And so it begins

[25yearslater]

And like a bad penny he keeps turning up with new information. I have been trying to ascertain a way to keep from cutting a hole in my newly restored deck for a pumpout fitting and still meet the criteria for voyages to Canada. Upon reading an extensive list of regulations I threw up my hands and went right to the source. I contacted a representative of Transport Canada for clarification. To meets their requirements for 'porta potties' what is necessary is that it be secured to the boat as to render it immovable. It may be secured by a latching mechanism that allows for transport to a shore side waste disposal facility. My personal choice for YOT is the Thetford 365 unit and hold down kit. This was also the response I received from a representative of Thetford Corporation.

 

[25yearslater]

Todays episode features----RUST. Rusty gas tank that is. For those of us with older boats equipped with steel tanks an inspection isn't a bad idea. With the humidity in the marine enviornment and the propensity of ethanol additives to absorb water it can be a life saver. The tell tale signs of tank degradation are rust in the fuel filter or in the case of the Atomic 4 the glass filter bowl. Any rust there should be met with the greatest intrigue. Since yesterday was cool but not snowing, raining or frigid I went ahead and pulled the tank. Upon emptying the remaining contents into a gas can the last amount was poured into a small bucket. Not surprisingly the bottom of the bucket showed my suspicions to be correct. By shining a flashlight in the fill neck a substantial amount of degradation of the steel coud be readily seen. So do I have steel or aluminum? A magnet can answer that quite quickly. In this case a Mirax tank was original. Best of all this company is still around making aluminum tanks at the same size and shape. So here's a peek at my findings and some food for thought.

 

[25yearslater]

And from back in the day. 1978 Oday 22 right out of the showroom. Aboard the U.S. Army vessel LTC John U. D. Page a beach discharge lighter. Can't believe these scanned. Warm weather please.

 

[ebsail]

An old trick I've used. Tape across the bottom of a box wrench will catch the nut and make the retrieval easy when working between inner liner and deck.

 

[jibes138]

Hey 25 Is it done yet?

Hey 25 is it done yet?

 

[25yearslater]

Not yet jibes. Let's see. Cockpit floor needs new core. Touch up a few spots with gelcoat in cabin. Touch up one cockpit coaming. Buff out hull one more time. Redo port rear cabintop nonskid. Nonskid cockpit floor. Install foam and fabric hull liner. Install woodwork. Paint bottom. Install rubrail. Install new cabintop handrails. Put rest of hardware back on. Affix new Oday emblems to cabin sides. Stuff cushions with new foam. Install Porta Potti. Retro Atomic 4 with high energy ignition and oil filter. Install new fuel tank and ethanol compatable hoses. Aquire new fore and backstays. Alodine gold colored mast. Go sailing. I think that about covers it. It seems more than it really is. You get to write the index as I'm gonna be shot after all this.

 

[Panta Rei]

Sounds great Joe! Spring is here. Ice is off the lakes.
I was fiberglassing outdoors this weekend. My marriage saved!
I figure we get a one month head start because of this weather.

 

[jibes138]

Joe, here's some advice

By the time you get done with that punch list you will have to rename yourself 50yearslater, so let's put all these projects on hold for 12 months and go sailing.
Think of it this way, if you finish all that and go sailing then the boat will immediately start to deteriorate. By putting it off you are prolonging the life of the boat as it will be later when you fix it so it will last longer after you fix it. By this line of reasoning I hope you will be convinced that all repairs are better put off until a later date, unless you have catastrophic conditions like a hole and it is sinking.

 

[SailingCal21]

You're gettin' there Joe.

 

[25yearslater]

Inside cabin gelcoat touchups done. A little wet sanding and a buff and that is off the list. The early spring this week is giving me a jump on things. Maybe my clean living and hard work is finally paying off.

 

[jibes138]

This thread has gone dormant long enough, I can't take the silence any more. I think I'll go to the shore today and paint my counter tops bright orange.

 

[25yearslater]

Pay shoonts there as I'm still here blundering along. In todays episode our stalwart recycler has finished the gelcoat in the v berth area and it's ready for buffing and a good cleaning. After that the hull liner. A shot of the starboard coaming with it just styling a new blower vent purchased here at SBO store. That was an interesting install. The 3&3/8 hole was too big for the blower to mount directly. The blower has a 3 inch exhaust. A 1/2 inch thick plate of leftover marine fir plywood epoxy coated and bored proved a perfect adapter plate. Screwed the blower to it and the vent base screwed through the coaming and into the plate. No fancy stuff. Also the handy overhead gelcoat gun purchased from Lowes for 37 bucks. The cup swivels to allow for overhead shots without dumping half down your front. So here are the photos for right now.

 

[25yearslater]

Well it seems our friend maine89 has an Oday 27 that has a transducer problem. He is somewhat timid about epoxy and glass work so let's see if we can't help him out. Coincidentally I have this same problem with abandoned holes. To start I will use my handy router with a 1/4 inch rabbetting bit set to 1/8 inch depth. Strangely this happens to be 1/32 inch less than one disc each of 0/90 and +/- 45 knytex cloth. The hull thickness at the bow is 3/8 inch with no core. Damn Oday, that is some serious stuff. The hole measures 2 inches. I am laminating the 2" and 2 1/2" plugs separately for ease of trimming to size. These will be bonded together with epoxy and 404 high density filler after the edge trimming. So to start here are the photos thus far. And before anybody goes crazy this is an adaptation right out of the West System repairing machined holes how to. It is also what I did on the companionway bulkhead. Remember, the transducer flange is this same size so I don't anticipate any problems in duplicating it in glass.

 

[maine89]

Watching intently!

 

[Swee Pea 1976]

This is very informative!

 

[25yearslater]

Well I didn't like the thickness. Then again with the clamping pressure the cloth thickness isn't what it says. So not to worry 25 cuts some more cloth and makes a bigger stack. Two +/-45 and one 0/90 come out to 3/32 inch. Perfect, as this leaves the 1/32 for fairing and barrier coats. The 2" stack I redid with 6 each +/- 45 and 5 each of 0/90. This yields 3/16 or slightly less than the 3/8" hull thickness minus the 1/8" rabbet. It also leaves 1/16 inch for a slight grind on the inside and a few pieces of cloth to reinforce the general area to about 4 inches diameter. So maine89 your discs are curing as I write this. I figured I'd whip a few up so I don't waste any epoxy. Thank you maine sailor. I'm glad I can offer what I can to those of us who adore our Oday sailboats.

 

[maine89]

Well I didn't like the thickness. Then again with the clamping pressure the cloth thickness isn't what it says. So not to worry 25 cuts some more cloth and makes a bigger stack. Two +/-45 and one 0/90 come out to 3/32 inch. Perfect, as this leaves the 1/32 for fairing and barrier coats. The 2" stack I redid with 6 each +/- 45 and 5 each of 0/90. This yields 3/16 or slightly less than the 3/8" hull thickness minus the 1/8" rabbet. It also leaves 1/16 inch for a slight grind on the inside and a few pieces of cloth to reinforce the general area to about 4 inches diameter. So maine89 your discs are curing as I write this. I figured I'd whip a few up so I don't waste any epoxy. Thank you maine sailor. I'm glad I can offer what I can to those of us who adore our Oday sailboats.

Your amazing!

*Maine89 ships some beer*

 

[25yearslater]

Continueing on with our little adventure we now have stuff. Once the little discs are sanded to fit they can be bonded together. Be careful with the alignment as any error will have to be sanded to get 'em in the hole. Once bonded sand the edges to rough up the epoxy for bonding into the hole. I can't do this part as the stupid weather took a turn back to winter again. What I can do is send you your pices maine89. You can do your own finish sanding before bonding. After you PM me with where to send the discs and some cloth for internal patching should you prefer. And lastly the dodad in the hole. Warm up, warm up, warm up. Oh yeah my new gas tank is here and I will get some of the pics up after a bit.

 

[25yearslater]

Moving right along, yeah right. Some before and afters of the main cabin. Long time comin' huh? Let's get above 65 degrees for some hull liner bonding.

 

[25yearslater]

Happy Easter everyone. Well continuing along with, what about holes in the bottom? Here is the solution I am exploring. By prefabricating the plug we have a new use for boat hooks. The locking telescopic type are perfect for this. Remember to sand everthing including the plug before beginning. Mix the epoxy to a peanut butter consistancy with 404 high density filler after the hole and plug are coated with just the epoxy and hardener. Apply a liberal amount around the the hole and the plug edge and stuff it up there. Wedge the boat hook up against it and wait. The inside will be tapered slightly and built up with the biaxial cloth and epoxy once the plug has cured.