pre-launch checklist/inspection. Im having a nightmare that she sinks!

[luvitt]

Ive been working on her for two years now. most of you know she partially sank. im gonna launch june 11. Im so nervous. im worried im missing something. im sure i am. I have triple checked/replaced the seacocks, repacked the stuffing box, patched a machined hole in the hull (i think i did an excellent job too). I have rewired the boat, replumbed it, check the keel which is 100%. I have new standing rigging. I just sandblasted, barrier coated, & bottom painted the keel. I have 2 coats of seahawk cukote on the hull but would like another. I replaced all hoses and double hose-clamped everything. what am i missing? I briefly caught a glimpse of a thread about the ruddure 'post'. is this something i need to investigate? i imagine it being a hole through the hull and requiring periodic attention. I havent given it one thought. I turn the helm and the rudder turns. Smoothly too.

What other items would you check before launching? im so scared im gonna launch and shes gonna sink, knowing my luck. I have tried to perform good maintenance/repair on everything that is essential. I must be overlooking something. the boat is definately not finished, she requires a lot of cabin cosmetic brightwork, but other than that I have tried my best to right safety & seaworthiness concerns.

I have a surveryor coming june 3. Im worried hes gonna find stuff and im not gonna be able to insure. i just dont know that i am thinking of everything! i have tried too. Please give me your input on pre- launch inspection items so that I can do this right. I can barely afford what i have done already, but i have access to family help and will take it this close to launch, versus sinking. I hate to take help, i havent in 18 months. but im on a tight budget and i wanna see her sail. she is so beautiful.... (i wanna have her babies Don't tell my wife)

thanks

 

[petersea]

most yards will leave the boat in the slings and check for any obvious problems before completely releasing boat. My other suggestion is to spend the first day/night on the boat to make sure everything is good. check all pumps and make sure battery charger is working. Good Luck !

 

[luvitt]

Yeah, i think im gonna float her in the launch area for 3 days before i leave, and stay onboard. I asked and they said i could leave her in and stay aboard. im just worried something is gonna spring a leak and im gonna need a quick haul right away. i hate to waste another $400 on haul/launch + a repair on something like the rudder, when i could probably just do whatever maintenance you do to rudders for $400 or less?

 

[sfgary]

Make sure your bilge pumps are hard wired to the batteries and their working properly. Good luck. Gary

 

[petersea]

You said your are having the boat surveyed before launch, the surveyor will/should check the rudder for play and should be able to give you a idea what is going on. the boat won't sink unless there is a catastrophic error and between you and the surveyor I have confidence you will catch any thing that needs repairs first. I don't know how basic a list you want but something that come to mind new zincs, all thru hull work and have been greased ? Prop shaft packing and rudder shaft packing (if it has packing). Any transducers needed for near future electronic that may need to be installed now ? Pretty much any where there is a hole underwater make sure it is sealed somehow then that leaves you able to get everything else operational while in the water. I like your idea of a pre launch survey due to past history of boat, express your concerns to you surveyor and he should be able to explain to you why your boat will or will not sink !! Good Luck ! Keep us posted on your progress.

 

[sailingdog]

You've checked the stuffing box, seacocks, patched a hole in the bottom, rewired the boat, re-plumbed it, and replaced the standing rig.

Have you double checked all the below water line seawater hoses and made sure that they're double clamped whereever possible, with all stainless steel clamps? Be aware that some of the cheap stainless steel clamps have a stainless steel band, but the screw is not stainless steel or is non-marine grade stainless—check them with a magnet, as any marine grade 304/316 stainless steel will be NON-magnetic.

Have you checked/replaced all the hoses below the water line?

Have you checked the raw water strainer and made sure it is closed properly?

Have you checked the waterlift muffler connections and the muffler itself?

Have you checked to make sure all your bilge pumps work properly?

Have you checked the hoses on the cockpit drains—condition, double clamped them, etc?

Check the rudder shaft and see if there is a stuffing box on it. Some have a stuffing box very similar to the one found on the prop shaft, others do not. Some rudder posts are isolated in a water tight compartment of their own, so if they do leak or you lose the rudder, they can't flood the boat. I prefer this design, just for the safety advantages it gives, but don't know how the rudder on your boat is setup.

I'd also recommend that you do a walk through of your boat based on my boat inspection trip tips thread. Read at least the first two posts of it. Good luck.

 

[luvitt]

You've checked the stuffing box, seacocks, patched a hole in the bottom, rewired the boat, re-plumbed it, and replaced the standing rig. Have you double checked all the below water line seawater hoses and made sure that they're double clamped whereever possible, with all stainless steel clamps? Be aware that some of the cheap stainless steel clamps have a stainless steel band, but the screw is not stainless steel or is non-marine grade stainlesscheck them with a magnet, as any marine grade 304/316 stainless steel will be NON-magnetic. Have you checked/replaced all the hoses below the water line? Have you checked the raw water strainer and made sure it is closed properly?

Have you checked the waterlift muffler connections and the muffler itself?

Have you checked to make sure all your bilge pumps work properly? Have you checked the hoses on the cockpit drainscondition, double clamped them, etc?

Check the rudder shaft and see if there is a stuffing box on it. Some have a stuffing box very similar to the one found on the prop shaft, others do not. Some rudder posts are isolated in a water tight compartment of their own, so if they do leak or you lose the rudder, they can't flood the boat. I prefer this design, just for the safety advantages it gives, but don't know how the rudder on your boat is setup. I'd also recommend that you do a walk through of your boat based on my boat inspection trip tips thread. Read at least the first two posts of it. Good luck.

yup, there we go! something i didnt think about was the muffler. i have barely even looked at it. it is a mystery to me. but it looks brand new. it is double clamped with shiny new clamps. i will research n inspect it.

thanks for the tips!

 

[sailingdog]

Glad to help... Good luck and keep us posted.

yup, there we go! something i didnt think about was the muffler. i have barely even looked at it. it is a mystery to me. but it looks brand new. it is double clamped with shiny new clamps. i will research n inspect it.

thanks for the tips!

 

[kloudie1]

Pre Launch

Brobins, I think your rudder box and tube are similar to the one on the 34 from that era. Attached photo shows built up fiberglass tube (white thing at the end of the bunk matress) with a crude packing box or splash shield on top, from a 34. The top end of the tube is considerably above the waterline even when heeled .. If that tube were to get cracked where it meets the hull, you’d have a leak between the hull and the built up tube/bearing carrier. It should be relatively easy to inspect by removing an inspection plate..and ya should put eyes on it before launching.. On the 34, at rest in the slip, even the bottom of the tube is 3-4 inches above the waterline, as is the exhaust outlet. Good to check these, but probably not something that would sink a boat at rest.
Congratulations and best of luck to you

 

[salemsailor]

Dude, try to relax and enjoy your boat!

Check everything again, including the comments made above, make sure your bilge pump(s) work...I check my bilge flapper switch every time before I leave. Stay aboard and poke around everywhere with a flashlight after launch (you might expect some minor weeping on through hull fittings sometimes)

Worst case scenario? You'll be able to limp back to the lift and get out of the water well before anything serious takes place.

Good luck!

 

[PCP777]

Pray for your boat as well. Sounds like you've been very thorough, I'm sure everything will be alright. Think about how much fun you're going to have sailing her!

 

[luvitt]

thanks guys. im praying. its taken two years of my life and im not exactly your normal owner of a 40' boat (not rich!). ive scrimped and repaired and replaced, but its still not perfect. i would have liked to replace all the seacocks, but the ones i didnt replace are working and look fine. i just couldnt afford anymore! i will eventually replace everything, a little at a time.

 

[tommays]

I feel your pain as i did a LOT of work on the J24 this year and was a wreck untill it was sailed a few times


A word of caution I have owned TWO J24s and it rained a a LOT this year somehow enough water got into the boat from a still unknown place to fill the keel sump between my house and the travel lift at which time a bit of panic set in

Its been in the water a month now through inches of rain with no more than a sponge of water onboard BUT it really messed with me

 

[sailingdog]

...Its been in the water a month now through inches of rain with no more than a sponge of water onboard BUT it really messed with me

Boats will do that to you, just to keep you on your toes.

 

[Papa T]

Suggestions

Everything has been covered pretty much. I would like to repeat one suggestion, Relax.......You can't think when in such a state. I've launched after work on my boat many times. Close all sea cocks including the engine one. Your leak if any would be minor. Check your bilges just as soon as they let you back onto the boat. That's when you will chuckle at yourself. Open the seacocks up one at a time. Observe and listen. Grab a beer and RELAX.

 

[luvitt]

yeah, i keep trying to take a deep breath and relax. i feel so anxious. i cant sleep and im tense. its stupid! ive never felt this way about anything, its seriously effecting my mind! and working from 6a-10pm everyday for the past week here in the desert doesnt help much either. cant wait for my first sunset and beer. i am gonna crash!

 

[Jim Boernge]

It is like having a baby again!!! I got Shhort Cuircuit back in the water last year almost 3-yrs after Katrina. did a lot of the same you did, but had not sunk. Before splashing her, have you checked the integrity of the mast step to keel path for any structural repairs that you might require? Are all of the electricals in the mast functioning? I think it's a lot of $$ to take the boat out of the water to have the mast removed if you haven't checked that stuff. Do continuity checks if you cant see lights.
Fair Winds.

 

[Ross]

For the first several years that we spent nights on Bietzpadlin Nancy was sure that she would sink while we were asleep. I took a while but I convinced her that if the boat could float unattended in the slip for weeks she wasn't waiting for us in order to betray us. Now Nancy knows that the boat can take more than we can, so she worries about that. Wind whistling in the rigging troubles her while I find it to be like nature singing to me.
You know all of the places where water CAN get in and you KNOW how the control each of those points. They won't wait until you are asleep to GET YOU. Logic is a wonderful thing if you can apply it to your boat. The first time I ever saw Bietzpadlin float was on launch day after ten years of work. She floated on her lines! I started her engine for the first time in the water and for my first time at the helm of anything that big I took her to the slip and we tied her up.
Your boat won't let you down. She won't betray you. There is an adage, do all of the work so that when you are in a storm you don't concern yourself about some corner you cut for saving a few bucks. Have confidence in your work and enjoy your boat.

 

[luvitt]

It is like having a baby again!!! I got Shhort Cuircuit back in the water last year almost 3-yrs after Katrina. did a lot of the same you did, but had not sunk. Before splashing her, have you checked the integrity of the mast step to keel path for any structural repairs that you might require? Are all of the electricals in the mast functioning? I think it's a lot of $$ to take the boat out of the water to have the mast removed if you haven't checked that stuff. Do continuity checks if you cant see lights.
Fair Winds.

Yeah, my mast is good. I rewired, replaced all sheaves top & bottom, new rigging, new bulbs, ALL GOOD!

The pro's stepped it, and they said it was fine. they had a time getting all the wiring through the hull though. finally, a huge plug of cured 5200 shot out and flew across the cabin! musta been a strong dude pulling on that. the solid plug was like 2" thick!

 

[pecosval]

Interesting read. Tomorrow I'll put in my Beneteau First 325 for the first time. I wasn't that concerned but I think I'll pay a little more attention after reading the various posts. One bit of advise I would give which is dependent on your local tide conditions would be to launch her at the end of the day and ask the yard if you can remain in the travel lift slings overnight. Best of luck.