Winter Projects?

I added a Banshee to my collection a few weeks ago. I'll probably replace all lines and I want to paint the deck red. Took it out two days after I bought it and had fun sailing with my Laser friend and another Banshee. It's somewhat similar to my Cyclone 13 in Wisconsin but faster, I think. Lots of fun and a great addition to the Sunfish. Mine is the orange one in the forefront.
 

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I am thinking that rudder is just calling out for being made from epoxy. Make a form and do clear epoxy like they do those tables. So it looks like you dont have a rudder, just a termite eaten stump.
That would be amazing!!!
Do the whole boat in a aged/rotting/wearing motif.
Wish it was that easy I’d give shot.
 
I'm back up five Sunfish . A hull that was better than the one I'm trying to "bring back" appeared at a local recycler.. At fifty dollars, I couldn't let it just sit there!

Add my two Folbot kayaks and two canoes, and I'm ready for 'most anything. :cool: Oh yeah, my O'Day Mariner. :oops:

But an old Navy friend north of Chicago has me beat by about six boats. :eek: Kayaks, O'Day Mariner, O'Day 2+2, racing canoes, and a couple of Sunfish (that I can recall), but there are more in his siblings' back yards.
 
Pollen season and time for Boat Yard TETRIS. Tracker came off the hoist and got a bath on the way to his new spot in the Alcort Alcove.

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We are more comfortable with keeping the older wooden boats out of reach of the squirrels, seems they have a fondness for 1950s lumber.

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Worked on quarter knees for the Nutshell Pram.

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The Penobscot is hanging out with the Pram, we pulled it up to the Boat Works to change the bunks from a straight bunk to a curved bunk

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I guess it's time to wrap up WInter projects, water temp is warming up, low 60s now.
 
As of about 6:30pm last night, both my projects have passed inspection with Illinois Department of Natural Resources! This means I can now officially apply for registration. :)

Now, my dilemma is this: Both boats have a list a mile long of tasks to complete. I'm trying to remember that the goal here is to get them sailable, not necessarily completely redone just yet. How do I choose where to begin?? Here is the high-level list of items to take care of for each. If anyone would care to weigh in on any aspect, I'm greatful for your opinions and advice!

Fishnet (1972)
  • Hole in hull at the waterline approx 3 inches long, .5 inches wide. Originally repaired poorly. Used my finger when I heard a cracking sound and it punched right through completely.
  • Suspicious repairs in two other places - Given that the one repair completely failed, likely that the others were not successful either. Small fiberglass patch jobs. Thinking I just need to re-do them?
  • Lots of gelcoat cracks. Not HUGE, just your typical cracks. Not structural, just cosmetic. Thinking of using epoxy with fairing compound?
  • Coaming is cracked at one end, and has a few chips out of it. I plan to learn about epoxy on the coaming, to make it look pretty, then use epoxy primer from Interlux (2-part) and then paint it with Brightside.
  • Haven't figured out a way to test for leaks yet, and right now there are no inspection ports. I know its a heavy boat, but no where near as heavy as my second boat. No deck hardware needs to be replaced, so I don't have a location that stands out as necessary for a port. Thinking I'm just going to put one aft of the coaming just to see what I can see? I have a fiber endoscope, so I can look in most places with a port.
  • Rudder, Tiller, Daggerboard all need some cosmetic TLC. So many options on this one! Think I'll throw on a good mask, and go to town sanding?
  • Gudgeon needs a little straightening. Not bad, in fact I think the rudder pin will still hold, but if it needs to be straightened, not sure how to do that.
  • New sheets, halyard, etc. Because I'm vain, but also because bad lines can be really really bad.
  • Deck and Hull refinishing - Also because I want Fishnet to be a pretty girl. I hear gelcoat is insanely fussy, but I do enjoy a shiny boat. It may be possible to restore with a ton of scrubbing and then 3M refinishing for the white? I'm redoing the coaming, so whatever works for that I suppose would work for the deck if I want to go that route. "HOW DO I GET STAINED WHITE GELCOAT WHITE AGAIN???????)
  • Sail - I've got one that barely needs repair, plus I have a kit from Sailrite for a new one! I sew sails already, so looking forward to this.
  • Cover, sparbag - See above - this is fun and I can't wait to do custom swag!

BLUEGIRL (1965)
  • Much foam both expanding and some of the blocks, have been removed. Intrigued by the idea of 2 part expanding foam throughout....Might be kind of awesome overall. Super light, super tight? But no idea what happens if I get T-boned. This is my biggest issue with this boat.
  • So many holes drilled by the person who rescued her from the alley. About 8 3/4" holes drilled in deck and just above waterline to drain water out of it before he could move the hull. Thinking just plain old West Systems epoxy?
  • Hull restoration. No holes that I can see. One fiberglass repair that looks good. White Gelcoat is a brown/yellow mess. My vanity says it must be redone. Right now my plan is to use Epoxy Pre-Coat primer (two coats too) and then the 2 part Interlux Perfection paint.
  • Deck will get the same epoxy primer and because I already bought it, I may try Interlux Brightside on the deck for her.
  • All her aluminum trim could use a good buffing. I already drilled it out and took it off, anticipating the need to peel up fore and aft to replace foam blocks. For the aluminum I'm thinking my dremmel tool, polishing wheel, and a bottle of wine?
  • Same as Fishnet for rudder, tiller, daggerboard
  • Need to put on some new deck hardware for lines, and for traveller.
  • No sail in particular for Bluegirl, so will make her one myself following the sailrite pieces. Thinking about maybe using carbon fiber sail material, just because I have lots of it, and it might be really fun. ;-)
  • Cover, sparbag, - as with Bluegirl
 
That's a lot to cover! :oops:

I'll start: ;)

I wouldn't add any inspection ports until after the [gentle] air pressure test.

Gelcoat "spider-cracks" can be left for last. We do have gelcoat experts here. (I'm a painter).

Chips and cracks in the coaming (splashguard) can be filled with THIXO. Use tape to control the amount applied, and--after curing--sand down to fare the surface. (Usually no need to remove the coaming--which can introduce more work).
:eek:
 
That's a lot to cover! :oops:

I'll start: ;)

I wouldn't add any inspection ports until after the [gentle] air pressure test.

Gelcoat "spider-cracks" can be left for last. We do have gelcoat experts here. (I'm a painter).

Chips and cracks in the coaming (splashguard) can be filled with THIXO. Use tape to control the amount applied, and--after curing--sand down to fare the surface. (Usually no need to remove the coaming--which can introduce more work).
:eek:
Is Thixo preferable to just mixing up a cup of two part West Systems epoxy?
 
Think of epoxy as a glue.

THIXO is glue that is mixed with a strong filler. For small batches, I use THIXO--as squeezed out from the tube--without the one-use mixing attachment.

That said, a cup is a lot of expensive THIXO! :oops:
 

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