks, shower stalls and portable chemical toilets. In 1961 the company's
management decided to expand into the sailboat business with the relatively
new building material, fiberglass. The company's new product was called the
Islander 24, which immediately drew much interest and sold out production for
the first year.
In 1962 a completely new model was born; the Columbia 29; A Sparkman &
Stephens design, it was to become a highly successful model. This new boat
was later to inspire the company to take on its name as its corporate title
and establish the distinctive emblem that has become known throughout the
world today.
In 1964 the success of Columbia and growth of consumer interest in the
products manufactured by Columbia warranted an expansion to the East Coast of
the United States. The move allowed Columbia to reduce the distance and
delivery time of the product to eastern customers. The new eastern plant was
located on a nine-acre site in Portsmouth, Virginia where soon all products
of the company were in full production.
In 1965 Columbia was credited with the manufacture of the largest production
fiberglass sailboat in existence. The new William Tripp designed Columbia 50
was a phenomenal success in design and racing wins and the overwhelming
demand for the product helped to boost Columbia into the leadership position
in the sailboat industry.
In 1967 Columbia became a subsidiary of the California based conglomerate,
the Whittaker Corporation.
With the addition of managerial expertise and financial support coupled with
the technical and engineering resources of its new parent company, Columbia
further strengthened its position of innovation and growth in the sailboat
industry. The company's headquarters and West Coast plant was moved to a new
location in a new modern facility located on a 10 acre site in southern
California's Irvine Industrial complex. In 1968 Whittaker acquired Coronado
Yachts and merged it with the Columbia operation under separate marketing
policies.
In 1971 Columbia embarked on a new program of building kit-boats,
Salilcrafter Custom Yachts, to appeal to a group of owner/builder customers.
This continued through 1974 when it was decided that the kit-boat business
was interfering with the overall new boat production operation.
In 1972 Columbia became a division of Whittaker Corporation.

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA YACHT (CONTINUED)
In August 1975 Columbia re-established its headquarters in the new 50 acre. 5
building site on the Intercoastal Waterway in Chesapeake, Virginia. This
huge, new, modern facility resulted in the consolidation of Columbia's
production operations on the east coast and the sale of its other two plants.
At this time Coronado products have been blended into the Columbia product
line and the brand name discontinued.
Today, Columbia has become a "grand old name" in the sailboat industry. Columbia
products are produced in Australia, Japan, and Spain under license agreements and
Columbia products are being sold throughout the world through a growing strong network
of Columbia dealers.
The Columbia family of satisfied and enthusiastic owners, over the years,
whether in racing, cruising or just enjoying the thrill of sailing, are
constantly changing and adding to the continued growth and new product
development of an industry innovator and leader, Columbia Yacht.

COLUMBIA 8.7 OWNERS MANUAL
CONTENTS
TITLE PAGE
WELCOME TO COLUMBIA YACHT
HISTORY OF COLUMBIA YACHT
FORWARD
1. PRE-DELIVERY AND WARRANTY PROGRAM
1.1 Columbia Warranty Coverage
1.2 Columbia Warranty Certificate
1.3 Pre-Delivery Service Record and Form
2. SPECIFICATIONS
2.1 General Specifications
2.2 Technical Specifications
2.3 Light Bulb List
2.4 Thru-Hull Penetrations
3. SPARS RIGGING AND HARDWARE
3.1 Mast Tune on Commissioning
3.2 Mainsail Gear
3.3 Genoa Gear
3.4 Optional Spinnaker Gear
3.5 Optional Boom Vang
3.6 Optional Reefing Gear
4. ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS
4.1 Basic Electrical System
4.1.1 Bonding System
4.1.2 Battery Condition Indicator
4.1.3 Battery Maintenance
4.2 Operation of 12 Volt D. C. System
4.2.1 Standard 12 Volt D.C. System
4.2.2 Optional 12 Volt D.C. System
4.3 Optional 110 Volt A.C. Electrical System
4.3.1 Optional Hot Water Heater
4.3.2 Optional Battery charger