Plastic Classic Forum

JSmith

Actually our transdcr is mounted in a different location- this was never used and hidden. I cann't believe in the past it was never crushed. It is the right spot for the strap as it is on a bulkhead inside- guess they never thought of travel lift issues in 1958 when they designed her- only railways ...

JSmith

Had a new experience today launching Muskrat- The yard put the slings in the same old spot-but not really. The forward strap was just forward of the lead shoe/keel and on the way to the slip we noticed the hull was crushed there! I had the plans and it shows a pocket there for a transducer mount and...

JSmith

that's just what I do in our freezer- I also lay a 10" piece of line draped over the edge with both ends in the water- instant handle to carry your block with- just pull them out of the ice box and reuse after the block melts.

JSmith

I just finished a wood pole for MUSKRAT and cheated- with advice from a local spar maker pawed throught the pile at the local lumber yard for 3 clear (fairly) spruce 2 x 6's. It called for a hollow pole so I cut out the middle of the inner plank and then west systemed them together. The plans from a...

JSmith

On MUSKRAT (alden challenger 38) our gimbled Paul Luke propane stove serves as a steady mixing bar as much as a cooking platform. Drink the vodka and eat a tuna sandwich!

JSmith

Never thought about this until I realized all our tugs have an AIS system due to regulation and now I can find out where they are with out having to call- sort of like big brother watching!! The Lucinda Smith will be leaving Quincy Ma this evening bound for Charleton, SC with 2 barges in tow. I'm kn...

JSmith

Wanted to let you all know the Southport Vol. Fire Dept auction is this Sat am and this boat was donated. Opening bid has to be $2500, There is a survey and the value is said to be $15000 ( I say said because that is what I was told and I've only floated past it). Seems to have every thing- sails (r...

JSmith

Well as soon as the state said it was ok to harvest mussels and clams in the mid coast the problem has disappeared- all the eiders left to nibble small mussels and the gulls (aka dump ducks) are back to their old haunts. No more lines draped all over! We have a pair of ospreys nesting for the last 1...

JSmith

we have no problem with the top of the mainmast because our pig stick is tall enough to keep the birds from roosting/squatting on the masthead. No spreader issues either----hopefully!

JSmith

This summer has been unreal in the "cleaning up after the gulls" on Muskrats decks. All the eiders have moved into coves to eats green crabs which they do when their normal diet of mussels become red tide infested. I read somewhere that was how the indians knew not to eat shellfish-see wha...

JSmith

tHERE'S A NICE BIG GROMMET SEWED IN AT THE CLUE- AND NO SIGN OF ANY PLASTIC BETWEEN STRAPS- i THINK IT'S A CAST NET FOR BLACK FLIES.

JSmith

ok- tHE RED END IS WHAT i WOULD CALL THE HEAD, GREEN IS THE TACK ( THERE IS A 6' PENNANT SPLICED IN AS A TIE DOWN) AND MY SON IS HOLDING WHAT i'D CALL THE CLUE. aT THE VERY LEAST I SEE A LOT OF NICE SAIL STOPS IN THE FUTURE!

JSmith

Here it is

JSmith

The "tube" that it makes when zipped is only about 3-4" in diammeter and coming off this are a series of cloth straps which join at a grommet which has a line like a sheet attached. When spread out these make the shape of a headsail- I know, I know I'll try a photo! It does say it is ...

JSmith

I googled it and it looks like you either hoist it up the forestay with a headsail some how in ii or around it. I'll try for a picture soon.

JSmith

Found one at the bottom of a sail bag on Muskrat- what is it for?All I can think of is a preventer for a spinnaker from wrapping around the fore stay but that doesn't look right.

JSmith

Classicmarine.co.uk has a lot of bronze hardware- they have pole ends but not quite big enough for what I need. Toplicht.de also has some.

JSmith

I have dimensions but the end fittings are stumping me.

JSmith

Thanks for the input- I think we'll go w/ semi-gloss for a buld up and then match the rest of the cabin with a satin finish.

JSmith

I'm about to start building a wood pole by laminating up some clear spruce but as my better half pointed out may be I should find some end fitting before all the work is started. The specs from Alden call for a Merriman size 3-A, fig 450-L. I don't have exact measurements yet but I think the socket ...

JSmith

I know satin finish is very desirable inside the cabin but hand rails and moldings have washed out by all the port holes due to the sun. I heard satin varnishes don't have the uv protection and was wondering if any one has combined the two? Wonder if there would be a noticable difference if just the...

JSmith

We got ours at Defenders- made of ash.

JSmith

All engines have them. I think they should last pretty much for the life of the engine between major overhauls- ie till you buy the next engine. Keeping a 50/50 mix of antifreeze and distilled water is as important to prevent freezing as it is to eliminate corrosion/ cavitation (pits liners) of the ...

JSmith

Thanks for the back up- things are still being looked at and checked to find out how deep the blisters . I hesitate atthis point to fi the coatings due to the time of year and the need to have the boat inside.

JSmith

As some might know we had a huge alwgrip job done last spring on MUSKRAT- a few might have heard that when we hauled her last fall and put her across the street she grew a large number of blisters- from 1/8th" up to 1" size- all above the waterline, mainly on the stb side (she was on a moo...

JSmith

When/if the snow & sleet stop I'll make a run to Westbrook for some marine plywood. Seeing how it's the honey tank I'll go on the heavy side.

JSmith

I plan to use 1/4" plywood for a stitch & glue holding tank- about 30 gallons. Do I need to use "marine" plywood? I have the gougeon book and they say high quality but I wonder if that is just for hulls or all projects.

Thanks, Jon

JSmith

We used it last Fall in 40-50 degree wx. Actually had poor results- even covered it with plastic film for hours/overnight. At these temps really not much action. We noticed a dramatic improvement the one day we had mid-upper 50's.

JSmith

It's for our Alden challenger 38. I went through the ronco plastic catalogue and really found nothing that fit without wasting (sorry) alot of space. So after reading Tim's thoughts here I decided I should make one to fit. Not really sure what its capacity would be but based that guess on the tank d...

JSmith

I'll def have 2 lines- I think run the line from the port hull vent to the stb side (top) of the tank and the opp for the other. On the tank end there would be hose barbs for double clamps.

JSmith

that looks great. I actually have 2 vent fittings on either side of the bow so I'll get the one w/ no vent. The tank will be aabout 35 gal under the v-berths shaped to fit the hull.

JSmith

Sounds good- not sure with my location I'd be able to see a sight gauge .The clear fbierglass sounds better- I can imagine "stuff" clogging the tube.....

JSmith

Muskrat is Dark Blue with awlgrip cream on the gloss deck and moon dust for the nonskid- looks niiice w/ the varnish work.

JSmith

What's the recommended tank monitor for a waste tank- I would assume def one with no inside floats, etc! I searched the forum but could'nt find any info. This would be for a plywood/epoxy tank.

JSmith

That was my feeling as well except this would be just in the line for pumping the tank overboard "outside the 3 mile limit" . It wouldn't be used very often (although one numb spell to forget is all it takes), and the valve would always be closed except when both were opened in that line. ...

JSmith

I think I know the answer but have read that if the valve/seachest over board is shut as well as the in-line valves on either side of the macerator, do you really need a vented loop? There would be some water running back to the tank but the pump switch and valves would be together so all could be s...

JSmith

We've gotten quite a bit of flack about naming our Alden Challenger MUSKRAT- why that for such a nice looking boat. She's actually named after a cup defender!!!! sort of- By way of the book "Muskrat-a Surprise bid for the America's Cup" by Douglas Hanks. We have 4-6 copies of this and it i...

JSmith

Those are stop seines- they run a net at night across the mouth of the cove when herring come in to feed- the when the fish try and leave at dawn they make a "pocket" out of another net on the outside of the one across the cove- double corks where the two are side by side are sunk with roc...

JSmith

Any one heard or have thoughts on these. I know they're a Plas Trend hull, solid glass from the 60's. Heard about one in Ct and just curious.

JSmith

Well we have some fuzzies on order- promise we won't keep them in those fender racks up on the bow.

In the meantime we launched w/ some home made ones- cut up an old velor blanket and duct taped them around the fenders- work great and actually look quite snappy!

JSmith

Here she is after last Sat awl grip on the topsides- we've been told we need fuzzy fender covers- we're going in tomorrow. Can we use the reg vinyl fenders or do we need the fuzzy covers ( not available in 1960)? We are wicked excited!!!! http://img2.freeimagehosting.net/uploads/th.2e23d29183.jpg [/...

JSmith

I think the galvanic isolator is important if you leave your boat at a marina or dock with alot of other boats plugged in - From what I understand it prevents your hull from being the sacrificial zinc for all the other boats around you. Not sure how.

JSmith

I vote enough chain so when you haul back your just handling the rode by hand as the boat eases forward- no need for a windlass, then as the chain draws tighter with less scope and depth i drop it on the wibdlass and crank her in. As far as chafe sometimes on tugs & towing we use the opposite- w...

JSmith

d I have my 12 coats on the spars and are starting to reinstall. I've read other posts here and it seems for long term attachment & to retard critter growth a full bed is favored. I plan to use Dolphinite as that's what I've always used- like the smell too. Would you seal the tracks on all the s...

JSmith

thanks! We'll try this weekend to fair the bottom.
also on the adgenda is coat 10 on the main mast, take off the winter cover, dump run, etc.

JSmith

Muskrat is solid core, has wicked zits above water line- none below but gouges w/ I think moisture ( plastic duct taped to hull has moisture under it-just condensation?). I would like to put ablative bottom paint on her this weekend but wonder if I need barrier coat. The gouges are battle scars and ...

JSmith

Derecktor did finish her and it's surprising how the two interiors are similar. The plans from Alden spec out the layout but I imagine there are all sorts of nuances the builders incorporated in their own work. I cann't seem to figure out how to post multiple pix without having to go through the pro...

JSmith

nope-she's patiently waiting for room in the shed at George Leon's up at the Boothbay Industrial Park. She'll have awl grip work done to cabin top, decks, & topsides while Cindy & I finish the bright work.Right now she's next to the building in her last ever shrink wrap:)---sorry I didn't re...

JSmith

Congrats!!

You're welcome to look at "Muskrat" as well- she's usually in Southport.

We can supply pix too if needed.

Best of Luck. Jon

JSmith

"Grey Seas Under", not really a sailing book at all but a great read. Our family's all time favorite: "Muskrat, a surprise bid for the America's Cup" by Douglas Hanks. Now you know where the name for our Challenger came from- not that she's as fast. Definately a must for any one ...

Plastic Classic Forum

Search found 78 matches

Re: transducer mount

transducer mount

Re: A question about Ice

Re: Building a wood Spinnaker Pole…have a couple of questions…

Re: Why use propane when you can use kerosene?

Re: interesting site with shipping traffic

Irwin 34 w/ yanmar diesel up for auction

Re: red tide, green crabs, eiders & gulls an all the stuff left

Re: red tide, green crabs, eiders & gulls an all the stuff left

red tide, green crabs, eiders & gulls an all the stuff left

Re: zipper luff????

Re: zipper luff????

Re: zipper luff????

Re: zipper luff????

Re: zipper luff????

zipper luff????

Spinnaker pole fittings- Alden Challenger

inside varnish

topside blisters

plywood for holding tank

tank monitors

PT 40

Muskrat is getting wet

Bedding

barrier coat again