Elusive ALDEN ZEPHYRS
- Thread starter CaravelaofExe
- Start date
Hello Kristian, I am the new owner of Orca. You are correct the keel design is significantly different. Here's a photo of her keel now.
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Just discovered this listing. Has photos
This where you made the purchase?
The keel had a center board. Could the pipe be to run a lifting wire?
1962 John Alden Zephyr 959G sailboat for sale in Florida
m.sailboatlistings.com
This where you made the purchase?
The keel had a center board. Could the pipe be to run a lifting wire?
Nice! I can't wait to see your progress photos. That notch is how they used to install the depth sounders. You'll find it inside the hull, above that notch, with wires attached. I have the same cut on my Challenger. The hulls are so thick in that area they needed the cut just to allow the fitting to through bolt. No structural problems, the hull is massive along there.
Mine is covered with a piece of copper sheeting bent to fit. I has a little recess around it so the copper fits flush. You only need that to keep lines from catching. Be sure you install one or some kind of guard. Once done, you'll have to be aware of it's location as travel lift slings will destroy it (BTDT).
Yes this is the ad I found. Went down this past week and boy has this boat changed more than multiple owners. Should I be concerned with this notch? There is a drawing located inside the boat depicting it existences on the keel. She needs more than TLC and re-powering.
You could mount another transducer inside the hull using the various (search here) methods that work without drilling a hole in the hull.
Then remove the old transducer and just fill and glass up the notch with proper materials and techniques.
I wouldn't be concerned with a structural problem because of the cut out as the hull is a few inches thick above the notch.
But the notch is a line grabber without a cover or guard.
Those are deck drains, 2 per side located amidships. There should be a small bronze drain plate (about 2X2" X 1/8"), that fits into each gain that is cut into the solid deck that leaves them flush to the deck.
Alden had these drains molded into the fiberglass hull interior. They exit beneath the water line so as to eliminate the staining from typical scuppers at deck level.
Are you fixing some rot in the toe rail?
Thank you. Your ability to provide information on this vessel is immensely appreciated. Orca is located at a marina near Port Charlotte and I am making preparations to transport closer to my home in Atlanta. I haven't begun any work on her yet. Just came down to pump out nearly two feet of water out her cabin. I am prepared for a 2 year project before she gets wet again. Without the support of this forum, I don't think I would've attempted a project of this scope. Those drain gates are missing. Can they be ordered or custom made? Oh yeah, someone patched up the toe rail and left as is.
The plates would have to be fabricated but the design is simple and should be easy for any metal shop (or even a hobbyist), especially a marine shop that deals in bronze.
They are simply thin sheet bronze cut to the shape of the recess with simple screw holes and drain slots cut in. You could fit a template of an easy material like Nylon to the shape and send it to a shop for cutting.