A lot has happened in the past 10 days. The seller did get some of his "stuff" off the boat. He managed to leave empty boxes and misc trash lying around, too. So I still estimate I have a dock cart full of stuff to haul up to the dumpster. The biggest development is that I contacted BoatUS insurance dept where I have an account. The young man Josh, a helpful fellow, got me going on what I need to do to get Liability only of $300,000 insurance to satisfy the Marina's requirement. I must include a set of "unabsucted and complete" photos of all sides, interior, and serial number plate affixed to the hull." The seller refused to give me the promised assistance with the photos. The main problem is finding the VIN ID or serial number metal plate that is attached to the stern "on the inside of the stern" on this era vessel. Also, handing over the keys to the locks on the two sail lockers on each side of the cockpit as benches. We exchanged some unpleasant words, as well as my responding to his fist-fight challenge (via text) that his lower age advantage of 71 to my 83 did not bother me at all. Ha ha ha. Bless his heart, he had been living on the boat for two years and never so much as untied her. He obviously had lied in telling me he had just kept the prior owner's insurance in force by paying the premiums. But when he told me the boat serial number must be those numbers on the decal by the head pump handle. I knew he was overfilled with the same contents as the black water tank. I bought a small-sized hacksaw to take care of unlocking the locks so I can find the stern id plate that I believe should be fixed to the inside stern starboard area. This vessel is of the era immediately preceding the standard becoming hull nummbers embosed on the exterior of the transom upper starboard area. At least I hope to find it in the aft part of the starboard locker.
The most concerning discovery I made was in closely examining the deck area forward of the mast. I found several half-crescent hairline cracks, describing silver dollar-sized broken circles in the outer layer of fiberglass and gelcoat. There were perhaps 4 of these immediately forward of the mast and a couple a bit further forward to the starboard of the mast. I was then caught in a cold rain shower and decided to retreat for the day, as it was late afternoon. My objective for this weekend is to inspect that entire area diagram, measure, and take photographs of these crescents. My intuition compels me to fear these are stress fractures from too much mast sailing strain on inadequate adjustment of the midship and aft stays.
To be continued with as much visual evidence as I can gather. C J
The most concerning discovery I made was in closely examining the deck area forward of the mast. I found several half-crescent hairline cracks, describing silver dollar-sized broken circles in the outer layer of fiberglass and gelcoat. There were perhaps 4 of these immediately forward of the mast and a couple a bit further forward to the starboard of the mast. I was then caught in a cold rain shower and decided to retreat for the day, as it was late afternoon. My objective for this weekend is to inspect that entire area diagram, measure, and take photographs of these crescents. My intuition compels me to fear these are stress fractures from too much mast sailing strain on inadequate adjustment of the midship and aft stays.
To be continued with as much visual evidence as I can gather. C J
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