Several General Maintenance/Fix-it questions

[XPatriot]

I recently purchased a 1977 Hunter 25.

1) There are no cleats amidships making any kind of spring lines difficult. If I add these, what kind of backing would I need. Can fiberglass handle large washers, or should I try and make larger backings? Should I expoxy the cleats or just marine adhesive?

2)Some cracking of various corners and edges of the fiberglass.....filler or something else?

3)I might wet-store the boat this year thinking I'll want to use it (Chesapeake) good/bad idea? I can service the outboard (oil/lube/plug etc) should I do more than that if I'm going to run it at least 1 a month?

4) Any maintenance needed on the roller furler (looks to be a few years old).

5) Should I pull batteries if they are again getting a good charge 1/month?

Thanks!

 

[Steve Dion]

If you have a track, you may be able to get away with something like this. It may be better than drilling holes in the deck and having a potential leak.

http://shop.sailboatowners.com/detail.htm?group=363&cat=1904

Spider cracks in the gel-coat are not uncommon. You may need to determine if they are large enough that they are allowing moisture into your core material.

I do not know what type of furler you have, but normally a good rinsing with lots of fresh water is the best thing you can do for it. Most of the furlers do NOT require any regular maintenance.

 

[Benny]

1) You don't need to drill on the deck. Get an "L" shapped bracket and drill holes on top so you can attach a cleat and drill holes on the side so you can attach it to the toe rail. Place it in between the shrouds and it will be protected so you do stub your toes on it. Try getting a stainless steel bracket and hardware. Toe rail mounted cleats are available at any chandlery but their price runs $80 and on up. You can make a nice one for under $20.

 

[XPatriot]

Thanks Benny, good tip.

Regarding the cracks......most look like just the top coat. I've looked at some from below and don't see any degenerating of the glass layers.

I've seen dyable filler (my boat is tan), would this work?

 

[jtm]

I've wet stored my boat for decades mostly cause the marina's depth was minimal. I have 2 batteries.For the winter I leave one it to keep the bilge pump functioning if it needed to. My bilge tend to be usually dry. I swap them out about mid winter. To ensure and give the battery better lifespan I have gone solar and also keep a nanopulser on the battery to blow off any sulfation that would develop. I keep one 5W solar on the companionway plywood dummy slat for winter use, another 5W hung under the V berth hatch and a smallish 1.5W in the western window. Its not perfect but it has performed pretty well. I use a Promariner 12 charger (2 battery) for the regular season while I'm there to keep the both batteries topped off. I don't like leaving a charger plugged in 24/7 as I am concerned about stray current in the water and eating my metals.

By the way, in the Chesapeake- if it snows and your boat and cockpit is burried in snow and the marina's bubblers go out and there's a rocking wind and your scuppers are frozen(and it then rains), , will your thru-hull mushrooms clear the waterline? gotta worry about the potential for shearing those mushroom head off with impacting Ice as the boat rocks.