What am I doing wrong?

[Ed Schenck]

Isn't life a tough balancing act? I have shoveled for three days. I also get to see my grandkids play basketball and volleyball. This afternoon one daughter and family will come by for diinner.

This time next week I will be at the pool in Florida and riding my bike. Two weeks after that I will be on my boat in NC and heading south. And I will be missing my family, friends, the fireplace, and the hot coffee. I am always in wonderment when couples venture off for more than a few months at a time. I'll be way ready for Ohio by April.

 

[sand sailor]

we're supposed to be in the 70's this week next sunday i'm hitting the water

 

[Bob S]

Pick up a winter sport, makes waiting for spring a little easier! :dance:

 

[Roger Long]

Pick up a winter sport, makes waiting for spring a little easier! :dance:

This is my winter sport:

http://www.rogerlongboats.com/09Winter.htm

It's actually a pretty positive contribution to my summer pleasure.

 

[Bob S]

Roger, how did you do your Doc # in the port locker? Looks like adhesive #'s with a clear epoxy over them? I need to do that to mine.

 

[Tim R.]

This is my winter sport:

http://www.rogerlongboats.com/09Winter.htm

It's actually a pretty positive contribution to my summer pleasure.

I hope to get some skiing in this year while tackling my project list.

- Refinish/rebuild merriman pedestal
- Install Raymarine ST60+ instruments
- Install Raymarine rudder pos. sensor
- Rewire and replace AC and DC panels
- Refinish/redesign cockpit table
- Wet sand and buff out cockpit area

Plus lots of little stuff.

 

[Roger Long]

Roger, how did you do your Doc # in the port locker? Looks like adhesive #'s with a clear epoxy over them? I need to do that to mine.

That's exactly what it is. I got close out letters for 10 cents each. I love a bargin!

I have an email exchange with the documentation center confirming that this is an acceptable method. I ground down the paint to expose most of the structural laminate. The letters are put directly on the fiberglass so there is no epoxy under them. You would have to grind away all epoxy to alter or obliterate the numbers. It took me about half an hour.

 

[sailingdog]

I would think that this wouldn't be sufficient, since you could probably paint over them after fairing the area lightly with thickened epoxy. The way I did it was to get a copper plate with raised numbering on it. That plate is epoxied and bolted to the hull. It ain't coming off unless you use a sawzall on it.

That's exactly what it is. I got close out letters for 10 cents each. I love a bargin!

I have an email exchange with the documentation center confirming that this is an acceptable method. I ground down the paint to expose most of the structural laminate. The letters are put directly on the fiberglass so there is no epoxy under them. You would have to grind away all epoxy to alter or obliterate the numbers. It took me about half an hour.

 

[Roger Long]

I would think that this wouldn't be sufficient, since you could probably paint over them after fairing the area lightly with thickened epoxy.

http://www.rogerlongboats.com/images/NVDCopinion.pdf

 

[sailingdog]

Roger—

Define PLASTIC. Are this the thin vinyl letters you get at the hardware store or something thicker. How thick are the letters??

If something thicker, then yes, I can see them being acceptable. If they're the vinyl sticker letters, I would seriously doubt they'd pass inspection.

 

[Roger Long]

I would seriously doubt they'd pass inspection.

I'll save my breath for the inspector. After three decades of dealing with vessel inspectors of various stripes nothing they question would surprise me but I would be surprised to have any trouble after showing them the email that I will keep with the inspection documents.

 

[sailingdog]

Very true. I'm still curious as to how thick the plastic letters you used are though.

I'll save my breath for the inspector. After three decades of dealing with vessel inspectors of various stripes nothing they question would surprise me but I would be surprised to have any trouble after showing them the email that I will keep with the inspection documents.

 

[Roger Long]

I'm still curious as to how thick the plastic letters you used are though.

They are just stick on letters but now embalmed in the epoxy. I'll confess that I thought until a couple weeks ago that the number had to be either raised or recessed. I don't know if this changed or was never actually the case.

A blind person could read my number though as there is a slight discontinuity in the epoxy at the edge of the plastic.

 

[sailingdog]

Thanks Roger... The only reason I asked was I was originally going to go that route but was told it wouldn't suffice by the USCG here in New Bedford. Then my friend offered to make up the copper plate, so I went that route instead. BTW, one of my friends, who does VSC’s for the USCGAux, said that one of the most common problems on VSC’s is missing or improper documentation numbers.

 

[Roger Long]

I was originally going to go that route but was told it wouldn't suffice by the USCG here in New Bedford.

After over three decades of dealing with them I can tell you that you will almost never get the same answer twice. It's worst than the IRS as far as their having no clue about their own rules and just making up their own as they go along. That's why I got the NVDC to confirm.

I still wouldn't be surprised to have an inspector say, "They never saw it physically, it's my call, and it's wrong." Usually that kind of thing only comes up if they want to get you for some other reason.

Those epoxy on metal plaques that are now approved can simply be pulled off, the surface repaired, and a new one put over. I was originally going to etch the number into a structural glass bulkhead and paint the etched area but someone could just epoxy a plaque over that. I think they have accepted the reality and gotten less compulsive about the issue. The days when you could carve the number into the main beam are gone.

 

[kloudie1]

What Am I doing Wrong..

MAN.. What a meandering thread! I love it ! Last week my winter sport was testing the 1967 6 hp Johnson that I bought for $50.. well ok, it got to be about $175 after parts , but she runs fine !! Did the two hour Gilligan tour of Bayou Castine and visited the marinas along the way.. Lots of folks out enjoying the 70 degree temps.. This week is COLD, so it is time to rebuild the Perko raw water strainer and get tax things together.. Retirement is indeed a fine time!

 

[Ron20324]

In a previous posting, there were many replies about documentation numbers. Someone emailed the CG and post the email reply to us. It said that vinyl letters, epoxy'd over, on the hull in the lazarette was acceptable. That's what I have.

 

[Roger Long]

Someone emailed the CG and post the email reply to us. It said that vinyl letters, epoxy'd over, on the hull in the lazarette was acceptable.

This actually is one of those cases of the CG giving the same answer twice. That previous post was the first I ever thought that something like this would be acceptable. I emailed the NVDC because I wanted an copy of an original email to me to show any inspector or Aux that might have a different idea.

 

[Bob S]

Roger,

Not to beat a dead horse but why did you grind I ground down the paint to expose most of the structural laminate before applying the letters. Couldn't you have used black letters against the white paint and epoxy over them?

 

[Roger Long]

Not to beat a dead horse but why did you grind I ground down the paint to expose most of the structural laminate before applying the letters. Couldn't you have used black letters against the white paint and epoxy over them?

I wasn't sure about the bond between the paint and the hull. Once I stated grinding, it clearly wasn't an issue but I'd already bought the letters and it makes a highlighted area for the them.