I don't have anything significant to add to this thread just yet, but I wanted to say how GREAT it is to see activity from the Galveston/Clear Lake area. I have a 31' Pearson on Lake Conroe I've been fixing up with the hopes of getting it moved to the bay. I'm sure the pointers given here will be useful in my restoration.
Name says it all!
- Thread starter clueless1
- Start date
Good for you clueless1! Congratulations on your purchase, I am certain that you will enjoy this labour of love! Good luck!
I actually owned a Bucaneer 27 and it served my family well for years. Simple to maintain and practically no exterior wood. It was wonderful for crawling into shallow creeks and stream mouths to spend the night in sheltered water when others were restricted by their draft. If I remember correctly, draft is under 2 feet. Tacking upwind was fair due to the large amount of leeway but otherwise it was a good boat.
There is another very cheap boat on Craigs list southern NJ. It's a Watkins 27 with roller furling and a Volvo diesel for $1000. No sails but is intact except its been laying at the dock (afloat) for more than a year.
There is another very cheap boat on Craigs list southern NJ. It's a Watkins 27 with roller furling and a Volvo diesel for $1000. No sails but is intact except its been laying at the dock (afloat) for more than a year.
Clueless, The first and obvious thing to do is take care of the mold. you need to dry out the air inside the cabin. first, make sure you have no standing water in the bilge and second, buy a dehumidifier at Staples, Home Depot, Lowes etc. Get the air dry while you are away over night. This will kill the mold and any spores. You can then proceed to cleaning. There are plenty of over the counter products, and Borax work really well as well. Remember, the bedding and fabrics need to go in the garbage. They work like sponges for moisture and ultimately the mold.
I have used dilute chlorox for algae/mold removal. It works but I don't recommend it below decks. AND DON'T LET IT GET NEAR AMMONIA.
Good Luck. I am on boat #3. My wife refers to me as "the boat whisperer", but I can't let a good boat just rot in some desolate lot.
Good Luck. I am on boat #3. My wife refers to me as "the boat whisperer", but I can't let a good boat just rot in some desolate lot.
Congrates!
Clueless,
Congrates on your promotion to Captain!
As stated by others here, the first priority is safety. Whether on the water or any of the may projects ahead.
My S2 when purchase two years ago, was in a similiar condition. She was out of commission and on the hard for four years; however, the southern climate in your area must allow the mold to proliferate so much more. She cleaned up beautifully.
A product called Concrobium Mold Control was used. It was found at Menards. The product direction were followed. The dirt was clean up first with a good general cleaner. The mold control was applied to everything. The hard surface wiped down, cushions and liners fabric rinsed with the solution using a small uphostery cleaner. The teak bulkheads and trim was returned to a rich luster using mixture of Murphy's Oil Soap, Tea Tree Oil and water in a spray bottle; the portions were found on the Internet. After that, everything on deck was re-bedded. It has yet to show any signs of mold.
Best of Luck!
Clueless,
Congrates on your promotion to Captain!
As stated by others here, the first priority is safety. Whether on the water or any of the may projects ahead.
My S2 when purchase two years ago, was in a similiar condition. She was out of commission and on the hard for four years; however, the southern climate in your area must allow the mold to proliferate so much more. She cleaned up beautifully.
A product called Concrobium Mold Control was used. It was found at Menards. The product direction were followed. The dirt was clean up first with a good general cleaner. The mold control was applied to everything. The hard surface wiped down, cushions and liners fabric rinsed with the solution using a small uphostery cleaner. The teak bulkheads and trim was returned to a rich luster using mixture of Murphy's Oil Soap, Tea Tree Oil and water in a spray bottle; the portions were found on the Internet. After that, everything on deck was re-bedded. It has yet to show any signs of mold.
Best of Luck!
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I just remembered something that has worked well for me in the past.
I took all of the cushion covers off and washed them at a local laundromat, and then I took the foam (with the covers off) and put them in a kiddy pool with about two cups of bleach and filled with water. I stomped around on the foam to get the bleach soaked into the foam. Let it soak for a while and dumped it out. Rinsed with a hose....
I've also used the kiddy pool with some woolite to clean my sails. A soft brush and a bottle of woolite can do wonders to a stained sail.
I took all of the cushion covers off and washed them at a local laundromat, and then I took the foam (with the covers off) and put them in a kiddy pool with about two cups of bleach and filled with water. I stomped around on the foam to get the bleach soaked into the foam. Let it soak for a while and dumped it out. Rinsed with a hose....
I've also used the kiddy pool with some woolite to clean my sails. A soft brush and a bottle of woolite can do wonders to a stained sail.
Good Luck!
First rule is ventilation, ventilation, ventilation! Get as much air through the boat as you can.
Second, Chlorine bleach will clean mold but not kill it. You need borax, tea tree oil, etc. Try a internet search, everybody has a favorite solution.
Third: Never, Never, Never mix bleach and ammonia!!! The result is mustard gas and will kill or maim you.
4th, Clean and then get her is sailing shape. You will need positive reinforcement, nothing reinforces like a nice sunset sail! You'll spend most of your time in the cockpit, so do that first. On cold, foggy days you can tackle the cabin.
Make sailing her the number 1 priority. Cleaning and fixing will come naturally!
Nothing about fixing a sailboat is hard, complicated yes, time consuming yes, labor intensive yes, conceptually difficult? Not really.
Have Fun!!
Lou
Does anybody know a good source for replacement foam. I'm missing most of it but have the vinyl covers.
Try Foam Factory. I've never used them, but I hear they are good. Get some local quotes, sometimes the shipping charges turn cheap internet foam into very expensive internet foam. My first boat was a Macgregor 2-22. Great boat!
lou
lou
Get the right foam!!! There are several densities available. Before you order, go to a local upholstery shop or fabric store and ask for their varieties. Buy two different seat-sized samples and take them home.
Sit on them for a week or so and then choose.
Your butt will thank you.
Sit on them for a week or so and then choose.
Your butt will thank you.
Another question: The interior paint is flaking off back to the fiberglass. I am scraping and vacuuming the flakes. What kind of interior paint is recommended?
Also: just how much flotation foam should be in the compartments? I see quite a bit forward, but not a lot aft...any ideas out there.
Also: just how much flotation foam should be in the compartments? I see quite a bit forward, but not a lot aft...any ideas out there.
Can you supply more details? Bleach is a very strong oxidizer. It can dissolve many organic substrates. Why not mold?
I used this as a treatment for my last boat. I watched as the bleach changed the color of the mold and algae on the decks. I did not use it in a confined space ... only outside and it worked wonders. I then flushed with copious amounts of water, let it dry, and followed with one of the expensive deck cleaners. Looked almost new.