Ive owned my cal25 (a 1966 which i believe is hull#205) for 2 years now and as a first time boat owner I have come to realize I am not equipped to do some of the work myself that it will require to get her in better shape. My passion to sail is still great - but I think i need to seek professional help with some of the repairs I havent tackled. the 2 major jobs I want to do this winter are id like to repair the transom cutout which is flexing. Ive been considering if I should even close up the cutout completely and install an outboard mount on the transom. the 2nd is i need to replace or somehow fix the poptop - the individual sliding hatches are full of holes and there placed on top of one another with no track to slide on. I have the boat in a slip in marina del rey and what I am asking the community for is a recommendation of someone i can contract with to help me with these repairs. I have done very little sailing in these two years and realize I need to make some serious progress with the boat before I can really enjoy her. I appreciate any suggestions of reasonably priced "experts" who can save me and "The Killaney" (old name that I intend to carefully change eventually) Thanks in advance for any ideas - best, Josh
Newby needs advise in mdr, ca
- Thread starter josegatos
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Josh, I would ask the men in the yard about who does the best work on their own boats if that is allowed Or do they have people in the yard that do this manner of work.
I would be glad to come out and do the work but I am afraid my expences would seem high even by California standards.
You could also just start hanging out with a cooler and strike up some friendships.
I would be glad to come out and do the work but I am afraid my expences would seem high even by California standards.
You could also just start hanging out with a cooler and strike up some friendships.
I'd Start Here
I have know George Biddle, shipwright, for many years and he has done nice work on other people's boats. At minimum, if he can't do it, he'll send you to someone who can and will treat you right: 310-770-1100 email: teakman@Juno.com.
I have know George Biddle, shipwright, for many years and he has done nice work on other people's boats. At minimum, if he can't do it, he'll send you to someone who can and will treat you right: 310-770-1100 email: teakman@Juno.com.
While the Cal 25 is a fine boat, I am wondering if the costs of your repairs, done by someone else, is going to end up being more than the boat is worth. Usually what makes these older fixer uppers worth it is that the free labor we put into our boats.
I have to agree with Higgs - the cost advantage of sailing older boats is diminished when you have to pay people to work on it. But, by all means get some opinions and quotes; it may still be quite feasible.
Other options
- a college or sailing school in your area might offer some evening or weekend lessons in boat repair. Some chandleries will hold free clinics in the spring
- in our area there's a few guys who will give onsite lessons in fiberglass repair. If you can find someone like that, a few hours of their time and direction might be all you need to gain confidence
I'd never done large-scale FG or epoxy work before, but I'm fairly brave and our boat was quite inexpensive, so I wasn't afraid to tackle replacing some rotten bulkheads and stiffening a cored floor. I found that by buying a book or two, grabbing whatever literature I could from boat shows and stores, and from some basic research on the internet, I learned enough to tackle our boat's few issues, and I'm quite pleased with the results. Networking with people, including this great forum, was also very helpful.
Working with plywood, epoxy and FG is actually not that hard or precise, requires only basic tools, and you will get quite satisfying results as long as you work carefully. For some of us, completing boat work in the off-season is part of our enjoyment of boating.
Good luck with your projects.
I'd second what higgs has said. Most of the repairs you're talking about are not that difficult to do, and most people who are reasonable competent and have the tools could do them, even if it involves a bit of a learning curve.
A good basic book on repairing fiberglass boats is a good starting point for you. For materials, I would highly recommend Progressive Epoxy Polymers in NH and Fiberglasssite.com.
A good basic book on repairing fiberglass boats is a good starting point for you. For materials, I would highly recommend Progressive Epoxy Polymers in NH and Fiberglasssite.com.
Josh I have a series of questions to ask concerning your ability to make the repairs you have mentioned. none of these are intended as smart alec questions just need to be asked.
Do you have time to make the repairs?
Do you have any tool handling experience?
Have you ever built anything? birdhouse, small table, assembled a new mailbox and post?
Have you read any "how to" books relating to the work that needs doing?
If you had a mentor would you attempt the work?
For some people a repair job can be overwhelming because it is so much to do. But most repair jobs are not just one enormous project but are really a series of small jobs that build on each other.
At present Mainesail is rewiring his boat. This is a monumental undertaking involving a dozen or more separate circuits, hundreds of feet of wire of many special colors and sizes. Allmost anyone who saw the plans would be overwhelmed by the magnitude of the job. But if you have been reading his posts he has not been doing the whole job at once, just one circuit at a time.
Sailing across an ocean can take months. Could I spend two months on a sailboat? my first response would be, "ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND"? and on further thought I would have to say well I guess I already have . Just one day at a time.
This is an example of a large project that could have been overwhelming but was done by myself and two helpers. The task was to make this house weather tight. We did it in three months.
Do you have time to make the repairs?
Do you have any tool handling experience?
Have you ever built anything? birdhouse, small table, assembled a new mailbox and post?
Have you read any "how to" books relating to the work that needs doing?
If you had a mentor would you attempt the work?
For some people a repair job can be overwhelming because it is so much to do. But most repair jobs are not just one enormous project but are really a series of small jobs that build on each other.
At present Mainesail is rewiring his boat. This is a monumental undertaking involving a dozen or more separate circuits, hundreds of feet of wire of many special colors and sizes. Allmost anyone who saw the plans would be overwhelmed by the magnitude of the job. But if you have been reading his posts he has not been doing the whole job at once, just one circuit at a time.
Sailing across an ocean can take months. Could I spend two months on a sailboat? my first response would be, "ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND"? and on further thought I would have to say well I guess I already have . Just one day at a time.
This is an example of a large project that could have been overwhelming but was done by myself and two helpers. The task was to make this house weather tight. We did it in three months.
Attachments
For a while there Meetup.com had a group that would meet in the parking lot, on Saturdays, at MDR. The coordinator or guest would train and demonstrate boat repairs and mods. I cannot look now but you can search them out. I'm not sure if they are still meeting but I can look tonight.
MDR Assistance
I would give Thomas Lehtonen a call at (310) 502-1032, he was the supervisor at Windward for several years and now is back into the yacht service business. I have found him to be very honest, trustworthy, efficent and effective. If he can't do the work he will direct you to someone that will that is an expert in their field, honest, reasonable etc.
Larry
I would give Thomas Lehtonen a call at (310) 502-1032, he was the supervisor at Windward for several years and now is back into the yacht service business. I have found him to be very honest, trustworthy, efficent and effective. If he can't do the work he will direct you to someone that will that is an expert in their field, honest, reasonable etc.
Larry
You've got to love this boat to pay for these repairs. If you do, by all means spend what you need to. Just understand that the money is never coming back. Never. If you don't love the boat then sell it - for whatever price - and buy something you do love, or at least you will use.
Take a hard look of why you are not using it.
Take a hard look of why you are not using it.
If you want to learn to sail, go sailing, learning to repair boats ain't gonna teach you anything about sailing. Your time, money and effort would be better spent sailing your Cal as is 'till the transom falls off. You've already wasted 2 years of sailing time and slip fees to futz around with an old boat. This is your first boat and with any luck not your last one, use it up and give it away, if you had spent the last two years sailing it you'd be ready for another boat today. I'm pretty sure you can find a better boat for what it would cost to do extensive repairs on this one. If you wanted to learn to drive you wouldn't start by rebuilding an 40 YO car, why do people try to learn to sail by rebuilding a 40 YO boat ?
food for thought
I thank you all for your time and advice. I had some success with small jobs on the boat when I first got started and then my job, a couple of deaths in the family which required alot of travel to the east coast and other distractions took me away from the boat for a long time and slowed the momentum I had been gaining in experience and enjoyment. I bought a 40 yr old boat to learn the boat inside and out so if i ever had a newer boat I wouldnt be stuck paying for repairs. I lost sight of that for a while. I think I needed some tough honesty and you guys gave it to me. I have very little repair experience but I have more today then I had 2 yrs ago. I think im going to learn how to fix the transom and it may not be the prettiest poptop, but Im gonna get to work on that as well. Thank you.
I thank you all for your time and advice. I had some success with small jobs on the boat when I first got started and then my job, a couple of deaths in the family which required alot of travel to the east coast and other distractions took me away from the boat for a long time and slowed the momentum I had been gaining in experience and enjoyment. I bought a 40 yr old boat to learn the boat inside and out so if i ever had a newer boat I wouldnt be stuck paying for repairs. I lost sight of that for a while. I think I needed some tough honesty and you guys gave it to me. I have very little repair experience but I have more today then I had 2 yrs ago. I think im going to learn how to fix the transom and it may not be the prettiest poptop, but Im gonna get to work on that as well. Thank you.
I couldn't agree more. You have made a good choice to tear into the big jobs by yourself. I bought a 30 year old boat to learn boat repair and remodeling and to learn sailing in general. I will/do enjoy my 30 year old $3,500 boat. But I do things to her that I wouldn't do to $100,000 boat.
Buy for yourself good power and hand tools and take good care of them.
http://www.ericgreeneassociates.com/images/Repair_of_Composite_Boat_Damage.pdf
This is as good a fiberglass repair paper as there is. Not much in terms of specific repairs but a lot of explaination about why we do it "this" way.
http://www.ericgreeneassociates.com/images/Repair_of_Composite_Boat_Damage.pdf
This is as good a fiberglass repair paper as there is. Not much in terms of specific repairs but a lot of explaination about why we do it "this" way.
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