Some background: I bought Dove, my 1962 Pearson Triton (#318) in November 1999 for $500.00. She was on the hard in Deale, Maryland. She was named Aeolus. The previous owner had purchased the boat in 1969 (then named Antigone). I believe I'm the third owner.
The boat was as delivered from the factory -- no upgrades or modifications. It had been on the hard for several years. After a thorough inspection, I felt the boat could be cleaned up, splashed, and sailed. I chose not to, however. It has been a life-long dream of mine to see the world from the deck of a small sailboat. I decided this was the boat that would help me fulfill my dream. Therefore, even though I was still a little more than 10 years from departing on my voyage, I decided to fix the boat up. I wasn't going to restore the boat. I guess "refit" more closely describes what I wanted to do.
From November 1999 to August 2001, I did the following:
- Removed the Atomic 4 and associated equipment, accessories, wires, etc.
- Removed all hardware, fittings, hoses, wiring, etc.
- Removed icebox and filled cockpit access to old icebox.
- Rebuilt galley with more storage space, freshwater foot pump, new sink, new stove.
- Scrubbed, sanded, painted the entire interior.
- Installed new Lavac Popular marine toilet, new thru-hulls/seacocks, new sanitation hoses, converted existing freshwater tank under v-berth to holding tank.
- Installed new cabin sole, built new table, storage areas, plywood/epoxy water tank, made new settee cushion covers for new foam, new curtains, deadlights, etc.
- Recored 75% of the deck, strengthened cockpit sole and fantail (being a Navy veteran, that's what I always call the small deck space at the stern).
- Prepped and painted topsides, deck, etc.
- Made a new rudder and tiller.
- Disassembled all rigging, inspected mast, replaced all standing rigging using Sta-Lok terminals, added forward lower shrouds, replaced all running rigging, blocks, etc.
- Hung a 9.8 Nissan outboard on the transom.
- Bought a new/used main and genoa.
- A bunch of other things.
Here are some pictures of Dove from this time:
In March of 2010, I had her hauled out and began a series of projects that would prepare her to take me across oceans.
What I have completed thus far:
- Removed the SS half oval at the hull-deck joint, prepped, and glassed over the joint with two layers of fiberglass tape. The hull-deck joint had been leaking in places, and I did this more to stop water from coming in than to strengthen the joint.
- Built a watertight locker in the forward end of the cockpit to reduce cockpit volume in case of boarding waves (also provides nice, dry storage with easy access from the cockpit).
- Removed old cockpit drain thru-hull fittings, filled holes, installed new cockpit drain thru-hulls, hoses, and fittings in cockpit sole (necessary to accommodate new watertight cockpit locker).
- Filled in the propeller aperture.
- Replaced large plexiglass deadlights/frames in cabin with 3/8" polycarbonate, bolted on.
- Removed opening ports in v-berth and filled in openings.
- Replaced opening ports in head/hanging locker area with bolted on plexiglass.
- Added watertight bulkheads in cockpit lockers.
- Built a water tank where the old Atomic 4 used to sit, using plywood, the hull, and epoxy. I haven't filled it yet, so I don't know the exact volume. I'm guessing it will be around 35 gallons.
- Built a new galley amidships, starboard side, with lots of storage and a compartment for a gimballed, single burner kerosene stove.
- Built a quarter-berth, starboard side, with a watertight bulkhead separating it from the cockpit and storage under and behind.
- Removed the holding tank and all existing wood in the v-berth. Built a compartment for a 39 gallon flexible water tank, two lockers port and starboard, and an anchor chain locker for 150' of chain and 100' of nylon rode. I wanted this to be further aft than the existing anchor chain locker to keep as much weight out of the bow as possible. I have an SL Hyspeed manual anchor windlass that will be mounted at the bow, above the new anchor locker. I will be adding a PVC pipe from underneath the deck to the top of the locker.
- Painted every square inch of interior space.
- Installed new hose from the forward water tank and the aft water tank to valves, then a T-fitting, then to the galley footpump, and finally to the spigot at the sink.
- Installed sea hood (that I had built about four years ago).
- Retrofitted two existing cabin lights to LED and Aqua Signal 25 series port, starboard, and stern navigation lights to LED (http://www.bebi-electronics.com/).
What's left (to be completed this spring):
- Prep the deck, cockpit, cabin sides, etc. and paint.
- Prep the topsides and paint (I'm going back to white; although I love dark blue topsides, the dark color makes it too hot down below.)
- Refurbish the rudder and rehang.
- Re-step mast.
- Mount Norvane self-steering windvane.
- Mount 55 watt solar panel, add 12 volt deep cycle battery, charge controller, and finish wiring.
- Replace all deck hardware, bow pulpit, and stern rail. Mount six new stanchions and rig lifelines.
- Miscellaneous small projects, this and that, etc.