Joe Coons
I can't believe it's November already! (Actually, it isn't: I write these columns in the prior month.) Well, anyway, I promised you last month that I'd keep you abreast of the decisions I was making about the major refurbishing I'm doing on my 43' Tollycraft, SKYLARK II. I must admit I do this with a little trepidation, for each time I talk about vendors, someone calls me to complain that I didn't mention their company! Nevertheless, here's the latest:
I'm having the boat hauled at the Boatyard at Colony Wharf. They can accommodate boats up to around 48', and more important, they will let any insured contractors and owners work on the boats. I can select any craftspersons I wish. In addition, they offer a building in which the work can be done, keeping the boat warm and dry.
There are several major exterior tasks to be done. Roger Schjelderup of Top to Bottom Detailing and his crew will be removing all the old bottom paint from the hull, letting it dry out, and then putting an epoxy barrier coat on it prior to application of new bottom paint. From now on, I'll be using "ablative" paint (CSC Micron) that wears away to provide protection. It's better for the environment, and should be years before I need to have it cleaned off again. I have had a few cosmetic blisters on the bottom in the past; this should prevent further blisters and make the hull lighter, in the long run; unprotected fiberglass hulls do absorb water.
I have chosen Dave Brown of Captain Glass Boatworks to do some glass repairs. I have had Dave do work for me before when I was a broker, and he and his crew are really good at matching gelcoat colors, especially important on my off-white boat! My lazarette hatch has some cracking occurring so it must be replaced, and the tops of the toe-rails (that part of the deck to which the stanchions are attached) have some checking and crazing around those rail supports. I'll take all the rails off, and Dave will grind down and re-gel the surfaces. I'm still investigating ways to improve the non-skid areas of my walk-around decks, for Tolly used molded groves and teak-colored gelcoat to fake a teak deck; it's not a very good imitation of teak, although it doesn't need much maintenance.
In the engine room, I'll be pulling the shafts and having them checked by Dennis Peters at Precision Machine and Manufacturing. I'm installing PSS Dripless Shaft Seals from LFS here in Bellingham, and finally I'll be rid of wet shaft log bilge compartments. I'm going to put "Drivesavers" into the shafts from Hough Marine & Machine in Seattle to reduce vibration and noise transmission from the engines to the shafts, and vice versa. In addition, new motor mounts for both engines from Drivelines Northwest, also Seattle, will go on both engines, replacing the 17-year-old present mounts which have gotten ineffective at vibration reduction. I'll add a pair of shaft brushes to control electrolysis, since the new couplings insulate the shafts from the (grounded) engines.
While in the engine room, Tri County Engine will be correcting a broken spring in one engine's vibration damper, and we may also have the exhaust risers inspected. And Top to Bottom and I will be scrubbing and repainting the bilges.
In the December Jib Sheet, I'll tell you about the work in the boat's living areas, and give my annual "boater's Christmas list" of gift ideas.
Happy Thanksgiving!
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Last updated 9/12/97 by SCR