This forum is better than Zoloft!

Ed Schenck · Feb 7, 2012

Sorry to read of your troubles, Ranier. I wonder if you shouldn't relax a little and just enjoy sailing the boat. Get to know her before you start taking her apart. Like with the vanity thing. Make a nice thick board to cover the sink if you need some workspace, something that fits flush on the bottom of the hanging locker. Lots of room below the sink for tools. Lots of room behind the mirror for personal affects. Spend a few nights out at anchor. Grill some burgers, have a nice glass of Cab(got one right here), let the boat help you figure her out.

Bill Roosa · Feb 7, 2012

All sailors are a little touched. It is part of the joy of sailing being a bit "off" and maniacal.
I'm with Ed, you hardly know the girl and you are lifting her skirt and playing around with her plumbing.... I don't think she is that kind of girl, at least not on the first date.
Take some time to get to know her first.

gpdno · Feb 7, 2012

So as a kid, I learned how to sail on a lake with a little sunfish clone. Never owned a bigger boat until many years later when I bought a 27' Watkins.

Was pretty overwhelmed at first. So many systems: power, engine, water, plumbing, etc. I think I spent the first week just sitting in her afraid to even move.

About a week later I got up the courage to motor a bit up the intercostal. When out for maybe 15 mins.

The next day, feeling braver, me, wife, and two little kids decide to motor down the intercostal all the way to the gulf (about and hour and two draw bridges). Trip down went fine, on the return trip up the intercostal, just after passing under the first bridge the engine starts to make a horrible squealing noise. Moments later the overtemp alarms starts to go off. Me in full inexperience panic mode, kill the engine and ponder my next move.

I was motoring against the current and now the boat is slowing drifting backwards to the shore. Tossed the anchor out and let out a bunch of chain and rope. Called BoatUSA and waited for about an hour for them to arrive.

I was a nervous wreck, expecting the anchor to break loose and the 1 knot current to fling me helplessly up on the shore

Boat was safely towed back to my dock. Mechanic came out and replaced the failed water pump but it took another month before I was brave enough to even try motoring again.

What a difference a little confidence and experience make

Now days, I'd just throw up the jib and sail the intercostal.

Plus now I can laugh at myself because I called for a tow on a windy day because the motor on my Sailboat broke, lol

Greg

rardiH36 · Feb 7, 2012

Flooded cabin -- it happens.

Included in my broker's purchase documentation, as proof that the standing rigging had been replaced about a year before my purchase, was a series of owner/boatyard eMails arguing about who was responsible for the flooded cabin while the boat was on the hard. Seems that the companionway hatch (and maybe more) had been left open for about a week while a series of pacific rain storms prevented any work. The yard did not connect 110V to keep the batteries charged. So the bilge pumps weren't much good. The cabin sole was still OK when I bought the boat. But I'm sure that it looked a lot better before the incident!

It's been more than a few times when after leaving my boat, I got the feeling I forgot something in my close-down sequence. I live close enough that I can go back to check. We've all been there.

Jim Legere · Feb 7, 2012

The best thing I ever did to improve winter storage of my boat was to install a garboard plug (a drain plug down in the bottom of the bilge). Unscrew the plug when you haul out and put it somewhere you can't forget about next spring

. Some amount of water always seemed to get in my bilge over the winter - probably because I typically leave my mast up. With the garboard plug out, I have never had any surprises like you did the other day. Anyway, you have a great boat there - hang in there!

Steve Dion · Feb 7, 2012

Rainer:

I would highly suggest a sunbrella companionway cover. This would have prvented several inches of water from ever getting below (even with the companionway partially open). Quite often the buttion down on 4 corners of the horizontal surface and usually have snaps on the vertical surface or sand in the bottom hem.

Redbeard33 · Feb 7, 2012

I agree with Ed, I was so over concerned with a soft cockpit sole that I cut it out along with the pedestal (with engine controls) and reglassed in a new sole, I can maneuver with the emergency rudder and a friend below operating the throttle and transmission but it is a PITA. The pedestal replacement has moved a few places back on the list due too leaks that seemed more urgent. I should have gone after one project at a time and KEPT THE BOAT IN USEABLE CONDITION DURING A REFIT, I have lost a year of sailing my boat because I wanted to do too much at once. Sometimes spending a day making to do lists and prioritizing is time well spent

Benny17441 · Feb 8, 2012

Hang in there that is probably just the first of many tribulations to come. Sailboats are great builders of patience. It helps to think positive; whenever something breaks or happens at the dock I just say "I'm fortunate it did not happen out there" and if something happens underway "I'm glad that unlimted towing coverage is paid up". Fixing and tending to your boat builds self reliance and confidence. When you are busy working on a boat your mind has no time for idle thoughts.

Stephen Trapani · Feb 8, 2012

I recently described here a similar "buyers remorse" I went through when I slept on the boat the night I bought it, on urine soaked cushions and rain leaking through most of the portlights in the middle of the night. I was seriously considering calling the seller and trying to get my money back. It seemed like such a huge job all of a sudden, and for what? I was asking myself. Terrible night.

Since then it has been a big job, but not overwhelming, all in small chunks, and made as enjoyable as possible with music, friends, beer and whatever else it took to keep things light and manageable (including this website!). I brought the cushions home and washed them in the bath tub. I bought new lenses one or two at a time and replaced them. I've done fifty other jobs, many of which you can find me asking about on this site. And I've enjoyed the hell out of the boat.

I recommend starting with the non-optional jobs and leaving the optional ones til later. If the boat is functional the jobs are less like work and more like an adventure. The bigger the job you're contemplating, the longer you should contemplate to make sure it's necessary, IMO. The best time you can spend is the time figuring out how to make jobs easier or unnecessary. Asking here is a big help for that. Best wishes!

Bill Roosa · Feb 8, 2012

Well I found Brumida sand inside my binical on top of the housing that holds the helm. Now I'm not the brightest guy but I'm pretty sure the sand did not craw up there. Had the boat been underwater?, tiped on her side and flooded? and what about those pictures I found in the nav station that showed repairs to the port light corners, like the hull had been masively twisted.........
I think we all have those stories. I'm of the opinion that if I'm concerned but can't influence it I'm not going to worry about it, cause it does not good to worry about things you can't change.
Alfred E. Neuman - What? me worry?

sailcruiser · Feb 8, 2012

FredV you may want to add a dehumidifier that can drain overboard. Our galley sink goes straight overboard so we just let it run and drain there. It helps dry the boat out quite a bit faster than fan alone. Does your hatch have any way to put a lock or even shackle closed? You could seal it with some plastic and tape it with vinyl tape like electrical tape. (the vinyl tape works well to temporarily seal most things. We use it to seal the holes when we remove a chainplate for re-bedding. We had a week of torrential rain with no water ingress.) I'd wonder if someone was aboard myself. I can't see how one would move in a storm unless it moves like on glass which mine does not. (different boat). I'm surprised the jugs of water didn't keep the cover on. I've seen that done several times successfully and we do see high winds. If you have winter as we do I'd suggest shrink wrapping but DON'T leave it on all summer. It will be a moldy mess.

My current boat has a little bit of sole damage and a garboard plug as mentioned above. I suspect a PO had a leaky hatch looking at the damage and the new hatches.

SC

sailcruiser · Feb 8, 2012

Fred we set out to NOT buy a project boat having gone that route the previous boat. And while the boat isn't what I call a project boat it will has a hefty project list.

In your shoes I would first tackle what needed to be done to get her floating like replacing through hulls if current ones are age unknown, bottom barrier coat and bottom paint, check cutlass and stuffing box and then float. Then repair whatever to sail and motor and lastly minimum to function in the cabin and sleep safely. All else can follow in due course. Otherwise you may burn out as we did. Try to balance the work/fun ratio it makes it much more fulfilling especially since you'll live there and not get a chance to take a weekend off and put it out of your mind. Life is too short for all work and no play. SC

redhead78 · Feb 8, 2012

Fred, where is newport nj??,is it on the Hudson?

rivettw · Feb 8, 2012

Fred,
Been there.... done that. You have to look at some these issues as being opportunities to improve. Your boat and you. Your boat willl be better for it and you will too.
Enjoy.
Wally