Messages

Sorry not to have replied sooner, Dave (Footloose).  Here's the collapsible under-mount ladder used on my swim platform.  Available from Defender.com

To answer your question, Mark:  I made the sailpack myself from a Sailrite kit.  Works well.

Here are a couple of photos of Tranquility in the rainy Northwest.  This bimini and connector (to the dodger) and the side curtains were made by Randy's Boat Tops out of Olympia, Washington.  Randy does a nice job and is competitively priced.  There are 2 sections on each side and 3 small sections across the stern.  All zip off, roll up and stow without too much fuss during the summer months and can be used in any combination.  We love the protection during the winter and shoulder months when we pretty much function as a motor boat anyway and the enclosed cockpit allows us to comfortably use the boat all year 'round and that's a good thing!  When sailing in bad weather I can leave the forward-most side panels on and still see pretty well . . .and the Admiral and friends stay warm and dry.

If you've got AC power, how about several layers of paper towel over the area then just iron it.  The heat from the iron melts the wax and it wicks up into the paper towel.

I made my own from Sailrite's design.  Like it very much.  Both problems mentioned above are manageable:  Once the sail is down, I just swing the boom over to one side or the other via the traveler to zip it closed.  And lowering the topping lift slightly so the boom is off horizontal drains any water that might enter.

I agree.  How did it hit him so far aft?  Presumably he was under sail. . . 
Other issues;
1. Why go shave prior to the storm instead of deploying that storm sail before it hit? 
2.  What about the condition of his VHF antenna and the need to climb the mast? 
3.  Didn't you think he procrastinated on pumping out the boat after the repair?  I'd have done that first. 
4.  No apparent ditch bag (or usable, protected hand-held VHF)
5.  Didn't he have a smoke flare for daytime use?

I guess I should give him a break:  he was exhausted, injured and alone.  Despite these criticisms, I enjoyed the film very much!

I'm with you Sundancer- if you've got shore power, a dehumidifier is the way to go!  Open everything up inside and let it drain into the sink.  Everything stays on the boat and bone dry.  No dampness, no mold, no smell.

I had intended to weave in a braid (see above photo) but in actuality it takes a huge length of line to wrap the compression post.  It was struggle enough to handle the coil of line and make a tight wrap.  Maybe I'll redo it sometime; I think I'd have to use smaller diameter line to pull it off.

I didn't glue the ends.  I just tied a knot below deck (in the bilge) and worked my way up tucking and tying it off at the top.  Wish I had a better photo. . . .

Hope I didn't post this twice.  Had to resize the photos.  But I did wrap both my compression post and wheel with small line.  See what you think.

Thank you! All it took was a hack saw and a drill.  You have to make two cuts on each side of the horizontal bar you're cutting out.  Remove the "joint' both on the top and on the side.  Getting the tee to slip on required a bit of prying but you can get it on.  The new tubes that fit between the tee and the base probably won't slip in without loosening the original bases to each side.  I'm glad I looked carefully at those because neither was bolted from the backside; they were simply screwed in place with stainless screws.  I rebedded and rebolted all 4 bases with ss machine screws with large ss washers and lock nuts.  You'll want to do that too.  Good luck.

Footloose,
I have a Westmarine HP-275, 9-ft with the high-pressure floor.  If you look up at the photos above, you'll see the step is a good deal above the water; the dink will fit under the step when on the water.  I can't imagine the dinghy catching the water on a hard-over heel but perhaps it's possible.  I came thru the Tacoma Narrows last weekend barreling along at hull speed and heeled over 20 degrees and it wasn't remotely close.  But I'm sailing up in Puget Sound where we suffer from not enough wind.  Perhaps in a blow I'd tow it.  But for other conditions and for motoring, having the dinghy out of the water gives me a half-knot or more and keeps the dinghy pristine.  The platform is rock solid and makes deploying and retrieving the dingy easy not to mention getting into and out of the dinghy.  We love it.

Nice idea!  Looks great!  The under-mounted, collapsible ladder is the same as mine.  Sure adds peace-of-mind that, should someone fall overboard, they can quickly get themselves out of the water.  I store my dingy sideways on the swim-step too.  Good job!

I acted on Stu Jackson's idea and cut out the center bar of my stern pulpit and creating a 2nd set of "legs" using stainless tees, straight tubing and bases (backed with large washers and lock nuts on the inside).  It seems just as sturdy as before and is so much easier boarding the dinghy.

Thank you, Dan.  Perhaps I should see how others have upgraded their intake "filters" (such as they are) to a more modern and protective one.  I have a very early boat (1986, hull #38) which may need upgrading.  Maybe Stu and others of this vintage can advise how best to do this.

I've run a hose into my air filter for the last 3 years with no problems. . . until last week.  I've got what I think was the original air filter on my 86; a simple foam filter wrapped around the intake with a round metal housing to hold it all.  Then on a beautiful Sunday afternoon with friends aboard we started to go out for a sail and the blankety-blank engine wouldn't start. This was a first.  My engine has never not started.  I was dismayed and puzzled but being in my best white khakis I wasn't going to start any repairs or investigation then, so we ended up drinking margaritas at the dock.  Had a very nice time all and all.   

Still, first chance I got I went back to the boat to see what I could find out.  An old diesel mechanic had told me that a diesel engine will run forever if it has 3 things: compression, air and fuel.  So I started with that.  I knew I had compression; the engine was turning over as normal; not too fast or too slow.  I checked the kill switch and made sure that was fully in the off position on the engine.  What next?  air? fuel?  I was gearing up to start bleeding lines, changing fuel filters etc. when I thought, "what about the air?  Surely that's not it!"  I removed the center nut holding on the top of the air filter and pulled off the filter and tried to start the engine.  It started immediately!  The old girl wasn't getting enough air!  Over time, the filter had become saturated with enough oil to restrict the air getting into the engine!  Shame on me for not cleaning it for the last 2 years!  This will not happen again!  That's one filter I'll clean on a regular basis, believe me!