Part 2 - Columbia 29 refit, in the Rocky Mountains

[406Columbia]

Hello,


Finally got the backstay chain-plate dry fit. Going to drill one more hole, mount the starboard with a little 4200 perhaps. Then torque everything.

[406Columbia]

arch idea we are going to work towards

[newhaul]

Originally Posted by 406Columbia

arch idea we are going to work towards

yuck yuck and again yuck . Why such a big arch?

[Don C L]

I'm not sure our boats have enough room or displacement aft for that. It's going to a lot of weight aft once engine, dinghy, arch and people are all back there. Are you shooting for davits mainly or a place for solar panels? Here's a shot I have of an old Islander 34 I think (bigger than ours,) it was that had a huge arch and dinghy on davits that I saw out at the islands. It looked unwieldy and not something I'd like to consider on a windy day. Now for just poking around and going anchorage to anchorage on calm days, no problem. And if you could stow the engine on the rail and roll up the dinghy and stow it on the foredeck, that I could definitely see. Sketch up the whole thing and try to calculate the weight if you can and windage would be my suggestion.

[Orion Jim]

Dinghy davits on a pocket cruiser just don’t work. Too much weight aft and too much windage for any sailing performance with a dinghy hanging six feet in the air off the stern.

[406Columbia]

Originally Posted by newhaul

yuck yuck and again yuck . Why such a big arch?

Well it wont be so big when it's scaled to fit our small boats hahaha. We want to mount our solar panels and wind generator on it. May figure out some storage rack for at least two surfboards too If I can swing it!

[406Columbia]

Originally Posted by Don C L

I'm not sure our boats have enough room or displacement aft for that. It's going to a lot of weight aft once engine, dinghy, arch and people are all back there. Are you shooting for davits mainly or a place for solar panels? Here's a shot I have of an old Islander 34 I think (bigger than ours,) it was that had a huge arch and dinghy on davits that I saw out at the islands. It looked unwieldy and not something I'd like to consider on a windy day. Now for just poking around and going anchorage to anchorage on calm days, no problem. And if you could stow the engine on the rail and roll up the dinghy and stow it on the foredeck, that I could definitely see. Sketch up the whole thing and try to calculate the weight if you can and windage would be my suggestion.

Mainly the solar panels and wind generator plus a surfboard or two. Our rib folds up and can fit on the foredeck. Outboard would be back there for sure. Doing calcs on the weight is a great idea.

[406Columbia]

Hello,

Glassed in the cubbies in the hanging lockers and head. a few had large gaps on the hull side. We figure glass and epoxy stiffens up the old girl and stops stuff from falling thru to the bottom. Also, makes it easy to clean and paint.

Finished a few low spots on the deck, instead of just thickened epoxy we added some CSM to build it back up then we will sand back down. Also cut in the cubbyholes in the salon and V-birth. Still trying to find the right hinge, add cleats, etc. Got some hinges installed on V-birth storage lids, which were simply recycled Perko brass utility hinges.

Sorted lots of spare hardware. Got our 12'' heavy duty stainless 316 cleat in from SeaDog, its amazingly robust! Also, got back the forestay chain plate from metal plating. Came out good, not perfect but to be fair its from 1962 and still kicking.

We saved the previous upper and lower chain plates, polished one up just to see how it was. Condition is actually good for the general metal and if we can come up with some ideas on how re-purpose them we will use them both. Thinking maybe combo beer bottle openers and shackle key or maybe make something like a backing plate for something on the boat. Point being, lots of strong material and still plenty of life left in it. Chime in if you have any ideas, I'm guessing beer and shackle keys? If so and we laser some out we will give them out to folks who have give us really good ideas for the boat maybe.

[406Columbia]

Hello,

Made some progress recently. Got the rest of the doors cut in, had a hard time finding the correct hinges, Need to order some hatch supports for the ones in the V-birth since we had to flip the doors down. There wasn't sufficient space for mounting the hinge to allow them to fold down.

This is a significant investment in time and money for us but it certainly allows us to use the limited space on such a small boat. Also cut in holes for two Beckson screw in deck plates. Those are in the engine well area, we certainly gained a little more space there and can now access to clean it. Previous owner had used it as a water tank. Which was a bit scary, when I opened it up there was all kinds of weird stuff in there hahaha.

Glassed in the big G10 backing plate and little one along the toe rail for the back-stay. Looking at one other spot to install an access plate to inspect the back of our water tank and bilge and conduct some necessary structural repairs to the cabin sole.

Hoping to finish up sanding the new glass on the decks and finally paint, long time coming. Toe rails are done with thickened epoxy and glass I believe. Hot weather this weekend so perhaps we can get some progress on the primer and paint.

[406Columbia]

Placed an order from GemLux for some stainless hinges, great prices and even better customer service! More of that later once I get the new hinges installed.

[406Columbia]

Cutting into the thin marine-ply to add extra storage really weakened the wood obviously. So we are building in gussets to strengthen the area back up and perhaps make the boat a bit stiffer.


Will be adding in about 16 more small ones in addition to the four I have already added. Got the Moonlight Marine automatic hatch supports installed and made up and installed a few blocks to prevent the chain locker door from being pushed inward.

[newhaul]

Here is a question did you seal your chain locker and add in a thru hull drain for it or still draining to the bilge ?
I am thinking that will be one of my summer projects .
Pictures ?

[406Columbia]

Originally Posted by newhaul

Here is a question did you seal your chain locker and add in a thru hull drain for it or still draining to the bilge ?
I am thinking that will be one of my summer projects .
Pictures ?

Great question, its on the list but not done yet. Haven't found a thru-hull valve or location yet. I have an extra thru-hull already and I think that's a great modification. I really couldn't understand why it drained to the bilge in the first place.

Any ideas from anyone? Not that we want to add anymore holes in the boat but if it makes sense, well. In preparation for this project and because we believe its just stronger and more sound. I'm glassing in the entire chain locker from the inside as it's currently just marine-ply. Its been very hot here lately so the glass work has been going by very quickly.

[406Columbia]

When at the boat today I will measure the bottom of the anchor locker compared to where the water line is. That will help us determine what we do going forward with any drains.

[Don C L]

I haven't yet found the need for a anchor locker drain. What little water gets in there didn't seem to me to merit the hole in the bow. Most that I have seen are just a tiny hole, not a thru-hull. Mine is sealed, it doesn't allow water to drain to the bilge. I used to keep a towel in there for it and then hang up the towel once in a while.