Maiden Voyage

[Allen Glasson]

After 2 months of preperation on my new to me(13 year old) Hunter I am ready for the Maiden Voyage. My 12 year old and I will put in at Lake Monroe on Sat.for the shake down cruise. Aside from leaks, are there any suggestions on things I should look for???Initial Prep. include:1. Power washed, sanded, and painted  the bottom with blue bottom paint to match the stripes on the boat.2. Sanded, wire brushed, calked, and  painted the Keel. Since the boat  won't be in the water for more than  5-7 days at a time, I painted keel  with 3 coats of black glossy  rustoleum paint, looks good.3. Painted trailer with white glossy  paint. (Previous owner painted the alumn.???)4. New tires, rims, brakes, master  cylinder, and trailer lights.5. Fabbed Stainless Steel Mast raising  device that usses the trailer winch  and cable through a roller to raise  the mast.6. Washed and waxed boat(2 coats)7. Fabbed stainless steel back Y mast  support with roller. It was  necessary to raise the mast over the  Y support during set up due to the  spreaders hitting the Y support. I  moved the new one back 13" to  eliminate this problem.8. Fabbed stainless steel gas grill  bracket that attaches to the life  line stanchion and extends 14" away  from boat.9. cleaned sails and sail covers10.Painted rudder.11.Re-finished tillerI could go on and on but I hit most the larger items in preperation. As you can see, I like to work with Stainless Steeland tinker/design. Bottom line-the boat looks like new, for a 13 year old boat, and it's time to stop working and go SAILING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!I will update the out come on Monday.Thanks, A. Glasson Indiana.

 

[Greg Stebbins]

A Hunter 23 per chance??

Allen,Given 1988, you've got a 23.Mast setup is important. I reccomend reading mast rigging posts on the 23. I reccomend standing the rig up to sail-away condition a couple of times at home.I'd check the turnbuckle assemblies for kinks and bends.If possable, do a run check on the outboard.Greg H23 Faster-

 

[Mark]

Trailer Bearings

You should repack your wheel bearings on your trailer. Check for worn & corroded bearings. You don't want surprises on the way to the lake. Also take a wrench and tighten all of the nuts & bolts on your trailer, particularly the fenders. They tend to fall of at inconvenient times!.Good Luck & have fun.

 

[Wanderer138]

Don't forget the running rigging

Check all your sheets for worn spots, especially where they are normally cleated or where they go over sheaves. The same goes for the rudder pendant. Mine was almost chewed through right at the cleat and the blade would not stay down.It would not be a bad idea to check the sheaves in the masthead and boom. It's easy to do now while the mast is still down.You might also want to take a look at the outboard bracket. The fiberglass ones crack just below the engine mount.Other than that, don't waste any more time...get out on the water and have some fun!!!PeterS/V Raven

 

[hp]

maiden,

I would check keel bolts and all thru fittings, before launch, it is an annual thing for me, easier now, swim ladder , screws/ bolts, outboard bracket, pintles, etc, Have fun, and keep the mast straight when going up , helps to park with wind directly at stern when raising, Fair winds Mike

 

[Jim Kolstoe]

and check.....

your trailer fender supports. Amoung the unwanted incidents of my life, I have had the support brackets for the trailer fenders fatigue and break twice, one of which cost me a tire when it peeled the tread down to the cords was I was going 65 mph on I-5. Other than that, I think everyone else has given a good list.Jim Kolstoe, h23 Kara's Boo