Triton in Chester

[Hymodyne]

I have picked up a '63 Pearson Triton, to replace our Cape Dory22. The Triton is on the hard in Chester, MD, storage arranged through April.

I need to get her to the Nanticoke Marina, in Nanticoke, MD; If I sail her, how long should it take, and if I trailer her there what is a fair price for the distance?

James

[edwardc]

James,

Assuming you don't want to sail overnight, its doable in two days.
(the days are still short in April)
For the first leg, sail to Solomon's Island. At 5 kts that should
be about 8 hours. Take a slip in in either Spring Cove or Zanheiser's
Marinas.

Then head to Nanticoke on the second day. This is a slightly shorter leg,
so it will give you more time to "move in" at the end.

[Hymodyne]

thanks Ed!

[joe_db]

I am likely about 5 minutes from your boat if you need her checked on. And as mentioned, a 2 day sail.

[Hymodyne]

thanks Joe, we're at island view marina, about an hour and a half from Salisbury. I hope to have the boat surveyed for insurance purposes before the holidays, and want to come by and do some work over the winter break and months until april.

so far the list is:

haul out and evaluate A4

refit main cabin
recore deck areas where needed

James

[Hymodyne]

update on Triton

Greetings,

My wife and I have been making the trip from Salisbury to Chester, Md, to work on the boat on weekends. I have been concentrating on tearing out and replacing the old delaminated cabin sole. I'm now fitting a 3/4" marine ply sub-floor, and I plan to finish the sole with teak. I have two new bilge pumps installed, one with a switch, one automatic. The A4 in this boat is not working. I'm tearing out the original icebox and galley before I sail her back to Nanticoke, so I will be able to inspect the stuffing box and other items astern before sailing to Cedar Hill Marina on the Nanticoke in Bivalve.

There was no kicker on this boat, so this first sail will have to be attempted with no auxiliary power. Is there a way to have aux power beside oars? what size boat/motor would be needed to properly tow a 8500 lb. boat the distance in question?

I've looked into trailering her there, I have quotes for $900 and $500, but before loading, I'd have to pay the $500.00 the Marinia where I'm at charges to unstep my mast first--at least $1000.00 out of pocket before I get her anywhere...hmmm. think I'll sail and unstep with a ginpole at Cedar Hill for free.

again, suggestions for auxiliary power or towing options would be appreciated.
James
James

[sastanley]

James, I think it might be cheaper to get the motor running!! - Any more details on the problems with the A-4?

With all the effort you are putting into the other parts of the boat, some time and a little money into the A-4 is justified in my opinion.

Give us some more details, we are all here to help. I am in the Solomons area..a 10 minute drive from the marinas Ed mentioned. I know Crisfield, MD and have done that trip many times from Solomons, but not Salisbury. The two-day recommended sounds reasonable, but they are still 40+ NM trips per day...it would be really nice to have a reliable inboard to push me at 4-5 knots as needed (a long trip like that will have a tide/current change either/both ways, which is ~1.5 knots in the Chesapeake!)

[TomG]

James,

What's the story on the A-4? Will it not turn over? No compression? How bad is it?

I've used Island View for my old Catalina refit and really liked Bruzz and Maxine. I heard that Bruzz passed away a little while back. Anyway, getting in and out of Island View and Crab Alley in a boat that draws as much as a Triton without auxiliary power could be a real adventure. And that's just getting out to Eastern Bay!

[hanleyclifford]

James,

What's the story on the A-4? Will it not turn over? No compression? How bad is it?

I've used Island View for my old Catalina refit and really liked Bruzz and Maxine. I heard that Bruzz passed away a little while back. Anyway, getting in and out of Island View and Crab Alley in a boat that draws as much as a Triton without auxiliary power could be a real adventure. And that's just getting out to Eastern Bay!

+1 and Amen. The only way I might consider such a move is if I had a strong dingy with an engine that I could make up "on the hip" if I had to. The trip could also involve many waits at anchor on tidal issues. Let's have a go at that A4.

[edwardc]

... suggestions for auxiliary power or towing options would be appreciated.
James
James

In 2010, we found ourselves stranded in Knapps Narrows with an irrepairable A4 (cracked block).

After a day of tinkering I was able to fashon a motor mount clamped onto the stern ladder, and put our 5 HP dinghy outboard on it. The wood pads were to spread out the force to keep the ladder feet from dimpling the hull.

It worked pretty well, although large swells would cause the prop to momentarily come up out of the water. This jury-rig was able to push our 12,800 lb Pearson 323 along at about 3 kts, which allowed us to get back to our home port on the Patapsco in two days.

[Hymodyne]

thanks for the replys

Many thanks, all.

I will try to get some pictures of the A4 soon and post. It is an early model engine, with a alternator/generator I do not recognize. Based on water lines inside, It sat with water up to the top of the pan inside the boat. It has been on the hard there for at least three years.

Ed, your account with the outboard is more along the lines of what I am planning; the triton has a rear ladder too, and it may be easier to buy/borrow an outboard than it will be to inspect, diagnose and repair the A4. With comments about tides and water depth in the area where she is now, towing is looking better all the time.
James

[hanleyclifford]

Many thanks, all.

I will try to get some pictures of the A4 soon and post. It is an early model engine, with a alternator/generator I do not recognize. Based on water lines inside, It sat with water up to the top of the pan inside the boat. It has been on the hard there for at least three years.

Ed, your account with the outboard is more along the lines of what I am planning; the triton has a rear ladder too, and it may be easier to buy/borrow an outboard than it will be to inspect, diagnose and repair the A4. With comments about tides and water depth in the area where she is now, towing is looking better all the time.
James

I did not get that the A4 had been in the water; that changes the picture a lot. Not good to sink money into an engine that may be no good. I like Ed's solution. In fact, I have moved my boat with a 4 hp Evinrude on my dingy, made up solid on the hip (engine straight ahead) and using the ship's tiller, but mostly in tight places and still water.

[Ajax]

Many thanks, all.

I will try to get some pictures of the A4 soon and post. It is an early model engine, with a alternator/generator I do not recognize. Based on water lines inside, It sat with water up to the top of the pan inside the boat. It has been on the hard there for at least three years.

Ed, your account with the outboard is more along the lines of what I am planning; the triton has a rear ladder too, and it may be easier to buy/borrow an outboard than it will be to inspect, diagnose and repair the A4. With comments about tides and water depth in the area where she is now, towing is looking better all the time.
James

Choose your weather windows wisely. We've had extensive, howling winds for several days and several more to come, as I'm sure you know.

Not a good time to get overwhelmed while hip-towing with a rubber boat.

[sastanley]

Ed, nice looking jury rig! I bet doing IFR (In-Flight-Refueling) every 35-40 minutes was big fun!

Necessity is the mother of invention, or something.

[tenders]

I think I saw that outboard photo on the cover of Redneck Yachtsman Magazine. The fact that the tape is white instead of silver gives it a slightly regal bearing.