And so it begins

[maine89]

Are you in Newport RI or California?
What kind of repair are you trying to do? Fiberglass repair is pretty straight forward and WEST System has some great materials they offer to show you how to do the work. We can help you walk through it, nothing to be afraid of, just get some good epoxy like West System 2 part epoxy, get the right kind of filler (if required) and some rubber gloves to protect your hands, some mixing equipment like plastic tubs, a graduated shot glass or larger measuring device, some popsicle sticks for stirring, I used to use two syringes one for resin and one for hardener, a full syringe of resin and a half syringe of hardener and I'd always have the right mix.

Rhode Island

25yearslater has been extremely helpful in not only sending me directions but also copies of the pieces he used for his same boat repair. I'm just so unfamiliar with the process that I wanted to have someone who knew what they were doing there too.

I just found another guy for a more reasonable price so hopefully I'll learn all about this monday

Thanks for looking out jibes!

 

[25yearslater]

Since my merry band of followers are thirsting for more, here we go. The gas tank nestled into it's cradle with a new forward support cut and installed. This was due to the tank being slightly shorter than the steel tank I removed. It is good to note this tank must be installed prior to installing the galley top. It don't fit through the lazarette either. The galley and quarter berth. Sorry no before but it was a combination of some orange and a varnished plywood. Notice the sideboard table or whatever it is called. Since I used 5 inch foam instead of 4 on the seats and 4 instead of 3 for the backs the table was angle cut and made 10.5 inch wide to accomodate this difference. Last the before orange and after white vanity in the head. I also haven't installed the stove as it is in the way for the forthcoming plumbing work. Enjoy.

 

[bria46]

Hi There, I hope you are NOT going to use those galvinzed(?) holding straps in your final installation. I found some heavy duty black nylon straps at my local ACE hardware. I used small teak blocks at the bottom edge as strain reliefs

 

[rajhnsn]

That is a lot of hardener. I've never used 50% hardener. Wouldn't it set up before you could apply it?

 

[25yearslater]

Actually I did bria, HOWEVER, and that is a big however, I also insulated them from the tank using foam weatherstripping purchased at Lowes. This is the same isolation method that was used originally. You have a keen eye and are correct in what I assume to be your concerns with dissimilar metal contact in the marine enviornment. If I can find the straps you have mentioned I will in the near future replace the galvanized. Please feel free to post a photo as I and others would like to view what to look for and how to install. You also gave me a great idea as to how in blazes to install the icebox as I am installing a basic Igloo cooler as a simple well insulated icebox.

 

[bria46]

The plastic straps are normally used to hang plastic pipe from the rafters in basements. They are about 3/4" wide with a hole spaced every inch or so. My Ace had a big roll of the straping and sold it by the foot













'

 

[jibes138]

Sorry RAJHNSN you are correct, the WEST system ration is more like 5 parts resin to 1 part hardener depending on what hardener you use, so ALWAYS do not listen to me but rather read the can and follow the manufacturers advice. I have recently been using MAS Flag epoxy as my local boat store didn't carry WEST. The MAS mixture is 2 to 1, and I just verified both by going to their web sites. This is apparently what confused me. Thanks for pointing out the error in my transmission.
Another thing that causes the reaction to speed up is doing a large amount at once. I had some WEST kick over so fast one day it started smoking it got so hot and instantly solidified, quite spectacular. It was about 100 degrees and I tried to mix a large batch, never make that mistake again. At about a hundred bucks a gallon it can't go to waste.

25 your boat looks brand new like it just left the factory, I am very impressed to say the least, great job and keep up the good work. I may need a new fuel tank myself so will check out the outfit you used.

 

[tcwaltz]

The plastic straps are normally used to hang plastic pipe from the rafters in basements. They are about 3/4" wide with a hole spaced every inch or so. My Ace had a big roll of the straping and sold it by the foot

'

This what I replaced mine with

 

[SailingCal21]

Hi There, I hope you are NOT going to use those galvinzed(?) holding straps in your final installation. I found some heavy duty black nylon straps at my local ACE hardware. I used small teak blocks at the bottom edge as strain reliefs

Black nylon strap is used to strap Karma's tank down, too. I reused the strap to install the new tank. On Karma the tank sits securely in a wooden cradle so the straps are simply to keep the tank in place during a broach or worse. Consequently they don't have to be extremely tight or are installed with very much tension.

 

[25yearslater]

Is everybody happy now? I know I am. After searching my nearest Ace Hardware for these pipe straps and coming up empty, I altered course as I had spotted a polypropylene strapping material with a breaking strength of 850 pounds. Now I know what happens with polypro in sunlight. It goes poof. This is consigned to the dark environs of the bilge devoid of dread UV radiation. So for the suggestions I thank you as I didn't really like the galvanized straps either. Besides all that, the other installations look much better and here is my contribution to other options.

 

[SailingCal21]

Phew, now I can sleep again. Guess it was polypropylene instead of nylon. 850 lbs of breaking strength will definitely handle the load.

Scott

 

[jibes138]

Hey 25, will that poly handle being pitchpoled by a 40 foot breaking wave while surfing in the southern ocean? Just curious.

 

[25yearslater]

Used guys are a riot. Not sure the owner could handle that scenario jibes. Of course the weak link is the screw and fender washer which probably decreases the load capacity a bit yet 12 gallons of fuel at 6 pounds per gallon plus 7 for the tank and we have 79 pounds and of course figuring 5 g's = 395 pounds so the tank mount should take more than me.

 

[bria46]

And....I'm sure you are going to take your 27 footer to the Southern Ocean. Just Joking!! Actually I wouldn't take a 35 footer, Jibes 138. There is a wonderful blog about Sequitur a 49 foot Hunter and their adventures circling the globe. They started in Vancouver, BC sailed down the Pacific coast around Cape Horn and then up the Atlantic to the Virgin Islands.

 

[ruidh]

There was a fellow who solo circumnavigated the Americas (the NW Passage and Cape Horn) in a 27 foot Vega this past year.

http://www.solotheamericas.org/

 

[bria46]

WOW! now that is an accomplishment. Thanks for your posting.

 

[25yearslater]

Update. OK so the problem of soft cure/soft gelcoat polishing has been solved. While the shine on YOT was pretty good it wasn't excellent. So since my last post I have been experimenting with various techniques to get that just fantastic shine. First sand some more until all traces of that fuzzy look are gone. Use 1500 wet or dry. Next exchange your cheapy buffer for another as you have burned it to a crisp by this point. A special thanks to Brian at Jamestown Distributors. Stop by your local Lowes and buy a pack of terry cloth towels. About 11.00 for 24 in the paint section. Sew a half dozen into quarters to cover the velcro pad that came with the buffer. Soak the hell out of an area about 2' X 6' with water. Apply Aqua Buff 1000 with a cloth at about 1 teaspoon for each 12 square feet. Buff on the low setting or about 400 rpm. Cover the area once and soak it again. Buff with what remains and soak it again. Buff again until a very light haze is remaining. Wipe clean and change pad or continue with rest of boat at 12 square feet at a time. Slight overlap of about 1 foot works well. Change pad and do it all again with Aqua Buff 2000 using the same technique. Use a dry towel and wipe off haze for a super better than paint shine. Go to Orthopeadic surgeon for a rotator cuff repair cause you're gonna be hurtin. But ain't a new gelcoat job worth it? So there ya have it from the most anal retentive, obsessive jackass to post on this site. Oh yeah and while I'm at it "SOFT GELCOAT DON'T CRACK" but it's a killer to get it to shine real good.

 

[rajhnsn]

Looks great but will it float?

 

[25yearslater]

Hey rajhnsn, I could invite David Letterman for the launch in April. He could tape the will it float game at that time. I do hope so or it will be a real pretty home for fish.

 

[bria46]

Don't worry you have done such a great and detailed job that I know that your sailboat will float! Please, I would be more concerned about your over-the-road trip to the launch site!