Good Old Boat – Newsletter June 2014
We’re having a party!
We wrote in the May 2014 issue editorial that technical editor Jerry Powlas has
finally completed the refit of his C&C Mega 30 after only 11 grueling years. This,
as you may recall, was the project he hoped to complete in two years. Let’s just
say that he learned a number of important and humbling lessons along the way.
But now he’s celebrating and we’re all celebrating with him. You’re invited to
come meet the editors and see Sunflower, the Mega 30, and all her innovations
at the Good Old Boat launching party and open house on the afternoon of
Sunday, June 29, in Superior, Wisconsin. The details are posted on our site at
www.goodoldboat.com/pdfs/GOBInvitation.pdf
There’ll be an impromptu band. Bring your own instrument if you play something.
We’ll have door prizes. We’ll have food and non-alcoholic beverages. If you
prefer something with a bit of alcohol in it, feel free to bring your own. It wouldn’t
be wrong to bring your own folding lawn chair either.
Please let us know if you’re coming by sending an email message to
karen@goodoldboat.com by June 18. We plan to have enough food and drink
on hand to feed an army but we need to know the size of that army.
See you there!
More big logo T-shirts
Wow! We just received boxes and boxes and boxes of our newest two T-shirt
designs. We keep tweaking and improving our big logo shirts based on the
feedback we get from you.
The new ones are a deep dark heather gray with a blue and white logo and a
deep burgundy shirt with a gray and white logo. We’re thinking you’ll need the
wine-colored shirt for formal occasions when wine will be consumed. Think how
that takes the stress off the situation if a wee small amount gets spilled. No
problem! Meanwhile, once it has gone past the brand-new stage, the heather
gray will be a great all-purpose work shirt capable of hiding any accidental boat
grubbiness with style!
Our T-shirts sell for $20 and are available online at:
http://www.goodoldboat.com/books_&_gear/clothing.php
Some of our older styles are also available while supplies last, but we’re phasing
them out. Check soon if you hope to replace a favorite shirt in your collection.
© 2014 by Good Old Boat magazine
Good Old Boat – Newsletter June 2014
Page 2
More review boats too
We’ve just gathered another batch of boat reviews for you. This collection
includes 31- to 36-footers that we covered as review boats through the end of
2013. The list of 33 sailboats includes many favorites such as the Alberg 35,
Columbias of 33 and 35 feet, Contessas of 32 and 35 feet, Ericsons of 32 and 35
feet, the Nicholson 31, the Pearson Vanguard (32.5 feet), the Santana 35, the
Ranger 33, the Southern Cross 31, and the Westsail 32. To keep things
interesting, it also includes a few not-as-well-known sailboats.
These downloadable collections of articles, called Archive eXtractions in “Good
Old Boat Speak,” are available through our downloads site:
AudioSeaStories.com. We sell them for $25. You can preview the entire list of 33
boats in the collection before making any commitment. Other review boat Archive
eXtractions include 25- to 27-footers and 28- to 30- footers.
What’s coming in July?
For the love of sailboats
* Beneteau 32s5 review
* Freedom 28 review
* O’Day Mariner refit
Speaking seriously
* Marine Electrical Wire 101
* Seakindliness by Rob Mazza
* Oxford dinghy
* Making a wooden wheel
* Blisters
* Bottom job
* Levity’s rudder
* Lifeline inspection
What’s more
* Sextant reflections
* Dad’s boatbuilding
* Reflections: Appalachian Trail
* Simple solutions: Making lanyards
* Quick and Easys: Forehatch skylight and Outboard stand
* The view from here: Defensive sailing
© 2014 by Good Old Boat magazine
Good Old Boat – Newsletter June 2014
Page 3
In the news
Ted Gozzard passes
From the Gozzard website:
It is with a heavy heart that we share the news that Ted passed away peacefully
at home on May 15, 2014. As many of you know, it has been a difficult struggle
for both Ted and Jan since his stroke almost 5 years ago . . . but even so he
kept on adding value to everyone's lives right until the end.
At some point in the not too distant future we will find a way to celebrate his life
and achievements properly.
Charles W. Morgan whaleship returns to New Bedford
This summer, New Bedford, Massachusetts, will welcome the iconic Charles W.
Morgan for its 38th voyage. The Morgan is the oldest commercial ship still afloat
and the last wooden whaleship in the world. The only older ship afloat in the
United States is the USS Constitution. The Charles W. Morgan launched from
New Bedford in 1841, made its last visit to New Bedford during World War II, and
will return home to the nation’s most iconic whaling city in late June.
The Morgan was designated a National Historic Landmark by order of the
Secretary of the Interior in 1966, and she has also been recognized with the
prestigious World Ship Trust Award. She has welcomed over 20 million visitors at
Mystic Seaport.
The Morgan’s journey will begin in Mystic, Connecticut, where the ship currently
resides, and head north to various ports in Connecticut, Rhode Island, and
Massachusetts. In New Bedford the ship will be open to the public featuring a
State Pier dockside exhibition program including demonstrations, music, and the
opportunity to explore the whaling vessel.
For more information on the Charles W. Morgan and its voyage, including a
complete itinerary, go to http://www.mysticseaport.org/visit/explore/morgan/.
BoatUS’s Annual list of top ten boat names
From BoatUS:
“If a car’s vanity license plate can tell you a lot about the person behind the
wheel, what can a boat’s name tell you about the person behind the helm? Boat
Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) just released the national
boating organization’s 24th Annual Top Ten Boat Names List and may have the
answer.
The BoatUS list of Top Ten Boat Names:
1. Serenity
2. Second Wind
3. Island Girl
4. Freedom
© 2014 by Good Old Boat magazine
Good Old Boat – Newsletter June 2014
Page 4
5. Pura-Vida
6. Andiamo
7. Island Time
8. Irish Wake
9. Happy Hours
10. Seas the Day
“‘We’ve had indicators that a boater who names their boat Second Wind may
have rebounded from a misfortune such as divorce, health, or other major issue,
while someone who names their boat Island Girl or Island Time may enjoy a
more carefree spirit and need an escape from everyday life,’ said Greg Edge of
BoatUS Boat Graphics. “‘And you can guess that boats with names like Happy
Hours may be the most popular boats on Friday night at the marina or Saturday
afternoon raft-up — their more outgoing owners celebrating with family and
friends.’
“Need a boat name? BoatUS has over two decades of top ten boat name lists
and over 9,000 names in its online Boat Name Directory, a checklist to help pick
a name, christening ceremony information, and an easy-to-use online design tool
to make your own boat name, all at BoatUS.com/boatgraphics.”
Favorite Sailing Tunes, Part 2
In the April newsletter a reader asked others for their favorite sailing tunes. Here
are the ones suggested. If you have additional tunes to mention, send an email
message to karen@goodoldboat.com.
“Cool Change” – Little River Band
“Redfish Island” album – Kelly McGuire has several sailing songs, such as “Turn
Around and Run,” “They All Wanna Go to the Sea,” “Redfish Island,” “Major
Doubts About Waterspouts,” “Hurricane,” “Where did Redfish Go,” “Pensacola in
the Morning,” “Sailing Across the Gulf on my Own,” and “Therapy Cruise.”
“The Keeper of the Eddystone Light” – This one was performed by many groups
The “Sea Music” album – Dan Zanes has some great songs according to one
reader who notes, “The worst tune beats the snot out of Christopher Cross and
Styx.”
From his “Fresh Water” album, Canadian Stan Rogers includes “White Squall,”
“The Nancy,” “Man with Blue Dolphin,” “Tiny Fish for Japan,” “Lock-Keeper,” and
“The Last Watch.”
© 2014 by Good Old Boat magazine
Good Old Boat – Newsletter June 2014
Page 5
“Between the Breaks” album – Stan Rogers includes “The Witch of
Westmoreland,” “Barrett’s Privateers,” “The Mary Ellen Carter,” and “Rolling
Down to Old Maui.”
“Northwest Passage” album – Stan Rogers includes “Northwest Passage” and
“Night Guard.”
“Fogarty’s Cove” album – Stan Rogers includes “Fogarty’s Cove,” “The Maid on
the Shore,” “Fisherman’s Wharf,” “The Wreck of the Athens Queen,” and “Make
and Break Harbor.”
“Seaway” album – David Francey and Mike Ford (also Canadians). This one
includes 16 original tunes about the lakes, the boats, and the people on them.
“Orinoco Flow” – Enya
“Sail Away” – David Gray
The soundtrack from the Hornblower series.
Any number of sea chanties such as “Haul Away Joe” and “John Kanaka.”
Really like sailing tunes? Mystic Seaport is hosting its 35th annual Sea Music
Festival June 12-14. For more information:
http://www.mysticseaport.org/event/sea-music-festival-2/
And finally if you have to pump your bilges, this one, sent by Susan Peterson
Gateley, might be for you:
Susan says, “Back when we discovered this song we kept two electric pumps
and two manuals on hand and on a hard beat both the electrics were sometimes
in use:”
They say life has its ups and downs
That really now is quite profound
I’d like to push the capstan round
But it’s pump me boys before we drown.
Chorus:
Pump me boys, pump ’er dry
Down to hell and up to the sky
Bend your back and break your bones
We’re just a thousand miles from home.
The ocean we all do adore
So come on lads let’s pump some more
© 2014 by Good Old Boat magazine
Good Old Boat – Newsletter June 2014
Page 6
Don’t worry if you’re stiff and sore
I’m sure we’ve pumped this bit before.
Chorus and so on . . .
Calendar
14th annual Worldwide Summer Sailstice Celebration
June 21
Everywhere
This year's Summer Sailstice will be celebrated on the summer solstice (northern
hemisphere), June 21, giving all sailors out on the water the absolute maximum
time to sail in daylight.
Summer Sailstice encourages all sailors, from the recreational to the
professional, to sign up at <http://www.summersailstice.com>, a social network
where they can share their individual sailing plans, recruit crew, post stories and
create Summer Sailstice events with their yacht clubs, fellow sailors, or sailing
associations. All sailors, regardless of vessel or location, are encouraged to sail
"together" wherever they happen to be on the planet. By registering to participate
each year, Summer Sailstice celebrants become eligible to win prizes supplied
by over 400 sailing industry supporters, including Footloose, Hobie, Offshore
Sailing, West Marine, Boat U.S., Harken, Lewmar, Good Old Boat, of course, and
numerous other respected marine suppliers. The prize list is topped by a $5,000
certificate toward a BVI charter with Footloose Charters. Winners are selected by
a random drawing in early July 2014.
Third Annual Sointula Canada Day Regatta
July 1
Malcolm Island
Vancouver Island
This year, Canada Day (July 1) falls on a Tuesday, and the event will be kicked
off with a parking lot full of vendors, a pancake breakfast and day long
entertainment. The traditional singing of “Oh Canada,” and cake cutting
ceremony will take place at high noon. The sailing races will start shortly after.
The Sointula Dragon Boat will be on hand for rides and the Royal Canadian
Marine Search and Rescue (Station 50) will be available to conduct free safety
inspections.
The Lion’s Club will be hosting a daylong beer gardens and the Burger Barn will
be offering up a delicious menu.
© 2014 by Good Old Boat magazine
Good Old Boat – Newsletter June 2014
Page 7
For those that do not know, Sointula is on Malcolm Island, at the northwest end
of Vancouver Island on the “Inside Passage,” across from Port McNeill. It is the
gateway to the Broughton Archipelago.
More information can be found on the Canada Day regatta website,
www.sointulacanadadayregatta.com, or call Jim MacDougall at 250-973-6975.
20th Annual Great Lakes All Catalina Rendezvous
July 11 – 13
Macatawa Bay Yacht Club
Holland, Michigan
The Macatawa Bay Yacht Club of Holland, Michigan, will host the Lake Michigan
Catalina Association’s 20th Annual Rendezvous. This will be a grand celebration
of a tradition started 20 years ago by a handful of Catalina owners dedicated to
sharing their love of sailing and Catalina/Morgan yachts.
Last year’s Friday night Smokin’ Rib dinner was a great hit and will be back again
this July. After sailing, shopping, seminars, and the infamous Tour de Boats on
Saturday, sailors will be ready for some great food and a good time. The MBYC
hosts don’t disappoint; dining there is always first class. Again this year we will
feature the up and coming country band “Small Town Son.” Great party, great
music, line dancing, and even “Lazer Fingers” — it will be a great time. For more
information go to www.LMCA.com
Sixth Annual Sippy Cup
August 1 – 2
North East Maryland
The Sippy Cup is an overnight regatta, held the same weekend as the
Governor’s Cup.
There are three fleets — Regatta, Sippy Cup, and Big Gulp. The Regatta Fleet is
open to any sailboats — entrants sail for fun and bragging rights, will not be
scored, and there is no trophy. Sippy Cup boats must have a PHRF rating of 220
or higher. Big Gulp boats must have a PHRF rating of 160 – 219. If you don’t
have a PHRF rating, contact us and we will determine where you belong.
Hosted by Walden Rigging, this is primarily a regatta “fun race” encouraging
small boats and everyone else to gain experience sailing at night.
The entry fee is $15 due by July 11, 2014. For more information contact Suzanne
and Dobbs at Waldenrigging@earthlink.net or call 410-441-1913.
44th Annual Newport International Boat Show
September 11 -14
Newport, Rhode Island
© 2014 by Good Old Boat magazine
Good Old Boat – Newsletter June 2014
Page 8
The Newport Exhibition Group has announced the 44th Annual Newport
International Boat Show at the Newport waterfront along America’s Cup Avenue
in Newport, Rhode Island. The premier boat show in New England will
encompass 13 acres and will host hundreds of exhibitors from around the world
with power and sailboats ranging from 15 to 85 feet, plus a wide variety of
accessories, equipment, electronics, gear, and services for boaters. For more
information or to purchase tickets go to www.newportboatshow.com.
Looking for
My wife and I would love to restore and live aboard a good old boat. Having
spent a good portion of my life on the coast, I’ve seen many derelict boats. It
drives me crazy that people let them die instead of passing them on to someone
who will take care of them. We’re looking for someone with a bluewater, older,
longer (40- to 50-foot) sailboat who would love to see a family take it for another
spin or two.
Bryan Blaskowsky
bryan.blaskowsky@m1services.com
Book reviews
Sailing Down the Mountain: A Costa Rican Adventure
by Ben Harrison (New Atlantian Library, 2014, 436 pages; $19.95 paper, Kindle
$3.99)
Review by Bob Wood
Angola, New York
Prepare your nautical comfort zone for a jolt. In Sailing Down the Mountain, warm
and fuzzy . . . and staid . . . conventional thoughts on sailing, construction and
personal discovery are casually set aside. Casually, but firmly. Actually,
unconventional is an understatement. Equal parts of Walter Mitty, MacGyver and
the vibrant counterculture ethos of Haight-Ashbury in the ’70s define much of this
story.
The book chronicles both a young couple's growth as well as the birth of a sailing
legend, the Cabo Rico 38. Ben and Helen Harrison's singular focus on building
their dream sailboat, as well as a deep belief in themselves, is the story's glue.
Their ultimate success, despite obstacles and human failings, makes it an epic.
In addition to the Grateful Dead and Steve Jobs, San Francisco can count among
its credits the formative muscle behind the Harrisons. In the fall of 1974, Ben and
Helen left the City by the Bay but not its sweet energy. Driving a tired but trusty
station wagon to Central America, the saga began. In the Costa Rican hills they
© 2014 by Good Old Boat magazine
Good Old Boat – Newsletter June 2014
Page 9
took a bare hull and, with little experience, built La Dulce Mujer Pintada, The
Sweet Painted Lady.
Bending or breaking bureaucratic rules that stood in their way, they never forgot
the beauty or the dignity of those around them. Their days and months swung
back and forth from staggering to sparkling, side-steps to bold gains, as all real
adventures do.
This story is not some predictable tale of heroics and overcoming impossible
odds. It is, instead, refreshingly candid and authentic, at times graphic, and
always insightful. A quirky, colorful, stuttering bounce of a narrative, I found
myself progressing from “I couldn't do that” to “Wow, I really could!” Admiration
for their humanity, audacity, and sheer guts comes easily after reading Ben's
journal.
Sailing Down the Mountain accurately captures the joys of aiming high in life, of
stretching exuberantly for the prize, and that rarest joy of all: seizing it. This book
will provoke and inspire. I salute Ben and Helen for taking a right turn from our
complacent world.
Man & The Sea: Shipwrecks of Southwest Washington and Northwest
Oregon 1792 – 1949 by Wayne O’Neil (Midway Printery, 2013, 221 pages;
$29.00 paper)
Review by Durkee Richards
Sequim, Washington
For anyone with an interest in the maritime history of the Northwest coast, this
book will be a valuable addition to their library. The central focus is the mouth of
the Columbia River. The Columbia River bar can rapidly develop a very
dangerous sea state when wind-driven waves encounter an outgoing tide. Add in
fog, storm, and continuously shifting sandbars and spits, and one begins to
understand why so many vessels came to grief here.
Commercial shipping grew rapidly during the early 1800s and hazardous
conditions at the mouth of the river took a heavy toll. Wayne O’Neil set an
ambitious goal for himself — to chronicle all the vessels known to have been lost
between 1792 and 1949. No vessels were actually lost in 1792; the first occurred
in 1798. Rather, the author starts his history of the Columbia River with the first
entrance into the river by a Western vessel. It was the Columbia Rediviva, under
command of Robert Grey out of Boston. Later that year, the bar was crossed by
British vessels.
This is a comprehensive accounting of the more than 200 vessels lost during this
period. Their stories are well told, and often well illustrated with drawings and
photographs. Personnel from the nearby Life Saving Stations frequently
performed inspired feats of seamanship during attempts to rescue passengers
© 2014 by Good Old Boat magazine
Good Old Boat – Newsletter June 2014
Page 10
and crewmembers. The histories of these local stations are also well
documented in this fine book.
There is an interesting backstory to this book as well. Wayne O’Neil died in 1998
before he had completed the manuscript. His daughter, Peggy (O’Neil) Mathena,
organized a group of friends and fellow journalists who had worked with her
father to complete the work. A “collectors edition” of this book was printed on
paper salvaged along the Long Beach Peninsula after it was washed off the deck
of the freighter Hawaiian Planter during a stormy bar crossing.
In the Hour of Victory: The Royal Navy at War in the Age of Nelson
By Sam Willis (W.W. Norton & Co., 2014, 416 pages; $35.00 hardcover, $19.95
paper)
Review by Chas. Hague
Des Plaines, Illinois
In 2010, naval historian Sam Willis went to the British Library to do research for a
book he was writing. One of the potential sources he wished to check had the
innocuous catalog label “Add:23207.” He expected a folder with a few letters in it;
instead, the librarians brought out a huge volume, cased in silver, containing the
original after-action reports from the seven most important naval battles of the
Revolutionary/Napoleonic era: The Glorious First of June (1794), St. Vincent
(1797), Camberdown (1797), the Nile (1798), Copenhagen (1801), San Domingo
(1806), and Trafalgar (1805). Along with the hand-written reports of the admirals
who had fought the battles, there were lists of the ships involved, the prizes
taken, the damage to the ships, casualty lists, and required repairs — all
originally written to be sent to the Secretary of the Admiralty. This treasure trove
of history had been effectively lost in the British Library for almost 100 years.
Wow.
History is context. Willis knew exactly what he had found. He could have merely
scanned all the documents, added some stuffy afternotes, and left it at that.
Instead, he wrote this wonderfully readable book. It is organized in chapters by
battle, starting with a one-page summary of the action; brief biographies of the
commanders; descriptions of the strengths and weaknesses of the opposing
fleets, the strategic situations, and the reasons the battles were fought
(Copenhagen, it turns out, was fought for no reason at all; San Domingo,
because most of the British sailors engaged had missed Trafalgar and wanted
some glory for themselves, even if they were 3,000 miles off-station). The
documents are reproduced, but not just as barely decipherable photocopies.
Each letter is printed in a font that invokes 19th century handwriting while being
legible to 21st century eyes.
Willis is a skilled historian, and an excellent writer — not always the same thing.
He not only relates what the letters say, he explains their meanings, including the
subtleties that might escape someone simply reading the text alone. He includes
© 2014 by Good Old Boat magazine
Good Old Boat – Newsletter June 2014
Page 11
fascinating anecdotes about the seamen, battles, and the race to get the
information to the Admiralty. His introduction, which describes a combat-numbed
commander trying to write a coherent report in the battle-shattered remains of his
flag cabin, is a wonderfully evocative piece of writing, comparable to anything by
Samuel Eliot Morison.
Accounts of the actual fighting are oddly brief, including only enough information
to explain what the reports are describing. But so much has been written about
these engagements already that this is no loss. The battle maps that are included
are excellent. Cartographer Jamie Whyte uses a sketch of a mainmast with
billowing sails and pennants flying to show the wind direction (vital in a sailing
fleet action).
Readers who “don’t care about that history stuff” will find here the true stories of
actual men who sailed His Majesty’s ships against the King’s enemies and who
fought with daring and skill — then wrote about it. Even if you have never paced
a quarterdeck with Aubrey, Hornblower, or Bolitho, you will find this book
informative and a great read.
Old Voice, music CD by Larry Carpenter, with Laura Moe, produced by Bill
Travers; 2014, 46 minutes, $15.00, http://allegro.mncarpenters.net/?page_id=535
or contact him through Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/larry.carpenter.16.
Review by Karen Larson
Minneapolis, Minnesota
The words of a song are spinning through my head as I write this. Songs often
get stuck in there playing endlessly. When it’s a song I really enjoy, such as this
one, it’s a lovely idiosyncrasy. “In the land of the silver birch, cry of the loon,
there’s something about this country — it’s a part of me and you.” (Woodsmoke
and Oranges by Ian Tamblyn.)
These are the words in the refrain of the opening song on Larry Carpenter’s
second CD, released in early 2014. Titled Old Voice, the CD takes its name not
from the fact that Larry’s hair and beard have grown white but rather from an Ian
Tamblyn song of that name that Larry hears talking about the agelessness of the
glaciers and snowfields. Larry, an accomplished folk singer, presents 13 of his
favorite folk tunes on Old Voice from artists such as Tamblyn, Buddy Mondlock,
Kate Wolf, and Stan Rogers.
The songs he likes to sing and play revolve around maritime history, the beauty
of the northern shore and the high latitudes, and love stories. In January, Good
Old Boat sponsored Larry as a presenter at the Chicago Strictly Sail show. In his
presentations he told of the beauty of Lake Superior, a drama on Great Slave
Lake, and the loss of the fishery in the Canadian Maritimes, with scenic stills and
videos taken during his cruises in most of these areas. In addition, Larry sang
© 2014 by Good Old Boat magazine
Good Old Boat – Newsletter June 2014
Page 12
many of the songs on this new CD. The presentation helped listeners understand
the background behind the lyrics penned by Stan Rogers and others.
Larry’s first CD, Across the Water, released in 2012, is just as good as this one. If
you’re a sailor, wanderer, or folk singer, you’ll be impressed with his selection of
songs, the accompaniment by Larry’s wife, Judy Taylor, on flute, and also by Bill
Travers and John Wright on acoustic and bass guitar. This time Larry has
increased the participation by Laura Moe, whose vocals are haunting and lovely.
The two CDs make a great set.
I’m partial to the song of a woman who escaped death in a shipwreck on the
Great Slave Lake (fortunately for her she had an angel on her shoulder), Not This
Time by Amanda Rheaume; Waylon Jenning’s Freedom to Stay; and Stan
Rogers’ Make and Break Harbor.
But if I’m really lucky the refrain from The Birds, the last song on the CD, and
another one by Tamblyn, will stay with me for the rest of the day. The images
evoked of a cliffside rookery and the flight of thousands of birds makes this a
powerful piece. It is further enhanced by the wonderful voices of Larry Carpenter
and Laura Moe.
Old Voice is now available at CD Baby as either a physical disk or by download:
http://www.cdbaby.com/. Or you can get them directly from Larry.
Mail buoy
Coachwhipping the wheel
I work at Traditional Boat LLC in Unity, Maine, doing finish work. One project I
received was a wheel that needed attention and new ropework. My boss, John
Flanzer, reads your magazine routinely and gave me the issue (March 2013) with
David Lynn’s coachwhipping article. It helped me out greatly! The pictures with
different-colored strands were excellent guides to get me started and so was the
photo of the wheel in progress, which was a good visual for what you should be
seeing as you work.
I had never tried coachwhipping before and I looked at this beautiful wheel I had
been finishing and refreshing with new horror! I contacted David with several
questions and, thanks to the very instructive article and his further help, the
wheel came out absolutely amazing.
One thing I would add to David’s article was that each strand had to be pulled
very tight with fine-nosed pliers or tweezers. This tightened the braidwork so the
rope hugs the wheel and will not slide or twist. A trick that sped up tightening
each strand was, when following the coachwhipping down or toward yourself as
you work, look at it as columns. Tightening a column of strands that went left,
© 2014 by Good Old Boat magazine
Good Old Boat – Newsletter June 2014
Page 13
with the column next to it going right, actually tightened all strands around the
wheel. Simply working with two columns as I went seemed to efficiently tighten
all my cords.
I tied off my coachwhipping with a rubber band to keep my work from unraveling.
Using a second rubber band about 6 inches behind, at the end of each section I
had pulled tight with pliers kept strands in that section from loosening again. It
then became an easy process of coachingwhipping several inches followed by
tightening several inches.
I owe so much to the crew at Traditional Boat for instructing me in so many ways
and to my boss for teaching me new skills and offering opportunities like this to
learn and keep moving forward. I’m very lucky to work with an open-minded crew
in such an enthusiastic environment. Thank you again Good Old Boat and David
Lynn for all the help and instruction!
–Lilli Spencer
Awlgrip story
My wife and I painted our topsides with Awlgrip a few winters ago, using the
instructions we found in Randy Baker’s article, “Perfect Topsides,” November
2010. Thanks to that excellent article, everything went pretty smoothly.
However, we did learn some new wrinkles during the process:
1) If it’s very warm out, you’ll probably want to thin the Awlgrip 545 primer, even
though the instructions say not to. We found that if we wanted to see the wet
edge, we had to paint as the sun shone along the hull toward us. By early
afternoon, the Florida sunshine heated the hull enough that the primer cured
before it all flowed together, leaving the warmest areas with small pinholes.
Following coats did not seem to fill these imperfections, so they had to be sanded
out.
2) We tried the recommended 7-inch foam rollers (from West Marine) but were
unhappy with the results we got. Those rollers had a diagonal seam that left a
distinct pattern on the hull, and their hard edges took a good deal of “tipping” with
a brush to eliminate. We found we much preferred using shorter 4-inch foam
rollers. The convex-ended ones from Home Depot did a good job but are for
conventional paints and dissolved pretty quickly in the strong solvents. “Whiz”
rollers, which we found at Ace Hardware, were able to stand up to the chemicals
and their concave ends did a nice job feathering the edges. We just rolled on thin
coats of Awlgrip and didn’t mess with any tipping.
3) We only used half the volume of paint that the articles and experts predicted.
That was only 2 quarts of paint for 5 coats on our Hallberg-Rassy Rasmus (35
feet x 10 feet)! The stuff goes on incredibly thinly and is tripled in volume by the
“converter” and “reducer” you add. So don’t overbuy this expensive stuff.
4) We had some of the Awlgrip 545 epoxy primer left over from the job. We also
had some funky spots around our cockpit where epoxy had been used to patch
© 2014 by Good Old Boat magazine
Good Old Boat – Newsletter June 2014
Page 14
various holes in highly visible areas. We never could get gelcoat to cure on these
surfaces, no matter how much we sanded and washed that amine blush away.
The polyester resin just wouldn’t set up on these patches, and made a tacky
mess when we tried.
But one of the claims of the 545 product was low amine blush, so we
experimented with painting a layer of this primer over the epoxy patch. It cured
nicely. We then gelcoated over this epoxy primer and finally got the resin to cure!
So we now have a way to gelcoat epoxy repairs without having to paint the whole
darned deck.
–Steve Axon
Tunes for sailors
No boat would be truly a boat without the two new CDs by Tom Wells sitting next
to its stereo. I just received mine today, have been listening to them, and I
guarantee they pass the test for good listening. The genre is country. He
accompanies himself playing a really nice guitar and some of his songs are real
toe-tappers. Send an email to Tom, t37224@centurytel.net to order your CDs.
Yes, this is an advertisement. Yes, I know Tom personally. Yes, Tom is a friend.
And yes, I am impressed.
–Leo Corsetti
Tom’s albums are available to download on Audioseastories.com -Eds.
Correction
In the March issue of the newsletter, we got photos a little mixed up in Peter
Burgard’s article about Berheenya. We’ll try again. Thanks to our sharp-eyed
readers for letting us know. – Eds.
Two sets of photos were forwarded to GOB, one — Berheenya, a 1970 Santana
21— was purchased and restored by Alan. The second, the 1963 Islander 32, is
undergoing rehab by Alan's parents (that would include me) — a new interior,
electric engine, sails, windlass, etc.
Sorry, the correspondence may not have been labeled accurately.
Peter Burgard
© 2014 by Good Old Boat magazine