Part 2 - Columbia 29 refit, in the Rocky Mountains

[Greatest Lakes]

I wish my bow was so clean. I'm going to have to make an entirely new bow assembly too. I need some kind of bow roller, and smoother, less sharp, components to lead out my dock lines. This seems like the largest, most glaring omission on my 9.6. Oh well. I should learn to weld stainless anyhow.

[406Columbia]

Originally Posted by Greatest Lakes

I wish my bow was so clean. I'm going to have to make an entirely new bow assembly too. I need some kind of bow roller, and smoother, less sharp, components to lead out my dock lines. This seems like the largest, most glaring omission on my 9.6. Oh well. I should

learn to weld stainless anyhow.

If I had any sense I would have just bolted one of these on the front end and been done with it.

[406Columbia]

Originally Posted by Greatest Lakes

I wish my bow was so clean. I'm going to have to make an entirely new bow assembly too. I need some kind of bow roller, and smoother, less sharp, components to lead out my dock lines. This seems like the largest, most glaring omission on my 9.6. Oh well. I should learn to weld stainless anyhow.

That looks real nice

[newhaul]

Originally Posted by 406Columbia

If I had any sense I would have just bolted one of these on the front end and been done with it.

That is whatim considering if my build don't go well .

[Greatest Lakes]

If I thought I had room up front without making it look like a hatchet job, I probably would. I don't care for the whole assembly I have up there. I want to redo it with smooth rope fairings, Bow roller, and move the lights, maybe do a pair of the flush lights on the hull. I'm also planning to replace my Michigan 2 blade fixed prop with a flexofold, and my barlow winches with Andersen self tailing. Nothing really wrong with the prop, but I can feel it on the Rudder disturbing the water, and the wife would be safer with the self tailing winch, not sure how long my barlows will last, they are feeling their age. I looked at Harken stuff, but it was more expensive, made of cheaper materials, and had far too much plastic for me. The Andersen is mostly 316 stainless and a bit less expensive.

[Don C L]

Originally Posted by 406Columbia

Welding and bending a little. Was unable to locate pre bent little elbows to make the anchor platform look really nice so this is what I got. Not sure if I mentioned but got the strike plate installed. Got a new sink on the way for the galley as well, cant wait.

It's all looking great! I'd love to have your pushpit! Mine still is ok for hoisting the engine, but I like how stout yours is! I'm curious what the fitting is for in the middle of the X there?

[406Columbia]

Originally Posted by newhaul

That is whatim considering if my build don't go well .

haha, I have a feeling whatever you build will come out strong and beautiful.

[406Columbia]

Originally Posted by Greatest Lakes

If I thought I had room up front without making it look like a hatchet job, I probably would. I don't care for the whole assembly I have up there. I want to redo it with smooth rope fairings, Bow roller, and move the lights, maybe do a pair of the flush lights on the hull. I'm also planning to replace my Michigan 2 blade fixed prop with a flexofold, and my barlow winches with Andersen self tailing. Nothing really wrong with the prop, but I can feel it on the Rudder disturbing the water, and the wife would be safer with the self tailing winch, not sure how long my barlows will last, they are feeling their age. I looked at Harken stuff, but it was more expensive, made of cheaper materials, and had far too much plastic for me. The Andersen is mostly 316 stainless and a bit less expensive.

Smooth rope fairing sounds essential. Trying to steal ideas from folks with lots of experience so we can learn from them. I think that is a great aspect of this site. Having a flexofold sounds amazing, if I had a diesel I would not hesitate to get something like that. Then you have an extra prop anyway. Self tailing sounds amazing too, I saw a few Anderson and they were beautiful pieces.

[406Columbia]

Originally Posted by Don C L

It's all looking great! I'd love to have your pushpit! Mine still is ok for hoisting the engine, but I like how stout yours is! I'm curious what the fitting is for in the middle of the X there?

Glad we found pushpit at Minniey's. Sometimes you find some real gems at that place. I think it was for a light since we pulled out the last bit of electrical cable when I was cleaning it up. I must say I'm not excited to try and polish that piece all up.

[newhaul]

Originally Posted by 406Columbia

Glad we found pushpit at Minniey's. Sometimes you find some real gems at that place. I think it was for a light since we pulled out the last bit of electrical cable when I was cleaning it up. I must say I'm not excited to try and polish that piece all up.

Bar keepers friend in powder form

[406Columbia]

Originally Posted by newhaul

Bar keepers friend in powder form

Picked some up, I had previously used Bon Ami and it was far to abrasive and actually dulled the polished stainless. Thanks for the tip.

Finally got the hole cut out for the new sink, was difficult with the fiddles in place. Rolled out a coat of primer on the salon seating and got started on the quarter birth. All the doors for the lockers are all off as well as the quarter birth platforms, primed and painted them. Just seems to take forever. Since we had extra and it's so thick we are using epoxy barrier coat for the inside of the lockers and quarter birth platforms. Then putting some topside paint on that.

[Greatest Lakes]

That looks good 406. Makes me think about doing something with my countertops. Right now they clean up alright, but they oxidize and get dirty easily.. I wonder if that epoxy stuff would adhere alright to the formica. Oh. And I bought and installed a pair of Andersen 40 winches. A good deal more grunt than my barlows.

[406Columbia]

Originally Posted by Greatest Lakes

That looks good 406. Makes me think about doing something with my countertops. Right now they clean up alright, but they oxidize and get dirty easily.. I wonder if that epoxy stuff would adhere alright to the formica. Oh. And I bought and installed a pair of Andersen 40 winches. A good deal more grunt than my barlows.

Those are some beautiful winches, lots of power. I'm not sure about the epoxy, but darn if it's not strong.

[Don C L]

Boat's looking great!

After a couple weeks now of hopping around the islands (about 140 miles of motoring) with the new Tohatsu 9.8 and power prop I can report that I got great mileage (about 8 mpg at about 5.7 knots or a little less than a gallon per hour), had way more power than I needed (more than half throttle was just a waste since I was already going 5.8 knots at about a third throttle), and no hiccups. I can put two 6 gallon and a 3 gallon tank in the lazarette, so that was plenty! The only fly in the ointment is that the flow through power prop gets clogged easily if you motor through a mass of kelp. You have to stop, pull up the engine and clean it out so it's important to have a mount like mine that allows you to get at the prop when needed. I had to clean it when the boat was pitching, so if you have a mount that requires you to tilt the engine up, it will be really hard to reach the prop to work on. I got a good deal on this engine but if I were to do it again and was going to buy new I'd probably go with an 8 hp with the power prop option. Maybe that helps in your engine planning, if you are going with the outboard. Functionally, I love it but I'll be the first to concede it does not at all look attractive.

[newhaul]

Originally Posted by Don C L

Boat's looking great!

After a couple weeks now of hopping around the islands (about 140 miles of motoring) with the new Tohatsu 9.8 and power prop I can report that I got great mileage (about 8 mpg at about 5.7 knots or a little less than a gallon per hour), had way more power than I needed (more than half throttle was just a waste since I was already going 5.8 knots at about a third throttle), and no hiccups. I can put two 6 gallon and a 3 gallon tank in the lazarette, so that was plenty! The only fly in the ointment is that the flow through power prop gets clogged easily if you motor through a mass of kelp. You have to stop, pull up the engine and clean it out so it's important to have a mount like mine that allows you to get at the prop when needed. I got a good deal on this engine but if I were to do it again and was going to buy new I'd probably go with an 8 hp with the power prop option. Maybe that helps in your engine planning, if you are going with the outboard. Functionally, I love it but I'll be the first to concede it does not at all look attractive.

Great assessment thanks for posting it.

On another note I take it you don't want my 9.9 suzuki electric start now