A Typical Easy Boat Job

jssailem

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
Oct 22, 2014
24,523
CAL 35 Cruiser #21 moored EVERETT WA
I guess I could have started with the bulb
Where is the fun in that. I call it a win. "Total Cost: Virtually Nothing."
Lesson.. Remember it is a journey, not a race to the finish...
 
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Likes: Carl Weathers
Dec 28, 2010
462
Catalina 380 san pedro
10 volts in a 12 volt system is a problem looking for a chance to make a worse problem...but then heh...you are selling the boat
 
Jan 24, 2017
150
Chrysler C26 Lake Sakakaweea
Ring connections are more secure as the screw has to come out all the way. Spade connectors can come loose if the screw loosens only a little bit. Once the terminal is loose there is potential for it to short out, a potential fire hazard.

A spade terminal with a "hook" at the end of the spades is a slightly better choice than a flat spade, as the retaining screw needs to be even looser.

edit: fixed a grammar error.
The problem with that is that IF the connection loosens up it is going to get hot and make more problems. You are better off if it just comes out. Better yet tighten the connection to specs the first time.
 
Jul 13, 2010
1,100
Precision 23 Perry Hall,Baltimore County
Back in day that screwdriver would be used to put points in s distributor .
 

DougM

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Jul 24, 2005
2,242
Beneteau 323 Manistee, MI
Can't wait to get to my "easy" boat job...
The boat has been on the hard, shrink wrapped, since September 2015! When the marina guys wrapped it, I wasn't around. They had undone the messenger lines from both jib halyards and evidently forgot to secure them after shrink wrapping. They are now wrapped around the mast several times. Looks like a trip up the mast to untangle them. Thankfully, the main halyard appears to be OK. I'm getting too old for this mast climbing stuff.
When I get unwrapped, I have a new multifunction display and radar to install which means more cable to pull through places only a dwarf can access and I'm 6'7". Then there is the oil change to do and the antifreeze which is due to be changed. I'm reasonsbly sure the batteries are kaput.
Then there is the usual bottom painting and hull waxing.
What else could possibly be amiss after this amount of time? I can hardly wait to find out.
( By the way, I've had a few of those mystery screws turn up in the bilge from time to time too.)
 
Oct 2, 2008
3,811
Pearson/ 530 Strafford, NH
Brilliant I've got a bus bar with at least four unused screws.
Why oh why? Don't ask me! I'm a 5 timer. What did Einstein say about insanity?
I think Einstein said the difference between insanity and genius is the genius knows when to quit. (Maybe, of course he did some sailing.)

All U Get
 

jssailem

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
Oct 22, 2014
24,523
CAL 35 Cruiser #21 moored EVERETT WA
Maybe, of course he did some sailing.
Actually, he did a lot of sailing. His boat was repossessed by the German Government in 1939 as being in appropriate for someone like him.
 
Jun 21, 2004
3,113
Beneteau 343 Slidell, LA
Doug,
Happy to hear that you are getting back to the boat......"nothin better than messing around in boats."
 
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Likes: Carl Weathers
Oct 29, 2005
2,366
Hunter Marine 326 303 Singapore
I really do appreciate the suggestions and supportive responses. They are all helpful. I wish I had asked first but then I didn't know I was going to get into this.
Remember, on a boat if there's an easier way to do things, it's probably the wrong way :D
 
Mar 13, 2011
175
Islander Freeport 41 Longmont
So my easy boat job only took all day Sat. I just got my main back with logo and numbers installed along with the new stack pack. Simple job, install lazy jacks, stack pack and the main sail. How hard could it be. The lazy jacks are my design based upon a previous owners setup, I have mounts on the mast for the blocks, every thing is cut and ready for a few bow lines. Good to go.

Now up the mast, should be simple, folding steps are in place and I've only got to get to about 45' on the mast. Setup the bosuns chair, start climbing, uh oh, any idea how hard it is to climb a raked mast. Wife does a nice job of tailing with the main halyard(only line I have so sorry, no 2 line safety net). Finally make the climb, way out of shape and breath. Now to install the two blocks, 1/4" ronstans with as all screw to remove and replace. Wow manage to do both without dropping one (knock on wood). Install the lazy jack lift lines ( didn't drop that either). Down the mast, sorry didn't get the steps closed so they are now open for my later climb up to add a wind sensor.

Hmmm, not your typical boat job - so far so good. Now to install the stack pack and sail. Cool everything looks good...oops forgot the sail slug for the loose footed main, remove stack pack, remove lower full batten, ahh now can put the sail foot slug into the track. Cool everything is good...oops. Stack pack sail on wrong side of sail slug... Remove stack pack, remove sail slug, remove batten, reinstall.

All in all, not too bad. Only one trip up the mast, only 3 times to install stack pack and sail, now to figure out the mizzen, did I mention I need to install a ne radar done and for some reason we don't have st ps on the mizzen mast.

Anyone got good ideas for how best to get up that mast? Only need to get to the spreaders and then I'm good. Any hope I can get 2 more blocks installed without dropping at least one pin.

Now to remove the old radar and cabling, feeding that through the cabin, engine room and rear bath room should be fun.
 
Jan 7, 2011
5,906
Oday 322 East Chicago, IN
My "easy" project this layup is replacing the 30-year old bronze prop shaft with a new A-19 SS shaft and coupling. Also replacing the stuffing box hose while I have it all apart.

Took 2 days of work to get the old coupling off the shaft (I was trying not to cut the shaft until I could thoroughly inspect it). Finally got it off the shaft, backed the shaft out of the boat, and d@mn!@ , it aligned perfectly with the rudder ;-). Cannot dig a hole in the paved parking lot, cannot raise the boat as I was boxed in with other boats and no way to get the travel lift in.

Read a note from Mainesail about removing the cutlass bearing to get a little lateral play in the shaft...and that worked...scraped some paint off the rudder as I pulled the old shaft out, but it came out.

Picked up the new shaft over the weekend, and will be trying to put the old girl back together in the next few weeks. Hopefully this will go SMOOTH, but I won't count on it...nothing has gone smooth on this project yet.

Greg
 
Oct 2, 2008
3,811
Pearson/ 530 Strafford, NH
Anyone got good ideas for how best to get up that mast? Only need to get to the spreaders and then I'm good. Any hope I can get 2 more blocks installed without dropping at least one pin.

Now to remove the old radar and cabling, feeding that through the cabin, engine room and rear bath room should be fun.
Could you step that mast, might be worth the price and it would be easier to do the radar dome.

All U Get
 

DougM

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Jul 24, 2005
2,242
Beneteau 323 Manistee, MI
image4.JPG
image1.JPG

My easy boat job just got a little more interseting. Big storm went through Thursday morning and took care of my mast.
 

JRT

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Feb 14, 2017
2,059
Catalina 310 211 Lake Guntersville, AL
Wow, that sucks! What would make just your mast fall in a storm? Is there some sort of design defect or other issue? That would destroy me if I came out and saw that.
 
Nov 30, 2015
1,343
Hunter 1978 H30 Cherubini, Treman Marina, Ithaca, NY
Wow, @DougM , that's awful. My head aches just staring at your pics. Please do share the results of your failure analysis when you get to that point. Sorry for your loss.
 
Jan 22, 2008
8,050
Beneteau 323 Annapolis MD
Wow, Doug... that's a lot worse than a "bummer". I got your email but had not looked at it yet this morning. I wonder if the wall next to the boat had something to do with funneling wind or ??? First the wife, and now this. My heart is with you, Doug.

This might be a good time to take some pics of the masthead from all angles for the record. I'll never get up there, and would like to have pics for reference.c
 
Jan 1, 2006
7,982
Slickcraft 26 Sailfish
It's just a guess but it looks like the port cap shroud parted and it seems to have parted near the deck. Usually at the swage. My sympathies. I hope your insurance company steps up.
You guys who go up masts, take note.