Sailboat Maintenance Video: Card Scraper

I just made a video showing how I use a card scraper to remove varnish. I don't think I saw any online and I've recently been really impressed with card scrapers so why not try a How-To video.

Although it's pretty easy, I'll possibly make another video showing cleaning and oiling.

Cal 27 more maintenance

Last week we were sailing in low winds when they just outright died leaving us about 8 miles from the harbor. While we were motoring in, Paige spotted a grey whale crossing our bow about a 1/4 mile away. We motored closer and closer until we were about 100yds away following it for about 10 min watching it come up, blow, and throwing it's tail up a little bit for the next dive. This was the first whale spotting on Prudence after many attempts and Paige's first anywhere.

Here's a list of recent updates and maintenance.

1. Replaced the oberdorfer pump. Easy to remove the pump but it was nearly impossible to remove the seals. I ended up buying a new pump from Moyer Marine. Installed that and quickly back in business.

2. I've had some problems with the Morse Cable controlling the transmission. It actually broke at the tip but was easily replaced and again, back in business.

3. Had the furler get stuck up top. I was a little confused about what to do until our dock neighbor mentioned what now seems obvious, unwrap and lower the sail and see what's wrong. We did just that and just added a little squirt of lub and it works perfectly. 

4. I'm am little by little removing old varnish and replacing it with teak oil. I like the look of varnish done right and kept up but for me, I really like oil and it's so easy to maintain. 

Cal 2-27 Prudence get's some updates

Well it's been a while since I've updated. I've been on the road and really not a whole lot has happened with Prudence other then sail after lovely sail.  Just last week I replaced a broken fiddle block with some new Garhauer Fiddle blocks. They are so nice they almost stand out of place. With the help of some friends  I climbed the mast, replaced telltales and got the autotiller to work wonderfully. Sailing with an autotiller is one of the greatest things ever. I could go up to the bow or down below or reel in a fish or concentrate on sail trim. I love it. 

Cal 2-27 Fixing Leaky Opening Ports

After rinsing the boat down and finding that both opening ports leak somewhere around the gaskets I knew this was a job had to move to the top of the list. Even a small amount of water  coming in over time this would not only ruin the wood but also create a musty smell. As of now I believe Prudence is one of the best 2-27's around and we intend to only make it better. This means no leaks. Luckily the leaks hadn't created any damage yet as the wood is still strong and well oiled. Maybe the PO's purposefully kept the hose from blasting the ports.
The first step was to take apart the gaskets and a hard plastic ring that seals the gasket to the frame. Both these items have a "leg" that goes in a groove in the frame and both had dirt on them showing that some water and air were passing at these points. Surprisingly there was no sealant at all. Adding a layer of LifeSeal all around the  inside of the hard plastic gasket, a bead on the out side and then finally a layer on the soft gasket leg. The result...no water. What a great feeling it is to blast your ports with the hose and not have it leaking.
Test number two is doing a similar job on the starboard side but I'm going to use butyl putty. I'd like to learn more about it's use. If it works just as well, it may be a better solution both in costs, but also it's easier to clean. If it doesn't work it will be easy enough to clean off and use the LifeSeal again. 

Cal rescues Catalina

I went out on Prudence last week with extended family and had a great time. We were mostly there to show off the boat for the first time, have a bite in the cockpit and then decided we'd sneak in a quick motor around the harbor. We  went out to the mouth of the harbor thinking we'd do a quick run around the buoy a 1/4 mile offshore but decided to turn around when the bouncing got too out of control for the moms holding the kids/babies on the forward deck.
As we headed back into the harbor I saw a Catalina 25(?) drifting towards the rocks. As I kept an eye on it, I had a hard time knowing if the boat needed help or not. I couldn't really tell if the boat had no power but I did see that the sails were rolled up. I kept on heading in toward the main channel talking to my stepdad deciding whether to go over there and help or just call the coast guard and keep a safe distance. I decided to first motor over near him and see if indeed he needed help.
 As I started to head his way, I grabbed the handheld VHF and noticed that he was in trouble but made no panic signs. At one point he had one hand the on boat pulpit and was footing the boat off the rocks. I kept my distance as I have way less experience and control with my sailboat as I do with my fishing boat and didn't want to have two boats on the rocks. I yelled and asked if he needed assistance and he replied that he was ok. His boat clearly wasn't ok. I told him that I'd call the coast guard and he said not to worry about it.
At that point I thought that I could throw him a line and I would back us into the main channel. This took a few attempts as my step dad took the tiller and I threw the line. I never could get it to him as I had my step dad who has never been on this boat keep her some distance away. Strangely in my mind I contemplated trying to make a quick Monkey's Fist. No way. I then took control of the helm, backed upwind and let the wind drift the bow down closer to the boat in distress and we finally made the throw and pulled her to the channel.
What had happened was that the Catalina had caught a line around her outboard and lost power and control. Strangely her boom was broken and tied to the mast so she was basically a poor powerboat with a lot of windage. Her owner never seemed panic and never really wanted our help. He spent a couple minutes anchored and unwrapped the line from the prop as we watched to see that he got the outboard started.
 I think he may have waved a "thanks" and then motored off but here's another weird thing.
Instead of going straight into the harbor to take a break he motored quickly off toward the harbor mouth, threw down the anchor and began fishing. Wow. It was a strange event. After and even during really, I couldn't figure out if it was better for me to help him off the rocks or to call the Coast Guard. I was cautious getting near him as I had a boat full of family on board and it was a decision that I'm not entirely sure of even after the fact. I'd say now that I've done it I'd do it again as I have a little experience. I sure hope someone would help too if they saw me in that position. Mark one karma point down for Prudence. 

Dingy Rack Slider Pt. 2

Parker and I went down to Prudence last evening and finished off the dingy rack slider. It works great. There's not much I can do about the dingy width rubbing a little with the rack as I don't feel it's right for me to mess with the city's rack dimensions but...the rack is sliding the dingy so well. I spent very little money and am very pleased. Time will tell if I need to make any more mods.

This photo shows the basic setup and as you can tell, it's basic. 

I can either pull the dingy out of the rack and put it on a furniture dolly and roll it to where I can place in the water or better yet...

I can push it out the back of the rack and right into the water. With these 45º elbows I can slide it pretty easily out of the water and back into the rack without it scraping on the side of the dock. 

I should probably cap the ends just to make it look a little more finished. I'm also playing with the idea of making a simple block and tackle retrieval line and will make it easier to pull it out. I"m not sure if that will even be needed as the dingy slides so well as it is. I'm calling this job DONE.

Cal 2-27 sailing progress

I'd really prefer to post with some photos but I sadly haven't taken any photos the last few times I've gone aboard.  My dad came down to the boat and we all went out sailing. He was a big big help in getting the sails trimmed and boat "sailing herself" and "in a groove" as he liked to say. He showed me that I had raised the main halyard enough and that was causing all sorts of issues that I couldn't solve with the other control lines. Easy. At the end of the day we were pointing much higher and keeping a course was a matter of moving my fingers rather then my whole are on the tiller...a balanced helm, what a feeling. I used the tiller extension for the first time and now I can't see sailing without it. I learned to use the traveller better and the jib sheet cars too. Dad helped me from getting underway to getting back in. He's teaches planned and methodical ways from start to finish. Thanks dad.