Plastic Classic Forum

bcooke

Spoken like a man with experience? It is still quite painful to recollect. As for securing the anchor rode... Zane, what kind of boat did you say you had? In my Triton there is a wooden peice that would be called a stem if the boat were made out of wood that instead just lays up against the pointy ...

bcooke

I am going to take my bad habit of hijacking postings onto wild tangents to new heights by taking my own for a ride before anyone else has a chance to respond. I bought my Triton in "working condition", that is, it was assumed to be capable of stepping the mast and sailing away which I alm...

bcooke

If anyone wants to try and convince me that three out of four mounting bolts are sufficient to hold the Atomic Four in place I will provide the beer... My aft starboard mounting bolt is loose; very loose. Now one would think that, however awkward it might be, it should be possible to get a wrench on...

bcooke

It is a sad moment when you toss your brand new anchor over the side, attached to brand new chain, and brand new nylon rode, and then think, "I should let out a few more feet..." as the bitter end slides through you fingers and leaps free. The nylon rode will float tantalizingly close for ...

bcooke

Maybe that's why I come in so often and blather on endlessly here on this forum.

Nah, that's my excuse.

-Britton

bcooke

Yeah, I heard that the very late A4's were coming out with the electric pumps. I just never heard why. Are they better or cheaper?... I was leaning towards the electric (I like new parts and mounting on a bulkhead where I have easier access would be a plus) but decided that changing stuff that wasn'...

bcooke

You must be having a good week

Yeah, I made it to the boat without getting the four wheel drive stuck and lifted a corner of the tarp for a good look around and project planning session. That always makes for a good week!

-Britton

bcooke

When I am working as an employee I am often grumbling about how badly things are managed and how I would do it better if I were working for myself. When I work for myself I grumble about the clients and wish for a simple steady paycheck. The best job is Tim's. He just plays on the toys he loves all ...

bcooke

So not only is the height of the scribed waterline a fantasy but the relationship to the fore and aft level position is off too. Let it float where it looks good and paint the waterline to match then. Not that I am really concerned, I just thought moving the tank towards the center was a good thing....

bcooke

Which just goes to prove that I really don't know what I am talking about :-)

You have drawings that show the designed center of bouancy? Station 6? Does that put the ballast in front of the CB?

-Britton

bcooke

Here is an interesting calculation I just came up with. The orginal 23 gallon tank, when full, should weigh around 138 pounds. Now if one estimates its position about 20 feet aft of the Center of Gravity (very rough estimates here) then the downward force on the stern is 2760 pounds. (Weight x Arm =...

bcooke

Oh yeah, you answered that question in January... I should have scrolled up a bit. I guess I will pioneer this one then.

-Britton

bcooke

Nathan, I could remove, clean, and reinstall my old fuel tank or just order a new one which would take about five days and $300-400. I was measuring for a tank in the bilge and was wondering what you had for ideas. I was thinking a 30 inch tank positioned over the slanting portion of the ballast sec...

bcooke

Getting back to the thread topic - or sort of anyway - When re-installing the propeller and shaft, is there a grease or antisieze that could be used to help make future removals easier?

-Britton

bcooke

Rather than continue to hijack threads, taking them on wild tangents, I thought I would start my personal ramble thread... I am not seriously considering removing the A4. It is tempting sometimes but it won't go the way of my icebox (as in a sudden flurry of insight and hammer swings). Right now I a...

bcooke

Amazing how much one thing leads to four others, isn't is. Boats are one big pyramid scheme, I think. Exactly. My plan for a sailing restoration has been modified a bit. It is just so much easier to rip it all out and start fresh than to work around all the stuff you know you are going to rip out l...

bcooke

Thanks for the walkthrough. I have been soaking the fasteners for a couple of days now. Maybe I will keep it up for another week or so. Pulling then engine isn't on my to-do list. I am afraid if the engine comes out it will not go in. Someone has already made an offer on it and I could use the money...

bcooke

On a Triton, that's two hours of grunting and sweating with your arm stuffed shoulder-deep into the cockpit access hole. Mike since I am looking at pulling my propeller shaft in the next week or so could you elaborate a bit. When I look through the hole I see the three well rusted bolts on the coup...

bcooke

On a Triton, that's two hours of grunting and sweating with your arm stuffed shoulder-deep into the cockpit access hole. Mike since I am looking at pulling my propeller shaft in the next week or so could you elaborate a bit. When I look through the hole I see the three well rusted bolts on the coup...

bcooke

I guess I am just over thinking this one

Join the club. Winter does that to you. It is definitely something to consider and it got me thinking.

-Britton

bcooke

You really shouldn't show images like that to Triton owners. I would give Nathan's right leg to have that much room on the inside of my boat (as long as the boat remained narrow on the outside). I too am toying with the idea of tongue and groove on the bulkhead. I was talking yesterday with a plywoo...

bcooke

By the line trick I think you are refering to a line attached to the top board and tied off to a cleat or something below the companian way. I thought that method was pretty user friendly as it is. You don't need to figure eight around the cleat just a couple of circular wraps will keep the boards i...

bcooke

The daysailor's bottom still needs some grinding, I think, for example!

Oh man!... That is exactly what I am doing to feed myself these days - bottom sanding someone else's boat. Just when I thought I would never see another bottom again...

-Britton

bcooke

why didn't you stop by the barn and do a little varnish work [?] Well, I would have loved to but 1.) I thought you guys would be at the show. 2.) I went with some others and they were anxious to see the show and get home quick. 3.) Seeing your boats all freshly varnished and then looking at my boat...

bcooke

Tony, I tried and it seems the reception reacts the same no matter what station is tuned in. There isn't a ground wire in the whole house I am living in so I was thinking the lights were providing a pseudo ground somehow - the theory is way over my head though. particularly for those of us who can't...

bcooke

Ian are you trying to make us jealous with the weather report? I will have you know I actually had my jacket off for a few minutes today and was enjoying the direct sunshine. Remember, when teaching, you are supposed to let the students try sailing too.

-Britton

bcooke

I don't know how many times I have re-read one of my posts and winced. (one quite recently actually) It always sounds good when you are writing it. That said I didn't interpret anything other than humor in your post. I think your mentor may be driving you too hard. Speaking of mentors, I was at the ...

bcooke

it didn't seem to matter to me that the old core was still there So you are comfortable knowing there is mushy balsa and rot under your feet.... Hmmm. That wouldn't work for me. I get all itchy when I think of it. Of course you have done a lot more than me and maybe you have a developed a better se...

bcooke

I happen to know he had the owner buy the mat and resin just for that job. It is good to hear that my instincts are improving. I will feel better using my own judgement when the "experts" start giving me advice. That, by the way, is exactly what I did for my cockpit sole Great minds think ...

bcooke

I certainly think it's possible to overdo the saltiness on a triton. The hull has a touch of elegance to its design, and this can easily become cluttered. The Triton may be classic in appearance, but she's not a character machine. Therefore, any additions should be in keeping with her relatively ut...

bcooke

Looking at that picture all I can say is WOW!... I bet that dust bunny isn't dead after all and is just lurking in the shadows ready to strike. I saw a plywood cockpit sole given a "layer" of fiberglass by a very experienced and well thought of boat carpenter recently. I have seen his wood...

bcooke

Come to think of it, when I think bowsprits I don't include a pulpit in the picture. I think that is why it looks funny to me. Who needs a pulpit on a bowsprit anyway? I don't know what you call them but the horizontal cables to each side would provide the security to go out on the point if you real...

bcooke

I figured out why Alberg's drawings show a fuel tank under the cockpit but Pearson opted for the cockpit locker arrangement. It didn't dawn on me last fall or over the winter because I had the cockpit sole all torn up and ... the A4 shift linkage removed. I hooked the linkage back up the other day a...

bcooke

BTW, just heard back from them. 4 inches refer to the diameter.

-Britton

bcooke

Yep, I checked and Mike brought up the subject about a year ago. That thread was started from a picture of Soubrette . You guys called it a "scutter" and I agree that it sounds better and all further references by me will be in that name. Funny thing about that picture though is that the b...

bcooke

Since the general conversation has degenerated into laundry preferences I thought I would start another rambling topic for idle discussion. Since we all know we share a common love for bowsprits, I drew up a quick picture justifying a bowsprit on a Triton and sent it back channels to Tim. It was a q...

bcooke

We, of course, know that washing machines are made for washing dirty work clothes. I think Mike's problem is in convincing his other half that boat clothes are just ordinary dirty work clothes. I still think he has a better chance with the laundromat. I also feel that fabric softener is over-rated a...

bcooke

Laundromat. Just don't use the same machine twice!

Or.... when the owner of the washing machines isn't around... hmmm... yeah, like I said, laundromat.

-Britton

bcooke

I am totally on board with the BCC thing. Great boat all around. The bahamian rig may be more practical but looks kinda funky IMHO. The BCC is all old world tradition and the triangle sail just stands out too much. And bow sprits are ...er.... nice, but going out there on that pole when it gets roug...

bcooke

I sure have bowsprit envy! I love bowsprits

Hmmm... anyone want to touch that one?

Tim, let's keep things professional around here ;-)

bcooke

Thanks for the link Mike.

They have some that are four inches. I am assuming that is the glass height. A set would run about $400 ouch! Maybe I better get those wires run. Nice looking though...

-Britton

bcooke

Of course you know the trick...

Actually I didn't but I do now. The key I imagine is to run the drill slowly. One could get carried away there...

-Britton

bcooke

This summer I am probably not going to have an electical system beyond something for starting the engine. I was wondering about kerosene lanterns in the rigging for running lights. Once the electrical system is up and running I figure the kerosene would make a nice backup plus they look kinda cool. ...

bcooke

Epsom Mad Funkers Surrounded by Cyber experts I learn something new every day . Now who are they again?... This thread got me thinking and I started drawing out some possibilities for my own electrical overhaul next winter. I was wondering about those golf cart batteries and with the positive endor...

bcooke

Does plastic conduit do anything to kill EMF? Enough to make a noticeable difference regarding antenna cables? Mike, I thought EMF refered to Electro Motive Force ... which is measured in Volts... (E=I/R). Do you mean something else? And by antenna cables do you mean coaxial cable? I think the cond...

bcooke

Hi Kevin, Your system plan sounds pretty good to me. Normally I am a fan of solar power but in your case I am not so sure. I have never had the opportunity to plug in after every sail and I don't like using the engine to charge the system so solar is always part of my charging system. Wind generator...

bcooke

In fact, Tom told me that built to the correct scantling rules, a sheath-strip/glassed boat is actually stronger than a all FRP boat I think the Gougeon (?) brothers say the same thing in their book. They base that claim on the fact that wood fibers are less effected by cyclic stress than glass fib...

bcooke

Great... now how am I supposed to sleep tonight exactly?...

-Britton

bcooke

Have any of you literally heard of older fiberglass boats breaking up at sea? Rig failures seem pretty common, broken rudders for sure, but sinkings from hull ruptures is something I have never come across. I have heard of a few stories like "Hey gee whiz, this hull is really flexing... let's s...

bcooke

What?! now that all the fun stuff is done?... he he

I will check my schedule and get back to you :-)

-Britton

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