Part 2 - Columbia 29 refit, in the Rocky Mountains

[406Columbia]

Finding large watertight hatches is very difficult. I really like the quality of the Tempress but they don't offer anything large enough or square. Beckson offers some nice stuff but again nothing quite large enough. Only thing we have found thus far are the Vetus and the Plastimo (great price) but cannot find the Plastimo Type 5050 from any US vendors.


If anyone knows of any other options let me know.

[malbert73]

Originally Posted by 406Columbia

Finding large watertight hatches is very difficult. I really like the quality of the Tempress but they don't offer anything large enough or square. Beckson offers some nice stuff but again nothing quite large enough. Only thing we have found thus far are the Vetus and the Plastimo (great price) but cannot find the Plastimo Type 5050 from any US vendors.


If anyone knows of any other options let me know.

Lewmar ocean series?

[newhaul]

Originally Posted by 406Columbia

Finding large watertight hatches is very difficult. I really like the quality of the Tempress but they don't offer anything large enough or square. Beckson offers some nice stuff but again nothing quite large enough. Only thing we have found thus far are the Vetus and the Plastimo (great price) but cannot find the Plastimo Type 5050 from any US vendors.


If anyone knows of any other options let me know.

look at deck hatches .
What are your size requirements?
Example: https://www.amazon.com/Amarine-made-.../dp/B00MUDJC18
The next question is why make a watertight compartment out of the chain locker?
The hull is ridiculous thick , the entire space is above the waterline. If Its flooding from outside its time to think about stepping up into your lifeboat.
Lastly why not build it yourself ?

[406Columbia]

Originally Posted by malbert73

Lewmar ocean series?

I love the Ocean series, only drawback is price and how thick they are. We might consider a low pro from Lewmar, thanks for the reminder.

[406Columbia]

Originally Posted by newhaul

look at deck hatches .
What are your size requirements?
Example: https://www.amazon.com/Amarine-made-.../dp/B00MUDJC18
The next question is why make a watertight compartment out of the chain locker?
The hull is ridiculous thick , the entire space is above the waterline. If Its flooding from outside its time to think about stepping up into your lifeboat.
Lastly why not build it yourself ?

Trying to stay as close to 20'' x 20'' in order to keep the same access we have with our existing hole into the chain locker. The reason to make it water tight is to keep it airtight and thus funk free from the stinky chain should it come up with growth we cannot clean off.

I did see a few of those with pretty close size on Amazon. Only reason we passed on them is the quality and reviews. Many folks said they are cheap Chinese junk thank have extremely weak hinges (all plastic) without even a metal hinge pin.

Since I haven't seen them in person I'm a bit hesitant. You commented about the entire space being above the waterline, I need to measure mine but am glad to hear that's the case. I would like to install a drain for the chain locker since I closed off the hole that lets water drain into the bilge.

On another note, since we have so much free time on our hands and are clearly crazy we got another boat! The boatyard we are in had what we believe is an old 1979 Boston Whaler they hauled out and were about to cut up and put into a dumpster.

We asked if they would give it to us rather than scrapping, which they did. It's 16 feet long, 6 and some change in beam and drafts I think about 9 inches. Needs lots of glass work and paint, which is easy on something that size. So we found a trailer on craigslist and picked up both today, still questioning our sanity on that one.

On building the hatch ourselves, it would be easier to find something off the shelf than build one and gasket it but its not entirely off the table.

[406Columbia]

building the foam bases.

[406Columbia]

Added a total of four layers of marine foam to build the vent bases which was enough to get it level. Ended up getting the sleeve material in for our mast hardware also. Needed to open the holes up at the mast head to accept the larger diameter sleeve. Will likely tig weld them in place and then use the stainless hardware coated with tef-gel.

I have a call in to Defender to locate the 20x20 inch Plastimo hatch, fingers crossed.

[406Columbia]

Well there has been a lot of work completed, but it doesn't look like much. Took everything out of the mast head, cleaned and re-assembled. In all cases with new hardware and where dissimilar metal are mated with Tef-Gel liberally applied. Added, the Schaefer 5 series ball bearing hinged blocks. Still need to add one more, but made some backing blocks out of .5'' starboard. This is a sleek option for us with the mast off instead of using blocks mounted to the deck or cabin trunk.

Completed tons of stain work on the interior wood and lots more fairing was done. Few more areas to fill and re-fair but approaching completion then barrier coat and primer followed by paint.

Need to weld up a piece for the top of the mast to facilitate a halyard for a gennaker or spinnaker. It will also house the tri-color light as well as the wind instrument for our Raymarine package. We did however mount the VHF antenna, but didn't run the cables as we plan to do them all at the same time.

Still need to buy a steaming light to mount near the spreaders that includes a deck light. Looking like the Marine Beams light or the American made version whose names escapes me right now. Hard to find one with LED that gets decent reviews.

The L shaped bracket you see in the photos was already on the mast but the hardware holding it on broke off during my attempt at removal. It was still holding fast after many attempts to remove the hardware and bracket. Ended up having to hit it with the mini torch for several minutes then hitting it with a wood chisel and mallet to free it. Was two layers of paint or adhesive, one green and one white. Glad to finally have removed it, shaped it and then applied Tef-Gel and remounted.

The stainless brackets originally holding the uppers and lowers in place were not fit all that well. Obviously they held for many years without issue but it wasn't beautiful or ideal for load distribution. Some sanding shows we were able to get the plates to properly fit against the body of the mast.

I did increase the length of the small bolt at the very top of the mast on the bracket for stays. I was told by the rigger we need at least .25'' protrusion for safety. Also, planning to reduce the length of the machine screws holding the hinged blocks by about a quarter inch or more to reduce potential of snagging of wires through the mast.

Sanded the vent bases level and then added another layer of foam the the outside edges, then level again and glass. Last thing, we reused the aluminum VHF bracket because it was so stout compared to the new stainless bracket that came with out antenna. Additionally, we prefer to avoid dissimilar metals when possible. Mast is aluminum and new bracket was stainless.

[Orion Jim]

Do you have a sea hood to house your companionway sliding hatch? This may have been mentioned previously but I’m too lazy to re-read 562 entries.

[Don C L]

...And if you make one, make two! I need one too!

[406Columbia]

Originally Posted by Orion Jim

Do you have a sea hood to house your companionway sliding hatch? This may have been mentioned previously but I’m too lazy to re-read 562 entries.

Not yet, but I would like to have one. I guess I better get myself in gear and figure out how to make one lol. Link below to a Columbia 29 sea hood build. I may try to knock this out, but using marine foam and glass.



Restoring an old companionway: the sea hood - La possibilità di un'isola

[Don C L]

Check this slide show, there is a spot in the beginning where he shows the sea hood he made.

[Orion Jim]

Originally Posted by 406Columbia

Not yet, but I would like to have one. I guess I better get myself in gear and figure out how to make one lol. Link below to a Columbia 29 sea hood build. I may try to knock this out, but using marine foam and glass.



Restoring an old companionway: the sea hood - La possibilità di un'isola

Good to hear it’s on your list. You do not want to head offshore without one. I know it’s been done before but it’s very important to keep your interior dry and salt free. It adds immensely to comfort below. Leaks always direct water flow to your berth....in defiance of gravity. Small boats offshore are constantly bathed in spray....even in nice weather.

[newhaul]

Originally Posted by Orion Jim

Good to hear it’s on your list. You do not want to head offshore without one. I know it’s been done before but it’s very important to keep your interior dry and salt free. It adds immensely to comfort below. Leaks always direct water flow to your berth....in defiance of gravity. Small boats offshore are constantly bathed in spray....even in nice weather.

on my defender I have not experienced any wet deck issues other than rain or real bad weather . I don't recall about the standard 29 but the defender has an Internal combing that seals the hatch deck joint while being hidden under the hatch.

[Don C L]

Originally Posted by Orion Jim

Good to hear it’s on your list. You do not want to head offshore without one. I know it’s been done before but it’s very important to keep your interior dry and salt free. It adds immensely to comfort below. Leaks always direct water flow to your berth....in defiance of gravity. Small boats offshore are constantly bathed in spray....even in nice weather.

Yeah it's really true and a salty interior just never seems to dry out. You have to wash with fresh water before it will dry out. I don't have my dodger yet, but mine is still (knock on wood) dry and I have new cushions with vinyl covers and also water absorbing bed pads for any place that might get wet. No more damp, musty smelly cushions.