Plastic Classic Forum

Ceasar Choppy

Is there any reason you are afraid of replacing these boogers with foam? It sounds like silcone to me, except silicone isn't tacky. (Those of you with early Pearsons will attest to the Pearson yard's love of silicone!). Either way, whether you have a hardspot depends more on how you tab/fillet than ...

Ceasar Choppy

My friend Dan Pfeiffer did something similar... he flattened the end of a pistol-type soldering gun. There's a picture of it here in the first picture:
http://dan.pfeiffer.net/10m/quarterbert ... ebuild.htm

Ceasar Choppy

This year I used Epifanes' Rapid Clear on the toe rail as suggested by Hirilonde's who was trying it for the first time as well. It goes on quick (like thinned varnish), has good build and color, and you can recoat within 4-5 hours of the previous coat without sanding.... AND you can use it as a bui...

Ceasar Choppy

Any epoxy should work OK. But be carefull not to mix polyester/vinylester compounds with what you've already done in epoxy... the epoxy will stick to the x-esters, but not the otherway around.

Ceasar Choppy

I gotta tell ya, I have not had great luck with the silver tape on anything over a week. HOWEVER, I just used the 3M green 256 and while it holds up OK, it will take the paint with it when its time to take it off. The adhesive is very aggressive with the 256. While the silver was hard to remove (ver...

Ceasar Choppy

I'm jumping in a little late here not having read much in the thread recently... so I apologize if I'm repeating anything, but that won't stop me from adding my $0.02. ;) The great thing about most of the early Pearsons is the comodious v-berth and cockpit. Whether or not the v-berth is actually use...

Ceasar Choppy

JB has it... the forked terminals that have the ends of the "tines" bent are the best bet. Unless you buy a $50 Hubble marine GFCI outlet that lets you use ring terminals. As I explained earlier, it was a huge pain to use the ring terminals on the outlets. Wirenuts should be banned on a bo...

Ceasar Choppy

Anything short of anodizing will have to be re-done within 5 years time (+/-)... and even the anodizing will go eventually. I'm not sure what anodizing will run you, but you also might look into getting new frames custom made if your existing ones are bad enough. I've been quoted anywhere from $900 ...

Ceasar Choppy

try http://www.onlinemetals.com

They are in Seattle, but they have good prices and are easy to deal with.

Ceasar Choppy

Let the glass cure, dissolve the foam and pull out the packing tape. Polyester resin does a number on dow board... shape shifting mold... Hehehe! ... Epoxy you can just glass right over a foam that it doesn't eat, and solvent does. (I like epoxy, but its to expensive for me to do much experimenting...

Ceasar Choppy

McMaster carries the butyl-as-caulk too. I just wasn't sure this was the same stuff/had the same characteristics as the tape/rope. I'll check it out.

Ceasar Choppy

Nice website Acoustic. You've totally inspired me. I was going to use polysulphide caulk but I decided to order some of that grey butyl tape from McMaster. I've removed my windows which are very different to your ports. Do you recommend the butyl between the glass and the frame as well as between t...

Ceasar Choppy

Yes I can confirm this... indeed the masthead is the front of the mast.

Although I've also heard the steaming/masthead light called the "bow light"... at least that is how its labled on any original Pearson electrical panel.

Ceasar Choppy

I doubled up the 1/4" where necessary, squeezed the portlights in with the clamps, and trimmed the excess. McMaster doesn't have 3/8" but I bet its out there.

Ceasar Choppy

I use them. I mount them IN the cockpit on the walls. They are fine and out of the way. Make sure you use that rubber pad they come with-- it dampens vibration so the D ring doesn't chatter when the engine is on. Try not to mount them near the stern. Nothing worse than going overboard with your teth...

Ceasar Choppy

McMaster has butyl tape that is grey instead of black and is a lot less messy. They sell it in 1/4" rope form, but it is a little less messy and works just as good IMHO.

Part No. 1049A31 Sta-soft Glazing Rope.

Ceasar Choppy

Having just gone through all of this and learning it all as I went, I'm mad you didn't get this up sooner! Very informative and I'm glad you also took the trouble to highlight the small details!

I would have loved to have ordered from NFM, but they don't make (nor seem to want to make) oval ports!

Ceasar Choppy

What I don't like about these fuse blocks, however, is that they step down a 3/8" terminal stud on the battery, to 1/4". Although I said I have 5/16" studs, I have 3/8"... and the terminals on my battery cable are 3/8" which means I would have to replace this terminal.

Ceasar Choppy

When I bought my boat it came with two zincs installed just forward of the shaft strut. The first zinc was for electroysis protection. The second was to keep the shaft from falling out of the boat if put in reverse too hard.

Ceasar Choppy

Interestingly, Blue Seas sells terminal post fuses intended for mounting directly to the battery! Tim, I have a picture of these, but help me visualize how these work. I've ever seen these before. Are these for batteries with male terminal posts? My Lifelines have threaded recepticals that take a 5...

Ceasar Choppy

Don't use any methylene chloride on your fiberglass. It will react with and soften it. You could try a "safe" stripper, but safe strippers are safe because they don't react with anything, including paint. (I know, I know, many of them work OK in the end. But none work like the "real&...

Ceasar Choppy

As an ex-marine friend of mine is fond of repeating:

If you can't tie a knot, tie a lot.

Ceasar Choppy

When I repainted the interior of my Renegade, I used Brightside-- with the flatner. The Renegade I had was an early one and did not have a liner anywhere except underneath the cabin top. I faired and filled all the surfaces with epoxy (lots of grinder marks all over from the factory), primed the sur...

Ceasar Choppy

My slip neighbor uses them. I'm skeptical, however. My own splices are at least as strong, if not stronger and look a lot sleeker than these. Plus, I have something to do during the week when I'm watching TV. Splicing doesn't intimidate me like it used to-- before I started doing it enough to get so...

Ceasar Choppy

Update: I'm using fiberglass spacers, but oh, what a messy horrible job! They don't make 3/8" x 5/8" x 10' strips of FG, so I had to order 3/8" x 2" strips and cut them with a table saw. Yuck! But they will no doubt do the trick. After getting some sample plastic and a recommenda...

Ceasar Choppy

I want to emphasize if they acted as you accuse them of acting, West Marine would have nothing to do with them, Man Ship wouldn't want them as a dealer and it's doubtful they would be in business. Waste Marine? Are you serious? I don't know why you insist on defending them so unless you've got some...

Ceasar Choppy

LOL... I never thought I'd see Titanium Through Hulls!

The folding pad-eyes look nice, although I don't see any SWL ratings associated with them.

Ceasar Choppy

I am frankly surprised to hear of your problems. Scott has always bent over backwards to accommodate me, and I think he is one of the best, most knowledgeable sale people in the marine chandlery business. I have ordered hardware from him over the last three years and was never disappointed—always d...

Ceasar Choppy

I am changing my Renegade over to Epifanes Rapid Clear. It is a semi-gloss. What I like most about it is that it doesn't require sanding between coats. I find that sanding every 4 coats keeps it quite level. I have way too much bright work on my boat to keep up with high gloss, and semi is much mor...

Ceasar Choppy

If done correctly, you should have absolutely no problem. When the paint is atomized, it should dry in the air in a matter of seconds. Best to take the cover off of your boat and use the plastic or whatever to cover the boats next to you if you are worried. This way you can see what you are doing si...

Ceasar Choppy

I take full responsibility Only fake money? I'll remember that when I tell you your cabin sole looks like a million bucks! ;) Feetup, I agree with you... this is the only site I know where folks actually "get it" and where there are many more obsessive people that make me look like a rank...

Ceasar Choppy

There's always frozen custard.

Guaranteed to double your dose of Plavix, yet keep you addicted for a long long time.

Ceasar Choppy

Otherwise, any suggestions for relieving the pressure of the shroud on the endgrain? You aren't going to relieve this pressure... its sort of the point of the spreader (ok bad pun). You can mitigate the effects and spread the load with a metal strap fashioned around the grain of the tip of the spre...

Ceasar Choppy

You could try and eek out a few more years out of the gel coat by repairing it where it needs it. If its in serviceable condition that is... This is something I'm wrestling with as well, although I haven't done anything yet. My non-skid is so-so, and the gelcoat has some blemishes and is wearing thi...

Ceasar Choppy

The technique was to oil the wood with a linseed based oil, using the soak-wipe-dry method for a couple of coats, then mix a 30% linseed oil, 30 % tung oil, and 30% varnish mix and apply it with 600 A wet and dry paper, sanding it in well, with lots of elbow grease to drive it in deep with the heat...

Ceasar Choppy

I heard a rumor-- only a rumor-- that a lot of folks who went the bamboo route for the flooring in their homes over the last 6 or so years, were dissapointed because of the tendency of the bamboo planks to "curl" or cup over time. Can anyone lend any credance to this rumor? I was thinking ...

Ceasar Choppy

MikeD, You probably don't need to go through all the trouble of attaching the spacer to the track to install. The trick is to just drill the holes in the spacer (usually 4" centers) and through bolt it all together (caulk between the toe rail and the spacer is a good idea though to prevent leak...

Ceasar Choppy

Actually the more I think about the FRP, the more I'm skeptical since the FRP wouldn't be flexible enough to take the curve of the toe rail. Anyone tell me I'm wrong?

Ceasar Choppy

MikeD wrote:I'm considering the same thing with mine as well. I was thinking a strip of FRP might work.

I thought of that.... The only thing that concerns me about FRP is the breakdown from UV, however slight, on the exposed sides. Especially UV reflected from the water. Although FRP could be painted.

Ceasar Choppy

I just pulled off the 10 feet of 1.5" T-track on each side of my Pearson 39 because I'm refinishing the toe rail and I was looking to replace the stainless track with aluminum. The original stainless track has a rotted 3/8" x 3/4" teak spacer underneath it that lifts it off the toe ra...

Ceasar Choppy

We've discussed some of this in the past... and in general, what you say is true. But stereotypes aren't always helpful. I really hate when the yards assume that everyone with a 30 y.o 30 footer is a grotty yachtie and treat them accordingly. OR they try and recoup their losses by grossly overchargi...

Ceasar Choppy

I'll second the recommendation of the one-touch Lewmars. They even work in my 35 y.o. Lewmar winches-- the ones Lewmar doesn't even have diagrams for anymore (45- 3 speed). Also, the Lewmar one-touch handles are actually made by someone else and branded Lewmar. When I find the link, I'll post it. Th...

Ceasar Choppy

The Clear Gloss is good. It is traditional spar varnish with all the pros and cons... But it looks sooo damn good. The Woodfinish does not require sanding between coats if done within a certain amount of time. This works pretty well, although can be a little darker than the regular clear. You will w...

Ceasar Choppy

Couldn't agree with you more there keelbolts. Much of what I need to do will have to wait for warmer weather in the spring, but here is my 2007-8 list: 1. Replace the port lights: Now that I finally have my portlights and have had them machined (don't get me started on trashing Mariner's Hardware o...

Ceasar Choppy

The only reason I stayed with Boat/US was because their policy was cheaper on my other boat. I'm with IMS now with the new boat and not really happy with the policy terms. after all the work I've done to the new boat, I'm hoping to get a new survey this year to establish a higher value and start sho...

Ceasar Choppy

Why (WHY?) are you having so much trouble with set screws? :)
What about using epoxy to fill the old holes and RE-TAP the epoxy?

Ceasar Choppy

Pipe Cleaners... cool. Have you guys and gals figured out a way to recycle the syringes? I haven't played with loading my own. (I was reading the other day about recycling used caulk gun tubes doing fillets...) I use acid brushes to wet-out the holes. You can get much smaller ones if you need them ...

Ceasar Choppy

There are always lots of air bubbles, but as long as it can settle out before it cures, the worst that can happen in that you have to re-fill the holes a little, but the epoxy has creeped into most of the hole. I've found that using a syringe is very helpful in filling those holes. That and making t...

Ceasar Choppy

Is that a vented loop venting into the cabin I see???? Ummm... where else can a vented loop vent into? One thing I was going to try since I also have a vented loop in my plumbing 'closet' is a hose stuck over the end of the vent fitting and run to a thru cabin fitting. Exactly! You might think abou...

Ceasar Choppy

I'll bet its coming from your vent hose... has your tank been full or overfull? I've recently had this problem. Also, check hose connections at the tank and all the way down the line. Is that a vented loop venting into the cabin I see???? It only takes a little bit. Re the PVC... don't need no steee...

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Re: Nerdy electrical circut protection question

Re: Mariner's Hardware counterpoint

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