Plastic Classic Forum

I used Signature Paint on a 24 Soveriegn Sailboat. I did not paint over existing paint but painted directly to the gel coat. I found the paint to do everything the owner said it would. Tech help was wonderful and the results were good. I rolled and tipped and was very surprised at the results! The g...

I am finally getting to the point of planning the rebuilding of systems in my boat. Most of the glass work and bulkhead repairs are done. I am trying to figure out how to plumb my three bilge pumps for the most optimum performance and the least amount of holes. When purchased the boat had only one b...

Rachel, use the emergency spill product. The stuff is roughly 25 to 30 dollars a gallon but it mixes at 1/2 percent with water. An added bonus if placed in a 2 1/2 gallon extinguisher it can be readily available for spills and I have put out some small fires with it. That is not recommended however.

Sorry Rachel but I forgot about the posting on this string due to work in other areas. I actually use the Microblaze product. I know there are others out there that will work but I am most familiar with this one. I think the surfactant and fragrance help this particular product to work well. The key...

Feetup, I was really hoping to get an answer like yours. While I have no formal training in engineering I know the value of good math. To make sure I read your response correctly let me try to paraphrase, 3/8 316SS with a minimum of 1/2 above the holes for the clevis pins will provide the given stre...

Thanks Rachel, Your right about he rigging configuration. I have thought about seperating the two, but it makes since to maintain one chainplate since they are so close together. Seems like I am back to where I was. 1/2 inch is large but I would rather be overbuilt than under. Thanks for all the inp...

Rachel,

Please tell me more. What is the size needed for 1/4 wire? I would really like to order the material soon so I can make the needed fiberglass modifications to accomodate the chainplates.

The old chainplates were 1/2 inch thick. I was trying to keep it the same. I would love to reduce the thickness as it will save a bundle. I have no idea about the load allthough my main is huge. The old shrouds and stays are 1/4 material. The boom measures 20 feet, the main has a huge roach. The boa...

The main and rear chainlates will be external. The forward plate will be located in the middle of the deck and I have added a bulkhead to attach them to. I was thinking the 24 inches might be too much but I feel safe with that. The cost is a little frightening however.

Hi Again. I have a new question concerning chainplates. I am rebuilding a TrueNorth 34. This is a chinese boat built in the 70's. The hull is solid glass that is over one and half inches thick at the turn of the bilge. It is close to 3/4 of an inch at the top. However, the old chainplates were simpl...

Tim,
Which metal would you recomend? The hub is of course bronze.

Okay, the first problem is solved. Now I need to find the set screws that fir the bronze hub. Any suggestions.

Sorry, I should have been more specific on what was out of the boat. The entire shaft log is sitting on my workbench. It consists of the packing gland and nut, a short peice of stainless pipe, and the outer hub that holds the cutless bearing. I was aware that the rubber bushing had a brass backing. ...

I am trying to remove the cutlass bearing from my propr shaft. The rubber part is four inches long and seems to be stuck in the bronze casing. The entire unit has been removed from the boat during my rebuild. There is holes for set screws on both sides of the casing but they do not seem to be in the...

Rachel, I can sympathize with you on that smell. I have a simple and easy solution you can try. I have work in the hazardous material remediation business for quite some time. Several years ago a vendor came up with a microbial product that eats hydrocarbons. These bugs are completely natural, (they...

I know it has been a long time since you wrote this question:however, I have used both vinegar and lime away very successfully on bronze fittings. A simple soak will take away years of tarnish and crud. Try it and see what you think.

I noticed some comments about amine blush with CPES. While I have always washed down my projects between coats I have never noticed anything that looked like amine blush after using CPES. I don't beleive I noticed anything in the literature about it either. However that does not mean its not there. ...

I have become a big fan of CPES. As a trail I used on the frame of my forward hatch. I then applied 5 coats of Epifanes varnish over it. After being in the yard with no protection for the last year and a half the hatch looks as good as it did the day I finished it. I might add that I live in the Tex...

Tim Thanks for the input. I like the idea of plywood. Would you alternate the orientation of the plywood? I would also like to bore a large hole through the engine bed and then drill the engine mount attachment bolts from the top into the bored holes. In this way I could use machine bolts rather tha...

I am at the stage of reworking the engine beds in my True North 34. What type of wood should I use as a base? Also has anyone had any experience building a "sea chest" to contain thru-hulls? I am also curious about building a manifold system to reduce the number of thru-hulls required.

My True North has cored cabin sides as well as top. Naturally they were rotten as was the deck. All the sides were cored with small blocks of plywood and I have replaced them with the same. The curved sections were not really that difficult. I simply cut one inch by three inch blocks and glued them ...

No, this boat was originally named Cassiopia, and then it was changed to Revelation. Under these names she cruised the west coast. She now resides in Texas. The current name is the Christina Louise. The True North's hull design mimics the 19th century fishing boats that worked the Columbia River. Mi...

I am currently rebuilding a True North 34 Cutter. The boat has a canoe stern and tiller steering. The rudder is hung on the stern post and comes above the deck where the current tiller attaches. I have wanted to convert to a wheel and recently pruchased a ss and aluminum steering box. The input shaf...