Removing Mast Step

[adirondackbob]

Scott, good going. The more I work on my 23, the more I wonder the same thing: What were they thinking?! It is not often easy to do maintenance and repairs on this boat. But it sounds like your project is working out fine.

I hauled out earlier than usual this year in the hopes that I might have time to do some work before the cold weather sets in. But my work schedule has prevented me from doing much more than pulling the grab rails and toe rails, which all need to be reset. I'm hoping to run the halyards back to the cockpit in the spring, but I might have to retire first!

Bob

 

[Scott On Eagles Wings]

Hey Bob, I replaced my hatch slide boards two winters ago and rebeaded the grab rails at the same time. The hardest part was getting the bolts the right lenght when putting the hand rails back on. I don't know if it was just my boat but they are all different lengths and you need to get them just right to get the plastic caps in the cabin back on. I put five or six coats of spar varnish on them prior to re-beding and they look great.
Last night my son and I got the port winch off, very happy to say no core rot, the bolts had simply loosened. Took it off cleaned it up, lubed it and it is ready to go back on. The biggest challange is goint to be getting the nuts back on from down below. The holes in the headliner are not allinged with the winch mounting holes.
Hope to meet you this summer and compare boat restoration war stories, we will be on South tip of Turtle for two wees starting mid July. Any other O'days on the lake we could have a raft up?

 

[adirondackbob]

Grad Rails, etc.

Scott,

Do your grab rails sit on black plastic risers? I think this was the original setup (Rudy sells them), and that's the setup on my boat. My question is this: What kind of caulking did you use to rebed the risers? Mine were leaking, and it looks like they were set with a small amount of polysulfide caulking. But I'm wondering what I should use now.

Keep me posted on your plans for your trip to Lake George. Turtle Island is very close to our mooring, and we sail near there regularly (just south of the Narrows--between there and Dome Island). I love your idea for a raft-up. I have seen many Odays on the lake, but I'm new enough so that I have not met any owners yet. I can certainly ask around at the marina where I launch my boat. They sold Odays before the company shut down, and there are a number of Odays stored there for the winter.

Bob

 

[Scott On Eagles Wings]

Re: Grad Rails, etc.

I did not know they had plastic risers. Mine were long since gone. I am aware of the pitfalls of doing so, however I used 5200. Reason; Some of the nuts and washers had worn through the core, I think about three or four total. I used the 5200 to rebuild what was missing. I don't ever plan on removing them again, if I do I will have to cut them off and grind them flat. So to answer your question the polysulfide is the correct stuff to use. The plastic risers make sense, had I known I would have purchased them too.

We park and launch from Norowall, I will send you a PM as we get closer to the trip with my cell phone and some more details.

 

[Scott On Eagles Wings]

Re: Grad Rails, etc.

Bob I forgot to add this trick that I learned here on the fourm. Slightly drill a counter sink hole in the cabin top and also the grab rails. This will create a pocket for the sealer to settle in. It works very well.