Part 2 - Columbia 29 refit, in the Rocky Mountains

[RaymondR]

That's a lot of boat for $10 and it looks like you are doing a good job on the refit.

[406Columbia]

Originally Posted by RaymondR

That's a lot of boat for $10 and it looks like you are doing a good job on the refit.

Thanks, were trying hard lots of new stuff to learn and to do but were keen for adventures. We are sure happy we got her and that she wasn't scrapped for her lead, best ten bucks I think either of us have ever spent. I see you own an Island Packet, beautiful boats. I think if we ever went bigger an Island packet would be at the top of my short list.

[406Columbia]

Just a few pictures of the fiberglass repairs and prep. Grinding or dishing out the holes and then laying in the patches. To date we have filled at least 60 holes, I should have ordered more epoxy! Thank goodness Jamestown Distributors ships fast and has everything we need!

Also the sheet of marine ply you see me cutting is going to be the flat base for the Ocean Aire hatch screen thing with the oak arched pieces underneath. Hopefully it comes out okay, if not I may enlist the carpenter to make something more sound. But I have a feeling it will be serviceable considering its going to get glassed in anyway, which means no one will see a few small imperfections some thickened epoxy shores up.

Initially we were considering WEST Systems stuff which is good but the TotalBoat line of stuff from Jamestown seems just as good and better prices which equals better value proposition. Saw a boat guy on YouTube using it and got great reviews, so what the heck.

The black in some of the patches is just sharpie ink, I use it to draw out the size of my fabric as I build the patch. So they look a little funny.

My sexy boat repair woman also included as well as one of the family. Its good to balance work with fun, so we took a quick trip to the lake one day when it was nice and hot. It may or may not have taken me years to understand this.

Life is to short to not have breaks for popsicles!

Even got my son to paddle out on the surfboard with me, the other folks at the lake must have thought we were crazy carrying a surfboard out to the lake in the mountains of Montana.

[406Columbia]

Originally Posted by newhaul

Give it a try at the lake and see how it goes btw you dont need to go at light speed.
I actually use a 2 hp on mine (10ft bombard rib ) not fast but faster than rowing.

Will do, but we need a dinghy first ha-ha. Our 1986 Zodiac was coming apart so we got rid of it. Costco had a dirty deal on a 10 or 12 foot inflatable we bought, actually looked pretty nice. But we inflated it and left it to sit overnight and the next day one tube was completely flat. So we returned it and now are back to square one without a dinghy.

So we are still keeping an eye out for a good dinghy to come along, something that will perform well and offer us a good value. Very easy to pay big bucks and not get a good product. But when we do find something will keep this in mind.

Which brings up a concern with the Porta-Bote, they can’t take very heavy motors and our Tohatsu I believe is over the weight limitation on motors. Anyway, still no decision on the dink.

The list of things to still acquire consist of:


-water maker
-dinghy
-solar panels
-charge controllers and associated kit
-fridge or kit to build one out of our existing icebox
-composting toilet
-some sort of cockpit shower
-new cushions for the v-birth, quarter births and cockpit
-compass
-some auto-tiller and/or wind vane
-chart plotter or software for our Toughbook or tablet to do the same
-Folding table top to sit on our Lagun table leg



Good thing all the stuff on that list is cheap and easily found in Montana . Anyway, one piece at a time.

[newhaul]

Shoot me a pm and we will see what we can do about crossing things off your list

[406Columbia]

The Princess enjoying her first popsicle. Also a few more holes that got patched up and the pre-existing hole where we want to put a compass in.

Also a few shots of the boom and mast during and after we got them both glass blasted to get the old stubborn paint and primer off. We had initially considered painting the boom but figure bare aluminum really doesn't offend us and is pretty low maintenance.

Also photos of the interior of the boat after walnut blasting the teak, wow did that save us lots of time. Its a bit rough, but a few hours with the orbital and some 320 grit followed by some 400-500 and it will be ready to stain!


We plan to have the guys come back and hit the paint that is layered on after 50 plus years on the fiberglass. The walnut was taking way too long on it, so next time were thinking a mix of walnut and glass should knock it out quicker.

[406Columbia]

a few more interior shots, teak sure is a soft wood which makes the sanding quick work. Now if I had a crew to come and cut to length the 15 cords of wood I have down and limbed around our property we would have more boat time.

[406Columbia]

Originally Posted by newhaul

Shoot me a pm and we will see what we can do about crossing things off your list

Thanks Newhaul and will do.

[406Columbia]

Got the tiller stripped and sanded down, doing dark stain on the exterior of the boat and the weathered oak (gray) on the interior. Came out a little bit rough, but the laminated woods were a combination of very soft and very hard wood. The walnut blasting unfortunately ate away at the soft woods and barely impacted the hard stuff. Which isn't a deal breaker since we ordered some TotalBoat varnish wood filler stuff. Supposed to fill in the gaps and dings in the grain and give is a nice smooth feel and appearance. Will report back on how effective it is.

Several interior pieces undergoing multiple coats of stain to bring more of the gray out. These photos are of the first or second coat.

We hadn't expected that raw teak would exhibit light red or pinkish hues, but actually like it a whole lot more than the honey colored interior the boat was when we got her.

[Dan Aadland]

Hello from a fellow Montanan, located on a ranch south of Absarokee. I've been working off and on for years on a Roberts Spray 27, and though it's far from water, I should have it on a trailer within a week or so--that way it can go outside for filling, sanding, and painting taking advantage of "natural" ventilation. Let me know where you're located--your project looks great.

[406Columbia]

Originally Posted by Dan Aadland

Hello from a fellow Montanan, located on a ranch south of Absarokee. I've been working off and on for years on a Roberts Spray 27, and though it's far from water, I should have it on a trailer within a week or so--that way it can go outside for filling, sanding, and painting taking advantage of "natural" ventilation. Let me know where you're located--your project looks great.

So are you toward Billings? Great to hear from you, do you have a thread for your boat, if so I would love to see. We are located in Bozeman. What are your plans for the boat?

[Rontero]

Great! I just bought a 1965 Columbia 26 so gonna be stalking you guys. Pretty similar.

[newhaul]

Originally Posted by Rontero

Great! I just bought a 1965 Columbia 26 so gonna be stalking you guys. Pretty similar.

do a refit thread on your 26 there are several of us right now doing refits and restorations.

And pictures or it didn't happen :-):-)

[Don C L]

Originally Posted by 406Columbia

a few more interior shots, teak sure is a soft wood which makes the sanding quick work. Now if I had a crew to come and cut to length the 15 cords of wood I have down and limbed around our property we would have more boat time.

If you are describing the interior paneling and wood I am fairly certain it is Honduran mahogany. Very beautiful too. All you guys are making me very jealous .

[newhaul]

Originally Posted by Don C L

If you are describing the interior paneling and wood I am fairly certain it is Honduran mahogany. Very beautiful too. All you guys are making me very jealous .

it is Honduras mahogany and it looks great imo with a coat of clear satin then 2 coats of gloss ( I prefer helmsman spar varnish.)