Restoring my 1978 33ft Hunter that Sank

  • Thread starter Neil - 1978 33ft Hunter
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Ross

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Jun 15, 2004
14,693
Islander/Wayfairer 30 sail number 25 Perryville,Md.
Fred, It was a big

.22 we used shorts. Crabs don't take a lot of killing, we made a lot of fish happy. The Ruger survived. I sold it some years later. But about that boat that you are setting off. Tell us more.
 
S

sailortonyb

NEIL...Gulfport, Fl?

I knew Hurricane Katrina hit Gulfport pretty hard, but I didnt realize it blew it that far away. Maybe when I'm rich and famous, i'll move Gulfport back to where it belongs. Till then, enjoy your stay in Florida. And as always, have fun and enjoy your future projects on your boat. Best of Luck!!!
 
Jun 7, 2004
334
Coronado 35 Lake Grapevine, TX
Fred, you need to give this guy advice

In spite of our political/religious differences, THIS is where you really need to jump and give a guy advice! The restoration of Epitome is noteworthy, and I"m sure you've got some real help you can give this guy. The electrical panel I built for my refurbed O'Day 25 is a direct result of what I saw you do on your boat.
 

Ctskip

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Sep 21, 2005
732
other 12 wet water
Fred now is your time to really shine

Fred you have been a real inspiration to most all of us. Help this guy out and give him some words of your wisdom. He could use all the help he can get. You have been there and done it. Thanks Friend,Wanna go for a ride in my chopper? Keep it up, Ctskip
 

Ross

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Jun 15, 2004
14,693
Islander/Wayfairer 30 sail number 25 Perryville,Md.
Fred, You must bring us new

guys up to date. What have you done, where did you do it, why does everybody applaud you? I'm serious, I rebuilt Bietzpadlin but she was on the hard when I got her. You posted a pic of yours being set off but I don't know the details. I believe that we can help Neil. I suspect that you and I have managed simular refits on boats that were near the salvage stage. Ross in Perryville,Md.
 
Jun 7, 2004
944
Birch Bay Washington
Salt water or fresh?

It is not clear to me. I am guessing salt. Electronics - take apart as much as easily possible and soak them in hot water for a while. Brush off any salt, etc. Rinse them with methanol (stove fuel) if you have some. Let them drain for an hour or two and put them in the oven at 180 degrees for another hour or two. They might survive. The wire strands tend to soak up and wick the salt water inside and will corrode eventually. You may need to rewire it all but if you dry it now, you can use it as is for testing. Do not plan to leave it in too long. Boat wiring is usually crap anyway so just get some good wire and try to do it right. Neatness, color coding, detailed notes and wire labels help a lot. It takes time but this step can save you a lot of time later.
 
Jun 7, 2004
334
Coronado 35 Lake Grapevine, TX
Ross

See his website. He did a lot more pictures than explanations, but what he accomplished was pretty clear. http://homepages.tscnet.com/ss427/EpitomesRebuild.html
 
Dec 5, 2003
204
Hunter 420 Punta Gorda, FL
Good Luck

I have a friend who's Cabo Rico 34 was sunk in salt water and raised. Engine and interior were cleaned and you would never know that it had the problem. Every cruise usually ended with Tow Boat US or Sea Tow being involved. After a new Yanmar engine and a total rewiring of the boat he has it under control. Pat McCartin is probably right about the engine and you will have real problems drying out the wiring. Sorry for your bad luck and hopefully it will get better. Bill
 
Aug 2, 2005
374
pearson ariel grand rapids
20 hours under water

I still think a good washing will set him up right on the engine, once it's cleaned and had the oil changed, the oil coats the interior, a good hosing on the outside will clean it off, wiring may cause an issue later on, but can be alleviated to some extent by cleaning and using dielectric grease on the terminals to keep air carried moisture away, scrub/clean/paint and you're sure to avoid any engine trouble, sister all the wiring as you can/have the time, and you'll slowly eliminate any potential trouble there. If improvements or remodeling are in the plans, go ahead and rewire, but I don't realy see a problem right away. I've worked on boats that had been submerged for quite a while, and haven't had any major issues. it's like a car, if you don't like a car anything at all is enough reason to junk it (fan belt broke? I just fixed it last year!, this #$^()*^#@ is out of here!), but if you like a car, nothing's too much to fix, (it's a great car!, all it needs is an engine, transmission, radiator, maybe new doors, hood, new windshield, axles, paint it and it'll be as good as new!)
 
Dec 3, 2003
2,101
Hunter Legend 37 Portsmouth, RI
Don't know if it was stated, but...

...make sure the electrical wiring and control panel checks out OK! Check your water pressure pump and battery charger - check anything electrical for it to work properly.
 
Dec 3, 2003
2,101
Hunter Legend 37 Portsmouth, RI
If possible,...

...check with charter companies for what they do. They have boats that sink often. If not from storms (because some of the fleet doesn't get moved becuse there are too many boats to move), then from charterers who don't know what they have done.
 
May 18, 2004
259
J-boat 42 conn. river
you've had a lot of good advice here!

proper cleaning and rinsing of engine a must. to keep mold and mildew from growing you must keep the air inside moving.dehumidify by all means. but that isn't enough. mold and mildew thrive in humid conditions with little air movement.they don't if there's a lot of air movement even though humidity is high. on your instruments take them all out and rinse them thourally. they can then be dryed in your oven turned on to the warm setting. mine usually take a few hours. i have several inst. that periodically go haywire. take out and home to a rinse and dry and there fine again.been doing this to them for over 15yrs and they are still going strong. your biggest problem as i see it is going to be your ships wiring . salt water would have gotten in between the insulation jacket and the wire. over time i can forsee corrosion developing in side the wire. maybe you should consider a complete rewire while you have it all open. Sinking Sucks. good luck capnjim sv Que Pasa
 
Dec 2, 2003
4,245
- - Seabeck WA
OK, here I am.

Herb already posted my web site link. There isn't too much there on cleaning techniques. I'm just a soap and water kinda guy. Fresh water rinsing is key. You can't rinse too much. And to speed drying and to displace water on electrical and mechanical stuff; WD40. This thread is too painful! Ouch. There are recently discovered photos on my link. They are upfront. They show the damage because of neglected flooding. That was all caused because the Antigua boat yard told me there was 'No daaamuuge Mon". And our boat had fresh water in it from Hurricane Louise, not saltwater from sinking. At least Neil will have lots of yummy rinse water. On Antigua, the water plant (RO) would shut off the yards water for 18 hours a day. I said these were painful memories!
 
Jun 8, 2004
3,009
Catalina 320 Dana Point
Have you had the time to try to detach yourself

for a moment to run thru the numbers (costs vs. returns). Maybe take a knowledgable friend for a beer and "take stock". You started with $5000 and a floating boat, now you got more into a boat that has been raised. How much time & money to get to the end of your rebuild and whats it gonna be worth ? Don't really want to be a wet blanket but did you want to spend that next year & a half or so rebuilding a boat you just met & bought cause "it was a great deal". It is going to still be a 1978 boat and 30 years old when you finish. Maybe Fred can give us an approx. of how long it took him to do a boat he already knew and liked.
 

Ross

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Jun 15, 2004
14,693
Islander/Wayfairer 30 sail number 25 Perryville,Md.
Herb, I just finished

reviewing the account of the rebuilding of "Epitome". Fred you have done an extraordinary job on your boat. As you know one of the biggest jobs in this sort of work is avoiding dispair. Your rebuild was far more involved than my rebuild of Bietzpadlin. I was able to start with a fairly clean but badly neglected Islander and make it suit me. You had to take a once lovely boat and make a lot of hard choices about what to try and save and what goes into the dump. Your hard work certainly paid off for you. I salute you. Ross
 

Ross

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Jun 15, 2004
14,693
Islander/Wayfairer 30 sail number 25 Perryville,Md.
Cal Ted, There is nothing

wrong with a thirty year old hull with a brand new interior in it. I bought my Islander for 5k in 1989 and worked not too diligently for nearly ten years. We launched in 1999 and have sailed every season since. There is nothing that I would change in her present configuration. I was adding up the total cost of materials today. It seemed to work out like this: Airex core, core bond, fiberglass CSM and roving, resin, _______________________6000 New Volvo 2001 series engine, mufflers, hoses, fuel tank, filters, hoses etc,__________________7500 Cypress lumber for new bulkheads, galley furniture and settees_________ 800 Steering quadrant, wheel_____________ 600 Galley sink, pumps,cabin heater force 10 range, head and sink faucets_______________________________700 Electrical, Breakers, AC & DC wiring material, batteries____________900 All new standing rigging with Sta-lok terminals___________________ 1500 Misc hardware, bronze screws hinges, latches, hooks_______________ 450 New cushions, contracted out_________1500 Running rigging and ground tackle including anchor, chain, nylon rode sheets, halyards, blocks_____________1500 Total from memory___________________21450 Purchase cost of boat with four servicable sails________________5000 Transportation to marina______________650 Total cost for brand new boat in a thirty year old hull__________27100 I just remembered I spent money for about a ton of sanding disks and other supplies that didn't get installed in the boat, also for tyvek suits, respirators, gloves, acetone, consumable tools, preparing a place to put the thing, tarps, etc., etc.,etc.
 
Jun 8, 2004
3,009
Catalina 320 Dana Point
I didn't mean to denigrate the value of a sound

hull with a little seasoning. I'm not that young myself, I think your materials list gives an idea of the rather large job ahead for Neil. Ross, You & Fred both knew what you had and where you had to go & it made sense for you to make the effort to get there. I got the impression Neil hadn't had the boat long, there was some question as to condition before the submersion (no survey,hull condition, etc.). I just hate to see people get into a longterm boatbuilding project when they just wanted to go sailing. By the time the boat's done so are they.
 

Ross

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Jun 15, 2004
14,693
Islander/Wayfairer 30 sail number 25 Perryville,Md.
Neil, Your diesel will run

just fine without any electrical power. If your water pump is not belt driven just the alternator remove the belt. Start the engine in a normal manner and go. If the oil starts to look like milk. stop and change it and the filter and go on. By way of telling of the persistance of salt, Bietzpadlin had been on the hard for 4 years when I bought her. I left a pair of needle nose pliers in the boat for a week and they ended up with salt rust on them. It sounds like you might come out of this smelling sweet. goodluck. Ross
 

Ross

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Jun 15, 2004
14,693
Islander/Wayfairer 30 sail number 25 Perryville,Md.
Neil, Just viewed your pictures

Amazingly clean water, saltly but very clean. Just keep rinsing and taste the walls once in a while. It is your best salt detector. In the who shot John department---- the diver should have been able to see any disturbance of the underwater fittings that he bumped into.
 
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