Part 2 - Columbia 29 refit, in the Rocky Mountains

[406Columbia]

We are going to try and find a way to make the anchor locker door a bit more water tight. Nothing crazy but something more than what it is now. Perhaps an inner lip with some simple weather stripping.



Somewhere we have a few of those spring hatch supports that lock a hatch or door open. I need to find them and see if I can use them for the anchor locker and also the companionway steps that now flip up.



If anyone has a better idea on how to prop those up in the open position please let me know.



Which reminds me of the last thing, got the tiller back from the Carpenter today also. He laminated several strips of White Oak, alternated the direction for strength. It came our VERY nicely at least by our standards. Now to stain it and get it varnished.




Also hoping to get the face frames for our cabinets int he salon and V-birth done tomorrow.


Anyone thought about making a cushion for the anchor locker door? So it could be a real nice back rest? Wouldn't be too hard and were kicking the idea around. Might be a nice place to lounge while reading or something.

[Don C L]

Good to see the progress coming along! My old knot log is down in there too and I wish I could use that space to store extra chain or other heavy items. Cockpit drains are looking good!

[Don C L]

Originally Posted by 406Columbia

We are going to try and find a way to make the anchor locker door a bit more water tight. Nothing crazy but something more than what it is now. Perhaps an inner lip with some simple weather stripping.



Also hoping to get the face frames for our cabinets int he salon and V-birth done tomorrow.


Anyone thought about making a cushion for the anchor locker door? So it could be a real nice back rest? Wouldn't be too hard and were kicking the idea around. Might be a nice place to lounge while reading or something.

You certainly could put a cushion there but it is pretty cramped for us big kids. For the little kids I just throw pillows up there and they figure it out! I need some kind of a door on mine too, though not so much to prevent water coming in, but for the stink that sometimes comes up with the anchor chain!

[406Columbia]

We were thinking something like either of these might work for securing the steps in the companionway from hinging up. Open to other ideas too if anyone has some. I will try to post a video here of the steps flipping up into the open position.

[406Columbia]

Originally Posted by Don C L

Good to see the progress coming along! My old knot log is down in there too and I wish I could use that space to store extra chain or other heavy items. Cockpit drains are looking good!

Thanks Don, been out sailing that beauty lately? Yeah storing heavy items down there would be nice. I suppose you could build a little box around it to protect from heavy stuff smashing into it. I really didn't want to relocate our paddle wheel but the new one for our Raymarine setup does depth as well and needs to point down as much as possible so I had to move it. Patching up glass under the waterline is a pain in the butt.



If you haul-out and want some help doing yours though let us know we will come up for a weekend and bring the tools so we can do your and get it glassed back up solid.

[406Columbia]

Originally Posted by Don C L

You certainly could put a cushion there but it is pretty cramped for us big kids. For the little kids I just throw pillows up there and they figure it out! I need some kind of a door on mine too, though not so much to prevent water coming in, but for the stink that sometimes comes up with the anchor chain!

Is your anchor locker the same shape as mine? If so I can just make a template from ours if you are even keen on the same style and cut you one and bring it up the next time we are in your area. Just a couple strap hinges and a barrel bolt or something similar and your in the money.



Maybe just throwing pillows up there is a better use of our limited time then making a backrest cushion.



Also I have you to thank for inspiring us to turn the companionway steps into a hinge up deal with storage behind it. So much dead space back there not being used at all. Now we can tuck away our charge controller, inverter, some extra parts or even the control unit for our auto tiller.

[Don C L]

Thanks for the offer of help! I'll let you know! Seems like you have plenty on your plate now though! I think my opening to the anchor locker is the same, I'll check and let you know, thanks!

[406Columbia]

So we got a lot more done today. Got the frames done for the quarter birth platforms. Cut out the plywood around the quarter births to make more room for wider shoulders. Got the cleats installed for the v-birth and used the recycled wood as mentioned. Also got a few beads of thickened epoxy laid for the sleeping platform extensions in the quarter births.

[Don C L]

The kids are gonna love those quarter berths I bet!

[406Columbia]

Originally Posted by Don C L

The kids are gonna love those quarter berths I bet!

We hope so, they can have a space to themselves and a little window as well. Going to add a little toy storage in them in a few places, it wont be much but a little something.



These boats really do have lots of room for their size.

[406Columbia]

We were able to rehab the water stained wood. The wife spent lots of time with the orbital and some 100 grit. It came out very nicely by our standards. I also got three layers of glass on the large patch. Still likely two more to go but almost done.

[406Columbia]

Well we finally got the cockpit drains installed. Took ages to locate robust 2'' hose that was flexible enough to bend into shape. Got all the valves, 5200 and everything going yesterday. Finally got the hose in today so wanted to post a photo.



Really liking either Don's or Newhaul's idea of building a fuel tank under the cockpit floor. Seems like a good place to potentially hold another maybe 20 gallons or so of gasoline for the outboards. Still want more water storage but not yet.



Anyway, anyone have ideas on where such a tank might be sourced or does it need to be fabbed? I assume I would need to use aluminum or stainless, anyone done a build like that?

[Don C L]

Looks good!! Personally, if you don't HAVE to store liquids under the cockpit floor, I'd say leave it empty for things that are VERY light and not often necessary. (There is already going to be plenty of weight back there in the form of humans, engine and fuel.) Also, I say light because I wouldn't want anything heavy flopping around next to through-hulls. I also would really avoid gasoline storage there. In the old days, with the Atomic 4 in there, that was where the fuel tank was. But if it is not absolutely necessary, I'd avoid it like the plague. Gas stored in the lazarette can be sealed off from the interior of the hull, and there is drainage available for fumes and liquid fuel in case of a spill. BTW, what kind of hose is that and where did you find it?
And the repairs on the gudgeons there in the keel, was there a problem there? I didn't see any on mine so I am curious about that.

[406Columbia]

Originally Posted by Don C L

Looks good!! Personally, if you don't HAVE to store liquids under the cockpit floor, I'd say leave it empty for things that are VERY light and not often necessary. (There is already going to be plenty of weight back there in the form of humans, engine and fuel.) Also, I say light because I wouldn't want anything heavy flopping around next to through-hulls. I also would really avoid gasoline storage there. In the old days, with the Atomic 4 in there, that was where the fuel tank was. But if it is not absolutely necessary, I'd avoid it like the plague. Gas stored in the lazarette can be sealed off from the interior of the hull, and there is drainage available for fumes and liquid fuel in case of a spill. BTW, what kind of hose is that and where did you find it?
And the repairs on the gudgeons there in the keel, was there a problem there? I didn't see any on mine so I am curious about that.

Thanks Don. Will take that advice into consideration, I will have to ask Newhaul how he feels his boat sails with the tank there. But I think having all fuel in the lazerette is ideal. Just trying to make space for all we want to carry.



We found hose from the same company that makes gusher pumps, https://www.jmesales.com/kuriyama-bl...RoCMO0QAvD_BwE


The repair to the gudgeons was some cracking in the gelcoat and paint. I think from moving it around so much. We found everything is feeling firm and tight on the rudder so I sanded out the surface cracks and filled with thickened epoxy and small pieces of chopped glass mat.

[newhaul]

Originally Posted by 406Columbia

Thanks Don. Will take that advice into consideration, I will have to ask Newhaul how he feels his boat sails with the tank there. But I think having all fuel in the lazerette is ideal. Just trying to make space for all we want to carry.



.

on my defender that fuel tank is balanced by the oversized water tank in the vee berth .
However I have not sailed this particular boat since purchase so I have not noticed any issues either way.