Part 2 - Columbia 29 refit, in the Rocky Mountains

[406Columbia]

Originally Posted by Don C L

You can probably guess what I'll say. The rudder post is too close to allow tilting the engine up the way James Baldwin did with his Triton. Even if you moved it back and cut the transom notch it wouldn't gain much in weight location. And you need the space for fuel. And it's slow to drag the prop around and a hassle to lift the engine in and out. So for me the best solution is the one worked out by my previous owner as you know. I'll post the pictures in a minute.

Thanks Don,


Looking forward to more pictures.

[Don C L]

So right now the best shots I have are in my album of outboard shots. Go to my profile page and see all albums and you'll see the one for the outboard. I'll see if I can send you the actual shots which are larger.

[406Columbia]

So after pulling out back-stay chain plate we decided to pull them all and replace. Our port and starboard chain-plates were very solid to be certain but needing some attention in our opinions. Will be replacing with 316L stainless .25" stock and new chain-plate covers. All new hardware obviously as well and what a beast to get those out.

We both worked the plates simultaneously from the inside and out with rubber mallets and a rope on the topside to work them free. They were well sealed in at least.

Also got the small section of mast track cut and mounted. Had to drill and tap a few holes and secured it with some 8-32 x 3/8 stainless steel button head cap screws. Then we started investigating the hardware holding the full length track on. Turns out they someone had used stainless screws and they protruded into the mast about 3/4''. SO......we will be removing all of those and replacing with some 3/8'' button head cap screws as well.


The large piece of 316L you see in the picture is what were going to use for the back-stay.

[malbert73]

Originally Posted by 406Columbia

Malbert73,

Yes I think it has been that long, we are trying to get it wrapped up soon. For us to do it right by our standards is taking a pretty long time. If we had been satisfied with marine ply backers blocks instead g-10 which is very hard to work with for example. Or trying to find someone to help us do the custom cabinets, etc. Anyway your 100% right, for those of us with kids and jobs it would be exceedingly difficult to do a bigger boat in 6 months and certainly not for $8,000 hahahaha.

You know we could have bought a bigger boat and been done with all this. However, we don't think we could have purchased a more beautiful boat and certainly not outfit it with our watermaker, mini generator, wind generator, solar, auto-tiller, etc.

.

Agree, except if you had bought a bigger boat you would never finish the project. You were very wise to buy compact if you were planning on a full rebuild/refit from price and completion perspective.

By the way, one of the most (time or money) costly phrases in boat refits is: “as long as I’m at it...”

[Don C L]

Originally Posted by malbert73

By the way, one of the most (time or money) costly phrases in boat refits is: “as long as I’m at it...”

Ain't THAT the truth!

[newhaul]

Originally Posted by malbert73

Agree, except if you had bought a bigger boat you would never finish the project. You were very wise to buy compact if you were planning on a full rebuild/refit from price and completion perspective.

By the way, one of the most (time or money) costly phrases in boat refits is: “as long as I’m at it...”

I agree with the as long as I'm at it ....
But it doesn't matter the size of the boat you never truly Finnish . Been working on mine for 3 years and she still ain't done . never will be

[406Columbia]

Originally Posted by malbert73

Agree, except if you had bought a bigger boat you would never finish the project. You were very wise to buy compact if you were planning on a full rebuild/refit from price and completion perspective.

By the way, one of the most (time or money) costly phrases in boat refits is: “as long as I’m at it...”

SO TRUE

[406Columbia]

Hello,


Today we complete the chain plates. Hours of cutting, grinding, sanding, polishing (not that it looks like it). Finally got them done, we need to get these mounted asap.

I have to say 316 is some of the toughest material I have ever worked with, my list of things to not work with unless absolutely necessary is now titanium, g10 and 316. Miserable to cut and sand and grind.


Also, did the laser engraving. May need to use that again of a few other things.

[newhaul]

Originally Posted by 406Columbia

Hello,


Today we complete the chain plates. Hours of cutting, grinding, sanding, polishing (not that it looks like it). Finally got them done, we need to get these mounted asap.

I have to say 316 is some of the toughest material I have ever worked with, my list of things to not work with unless absolutely necessary is now titanium, g10 and 316. Miserable to cut and sand and grind.


Also, did the laser engraving. May need to use that again of a few other things.

Cutting wheel on an angle grinder. Works good for me . Deilling is done with carbide tipped bits.

[406Columbia]

Originally Posted by newhaul

Cutting wheel on an angle grinder. Works good for me . Deilling is done with carbide tipped bits.

Been there and done that, started the process with an angle grinder and gave that up after about 20 minutes. Much more work than a band saw and punch press but will certainly get it done. That 316 is very hard stuff.

[406Columbia]

Hello,


Today and yesterday was fun, spent the day on the RIB going up the coast exploring. Swell was pretty mild and the sun was shining, hard to complain. We did cut the backer block for the backstay chain plate out of 1/2'' starboard instead of the wood it used to be.


Completely removed out external sail track from the mast, drilled and tapped it 8-32 for the new stainless hardware. Applied TEF-GEL and then remounted the tack after adding in some plastic isolation material. Next week hopefully we will get the Tides Marine Strong Track installed.

[406Columbia]

Got some stainless hardware in today for the backstay chain plate and finally got our antenna in from Defender. Hope to mount that, the steps and the Tides Marine strong track this weekend.

[406Columbia]

Hello,

Well we had a heck of a time getting the forestay chainplate off. Ended up getting a Dewalt oscillating cutter tool to cut through the last few bolts. We are on the fence about machining a new replica out of 316L, bending one and welding it together or just refinishing the existing one. Refinishing would involve bead blasting, re-chrome plate it and then re-install.

Ideally, machining a new one out of 316L from a single block would be my first choice. I will need to check prices on a block of it and do some more research before I jump on that. The original one looks pretty good except for the chrome and one hole is slightly oblong and would need to be filled in and re-drilled.

Made a few big decisions about interior storage and should have some big updates next week on how we tackle some more interior storage.

[Orion Jim]

Originally Posted by 406Columbia

Hello,

Well we had a heck of a time getting the forestay chainplate off. Ended up getting a Dewalt oscillating cutter tool to cut through the last few bolts. We are on the fence about machining a new replica out of 316L, bending one and welding it together or just refinishing the existing one. Refinishing would involve bead blasting, re-chrome plate it and then re-install.

Ideally, machining a new one out of 316L from a single block would be my first choice. I will need to check prices on a block of it and do some more research before I jump on that. The original one looks pretty good except for the chrome and one hole is slightly oblong and would need to be filled in and re-drilled.

Made a few big decisions about interior storage and should have some big updates next week on how we tackle some more interior storage.

I’d strip the remaining chrome off that beautiful bronze and buff it to an even luster......if you think it would look out of place with the remainder of your hardware you can have it commercially chromed for reasonable price. Just give it to them as is and they will strip it before beginning the process of rechroming.

[406Columbia]

Originally Posted by Pete7

We carry a 2.5" copy of this on board the boat. Great when you need an extra hand to hold something. Clamps to the companion way steps and is at just the right height to work with. It's never going to be used for heavy duty stuff, but that piece of aluminium or wood that needs cutting it's perfect.

I have seen others with a winch fitting on the base. there is no way I want metal filing going anywhere near my winches.

Pete

Pete, Buying that little harbor freight vice now for the companionway steps. Newhaul seems to like his version from harbor freight as well. HF also has the best price going for a set of center hole punches. Thanks for the heads up gents.