Columbia 29 refit, in the Rocky Mountains

[Don C L]

To really do it right you need the really noxious and now illegal primer I understand. I haven't painted mine, I just cleaned it and left it bare. It's been that way for 50 years. I painted my old one years ago and it looked great for a couple years until the corrosion under the paint started to bubble it up.

[mitiempo]

Originally Posted by 406Columbia

well, got in the new tinted beckson lenses, got the mast down and ready to strip. Any suggestions on good paint for the mast?

Ideally Awlgrip - expensive, poisonous, but great results.

Tremclad does work well and doesn't need a primer. A friend did that and it lasted for many years.

Bare aluminum will be the easiest to care for.

[406Columbia]

I wonder if anyone has the ability to anodize such a large piece. Clear anodize really does look nice, but I suppose bare metal may end up being what we do since other options don't seem to stand up.

Will have some photos to post as soon as I find the camera, where ever I last set it

[SV Siren]

I would suggest awlgrip. Finding someone to re-anodize the mast would be difficult, and expensive if you find someone.

My mast and boom were painted 25+ years ago, and now look really tired, with a little corrosion in spots, but not noticeable from 10' away.

I painted my 23' boom with awlgrip, after sanding the original finish and then priming with zinc-chromate where I had gone down to bare Aluminum. It came out looking great. I had stripped all the hardware off, and rolled and tipped it. Just be certain to wear proper filtration when rolling and tipping and you'll be fine. I restored and painted the spreaders at the same time to practice on. Adding a few toys and bling along the way.


[IMG][IMG][/IMG]

[406Columbia]

Originally Posted by SV Siren

I would suggest awlgrip. Finding someone to re-anodize the mast would be difficult, and expensive if you find someone.

My mast and boom were painted 25+ years ago, and now look really tired, with a little corrosion in spots, but not noticeable from 10' away.

I painted my 23' boom with awlgrip, after sanding the original finish and then priming with zinc-chromate where I had gone down to bare Aluminum. It came out looking great. I had stripped all the hardware off, and rolled and tipped it. Just be certain to wear proper filtration when rolling and tipping and you'll be fine. I restored and painted the spreaders at the same time to practice on. Adding a few toys and bling along the way.


[IMG][IMG][/IMG]

That looks wonderful.

[406Columbia]

Well today we finally got into the fiberglass. Made about 30 patches and got our epoxy on. Grinding the holes out or dishing them out has got to be the least enjoyable part because of the dust. But other than that not too bad, just time consuming making the patches and wetting them out.

I hope they turn out okay, haven't ever done anything like that but it seems pretty simple. Should put the OceanAire screen frame together this week also and get it into place.

Oh by the way, those little ring rollers you use to get the excess epoxy and air bubbles out are amazing. I think I took a few of the photos before we used that on the patches.

[406Columbia]

Well three days of patching fiberglass and filling holes, still more to go but making progress. Also looking to find a compass to fit the 4'' hole in the bulkhead so while on the tiller we can easily see it. Anyone have any suggestions? Seems like the Ritchie Helmsman get decent reviews and isn't too pricey. Although wouldn't be opposed to spending more if there was some significant advantage.

Not sure if I mentioned it, but we got in our new salon ports and will be cutting out the marine ply and dry fitting them in over the next week.

Oh and the black stuff in the fiberglass patches is sharpie marker. I used sharpie to outline the cloth as I was cutting out the patches in progressively smaller diameter.

[newhaul]

Originally Posted by 406Columbia

Well three days of patching fiberglass and filling holes, still more to go but making progress. Also looking to find a compass to fit the 4'' hole in the bulkhead so while on the tiller we can easily see it. Anyone have any suggestions? Seems like the Ritchie Helmsman get decent reviews and isn't too pricey. Although wouldn't be opposed to spending more if there was some significant advantage.

Not sure if I mentioned it, but we got in our new salon ports and will be cutting out the marine ply and dry fitting them in over the next week.

Oh and the black stuff in the fiberglass patches is sharpie marker. I used sharpie to outline the cloth as I was cutting out the patches in progressively smaller diameter.

looking good kiddo

[406Columbia]

Thanks NewHaul,

Takes a little bit in the cool mountain air to do all this glass work. We had one hot day and I was shocked how fast the patches kicked and they were hard in two hours.

by the way anyone have any advice on the large deadlights? So I cut the marine ply to fit the hole. Should I glass it in from the back, then dish it out from the front and thrown a massive patch on?

[mitiempo]

Originally Posted by 406Columbia

Also looking to find a compass to fit the 4'' hole in the bulkhead so while on the tiller we can easily see it. Anyone have any suggestions? Seems like the Ritchie Helmsman get decent reviews and isn't too pricey. Although wouldn't be opposed to spending more if there was some significant advantage.

I don't think the Helmsman is a bulkhead compass.
https://www.ritchienavigation.com/re...ries/helmsman/

The Ritchie Venture is https://www.ritchienavigation.com/re...eries/venture/

My first choice would be the Plastimo Contest 101
https://www.plastimo.com/en/compas-contest-4682.html

or the Plastimo Mini Contest https://www.plastimo.com/en/compasse...test-9155.html

I sell both brands - bought a Contest 101 for my boat.

[406Columbia]

Originally Posted by mitiempo

I don't think the Helmsman is a bulkhead compass.
https://www.ritchienavigation.com/re...ries/helmsman/

The Ritchie Venture is https://www.ritchienavigation.com/re...eries/venture/

My first choice would be the Plastimo Contest 101
https://www.plastimo.com/en/compas-contest-4682.html

or the Plastimo Mini Contest https://www.plastimo.com/en/compasse...test-9155.html

I sell both brands - bought a Contest 101 for my boat.

Not sure, I thought the flush mount was a bulkhead mount? The contest doesn't look bad, like the ability to read from inside the boat but not sure its needed. I wish it wasn't a bigger hole, was hoping to use the existing 4'' hole but still not a big deal. Thanks for the input

[mitiempo]

Originally Posted by 406Columbia

Not sure, I thought the flush mount was a bulkhead mount? The contest doesn't look bad, like the ability to read from inside the boat but not sure its needed. I wish it wasn't a bigger hole, was hoping to use the existing 4'' hole but still not a big deal. Thanks for the input

Flush mount means on a horizontal surface.

The Ritchie Venture is smaller as is the Plastimo Mini Contest

[406Columbia]

Originally Posted by mitiempo

Flush mount means on a horizontal surface.

The Ritchie Venture is smaller as is the Plastimo Mini Contest

Do you by chance have a photo of your compass mounted? I would like to see it and where do you sell them?

[mitiempo]

Originally Posted by 406Columbia

Do you by chance have a photo of your compass mounted? I would like to see it and where do you sell them?

Victoria B.C. Don't really do mail order though.

Defender sells them:
https://search.defender.com/?expression=contest%20101

Many marine stores have them.

[406Columbia]

Originally Posted by mitiempo

Victoria B.C. Don't really do mail order though.

Defender sells them:
https://search.defender.com/?expression=contest%20101

Many marine stores have them.

Well that's too bad, I am right down the road in Montana hahaha. Thanks for the photo though. Does the inside also display the inclinometer?