Part 2 - Columbia 29 refit, in the Rocky Mountains

[406Columbia]

Originally Posted by newhaul

on my defender that fuel tank is balanced by the oversized water tank in the vee berth .
However I have not sailed this particular boat since purchase so I have not noticed any issues either way.

Adding a water tank to counter balance would be possible for sure. Let me know when you get her sailing how she does.



ANYONE have any ideas on toe rail? I guess trex has too much expansion and contraction according to some reading my wife did. Still looking for ideas without spending tons on something custom.



Also does anyone have an idea on gel-coat over my fiberglass patches? Should it be gel-coat or epoxy barrier coat?

[newhaul]

Originally Posted by 406Columbia

Adding a water tank to counter balance would be possible for sure. Let me know when you get her sailing how she does.



ANYONE have any ideas on toe rail? I guess trex has too much expansion and contraction according to some reading my wife did. Still looking for ideas without spending tons on something custom.



Also does anyone have an idea on gel-coat over my fiberglass patches? Should it be gel-coat or epoxy barrier coat?

I'm sure she will do just fine considering she was built this way then did a circumnavigation with Dan and Pat Williamson the original owners

[Don C L]

I haven’t priced teak lately but I probably should since I’ll need a new toe rail this century. My thought is strips of 3/8” x 2” or 2.5” or so, and sandwich 3 of those strips (with the center one 3/8” x 3/4” or so) over the hull-deck lip. The toerail is not really structural. I’d probably let it go without oil or varnish. That’s one way to go. The good thing about our gunwale, as it were, is that the curve is very gentle and it is relatively easy to bend the strips to match it. That’s how it was on my old 24. On our 29s it’s just a solid piece of mahogany. There’s always going back to that too, but I think clamping and glueing strips would come out better. As you may know there are a couple places on my rail where the wood didn’t take the curve perfectly.

[Orion Jim]

Originally Posted by 406Columbia

Adding a water tank to counter balance would be possible for sure. Let me know when you get her sailing how she does.



ANYONE have any ideas on toe rail? I guess trex has too much expansion and contraction according to some reading my wife did. Still looking for ideas without spending tons on something custom.



Also does anyone have an idea on gel-coat over my fiberglass patches? Should it be gel-coat or epoxy barrier coat?

Iroko is a good substitute for teak in many applications.

If your fiberglass patches are below the waterline just barrier coat and apply antifouling.

[406Columbia]

Originally Posted by newhaul

I'm sure she will do just fine considering she was built this way then did a circumnavigation with Dan and Pat Williamson the original owners

That is pretty hard to argue with lol, good enough for me.

[406Columbia]

Originally Posted by Don C L

I haven’t priced teak lately but I probably should since I’ll need a new toe rail this century. My thought is strips of 3/8” x 2” or 2.5” or so, and sandwich 3 of those strips (with the center one 3/8” x 3/4” or so) over the hull-deck lip. The toerail is not really structural. I’d probably let it go without oil or varnish. That’s one way to go. The good thing about our gunwale, as it were, is that the curve is very gentle and it is relatively easy to bend the strips to match it. That’s how it was on my old 24. On our 29s it’s just a solid piece of mahogany. There’s always going back to that too, but I think clamping and glueing strips would come out better. As you may know there are a couple places on my rail where the wood didn’t take the curve perfectly.

Thats not a bad way, I may have to do this.

[406Columbia]

Originally Posted by Orion Jim

Iroko is a good substitute for teak in many applications.

If your fiberglass patches are below the waterline just barrier coat and apply antifouling.

I will do some looking into that wood tomorrow. Will be doing some more wood work tomorrow. Mounting all the cabinet faces, installing the spring hatch supports, etc. Then maybe barrier coating as you mentioned.

[406Columbia]

Don,


can you post up a few photos of the storage holes you cut into the back rests of the salon births?

[Don C L]

Up in the bow, 2 on each side. The original drawings of boat show one I think. 2 on each side in main cabin though there is room for 3. I left the space forward for speakers if I ever get them. The holes are the same size/shape as smaller windows. I got new cushions and got a good deal on really nice faux leather covers. I had them cut it a little loose, more comfortable that way. So far that's the biggest single outlay of $ I've spent on the boat in 6 years of ownership, about $1300! Which for me is a major purchase! Now my wife is much happier, the boat doesn't have that old moldy foam mattress smell anymore! Next major outlays will be paint job and new engine, though I can hold off on the engine for a few more years I think.

[406Columbia]

Today was productive. Got the face frames installed except one as we were short hinges. Got the hatch support installed on the companionway stairs, the anchor locker door and mounted the head door. Need to see how much room I have to mount the C-Head.


Also installed the blanking plug in the thru-hull for the paddle wheel. Didn't get to any glass work as we only worked for part of the day then went to the beach. Should get more installed tomorrow.

[newhaul]

Originally Posted by Don C L

Up in the bow, 2 on each side. The original drawings of boat show one I think. 2 on each side in main cabin though there is room for 3. I left the space forward for speakers if I ever get them. The holes are the same size/shape as smaller windows. I got new cushions and got a good deal on really nice faux leather covers. I had them cut it a little loose, more comfortable that way. So far that's the biggest single outlay of $ I've spent on the boat in 6 years of ownership, about $1300! Which for me is a major purchase! Now my wife is much happier, the boat doesn't have that old moldy foam mattress smell anymore! Next major outlays will be paint job and new engine, though I can hold off on the engine for a few more years I think.

got a nice Suzuki 9.9 4 stroke electric start I will sell you

[Don C L]

Originally Posted by newhaul

got a nice Suzuki 9.9 4 stroke electric start I will sell you

Long shaft? Sail it down!
My sister lives in Puyallup, she'll be driving down one of these days, if you're too busy to sail it down!

[406Columbia]

Originally Posted by Don C L

Up in the bow, 2 on each side. The original drawings of boat show one I think. 2 on each side in main cabin though there is room for 3. I left the space forward for speakers if I ever get them. The holes are the same size/shape as smaller windows. I got new cushions and got a good deal on really nice faux leather covers. I had them cut it a little loose, more comfortable that way. So far that's the biggest single outlay of $ I've spent on the boat in 6 years of ownership, about $1300! Which for me is a major purchase! Now my wife is much happier, the boat doesn't have that old moldy foam mattress smell anymore! Next major outlays will be paint job and new engine, though I can hold off on the engine for a few more years I think.

Don the new cushions look amazing! Glad to hear the wife likes them, great investment. One day we will want to get some new cushions and I think white as you did looks great. Thanks for posting pictures of the storage cutouts. We want to reclaim some space like that for towels and linens or stuff like that.



Did you give that anchor door any thought? I will be out at the boat tomorrow and can cut it out if you decide you want one.

[406Columbia]

Originally Posted by Don C L

Long shaft? Sail it down!
My sister lives in Puyallup, she'll be driving down one of these days, if you're too busy to sail it down!

Electric start 9hp sounds pretty good, what is your current motor output? It seemed to push the 29 along real well. I am curious to see how the little tohatsu sail pro 6hp we got with ours does out in the bigger swell and seas. Not that we will rely on it but curious at least.

[Don C L]

Originally Posted by 406Columbia

Electric start 9hp sounds pretty good, what is your current motor output? It seemed to push the 29 along real well. I am curious to see how the little tohatsu sail pro 6hp we got with ours does out in the bigger swell and seas. Not that we will rely on it but curious at least.

That's right I forgot you are probably going to need an engine before I do! My 2-stoke 8hp with the power prop does fine, I don't know the hp at the prop though, but it's not going to plow me through big breaking swells or fight through 30 kts on the nose! Gotta head off. But pretty rare I'd be trying to do that unless I'm trying to get out of a bad anchorage, or the nightmare scenario, trying to claw back up to a MOB, but that is probably true of most of the auxilliary engines out there, inboard or out.