Thank you for the kind words. I will need help for sure. Let me answer some questions and post a picture or two.
I did not have a survey done, the boat was almost free. I felt that I could simply sell the outboard and make a profit, and I knew I was getting into a "project boat". I was decidedly abandoned by the previous owner. There are many good new tools, accessories, and other items which is lovely.
It does not have a name.
I cleaned for 5-6 hours today. Mostly trash. Piles of vinyl flooring had been put below, I assume with plans of replacing the aging wood. This was ultimately detrimental, as now the wood is soaked, and some is in very poor repair.
Someone had stolen the shore power cable. With 3 years of absentee owner, who knows what this boat has seen. There were 4 new dock lines stowed, which I quickly changed out - because it was moored with the SHEETS. I felt this was sub-optimal. The fenders were also not deployed, so there is a crack in the fibergass/plastic whatever that trim piece is called, where it contacted the dock post. Problem solved, plenty of fenders in the port aft storage locker.
The outside needs cleaned, I assume all of the lines need replaced. Some blocks are in ok condition, but most of the line looks like this:
Baby steps.
Anchor? Davinport 25lb, a smaller anchor, and a decent rode. Anchor locker? full of 2 feet of water. Good thing I found a working hand pump! Does this thing have a drain? I didn't see one. Maybe its just blocked with dirt.
Sails? Main and some kind of head sail stuffed in the V-berth, I didn't even bother trying to fight with it today.
Main looks ok, and the cars travel freely. Some of the blocks even look new:
Now for the disaster. The previous owner said that someone stole his shore power cable, which cut power to the bilge pump. Rain water got in, you know the rest:
Bilge pump is new. Tested all the wiring, checked out. I put in a new battery, connected the battery charger to shore power, flipped the main electric switch, manually lifted the bilge pump auto-switch, and it ran. Good.
Bad, plumbing issues somewhere mean that after the pump empties out all the water and shuts off, most of it just flows back into the bilge. Is this how its suppose to work?
Second concern. Dorades, mine has two! Bonus, easy to run shore power extension cord through because they just go directly into the cabin. I understood they have some sort of water drain? The starboard definitely leaked, and destroyed the vinyl ceiling panel, along with the balsa/plywood above it. No soft spots in fiberglass, just the wood below the vent. Its also the one that is glued in place. The port side I can just pop off with my hand. Ventilation is nice, but I feel 4-inch holes in the deck is another thing on the sub-optimal list.
I threw most of the cushions forward, to allow more of the wood to dry. Inside the hull, its dry. I pulled up all the v-berth and crawled down inside, no water. Just the cabin and bilge.
Obviously not enough water gets in to be a major concern, but I need to dry the boat out completely.
Questions I have:
1. To where does the bilge discharge? There is a hose that goes way around to port, but then it dissapears into a place I have not been able to access, which may require tearing into the head.
2. What to do about the floor? I assume its wood glued to the fiberglass? Try to salvage? Totally gut and replace?
3. Can I just throw a tarp over the whole deck to help keep the rain out? Maybe crack open the hatches as well?
4. If the boat were originally ordered without an inboard engine, would the factory have installed a Diesel fill port, and fill hose?
5. Can I actually fit in the Aft cabin?
I hope you will continue to advise me on this rebuild, and not run away screaming. I located a marina close by that has a lift, and will do a haulout. I have asked if they will put me on the hard, and if I can do the work myself. Here is hoping. Taking 5 heavy loads of vinyl flooring from the boat to the dumpster was heavy work.
Cheers!