Helm / Leaks / updates
Capt Hawk / Others;I would be interested in your pictures of the rear seat redo as well as the changes in the handrails (did you get them to bolt up in the same holes with a custom build or did you drill new ones?). Until the spring, I covered the rear seat area the best I can with a small tarp to keep the water out while it's up in the stands and I will see if water in the bildge is less. I'll keep everyone posted. Also, I'm curious on the dorade box problem you had, since mine are original and I never had them off the boat. I guess based on what you are saying, there is may be potential of rot around the clear tubing. About changing the dorade box (what brand are you looking at or are you going to fabricate them yourself) that might be a good option since I never thought the stock set-up provided much ventilation anyway and would have always wanted to set-up a solor powered vent. Also, I always wanted to install guards aroud the Dorades since on occassion the cowl vents will get caught on the lines and pull out. I too had to remove and replace (in kind) the eight ports, and reseal after filling the rotted voids about five years ago. I recently noticed a few drips under pressure testing with a high presurred garden hose but no leaks under normal rain. I plan on resealing the annoying ones this spring. Did you replace your ports with same brand ports (Beckson) or go with a new brand? I'm still hanging on to the headliner - like the look and I know it's a big (meaning time consuming) job of filling/fairing/epoxy coating/and painting the entire thing. A little history about my boat is that it's a 1984 model named Blitz that I bought from my father a few years ago. He was the original owner, and I remember touring the factory in West Berlin, NJ when we bought it. We have always kept it in the Sandy Hook (Raritan Bay, New York Harbor & and Atlantic ocean sailing off of Coney Island / Long Island and the Northern New Jersey Shoreline) and it was even charterred minmally for a few years when it was new. Blitz has the original Yanmar 3GM (three bladed fixed prop) as well as most other things (Stereo, Raritan toilet, Datamarine Speed and depth, non self-tailing Lewmar winches) being original. Some upgrade/replacements I hope to do this spring is the center hatch, toilet, enhance the battery monitoring system as well as hard starting (believe to be a wiring harness voltage loss).Any suggestions would help - thanks to all.Neal