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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

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A sailboat died today....

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Oscar
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2030 Posts

Initially Posted - 06/25/2004 : 23:20:08

As I pulled into the boat yard where Lady Kay is on the hard, I saw a boat lying in the middle of the road, on a big blue tarp. Yes, lying, like a big whale on the beach, on it's side. Old, full keel, the looks of a 30-ish Cape Dory. Closer inspection revealed some delamination in the back deck, with rebar exposed. She was a ferro cement boat, from top to bottom. Most of her deck hardware had been removed, what was there was either rusted shut, or the screw heads had been stripped by the vultures, for she was a dying boat.

Some guy up in Maine decided he was done with her, and I guess the "donate your boat" folks had no interest, so he had her hauled out, and ordered her put to sleep. A forty foot dumpster was delivered, and tonight two gentlemen arrived with a backhoe and a Bobcat with a set of teeth. With alarming efficiency they broke her back, and literally flattened her, and then tore her into bite size bits. She was no match for the hydraulic force. Her sides split open and like entrails her contents spilled onto the gravel. An odd assortment of booms, a holding tank (empty), rusty anchors, galvanized standing rigging with large rusty turnbuckles, miscellaneous pots and pans. Everything outdated and neglected, but neatly coiled.

As I watched the carnage from above on my stern perch, I noticed that the propshaft had broken free and was floating around in the debris field. I ran over an signed to the operator that I would like to take it. A nod, and a few minutes later I had separated the prop from the shaft with a hacksaw. It is an old three bladed thing, with lots of nicks and dents. I'll hang it somewhere, and imagine when it was new and shiny, and someone proudly installed into the hull they built. I wonder which wondrous sea bottoms it has seen and if it hummed it's tune for happy people on board......

Oscar
Catalina 250WB#618 Currently FOR SALE:
http:www.woodenshoemusic.com/C250WB

Lady Kay IV, Dragonfly 25 # 54 Former C30#618-C250WB#618-C42#76

Edited by - on

Lightnup
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1016 Posts

Response Posted - 06/26/2004 : 08:48:09

It seems she at least led a long life and died of old age as opposed to being murdered like the C25 that was dropped and crushed by the crane.

Hope I'm long gone before Wind Point arrives at her final destination.

Steve

Edited by - on

OJ
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4382 Posts

Response Posted - 06/26/2004 : 09:38:15

Oscar,

Have you ever been institutionalized?

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 06/26/2004 : 20:49:55

Oscar: You have a sailor's heart!

Edited by - on

Lightnup
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1016 Posts

Response Posted - 06/26/2004 : 21:30:04

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Steve, I'm thinking you need help!!
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I just want to make it clear that it's one of the OTHER Steves that he's refering to.

Steve

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 06/26/2004 : 21:40:47

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Lightnup
 <blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Steve, I'm thinking you need help!!
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I just want to make it clear that it's one of the OTHER Steves that he's refering to.

Steve
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Yep--I was addressing "OJ".

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 06/27/2004 : 00:22:38

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by OJ
 Oscar,
Have you ever been institutionalized?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
He is just spending too much time on the NPR gig.
I guess we all wax poetic when so moved. But hey O, now that you are an emeritus member it doesn't make you our poet laureate. Hmm, maybe it does.

Edited by - on

Oscar
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2030 Posts

Response Posted - 06/28/2004 : 00:49:34

Hey, I'm allowed to have a sappy moment.....and, for that matter, apart from the type A nutcases that take their road rage to the water under the euphemism "regatta", most of us are out there chasing sunsets...which by definition leads to a potential "hopeless romantic" diagnosis.......(at least thats the angle that works with the chicks, you know, the sensitive part....

)

On another note, under the heading "What did we learn the last four days, boys and girls?"

* If you have a twenty five foot boat you have to buff and wax about 58 feet of topsides, waterline, rub rail etc......If you have a 41 foot boat that is about 6000 feet......(it truly never ends...)

* If you step back to admire your work, and as a result chrash off your scaffolding, you need to take a break.

* If you bring a kid with you (12) you can spend some quality time in between buffing marathons. Hey, even though it's on the hard, you're still sleeping on the boat. And, with a holding tank you can flush...

* If you're at a woking boat yard where the proprietor has his house (and pool) twenty feet from where you are, you are going to listen to loud (commercial

) country music, and his yelling grand kids, interrupted by screaming (stop that NOW) mothers.
You are also going to smell the burning dead animals on his BBQ, but you don't have time but for a banana and some warm water.

* The white coveralls you wear when sanding toxic bottom paint is designed to fill up with dust from same, and to make sure you are as uncomfortable as possible.

* When you are on the hard, the bay is at it's best. Sun , and 15 knots of wind from a favourable direction.

And, this one kills me, If it's cheaper to have it done than to do it yourself, STOP !! ........41*14*.85= 487 square feet of bottom. A gallon of "Peel Away" treats 50 sq.ft., so thats 10 gallons.....times $70.- = $700.- Add to that countless boxes of sanding pads, scraper blades and mask cartridges......The dude with the blaster is $15.- *41= $615.- He's coming wednesday.....but it wasn't untill after I busted my a$$ for a whole day stripping about 50 square feet......maybe I do need help...

She's starting to look good though....

Oscar
Catalina 250WB#618 Currently FOR SALE:
http:www.woodenshoemusic.com/C250WB

Edited by - Oscar on 06/28/2004 01:03:52

OJ
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4382 Posts

Response Posted - 06/28/2004 : 11:15:26

Oscar,

Not trying to tell you how to work on your boat, but I hope you have access to an electric (commercial grade) polisher for the hull . . . I can't imagine doing my 25 by hand anymore plus the results are so much better.
I also purchased a Graco 190es airless sprayer (which rents for ~$45 day at Home Depot.) Up to 3,000 psi (used it to apply the Interlux 2000E) and .38 gpm - fantastic (smooth) results and fast.
I've been accused of liking to work on boats as much as sailing them - I'm envious . . . now who should be commited?

Good luck.

Edited by - on

Oscar
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2030 Posts

Response Posted - 06/28/2004 : 11:47:24

I did use a (non commercial) buffer, and it improved the appearance dramatically, although if you look at it from just the right angle you will see some spotting.....Aargh!

Considering the scope of what needs to be done to get this boat up to speed, and the fleeting sailing season I will live with it untill next time. The yard offered me a price to put the barrier coat on I could not turn down.

I too enjoy working on her. In fact, it beats being institutionalized....

Oscar
Catalina 250WB#618 Currently FOR SALE:
http:www.woodenshoemusic.com/C250WB

Edited by - Oscar on 06/28/2004 11:54:23

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 06/28/2004 : 21:27:03

Oscar: This is getting out of control! Think MARCH! (April up here..) That's when the work is actually fun! You don't need a mirror-like hull right now--you need to be out there chasing sunsets! She'll float--shine or no shine. If you can't stand the shame in the marina, you need to find another marina.

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 06/28/2004 : 21:43:13

Hey O, Dave is beginning to suspect the true depths of your affliction. Dave, what do we know about O?
Just sold an antique Roller, hmm finished an unfinishable job and moved on.
Bought a 250, turned it into the nicest example of a 250 WB afloat and moved on.
Bought a double digit hull# of a boat big enough to turn into a bed and bath he will finish it and... Who knows all the paths the Oscar has been down? Do we really know he IS Oscar?

Sorry, I have been watching Black Adder DVDs and am feeling diabolically cunning.

Edited by - on

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