Going Off Shore

Here is Pat before we go off shore in Myrtle Beach. We took a short break.

Father's Day - Sole

Chris and his family took me to lunch while Pat was working in her business. I told my grandson that I would have the boat done by February 2009. This is the only way this will happen. Unless I have a goal it won't happen. The only obstacle would be another presswing project!!!

The truck to pull the boat was new when I bought, has over 200k, but it will last, hopefully

I have decided to cover the sole inside with marine plywood and use the following suggestion from a member of the Sailnet Community. I am going to use west in some voids, though the sole is strong. No need to make my this difficult.

"I did exactly what you are thinking about on a 23 ft. boat that had a nearly rectangular floor area. I used mahogany doorskins that I sealed on both sides with sealer and varnish (resin would have been better) and then used quarter inch white pinstriping tape. I the varnished over the whole thing with about 6 or 7 coats of a traditional type varnish (non urethane), which leveled out the surface and protected the tape. The doorskins were flexible enough to take the contour of the sole easily, and the color required no staining and looked very much like teak. I know this sounds mickey mouse, but it looked good, cost very little, and lasted the seven years I had the boat and looked good to the next owner. After all, when I did this I had all of about $2000 invested in this boat and wasn't about to spend money on real teak and holly, which was too thick to work anyway." Credit to jgeissinger

Hickley

Here is the 57 foot Hickley 1986 in Norfolk

Put off getting the title changed till now. That is done, need also to do the trailer.

To Cut Out or Not To Cut Out, Is That The Question?

Having looked at the options for the sole. After considering whether to cut out the sole given that I plan to install teak and holly or hydrocore marine plywood. This would be a waste of time. The port for the bilge did not give a good view of the condition, so I cut an equal port over the bilge 12" from the existing. Of course my drimel stopping working ( will send back and they will replace) but I found that indeed there is delamiation. But to the degree it is not as bad as it could be. Will need to glass the bilge which makes sense after cleaning out. Should not be a problem.

Also I am attaching a pictures of a few of the areas that I'm working on. I am not a great with a camera. The first is that of the port aft berth. The berth itself was replaced with 5/8 marine plywood with Cetol coat, four coats of varish will come later. The opening will have a door so that I can get back to the stern (tight fit). The center is that of the bulkhead fiting on the port center with 5/8 hydocore marine plywood (looks like teak.) This picture is before four coats of varnish was applied, now is looks like a miror. The last is where glassed in area for stainless plate on top of a new teak compression post. The post will have a base also made of stainless. For now I have a jacked post in that area. More to come when things hopefully continue to come along.

More Info is good info

Found a site of a gentleman that has restored a 22 O'Day. He is must more detail than I am. Made a paper copy to pick up some tips from his work. Interesting that he is own the road in Carboro NC. http://carrboroyachtclub.blogspot.com/

At this point, I will be moving to continue to box beneath the cockpit for the batteries . Currently planning to install two.

Cut a port in the sole in order to work on the bilge. What I found was the same as the gentleman above. Delamination. So that is the next project.

Where I AM At This Point

Have spent the last evening working on getting the port aft berth bulkhead installed. About to run out of teak support but will need to wait until cash flow is better to drop another $200. The bulkhead on the starboard aft is done, the risers for the step is done, which in itself was a two month job. The stay in the hospital did not help. Looking to the sail net community as to advise for the gaps I left between the bulkhead and glass. Did not want to put stress on glass. Thinking of using foam. Waiting for opinions(s).

Found out from one of my friends at boat yard, that most trawler use quite a bit of foam in the can for voids. Just make sure that is not the stuff used on houses, need one like evercoat.

Boat Sick

This was taken in 1998 by a friend that was on his power boat as we traveled together on the Chesapeake coming back from Eastern Shore. I am at the helm and the gentleman on the front was a guest. The Island Gypsy is doing around 8 knots at this point with all sails aloft.

I miss this boat.