What's not to love about a little ship?

[domenic]

It's been eleven months since I docked at the Martinez Marina. Replaced port bulkhead that holds one of the main chain plates. removed the wood trim above the windows (outside.) turned my fuel tank into a storage locker. Installed new fuel tank. Replaced hoses, plugs, wires...etc,etc. Took all the rust off the engine, and painted it. Cleaned up the keel bolts. checked all sails. Replaced plex-glass in the big windows. removed the engine vents, (mounted right on the transom) and replaced them with new ones forward of the transom.
Filled the new gas tank...checked for spark...and turned the engine over.
Guess what...the fuel pump don't do its job.
My next big thing to do is call Ken, and order parts to rebuild the fuel pump.
What's left?

1) Rebuild the hatch so the bottom is level with the top of the cockpit seats.
2) Install a three step ladder(which I got from a trashed boat.)
3) Rebuild the stupid table.
4) turn one of the quater berths into a sail locker.
5) replace most of the deck hardware.( which I got from two trashed boats.)
6) build a chart table.
7) Replace all the wood inside the cabin.
8) Haul out, lift the mast off...sand, and paint it.
9) Sand, and paint the hull, and deck.
10) Non-skid the deck.
11) check the rudder.
120 Replace all the running rigging.

I love my boat...I do. It's a 1968 Columbia 28. I should be done by the end of January 2011. This winter I'll rod her on San Francisco Bay. I'll sail by Pier 29, and feast my ears as the tourist greet my little ship with, "OOWWW, AHHH."

If you're about the bay in winter, and see GERONIMO on the transom, come alongside...I always have hot coffee, and rum.

[lat 64]

Domenic,
It seems our boats are brethren.
Mine is a '68 columbia 36.
Wm. Crealock designed both boats. They even changed the keel design on both boats later too.
I'm sure you may have some of the same gripes I have but it's like you say I love my old boat.
You list keel bolts as one of your fixes. I had an interesting time replacing mine.
It's chronicled here on the boat design forum:

http://www.boatdesign.net/forums/sailboats/lag-time-28786.html

I got some great help from these guys.
PM me if you want any stories that may help. Looking at the plans and photos of early Columbia 28s, I see a lot of similarities in construction details.
Happy fixing,
Russ

[Laker]

This is kind of like the classic prison movie line -
"What are you in for?".

Columbia 34 , 1966.

My list damn near overlaps yours. Yesterday I pulled my Atomic 4. Next week I pull my rudder.

What's not to love.

Have a ball on The Bay. Maybe you will be in the America's Cup spectator fleet in a few yrears.

Laker

[dvd]

Domenic,

I have a 1974 Cal 3-30. Couple of weeks ago I went right by Martinez Marina on my way home to Stockton Sailing Club from the bay. Wouild have stopped there for the night but I was riding a fast flood tide bubble and was doing about 8 knots over the ground. If I would have stopped for the night I would have had to fight an ebb the next day. I've been in most of the marinas in the Carquenas staits but never in Martinez. As far as work that needs to done or has been done on my old girl, the list is endless. I suppose it would almost be cheaper to just buy a boat that some poor sucker has already spent the money on but if you do that then you'll have a boat set up for somebody else's plan and not yours. At least when we are done with it it will be the way we like them. Anyway good luck on your msitress and maybe I'll stop in to see you on my next bay trip in March.

dvd

[Crash]

Where's the "Like" button on this thread?? I agree, when I took a 20% cut in salary last year February the wife said "the boat has to go" as it was a luxury and the slip fees were just "rent" money paid out. Low and behold I sold my Catalina 27 in about a week's time. I was very lucky! I have to say I was like a kid with no toys for the rest of the year and got tired of taking the dog to dog parks. Then a C&C 36 popped up and I negotiated a fair price and have been working on her since January of this year. Needless to say she still needs work but..."JOY"!!

I plan to do a haul-out next season for a bottom job and perhaps refreshen the hull paint. I've never done it but seems like it'll be better than what it currently looks like.

Crash

[ndutton]

As this is an Atomic 4 forum it's safe to assume we all have aged boats with extensive project lists.

As much as I enjoy sailing, it at least equals the energy and satisfaction I get out of of restoration/improvements/repairs. Doesn't matter to me if I'm out on the water or up to my elbows in the bilge, I love it all.

Kalina, nee Osprey, really showed her age when I bought her and the price reflected it, causing dereliction alarms to go off with the marina when I applied for a slip and the insurance company to whom I made application.

I gave up 2 years of sailing to refit her properly and attempt to bring back some of her elegance. It's been a love affair, I give to her and she has always given back.

Here's how she looked when I bought her






and how she looks today





And I still have a list of projects:

1. Complete window restoration
2. Keel bolt replacement
3. New engine panel (add tach)
4. Replace engine harness to get rid of THOSE plugs
5. Install new anchor windlass (and another battery)
6. Add quarter berth opening port to cockpit
7. Replace lifelines

Edit:
DVD - I worked at Jensen Marine from '73 to '75, was there when your boat was built.

[Administrator]

Made sticky and rated excellent!

Bill

[domenic]

They don't build boats like these old Columbia's...And I love my A4.
As to the work, I love doing it.
In January, I'll post some pictures. Great job Nduton.

[ndutton]

Thanks Domenic,

In larger projects I seem to reach the "what have I gotten myself into" phase. Always beyond the point of no return, I stick with it and the little accomplishment milestones ward off burnout.

In the early stages of repainting the interior, this is what greeted me for a while every time I opened the hatch

Not very glamorous, is it?
Courtesy of the previous owner, I had 200 holes to repair in the fiberglass and another 200 in the teak (I counted them).

Here are a few of the memorable milestones during the project, the kind where you step back, open a cold brewski and take it all in:

1. Installation of new upholstery.
2. As discussed on another thread, new lighting.
3. Steering pedestal installation (originally tiller steered).
4. New non-skid (after fresh deck paint).
5. Finally, applying the boat name on the transom - that was a good day.

[Donchnz]

Hay Domenic
After looking over your to-do list I think I will just copy it, I have a 1979 30 Cat with most of the same problems. I would say we are both are on the same ship page and after 30 years in the Navy I know the work on big or little ships never stops. O keep the rum handy it would be a nice sail from Miami.
Vince

[ILikeRust]

Not to take away from this excellent forum, but y'all might like to check out the Plastic Classics forum, if you don't already know about it.

[Jesse Delanoy]

Neil that is one beautiful Catalina 30 interior. I'd do it on my own, if I had the time and the gumption! Unfortunately, as the bumper sticker says, I'd rather be sailing!

Jesse Delanoy
1977 Catalina 30 "Off The Grid"
Baltimore/Pasadena MD

[ndutton]

Thanks for the compliment Jesse, always nice to hear.

I understand the preference of sailing over working but I have somewhat of a unique situation. With my history of working at several sailboat manufacturers and building my own Westsail as they say, "from a bare hull," those that know me have certain expectations. I place minimum standards on myself too, surely a sign of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. So I sacrificed a couple years of sailing to spiff her up.

[ILikeRust]

I understand the preference of sailing over working but I have somewhat of a unique situation. With my history of working at several sailboat manufacturers and building my own Westsail as they say, "from a bare hull," those that know me have certain expectations. I place minimum standards on myself too, surely a sign of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. So I sacrificed a couple years of sailing to spiff her up.

I can relate, to some degree.

My boat was sailable when we got her, and in fact we took her out for some day trips and one overnighter.

But she was showing her age and suffering from "deferred maintenance" in certain areas. Letting these things go longer would only make them all worse and require much more extensive (and expensive) work later on to correct them.

So I've missed pretty much the whole spring sailing season (and we've had some fantastic sailing weather) while she's on the hard and I'm gradually, as I have spare time, here and there, completely rebuilding the engine and replacing the cabin floors and sole.

Still have lots to do, but she's going to be much nicer and more enjoyable when it's all done.

[gclayton]

Neal

Awsome job on the interior. Once I have her running and slpashed I am going to do the interior. What did you use for varnish? How did you prepare the wood for finish? How many coats and did you sand between each?

I see you also added the bulkhead seat. what did you use for the seat base. Very nice.

Thanks
George