Rebuilding Cat 30 TRBS

[All U Get]

Hi all,
After ending our season early we brought our boat to the backyard for the winter and needed work. After removing cushions, kitchen stuff, and sailware, I debated some options and decided removing the stanchions for the winter would be number 1. I followed Maine's advice and epoxied (potted) all the drilled holes at the base of each stanchion. The first mutiny was the new Dremmel 400 XPR, burned up on the third hole. I bought a Dremmel 4000 to replace it and finished the job. Here are some pictures.

 

[Ed Schenck]

Like the work but I am more impressed that you got your boat into your backyard! And I am envious. Not only that you have the boat at home but that you were able to get the stanchions off. Mine are the type that overlap the metal toerail, have a spacer under the non-overlap that has mostly disintegrated, leak, and are nearly impossible to reach inside. That will be a good feeling having those solid and leakproof.

 

[Hermit Scott]

Yep, I am very jealous that you have her int he backyard. One thing I am considering when I remove my stanchions is making a mold area around the plate footing and pouring a little base so water can never pool up there again. I saw it done in a book, looked like a pretty good idea.

 

[All U Get]

Mold

Yep, I am very jealous that you have her int he backyard. One thing I am considering when I remove my stanchions is making a mold area around the plate footing and pouring a little base so water can never pool up there again. I saw it done in a book, looked like a pretty good idea.

Hi Hermit,
Are you going to pour the epoxy into the holes and mold at the same time? How about the slant of the deck? Good thought if it doesn't run to the side.
So far the boat is out of the way but come snow plowing time and I'm sure I'll be kicking myself. :bang: We were pretty depressed when it was delivered however it is convenient for tools. Now I just complain about climbing the ladder. Next job is to strip the bottom paint with Soy Gel.
All U Get

 

[Ross]

Re: Mold

Having the boat close to home is terrific. I did a total rebuild on my boat while it sat in the side yard. You can consider some aspect of the work and run out for a fresh look and be back in the house in five minutes.

 

[foolproof]

I too have a Catalina 30 that I am rehabing. I removed all of the deck hardware, openend up all thru-deck holes and re-potted them. I haven't started to reinstall yet, but am looking forward to getting to it soon, before the snow flies.

My boat is just down the street, 2 minutes from the house, but I sure wish it was in my yard. It would be nice to be able to build some sort of protective shelter over it.

Good luck with the work you're doing. My list seems to be never ending; I have re-painted top & bottom, moved the engine controls to the pedestal, added a proper engine panel, relocating the electrical panel and batteries, refinishing all teak, recovering all cushions...it goes on and on! I am learning as I go, and loving every second of it!

 

[Ross]

To cover my boat while I was working on it I bought a couple of 14 foot oak 3x3 timbers and set them at each end of the boat and stretched a 3/4 inch poly rope between them and proped it up in a couple of places. Then I just draped a couple of tarps over the rope and sand bagged it from the grommets to keep it tight. You can push it out of the way with a well padded pole if you are working near the rail.

 

[All U Get]

Has anyone used a portable garage to cover a boat. It would be nice to have a reasonably warm place to work all winter. I just saw another part that needs attention. Throw that in with the two lawnmowers from yesterday and a leaky backhoe today and I'm sitting down to have a drink.
All U Get

 

[Hermit Scott]

Hi Hermit,
Are you going to pour the epoxy into the holes and mold at the same time? How about the slant of the deck? Good thought if it doesn't run to the side.
So far the boat is out of the way but come snow plowing time and I'm sure I'll be kicking myself. :bang: We were pretty depressed when it was delivered however it is convenient for tools. Now I just complain about climbing the ladder. Next job is to strip the bottom paint with Soy Gel.
All U Get

I would pot the holes as usual and drill the holes. Then I would sand the area. Then insert some dowel rods the exact size of the drilled hole heavily waxed or maybe even wrapped in wax paper. then I would make a playdo (clay) mold around the area a little bigger than the flange. Then fill with cabisol or epoxy with coloidal silica. i have never used cabisol but hear it is used like colodial silica.

 

[All U Get]

I would pot the holes as usual and drill the holes. Then I would sand the area. Then insert some dowel rods the exact size of the drilled hole heavily waxed or maybe even wrapped in wax paper. then I would make a playdo (clay) mold around the area a little bigger than the flange. Then fill with cabisol or epoxy with coloidal silica. i have never used cabisol but hear it is used like colodial silica.

Are you thinking 1/2 inch thick or less? Besides sanding are you going to bond it with anything else? Then do you need to put gel coat over it? I'm thinking maybe thats something I could do in the spring.
All U Get

 

[Hermit Scott]

Are you thinking 1/2 inch thick or less? Besides sanding are you going to bond it with anything else? Then do you need to put gel coat over it? I'm thinking maybe thats something I could do in the spring.
All U Get

3/8' or 1/2" should be enough. I wouldn't worry about bonding it too much because it's in compression under the plate anyway. This is a situation where I wouldn't balk at using polyester resin either. Even when the stancion is being pushed or pulled on, the forces are all compression because it's through bolted.
Even on a fancy looking boat like yours, I would be content to use a white or grey dye with UV inhibitors in it, in the resin. It's such a small, not very visible area under the plate that you could paint around the base with whatever color nonslip or gelcoat that is under it.