removehtml]Hello All, Newbie here... be gentle... I am assuming this forum is for advice, insight, etc. as it applies to sailaboats. I recently purchased an older boat, 73 Catalina 27. I have some work ahead, and could use some insight has I try to prioritize and research potential projects. One task is the cockpit. The original Atomic has been removed and replaced with a outboard/bracket setup. Also a new wheel was installed that replaced the original tiller. Looking at the external instrumentation(knots meter/compass/old speakers) imbededded on the cabin it becomes redundant with a gps and compass on the wheel. I would like to remove this stuff, however I would have gaping holes all over the place. Has seen/used/recommend used marine paneling to cover the cockpit walls? I'm even considering Home Depot plastic beadboard might have a decent cosmetic finish. or am I stuck with the Fiberglass, sand and paint route? Thanks. Error: Error: expected [/URL], but found [/removehtml] instead[/removehtml]
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I used Starboard.
Sorry. I don't have a picture. Anyway, Starboard is a non structural marine plastic similar to a cutting board. Get it at marine stores and online. It's available in various thicknesses. Also adhesives DO NOT stick to it. I sealed a panel with urethane and held it to the cockpit with countersunk screws. I covered those with silicone chaulk instead of making plugs. The silicone STICKS to the screw heads. Worked great. Also,,,, use a table saw. And WELCOME!
Sorry. I don't have a picture. Anyway, Starboard is a non structural marine plastic similar to a cutting board. Get it at marine stores and online. It's available in various thicknesses. Also adhesives DO NOT stick to it. I sealed a panel with urethane and held it to the cockpit with countersunk screws. I covered those with silicone chaulk instead of making plugs. The silicone STICKS to the screw heads. Worked great. Also,,,, use a table saw. And WELCOME!
Welcome Newbie
Welcome to the board. You will get lots of good advice here, from people who know. You will also get flamed sometimes by some of the old grumps. But don't let them get to you. Most on here are very helpful and kind. | P.S. If you really wanted more info than you needed, and didn't want to get insulted every once in a while, you should have signed on using a female name.
Welcome to the board. You will get lots of good advice here, from people who know. You will also get flamed sometimes by some of the old grumps. But don't let them get to you. Most on here are very helpful and kind. | P.S. If you really wanted more info than you needed, and didn't want to get insulted every once in a while, you should have signed on using a female name.
Welcome
There is a C27 Owner's Association, www.catalina27.org. They also, as noted just last week, have an active Yahoo group. That's in addition to this fine group. There is also the option of learning the fun hobby of fiberglass repair, so you can fill in those hole and glass over them and gelcoat the outside to make ti look as if nothing ever was there. Depends on your time and interests.
There is a C27 Owner's Association, www.catalina27.org. They also, as noted just last week, have an active Yahoo group. That's in addition to this fine group. There is also the option of learning the fun hobby of fiberglass repair, so you can fill in those hole and glass over them and gelcoat the outside to make ti look as if nothing ever was there. Depends on your time and interests.
non structural
It depends if the holes go through into the cabin. The outside is simple, use bondo for the smaller holes, I would leave the dials in or replace with mod ones that work or you open up more unnecessary work. There are always important priority steps when working on a boat. Often people waste time on trivial jobs to pretty it up meantime the boom is at the ready to fall on a guests head or mast come down due to inattention to prioritized jobs that really count.
It depends if the holes go through into the cabin. The outside is simple, use bondo for the smaller holes, I would leave the dials in or replace with mod ones that work or you open up more unnecessary work. There are always important priority steps when working on a boat. Often people waste time on trivial jobs to pretty it up meantime the boom is at the ready to fall on a guests head or mast come down due to inattention to prioritized jobs that really count.
cover them with sheet bags...
...you do have all lines led aft don't you. If not, that is an excellent project that I'd undertake before this one. Frank has a good idea about storage bags, also. Where is your depth meter located. Don't cover that up!!! Don't remove the compass, you can never have enough compasses. Plus, your crew can see it better than the pedestal, and if it's like mine, you can see it from the inside of the cabin also. Another strategy would be to put some cushion backs there for your guests' comfort. BTW, since you're a new guy, I think that wall is called a bulkhead. Have fun.
...you do have all lines led aft don't you. If not, that is an excellent project that I'd undertake before this one. Frank has a good idea about storage bags, also. Where is your depth meter located. Don't cover that up!!! Don't remove the compass, you can never have enough compasses. Plus, your crew can see it better than the pedestal, and if it's like mine, you can see it from the inside of the cabin also. Another strategy would be to put some cushion backs there for your guests' comfort. BTW, since you're a new guy, I think that wall is called a bulkhead. Have fun.
Good point Joe.
dajspi (a girls name????) also get your self a copy of Chapman's. Anybody in a marine store will know when you ask. It'll tell you much more than you'll ever want to know about boats. Enjoy.
dajspi (a girls name????) also get your self a copy of Chapman's. Anybody in a marine store will know when you ask. It'll tell you much more than you'll ever want to know about boats. Enjoy.
Sheet storage.
I was at a boat show recently and saw a boat that had cutouts in that bulkhead leading to "pockets" for lack of a better word, that held sheets and halyards led aft. The "pockets" were actually glassed in compartments inside the cabin. I thought they were pretty cool but wondered about water drainage. I mention it here because perhaps dajspi could build some kind of frame (inspection port covers?) and build compartments inside the cabin to hold sheets, etc.
I was at a boat show recently and saw a boat that had cutouts in that bulkhead leading to "pockets" for lack of a better word, that held sheets and halyards led aft. The "pockets" were actually glassed in compartments inside the cabin. I thought they were pretty cool but wondered about water drainage. I mention it here because perhaps dajspi could build some kind of frame (inspection port covers?) and build compartments inside the cabin to hold sheets, etc.
New cockpit speakers filled two holes for me.
I had the same dilemma with our broken and useless cockpit speakers. I'm not one to listen to music when I sail so I considered completely filling in the large holes they left. I found a nice inexpensive ($35.00) pair of marine speakers at West Marine last year that fit perfectly in the existing holes. They look nice, and who knows, maybe I'll even hook them up to something someday.
I had the same dilemma with our broken and useless cockpit speakers. I'm not one to listen to music when I sail so I considered completely filling in the large holes they left. I found a nice inexpensive ($35.00) pair of marine speakers at West Marine last year that fit perfectly in the existing holes. They look nice, and who knows, maybe I'll even hook them up to something someday.
Joe is right, I left the magnetic compass and I have my
GPS set to true headings. The magnetic compass is innately easier to read and takes less mental processing. If you are concerned about the hole on the inside a nice picture make the cabin more homey. Frank
GPS set to true headings. The magnetic compass is innately easier to read and takes less mental processing. If you are concerned about the hole on the inside a nice picture make the cabin more homey. Frank
cover
I had a similar problem. I sized a mahogany board, routed the edge, varnished it, and through bolted it to the area. To make it water tight I used silicone. You can then mount anything you want on it.
I had a similar problem. I sized a mahogany board, routed the edge, varnished it, and through bolted it to the area. To make it water tight I used silicone. You can then mount anything you want on it.
keep the compass and knot meter
Redundancy is good on a sailboat, and those instruments are not as outmoded as you might think. When your GPS and knot log give different readings, you know you're dealing with current. And a compass is much easier to steer by than an GPS, especially when tacking upwind. I've got a 12-inch chartplotter above the wheel with radar overlay, but I wouldn't consider going offshore without a compass in the binnacle. If the speakers are anywhere near the compass, get rid of them.
Redundancy is good on a sailboat, and those instruments are not as outmoded as you might think. When your GPS and knot log give different readings, you know you're dealing with current. And a compass is much easier to steer by than an GPS, especially when tacking upwind. I've got a 12-inch chartplotter above the wheel with radar overlay, but I wouldn't consider going offshore without a compass in the binnacle. If the speakers are anywhere near the compass, get rid of them.
thanks
thanks, lots of ideas for the bulkhead. i didn't expect such an active forum. i appreciate all the input. quite frankly, i'm considering using several ideas towards the holes. unfortunately, i got some time.. 18 degrees in newport this morning... thanks for the welcome and look forward to participating more in the days ahead. -dave
thanks, lots of ideas for the bulkhead. i didn't expect such an active forum. i appreciate all the input. quite frankly, i'm considering using several ideas towards the holes. unfortunately, i got some time.. 18 degrees in newport this morning... thanks for the welcome and look forward to participating more in the days ahead. -dave
Dave, about those holes.
You have received a wealth of information and ideas. I just wanted to add a thought. On my boat a favorite seat for the First Mate is leeward cockpit with her back against the cabin. So there cannot be anything protruding or important(like a depth display) that would cause any discomfort. Just a thought.
You have received a wealth of information and ideas. I just wanted to add a thought. On my boat a favorite seat for the First Mate is leeward cockpit with her back against the cabin. So there cannot be anything protruding or important(like a depth display) that would cause any discomfort. Just a thought.
FRP
I like the speaker idea that was pretty creative. I am however going to encourage you to try your hand at fiberglass repair. There is a wealth of info available on the subject and it is really pretty easy. It is possible for the patch to completely dissappear but even if it does not you still have sound waterproof patches that will not look like something screwed over a hole. The most common problem for beginners is an improper mix ratio of the 2 parts but this can be controlled by weighing or careful measure by volume. Perfect color match may be a problem on an older oxidized boat but even an imperfect color match will serve quite well. If you do not want to take on the project yourself find an FRP technician to do it. It would probably only cost a couple of hundred dollars or so.
I like the speaker idea that was pretty creative. I am however going to encourage you to try your hand at fiberglass repair. There is a wealth of info available on the subject and it is really pretty easy. It is possible for the patch to completely dissappear but even if it does not you still have sound waterproof patches that will not look like something screwed over a hole. The most common problem for beginners is an improper mix ratio of the 2 parts but this can be controlled by weighing or careful measure by volume. Perfect color match may be a problem on an older oxidized boat but even an imperfect color match will serve quite well. If you do not want to take on the project yourself find an FRP technician to do it. It would probably only cost a couple of hundred dollars or so.
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