Monday, December 15, 2014

Ready to sail at Cedar Key

Just finished the tonneau cover with snaps.  Not an easy layout.  The batten had to be shorten making the port side sag ever so little.  Not perfect but respectable. 














Motor mount was cut from an old SeaPearl rudder on my bandsaw.  After soda blasting and wire brushing, I applied Matrix System MX-550 etching solution with the gun.  After two coats had dried, I primed it with Awlgrip 545 primer and then finished it with a so called appliance epoxy spray can finish.  Looks pretty good to me.
The new long shaft Honda BF 2.3 came from Cumberland Water Sports at a very attractive price including free shipping overnight. 













Mounting the freshly cleaned and stitched full battened sails from Sailcare.  These sails are absolutely beautiful.  Makes the boat all the better buy!


We have our reservation at Cedar Key Sunset RV campground space 41 for April 27-May 4.  Looking forward to sailing

Tuesday, December 9, 2014

Winter Projects for the SeaPearl 21 and Shallow-Minded

Painting in the winter is a slow process.   These are the floor boards for the SP 21.  What, no teak and holly, you ask?  Yep, they would cost $360 dollars for the three boards.  I just can't see it!  I am using five-eights marine ply.  Once you go away from teak, you are stuck with needing an anti-skid compound.  Why not just paint them white, I reasoned?  Why not indeed.   I'm using regular Zinzer indoor-outdoor primer and my favorite Benjamin Moore Super Spec polyurethane/alkoid mixed by the good folks at the Benjamin Moore store per the formula for Insignia White from the color chart of Awlgrip.  I used 6 ounces of Intergrip for a quart of paint.  I'll probably add another coat on top. The larger item is the nose door for Shallow-Minded
My Buddy Heater keeping the shop warm and cozy for paint drying.  I used the adapter from my Colman grill to us propane out of the bottle.  I'd apologize for the messy shop bench but it seems to be perennial so I won't even bother-:)
Merry Christmas ya'll

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Rescuing a SeaPearl 21

Earlier this year, we got a chance to pick up a SeaPearl 21 that is in need of some serious rehabilitation.  She had been covered but left to accumulate dirt and suffer from various moisture problems.  Luckily, Hull is generally sound and the sails were the vertical batten type which were in pretty good shape.
I thought it might be interesting to document our journey through the cleanup and repair of this 1986 model SeaPearl 21



The first thing I noticed other then the accumulated filth is the massive addition of electrical components apparently for using a trolling motor and pumps for filling and emptying the tanks.  Clearly, a lot of junk needed to be taken out.  I can't even begin to understand the logic employed in the planing of this night-marishly complicated stratagy.  So, one half day later, I had it all removed.

It didn't take much inspection to see the 3/8 inch deep groove in the mast tube worn by the bearing nylon bushings.  Mast steps clearly need to be replaced.  While they are out, a close inspection of the deck joint will likely show water incursion into the core.






Indeed the core was damp and the seal clearly broken.  I burred out the core back to one inch and used a heater to dry out the core as best I could.

Next I used Tyvek tape to seal the bottom and using thickened epoxy (after dowsing the core with unthickened epoxy) was carefully pressed into the core void mounding it up so as to maintain the epoxy to stay up against the edges.
I used an infrared lamp to help it cure since night time temps fall into the 40's.





After the filler is hardened I took a jigsaw and cut out the hole.  The area was cleaned up with a burr head on the drill, a rasp and sandpaper.  Everything looked completely sealed.
Next I turned my attention to cutting out the mast step.  Per Jim Leet's instruction I used a 1 and 1/2 inch hole saw started just bellow the rim drilled at a 90 degree angle.  After smoothing the joint out with a rasp and sandpaper it looked just like the a new one should.  The scalloped opening allows the mast base to help with the mast raising.
The cup base looks like this after being cleaned out.  The foot of the mast tube socket gets glassed in and the drain hole is drilled out again.









After careful measuring and dry fitting the mast tube socket is roughed up with 80 grit sandpaper around the bonding areas and lowered into the hole.  Just before sinking it into the hole a generous layer of 3M-5200 is spread all around the pipe just above the joint and just above the bast.  Then the tube is carefully seated in the hole.  It's a good idea to turn the tube back and forth to assure good coverage of the 5200 in the joint space.  Be sure and carefully align the scallop forward on the mizzen mast and back on the main.  Now allow this to set overnight.


The finished job should look like this after cleaning up the area with mineral spirits.
I later applied a nice finish margin of 3M-5200 around the joint using my gloved finger to smooth.  It all worked out very nicely.






I did the glassing with 2 in fiberglass tape cut half way through at 1 and 1/2 inch intervals the circumference of the mast tube.  After abrading and cleaning the tube and deck with acetone I proceeded to glass the tube in with finish resin (wax added per recommendation).  I let the tabs meet the deck and the floor while the intact cloth was used to wrap around the tube.  I pre-cut all my strips before starting as time is very limited.  When the resin was cured (with heaters)  I sanded everything and wiped with acetone.  I proceeded to add a second layer with tabs staggered for uniform coverage.  I plan to use a layer of mat as glassed over the deck joint. These will be 2x4 inch tabs glassed in all around for added strength.
All in all the job turned out quit nicely.  Following Jim Leet of Marine Concepts wise advice, I believe I was able to perform a professional repair.
I'll continue my report










Thursday, September 18, 2014

Belle is Sold

Belle is sold.  Thanks for all the interest.  I'll sorely miss her.
So next month follow my efforts at getting Shallow-Minded ready for launch.
You can follow my efforts on:
Shallow Sailing, my new blog.
Say goodbye to Belle, my floating dream camp cruising home.  

Monday, September 8, 2014

Belle is for sale


The SeaPearl 28 is a Cat-Ketch with carbon fiber un-stayed masts and full batten sails.  I think she sails well.  The sails have a very good sail shape (and are actually almost new).  The sail plan will take up to 20 knots without reefing due to the bendiness of the masts.   I have sailed in up to 30 knots so far and the handling is remarkable steady with finger tip control of the tiller due to the balanced sail plan. She has three reef points on both sails and reefing is jiffy style and rather easy. The boat goes into a hove too slide very easily with the mizzen cleated in.   Obviously pointing to windward is just a little shy of what you could expect from a sloop.  On all other points of sail she does very well doing much better down wind than a sloop could possibly do.  I have sailed her off-shore in 8 foot seas with 18-20 knots and she sails beautifully.  The route maintenance of the GPS mapping system  and autohelm 1000 autopilot leaves you free to enjoy or catch short naps while solo sailing.  She really handles very well single-handed which is something many boats cannot boast. 
The electrical system is very robust for a boat of this size.  The 3 stage smart charging system from Blue Seas extracts well over 12 amps from the two 85 watt solar panels.  The 3 group 27 batteries provide well over 300 amps of charge.  The two house batteries are Lifelines.  The third which is used additionally for starting is a West Marine group 27.  All lighting is LED so there is low draw. Two turbo fans cool the spacious vee-birth.  A porta potty rests in a locker below the vee-berth
She has a sliding galley that recedes under the bridge deck to allow use of the settee on the starboard side.  The galley has pressurized water to the sink and a two burner alcohol Origo stove.  She has three fire extinguishers mounted, two in the cabin and one near the motor well.  The VHF is a West Marine with the international channels and DSC which takes its NMEA signal from the GPS.  Another NMEA channel feeds up to date location data to the EPiRB. 
The stereo is four speaker/channel.  It includes XM radio and a Bluetooth feed which I have used to play music from my Iphone.
The topsides have been repainted with Algrip.  The deck has been repainted and all the hardware and teak has been re-bedded. 
The trailer is a lifetime aluminum trailer by Rolls.  It has been rebuilt in 2012.  The braking system, e.g rotors and hydraulics was replaced and one of the axles was replaced because it was slightly bent. 
The motor is a robust Nissan 18 hp which allows her to easily cruse all day at well over 6 knots.  I just had her extensively worked on.  The impeller is new and the head gasket was replaced.  The motor is in fine running shape. I don't use ethanol gas at all so no carburetor problems!
I recently rebuilt the center-board trunk including a very robust gasket system, a new stainless cable for the uphaul.  I rebuilt the trunk cabinet to improve the appearance.  I rebuilt the Vee-berth book shelf to also improve the looks. 
For the anchoring system: it consist of two large anchors, on the left is a 27 lb plow on 20 feet of oversize chain and 180 feet of 1/2 inch nylon with feet markers.  On the right is a suitably large Danforth (not sure the size) with the same chain-rope setup.  The two anchors hang off a large teak bowsprit in anchor rollers on the ready.  The rope/chain passes through two large bronze hawse pipes with bronze caps.  t
She has an 1100 gph bilge pump and a Whale Gusher Titan hand pump. 
The Cockpit drains directly into the motor well. 
For canvas, she comes with sail covers, a Bimini (needs a little sewing), dodger, and a zip in canvas cabin (which I suspect you would appreciate up that way).  I have not used the cabin so it may require a little modification by a canvas maker to fit around the GPS and XM antennas I have mounted outside the coming.  I had planned to do that someday myself as I can do some canvas myself, but never got around to it.  Actually I just didn't need it in Florida:) By the way all the stainless steal snaps have been replace with new ones. 
All in all, this is a boat that is ready to go cruising now.  No fixing or updating necessary.  She is superbly outfitted for camp cruising.  She has no leaks, nothing need to be fixed.  She is easy to set up and take down. She is easy to trailer. 
Why am I selling?  I bought another project.  A bigger non-trailerable shallow draft live-aboard that is taking my money and time.  Every day I ask myself why I am selling.  It's just too much to handle Belle is one of 4 boats competing for my attention.  They are: Shallow-Minded, my AS-29 in North Carolina, Tridarka Raider my beach cruising 21 foot tri that I just finished upgrading and completely redecorating, A SeaPearl 21 that I am fixing up for easy in and out day-sailing (10 minute setup and ready to sail) and then there is Belle, the boat we are talking about.  Oh, did I mention the 17 foot Mike's Boat (Mchalak design) wooden boat I am restoring.  You see it is for my sanity that I am selling:)


Here are some pictures of Belle as to her features and interior details.
Belle's trailer. Note the dual anchors on the bowsprit.

Belle's backside featuring her beautiful paint job.












Another view of bowsprit and pulpit showing bronze hause pipes.
Dorade scoups for flow-trough ventilation.
Folding mast detail.



















85 watt solar panel in the lowered position identical to port side.

Rear of cockpit showing cockpit lockers where two 12 gallon gas tanks will fit.  Also the stern lockers and motor well.











 Cabin with settee and vee berth.  Note removable table.
 Sliding galley showing sink and faucet with pressurized water.  There is a 2 burner Origo alcohol stove under the cutting board.  Storage is underneath.  Water tankage is a total of 40 gallons in poly tanks selectable with a diverter.





















Looking back toward the companionway.
Garmin GPS mapping and sounder 198C on a swing arm for easy cockpit viewing or viewing from inside when swung in.

























EPIRB wired for GPS update.  Also twin turbo low current fans cool the vee berth.
Motor well in the center.  Lazarette access on both 
sides.



























Cockpit open lockers will hold 12 gallon fuel tanks each side.  
VHF by West Marine with wired DSC.  Also 4 channel stereo with XM radio and Bluetooth to feed your favorite songs from your smart phone.

























Port side Turbo fan with LED light fixture for reading.
Dual axle torsion bar suspension on the all aluminum Rolls trailer with surge brakes recently rebuilt.
All lights on the boat and trailer are LED.
I will soon be signing with a broker so talk to me now if you are interested for the best deal.
404-277-4864
lwhited1@msn.com