Plastic Classic Forum

JonnyBoats

Well here is what I did for backing plates. The windlass is mounted with 4 5/8 inch bolts, 2 in front and two in back. I purchased a 4"x23" 1/4" thick 316L piece of stainless plate at a surpluss yard for $24. Then I took it to a shop with a plate shear and had it cut in half lengthwis...

JonnyBoats

I am starting to look into refigeration for my LeComte Northeast 38 sloop. I am installing a new 28 HP Beta diesel engine. We plan to live on the boat and cruse all over, so I need something that will work in the tropics. Personaly I would be tempted to not have refigeration in order to keep things ...

JonnyBoats

Does anyone know how CG documentation works

Give them (USCG National Vessel Documentation Center) a call at (800) 799-8362 and ask to speak with a documentation officer. They are very friendly and will be happy to answer your questions.

JonnyBoats

Here's what I would call an adequate starter kit for most fiberglass boats.

Thanks Tim.

How long does this stuff keep, particulary once it is opened? Also any tips on proper storage?

JonnyBoats

Any boatowner needs a supply of epoxy resin and appropriate fillers.

What would you recommend for a "starter kit"?

JonnyBoats

What are the different types of epoxy, and how much difference does it make which one is used for small projects on a boat? For example can one use the small tubes of epoxy from the dime store for bedding backing plates, or is that type of epoxy lots different than "marine" epoxy?

JonnyBoats

Does anyone know if bolts are available in 316 stainless? I would like to find a good source for bolts etc.

JonnyBoats

John, let's narrow the field of discussion. What material would you LIKE to use for backing plates? Well at the moment I am mounting a Sampson-Lawerence Seatiger windlass which has 4 5/8 inch bolts coming through the deck. It is mounted over the V berth, so it wouldn't be a bad thing to make it loo...

JonnyBoats

How do Hi-Mods compare whit Norseman and Sta-Locs?

JonnyBoats

Interesting thread.

One thing I did not see discussed is the thickness of the backing plate.

Also I _assume_ that just as with bulkheads where one does not want to create hard spots on the hull, there must be something similar with backing plates and fittings?

JonnyBoats

Today I send Joe a deposit on a 28 HP engine. So if others are considering going in on this group purchase, this should help bring the price down for us.

I will be installing this engine in my LeComte Northeast 38.

JonnyBoats

When making backing plates for deck hardware, are there any formulas or rules for determining the ideal size, type and thickness of backing plates?

JonnyBoats

My drop from the chain gypsey to the locker is vertical and straight, so hopefully that will make for the best possible arrangement. The only problem I can see is if my locker is not high enough in which case I will have to send someone below to knock the chain down. I have 300 feet of 3/8 in BBB ch...

JonnyBoats

I am mounting a SeaTiger windlass on the foredeck of my 38 ft LeComte. I want to have a chain pipe running from the deck down in to the locker below the v berth.

Does anyone have a photo of a chain pipe instlalled in a V berth? I am curious how to attach the top of the pipe to the deck?

JonnyBoats

I made the down payment on my 20HP Beta Marine engine today. Joe is willing to offer us a group discount, so if anyone is interested, here's your chance to get a new engine for a bit less.

Is this deal still available? I might be interested in a BV1305 - 35 hp engine.

JonnyBoats

If anyone would like to see a more technical piece on lifelines, see http://www.ussailing.org/safety/Studies ... _study.htm which is a study on lifelines done jointly by U.S. Naval Academy/US SAILING.

JonnyBoats

What are the best practices for sailboat lifelines?

Does anyone use norseman or stalock fittinges on lifelines are swaged fittings always used?

Is uncoated 1/4 inch 7x19 S/S wire yhe best wire to use?

JonnyBoats

Someday, it'd be nice if someone would build an entire structure or mechanism that used only one size nut.

For a start, wouldn't it be great if someone built a boat that only had metric or SAE fasteners, not both?

JonnyBoats

Thank you for the additional photos. Taking a look at your closeup, (copy here) http://www.bigblackvan.com/boatpics/tangcloseupLarge.jpg I would say this is definately not up to LeComte standards. For example it looks like the forestay is rigged with a shackle rather than a proper toggle. Also shoul...

JonnyBoats

With digital cameras and computers it is easy to take and keep photos to document our boats. If you are like me, a photo of a nut is not enough to show me what size wrench I need to loosen it. This gave me the idea of putting a wrench on the nut or fitting when taking the photo. Below is a photo of ...

JonnyBoats

Your bilges look just like my LeComte Northeast 38. Your ?Pretty scary piece of junk? looks identical to the top of my fuel tank. I was able to remove all the nuts holding the plate, but so far I have been unable to pry up the plate. I have had problems with water getting into my fuel tank. Did you ...

JonnyBoats

With this type of diesel would it be possible (and safe) to use a portable tank as would be used for an outboard motor?

JonnyBoats

Has anyone ever heard of a diesel engine that doesn't have a return line going back to the fuel tank? I have a Volvo MD2B and can't find any return line.

JonnyBoats

Some sailboats have controls where the trhottel ans shift are on two different levers while othere have these functions combined in a single lever.

What are the pluses and minuses to each approach?

JonnyBoats

There is no legal requirement that a vessel have a head. My recommendation is to disable the head by sealing the discharge seacock closed. Can you do this by putting a wire tie through the seacock handle so that it can not be opened without cutting the wire tie? Of course once out 3 miles one is fre...

JonnyBoats

This is like deja vu all over again

Yogi Berra

JonnyBoats

OK, since this is "boat nerdery" Leaving ascetics aside (after all, from a traditional point of view a sailboat wouldn't have an engine), why should the exhaust exit through the stern? On a Coast Guard 47 ft motor life boat the exhaust exits through the sides just ahead of the stern. There...

JonnyBoats

Price will depend a _lot_ on if you get swaged fittings or terminals like sta-lock or norseman. Termanals cost more but are re-usable and field installable. A proper swage must be cold rolled on a proper machine. It is no better than the operator and machine used, and you will not be able to tell vi...

JonnyBoats

You didn't say what kind of boat you have, so of course price depends on size. Last June I replaced the forstay on my LeComte Northeast 38 which has 1/4 inch 1x19 SS and a mast that is 45 feet off the water (forget exact length of forestay). I did this in conjunction with installing roller furling. ...

JonnyBoats

What is a good source for fuel shutoff valves? What features, if any, make for a good valve?

JonnyBoats

Since we are talking about "ideal", how about: 1) Maknig sure the exhaust manafold is well above the water line. 2) Putting the exaust exit somewhere easy to see from the cockpit. Everyone I know checks for cooling water flow when they start the engine, and with some cockpits and outflows ...

JonnyBoats

I found a place to buy a tube in Tamp, FL that sold it to me for $5.50. It is a company that installs underground fuel tanks for gas stations etc. They had two kinds of paste, one that turns red in water and the other that turns color in the presence of petrolium products. I asked why one would want...

JonnyBoats

I found a place to buy a tube in Tamp, FL that sold it to me for $5.50. It is a company that installs underground fuel tanks for gas stations etc. They had two kinds of paste, one that turns red in water and the other that turns color in the presence of petrolium products. I asked why one would want...

JonnyBoats

I am changing out the exhaust hose in my LeComte Northeast 38, which causes me to wonder what the "ideal" exhaust system would be? I ran across this article http://www.docksidereports.com/sail_boat_auxiliaries.htm where the author states: exhaust riser failure is the number one cause of ma...

JonnyBoats

Beth Leonard in ?The Voyager?s Handbook?, second edition on page 107 describes a variant on the ?Hal Roth? setup. Replace the siphon break with a hose fitted with a large one-way valve that ends as high above the waterline as possible ideally in a coaming above the cockpit. I guess one could install...

JonnyBoats

I think we need a uniquely Maine version of these fenders. How about pink flamingo fenders?

JonnyBoats

I tried that in my original diesel installation. Most of the exhaust water ended up in the cockpit; it was miserable, and I removed it.

Did you provide some other form of siphon break or did you dispense with a siphon break entirely?

JonnyBoats

I am replacing all the old exhaust hose on my boat and have my muffler out.

I assume this Vernalift muffler is quite old, but I have no reason to suspect any problems. Would there be any reason to replace it with a new one?

JonnyBoats

Hal Roth in his book "How to Sail Around the World" on page 338 describes a unique method of preventing cooling water from siphoning back into the engine when it is shut off. I bleed off a small percentage of the cooling water via a small hose that goes to a back corner of the cockpit. Whe...

JonnyBoats

Bill Seifert in his book "Offshore Sailing" recommends the use of an aqualarm (Tip 128, page 100) to monitor the flow of enginee cooling water. I have never used one of these and would like to know if anyone has experience or opinions on these. My engine is a Volvo MD2B raw water cooled in...

JonnyBoats

The diesel tank for my LeComte Northeast 38 is integral to the bilge, and I have been getting water in my diesel. I have not yet determined exactly where yet, so... My intention is to take the boat to a yard to be hauled out. It is a yard where I can do my own work, but I need to get the boat there ...

JonnyBoats

What is the best finish for a teak and holly cabin sole? Is Ultimate Sole http://www.ultimatesole.com/index.asp?ID=10 a good choice?

JonnyBoats

The cabin sole on my LeComte Northeast 38 built in 1967 is teak and holly (not plywood). It is starting to come apart and needs to be re-glued. Here is a link to a photo http://www.jonnyboats.com/Portals/0/BoatPhotos/Cabin_Sole.jpg What is he best glue to use for this purpose? Any other tips greatly...

JonnyBoats

Also take a look at Sea Clear II (http://www.sping.com/seaclear/) I use Seaclear and like it alot. It is definately worth the money (free). Also you can always have fully corrected charts for free from NOAA. I did a three part tutorial on Seaclear at http://www.boatmaine.us/seaclear-training.aspx

JonnyBoats

Who, I keep lerning so much about boats! Where can one buy thieving paste ? Should I just go by the local gas station with a small container and ask the attendent for some and give him a couple of bucks? Also would it be aa good idea to use this stuff regulary on a sailboat? Perhaps when commissioni...

JonnyBoats

I was reading about pressure testing fuel tanks to test for leaks. The idea is to use a bicycle or other small pump to put 3 lbs of pressure in the tank and then see if it holds the pressure for 24 hours.

Is this a good test and is it commonly employed to check old tanks?

JonnyBoats

In Good Old Boat magazine: Volume 2, Number 1, January/February 1999, Bill Sandifer has an article http://72.14.253.104/search?q=cache:jJL-iA4VHaAJ:www.boatus.com/goodoldboat/tanksalot.htm+fiberglass+diesel+tanks&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=2&gl=us about fuel and water tanks in which he discuss...

JonnyBoats

When I worked with DuPont in the early 1990s lots of sailors who worked for DuPont used Imron on their boats since it is a DuPont product. I never heard of any complaints.

JonnyBoats

I think it's in Bill Seifert's book "Offshore Sailing: 200 Passagemaking tips" where I saw a method for finding the best spot, balance-wise, to place the cleat. Yes, he deals with this in detail. With proper placement it is possible to power a boat into a dock while keeping it parallel to...

JonnyBoats

Well I did see a fellow from Whitefield going around the coast with a cart (well boat trailer actually) saying "Bring out your dead Tritons"

Plastic Classic Forum

Search found 372 matches

Refigeration

Epoxy

316 Stainless steel bolts?

Engineering backing plates

Chain pipe

Lifelines

Photo tip

Diesel return lines

Engine control levers

Fuel shutoff valves

Engine exhaust systems

When to replace a waterlifty muffler

Siphion break for engine exaust

Engine water flow alarm

Portable diesel tanks?

Best finish for cabin sole

Re-gluing teak and holly cabin sole

Pressure testing fuel tanks

Water finder paste