Thanks everyone for your thoughts!
Gord: I'll take that as, "I wouldn’t touch it with a 10 foot long stick."
Jim: Pictures?
I'll try to add the rest of the equation Euro Cruiser.
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The dream: A lifestyle which can be supported by working a few months out of the year. Three to six, with a low enough expenses that savings are quick, without a high wage.
Where: I'd like to go back to the
Caribbean and spend a few months island hopping. I was in St Thomas a few years ago, looking down over Magens Bay, a lone sailboat was anchored a few hundred yards beyond the breakers. That was when I started reading everything I could get my hands on about sailing and boat
repair. I came across an journal somewhere around the start of all this that described a few guys that chartered a boat, and anchored beside a little 20 foot something that “looked like a football.” The writer went on to explain how the other two were joking about how ugly the thing was… but stopped when he said something to the effect of, “For what we’ve spent for one week… we could have bought that boat and would be here next week.” This was like a bucket of
water to the face, as it had been much more of a dream to put off until
retirement, with the sudden realization that it was not only possible, but entirely realistic. This is was the start of my campaign to save the pennies.
My experience:
Mechanically: I've rebuilt many cars... but haven’t done much in the way of body work. I enjoy taking things that are broken and putting them back together so they work. I've done a bit of work on an old WWII coast guard
cutter, keeping it up and running under its own
power. Just enough of the carpentry and structural work to steer me towards a
fiberglass boat... not only is nothing square, but
wood is rather difficult to build back up. In addition to all that I've worked a fair amount of time in machine shops pulling metal shavings out of thumbs. Good enough to keep my digits attached, not so good as to not get dirty!
Time on the water:
Sailing: Not as much as I'd like. I’ve done enough to know I enjoy it, and to keep the boat going on a heading. Not enough to have the feel for adjusting sails without a more experienced sailor around to grab that last half a
knot of speed.
Power boating: I crewed on the coast guard
cutter for the
delivery from
Alabama up to NC coast. Out of that distance I was at the
helm about a quarter of the distance. I also figured out that a gallon a mile is not as efficient as I'd like... not so much the cost, but having held the nozzle for 2 hours at a time contorting yourself between the bulwarks and deckhouse watching sailboats go by… it changes you.
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Why I’m even looking at this one:
Part of what guided me to this project boat was the fact that once it is "Finished" (In quotes because it is a boat after all...) a before and after picture is a great portfolio for your work. I assume that this would be a positive for finding work around the world, as skilled labor.
Price is a very large part of what guided me to this boat. If I undertake a project such as this I will not be in a position to work full time, as well as give the required effort for college studies while rebuilding a boat. This sort of thing will most certainly be done as "Funds are available." I put the 15k price tag as a max because that is as much as I am comfortable losing at this point in time, a setback yes… but it would not be “Every penny I’ve ever made” so I couldn’t sleep at night! I’m comfortable running over 15k, but the time frame stretches out further. I’ve got 2 years or so before I’m through with my studies,
Besides the cost constraints
safety is the primary objective. My search so far has been guided by the fact that quite frankly; I do not see myself as having the skills as a seaman to command a vessel that will not tend to its self through
weather.
In that light my
research suggests is that a long skinny boat is more
seaworthy when the conditions are awful. The
folkboat and contessa 26 are the examples often given of this design theory.
I just don’t think that they are large enough inside to live, with two people. It would be a shame to find a partner and not have accommodations to suit two. Is it possible... most certainly, I haven’t ruled them out completely as there are several on the market in 5-10k condition.
What I foresee having to do, comments greatly appreciated!
Here’s THE LIST:
Hull
Completely gut the interior; probably remove the
deck as well.
Tab in new bulkheads, all of them structural. Water tight door/crash bulkhead from
mast beam forward.
Install watertight compartments, with rubber sealed hatches.
Move the chain locker as far aft as possible, while still maintaining proper chain stacking.
Foam blocks in the forepeak, as well as the lazaret.
Replace through hull fittings with high quality
bronze.
The deck will be half inch
marine grade
plywood with a skin of mechanically fastened
fiberglass a half inch thick.
Cabin top will be of similar size as to what was original to maintain lines. Port lights small for strength, dorade boxes big for flow. Overbuilt is probably an understatement for a deck constructed in this manner…
Hull-deck joint glassed inside and out. Mechanical fastening primarily to double as stanchion complete with
backing plates.
Rig:
Chain plates, either three eights or half inch stainless with shoulder bolts run through
backing plates. As many bolts as I see fit… while being prepared to have
Rigging, oversize and standardized so all standing is the same size. Running rigging, same deal, same sizes, oversize for the job. External halyards for simplicity, do you guys think this is a good idea or not?
Mast step/tabernacle – mounted on large beam to dial in the
weather helm forward/back a few inches.
Aluminum pipe below deck to support deck, mounted on a glassed in pad to bring mount above
bilge level. Bow and stern pulpits double as
cradle. As you probably guessed… a
sloop rig. Less sails/rigging! My limited understanding of these things says that when you move sail area around you have to move the center of effort too, so the mast will be jury rigged until the exact position is determined. Then another
refit to put everything where it needs to be, going for perfection… <G>
The mast its self I have been contemplating. Used or perhaps heavy wall
aluminum pipe? I haven’t completely ruled out a wood mast home built, but knowing my wood working skills I’d cut once and wish it would grow back…
Engine:
Would I be out of my mind to put an
outboard bracket on the back? I assume if I am ever inclined to put a
wind vane on the back that there will be conflict between the two. Of course it would be out of the water in rough weather and not much use…
The other idea I’ve got is to use an air-cooled
diesel with a
stainless steel dry
exhaust. The most K.I.S.S. design I can figure.
Electrical:
Battery bank mounted well above
bilge, I haven’t determined whether or not gel coil or saturated glass is a longer life solution. I sure prefer sealed gel to acid with thoughts of rolling over.
Everything fused, all wires oversized to take account for possible
corrosion. Wires run half way between deck and bilge, in event of “inversion.”
Solar panels, both fixed and flexible type.
Wind Generator? Ideally an
outboard will not need to run, as the alternators are… small.
No
refrigeration, foot
pump water in the sink. Huge manual bilge pumps. An LED mast
head light, and fluorescent/LED lights inside. In general run the lowest possible power drawing
equipment so it takes less to keep the system operating.
Radios,
VHF for sure…
EPIRB when she drops in the water.
Stores:
Water, built in… or perhaps where the inboard used to be? Guidance as far as how many gallons would be appreciated. My reading suggests 1 gallon per person per day, with a decent smudge factor that could get close to 200 gallons for 2 people. Definitely separate
tanks, for contamination prevention, and Murphy’s Law of
fuel fillips.
Fuel will be limited range. I foresee 10-12 hp, not capable of motoring up to
hull speed. Primary goal being in port
docking, but I do wonder about a lee shore.
Plenty of “extra space” (On a boat?) for stocking up on
food stuffs when the price is right.
Other:
I’d like to have a decent work space, being a tinkering type… a decent flat spot for a vice and a tool box. I’m thinking that a V-birth at the front is optional, perhaps putting the
head up there like on a
Cape Dory 25D. Although, I can think of few things worse than getting a metal shaving stuck in the big toe in the middle of the night relieving yourself.
I don’t think there would be standing head room for the head in that setup. <g>
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This turned out longer than I thought it would, if this is the “plan” then task of actually grinding and glassing this pup is going to be a long road indeed.
Zach