Plastic Classic Forum

Everyone has there own ideas about what makes racing fun, but I have to agree with Shark. One design racing is THE way to go! I will race in any class and have fun, even bath tubs; providing we all agree to the type. Kohler or American Standard, doesn't matter all long as we all have the same one. J...

Its hard to tell from the photos, but if you have a bulwark (where the topsides come up higher than the deck) then the trim on top is called a caprail. This is so even if it is made out of a couple pieces of wood and is shaped over the bulwark. A rubrail is located much lower on the topsides, often ...

If the flange of the new through hull and the nut that secures it on the inside are: 1. sufficiently larger than the hole to create a secure physical/mechanical installation 2. are sufficiently large enough to create a secure and waterproof bedded seal 3. and the slop or gap between the old hole and...

"A boat isn't done until it sinks" So no matter when you start, or how much you work once you do, you will never finish before launching anyway! I like to start as soon as I haul out. The projects don't seem nearly as big when you can pace your work. Factor in that you will likely uncover...

Bosch was bought out by an American company a number of years ago. I would hope it would be available here. They still make some excellent tools, except they have ruined their jigsaw. The barrel handle model that has been considered the best jigsaw on the market for 25 years by many woodworkers is n...

anyone ever see what they want for a Lopolight for example? LOL, yeah, I have, and when you figure that the steaming light comes with no means of attaching it to the mast and you have to spend over an hour making a custom bracket for the riggers to install it with it gets even worse. Its a good thi...

Testing Avatar with liitle luck.

Well, if you're looking for reasons not to buy a boat you probably came to the wrong place :) Lots of good food for thought already posted so I will address just a few points: Project boats can be fun, but only (only!!!) if you want the project portion to be a large part of your boating enjoyment. D...

I installed a drain w/plug in the lowest part of my bilge (in a hallow of the keel in a Renegade). I pull this plug while the boat is still on the travel lift while hauling out and it doesn't go back in until just before launching. The plug is installed with a square drive tool that comes with it an...

I have LED running lights, They cost about twice what incandescent would have but use less than 1/4th the electricity and will probably never need replacing and don't need bulbs. OK, never might be optomistic, but a looong time. The problem with using them for general lighting is the color and the f...

Even though the rudder gets wet and stays that way all season/year/whatever; goop will likely cause more problems than it resolves as Britton has mentioned. If you dry the wood enough to get the filler to adhere well then the swelling shortly after launching will likely crush the nearby wood. If the...

How's the dinghy going? Well, I cut it in half this past weekend. http://www.freeimagehosting.net/uploads/th.8118207aa8.jpg http://www.freeimagehosting.net/uploads/th.f9530b184a.jpg What is the names origin? It comes from JRR Tolkiens mythology. In a book edited by his son Chris called "Unfini...

I just joined this forum and wanted to introduce myself. I figured that the most interesting thing about myself, at least to all you folks would be that fact that I own and have done serious rework on a piece of classic plastic. So I guess the projects section is a good spot for this. I purchased Pe...

I know the manufacturers of polycarbonate and acrylics say to use silicone only for bedding. I know that they say that polysulfides (Boatlife Lifecaulk) and polyurethanes (5200, 4200, Sikaflex 209 LOT) are not suitable. But for the life of me I don't know why. 5200 or 4200 are certainly way more ten...