What are your current practical boat projects?

30boat

N/A
Joined
26 Oct 2001
Messages
8,558
Location
Portugal
Visit site
I've just made a stainless steel swivel for my mooring and am going to splice two three strand rope lines on thimbles to it.The next project will be a stainless rim for my forward hatch.I'll post it all here.
So, what are yours?
 
I've just made a stainless steel swivel for my mooring and am going to splice two three strand rope lines on thimbles to it.The next project will be a stainless rim for my forward hatch.I'll post it all here.
So, what are yours?

I have the hull of a Jack Holt Dittyboat (7' 6" GRP stem dinghy) in my garden. By next spring I want to replace all the woodwork, add a dagger board case and make a sailing rig for it. Or I may just fit a new wind vane bracket to my tiller.
 
List of mine here... https://trello.com/b/OcF6dFSX/ailsa

Have already re-wired the boat, removed and refitted the engine with new sensors, moved the engine panel, added wood trims, installed pressurised water system, replace one window with a new one with butyl tape sealant and iroko trims...
 
In the middle of replacing all the BWL fittings on my 3 year old AWB because the manufacturers saved £3.50 by fitting brass ones which are now turning pink. Got the old ones out by grinding off the fitting on the hull - relatively easy. The new ones are about half in. Interestingly enough, the old ones were all seated and sealed on hemp and white with only a tiny (I mean tiny) bit of clear silicone on the inside of the skin fitting washer - surprised me. Anyway, apart from that, replace deck light that is full of water, un-stick the Windex thingy, new anodes, a bit of rust repair on the keel and new AF. Already done - create new tack point for chute, add hoops for chute sheet blocks. :)
 
Currently just finishing fitting an Ebersparcher DL4 plus heating system. Next jobs are remove all varnish from external woodwork. Fit stainless steel d-section to rub rail. Remove worn out Treadmaster from the cockpit and replace with synthetic fitted panels. Remove existing halyard and genoa winches and refit the genoa winches as halyard winches (new genoa winches already fitted). Remove all existing deck paint, repair any minor defects to the gel, compound all smooth deck gel, repaint non-slip decks. Repair spinnaker pole where a fitting pulled out due to corrosion. Remove existing headlining from forward cabin and recover (may get someone in to refit). Fit new forward hatch. Rub down all interior woodwork, treating any waterstains, and relacquering. Measure up new bunk cushions and order. Fit new interior lights. That should all be done by end of March if the weather is not too bad.
 
Sanding back the plywood topsides to bare wood and epoxying, painting the hull, fabricating a new dash and servicing the engine on a Dell Quay Ranger. Will probably re-trim the cabins while I'm at it. Not much to do really...
 
I am in the process of purchasing new B&G Triton and Zeus2 instruments. The amount of information available to specify exactly what is needed is amazingly small and each supplier I contact seems to tell me something different. Even the B&G installation manual seems to keep much of the info secret, for example I cannot find the length of cable attached to the depth/log transducer.
 
Next spring/summer. Got to drain the rudder - I suspect it's taking in water. If it is, then I'll have to decide what to do by way of repairs. Then there's the depth sensor that is erratic but that may be due to some gunge clogging it up so the boats' coming out of the water for (at least) a scrub with the strong possibility of adding a few coats of paint, antifoul etc. Also, seriously thinking of moving the boat to the NE coast anywhere from Middlesborough to Grimsby(ish) region. Please don't show this post next year and ask me what's been done :).
 
  1. Move batteries and fit a "modern" electrical system;
  2. Remove all the old antifoul and start again;
  3. Sort of that bit of wood on the transom.
 
  1. Move batteries and fit a "modern" electrical system;
  2. Remove all the old antifoul and start again;
  3. Sort of that bit of wood on the transom.

Why remove all the antifouling? Racing? I've come to a conclusion that for cruising removing it reduces the effectiveness of the new coating. (I tried a half last winter)
 
Why remove all the antifouling? Racing? I've come to a conclusion that for cruising removing it reduces the effectiveness of the new coating. (I tried a half last winter)
I have a pathological dislike of racers, when a fleet is spotted on the horizon I turn the boat round and head off into the sunset. Two main reasons for the strip back:

The hull is 32 years old and I want to look at the condition of it; and

given the rate of marine growth in the river this year I want to get a good base layer on - after her jetwash after lifting there are at least four colours showing!
 
Long winter "to do" list, but current project is replacing the forecabin headlining. I removed the old lining and most of the glue & foam residue on Saturday, and am still sneezing small clouds of yellow dust ;)
 
My list is longer (41 year old Rival 32)
New instruments panel to go over the companionway sliding hatch.
New instruments - depth, speed log and GPS - all same all in above panel.
New transducers on those instruments (why can't all manufacturers use same frequency in depth sounders?)
Rewire mast. (lights, VHF)
Tidy up pushpit which is crowded with clutter, and has grown over the years. Outboard, liferaft, 2 x GPS antennae, 2 x VHF antennae, ensign staff bracket etc.
Weld up a crack in pushpit leg
Fix 2 x stanchion mount leaks through deck.
Service engine as usual (winterise, filters oil etc)
Varnish cockpit teak boards
Remake cockpit duckboards
Clean hull above water line (Oxalic acid)
check all skin fittings, service Blakes valve on toilet.
Service Jabsco toilet. (new Joker valve probably)
Investigate a NRV on sink drain such that on a starboard tack with rail dipping in water, backflow of seawater doesn't happen)
Check out all gas lines, valve, regulator. Not done for a while.
Reseal cabin roof light hatch.
Service all lifejackets
Check anchor winch (clean salt out?)
service 2 mast winches. (did cockpit ones last year)



If time:
Repaint engine.
repaint bilge cavity
 
My list the shortest in five years - must be making headway!
Fix leak in deck at base of mast done
Shit shute cock replacement
Replace Forward Nav light
Companion way finish woodwork
Finish Heads shelf
Taps and shower in heads
Hot water plumbing
Fridge lid trim
Safety Rail in front of cooker
Service furlex
Service winches
Replace Heater ducting with stainles pipe
Fuel t piece replacement
Add Roof battens for vinyl plywood ceiling at edges/ Curtain/handrail
Improve alternator mount.
Fix treadmaster repair on starboard side.
Tidy cockpit gelcoat
Replace name decals
 
I am in the process of purchasing new B&G Triton and Zeus2 instruments. The amount of information available to specify exactly what is needed is amazingly small and each supplier I contact seems to tell me something different. Even the B&G installation manual seems to keep much of the info secret, for example I cannot find the length of cable attached to the depth/log transducer.

Vyv, The depth log transducer is probably actually by Airmar. Mine had about 2 metres of cable.
 
My list, another R32:

Replace windows
Continue rewiring
Fit radar reflector to mast
Replace forehatch
Remove redundant old TV from cabin and think of something to fill the hole thats left!
Fit a proper drop leaf table
Plus all the regular maintenance jobs.

Ashore from end of next week until late March so not a lot of time!
 
I couldn't get in at the sink to wash the dishes as its stuck under a bulkhead. Wife wont wear that excuse anymore so I have to make the whole lot slide out to give access. Will stick a picture up when I'm finished.
 

Other threads that may be of interest

Top