Keel Crank

[CBessich]

Hello, my partner and I have recently purchased an Ericson 25. We have no idea how to lower the center board keel. Not off to a great start. Can anyone give any advice? When we asked the previous owner, he told us "you just crank it down when you need to use it..." And we figured we'd find the crank at some point. But we have not.


I tried to search the blog before I posted a conversation to make sure no one has already addressed this. If they had and I missed it, please forgive me. I tried to search the blog before I posted a conversation to make sure no one has already addressed this. If they had and I missed it, please forgive me.

 

[gabriel]

Congratulations!

the centerboard is lowered by releasing the rope that holds it up...the rope comes up through the mast base/step casting to the cabin top where it can go through organizer then to cabin top winch. Lower it slowly, don't let it drop.

 

[CBessich]

Thank you. We're so excited (well, me more than him... he's humoring me).

I assume that this is the rope you're talking about? I know where the winch is on the top deck, we only have one on top. When we are not raising or lowering it, is there a specific cleat it's supposed to tie to? Or do we leave it on the winch and cleated at all times?

 

[gabriel]

I use a cleat behind the winch but still run it through the clutch, that way I can take it off the winch drum and free the winch. I don’t think it’s the most intuitive layout but it’s how the boat came and it works OK for now.

 

[CBessich]

We just bought it two weeks ago and we have it "on the hard" still. I wanted to go through everything before we put it in the water. I also wanted to clean it and restore the paint. Any tips or pointers are welcome.

 

[Christian Williams]

Post some cell-phone photos of the areas in question. Lots of tips and solutions available, since we all have old boats.

 

[gabriel]

We just bought it two weeks ago and we have it "on the hard" still. I wanted to go through everything before we put it in the water. I also wanted to clean it and restore the paint. Any tips or pointers are welcome.

In restoring a boat, the first thing I would do is clean and the last thing I would do is paint.

 

[CBessich]

I have pulled all the cushions out because I want to clean them. I have searched the interwebs and get conflicting information. Is it best to just take this to an upholstery cleaner? Or can I clean the cushions and an industrial washer as long as I don't dry it and then take the covers to a cleaner?

 

[CBessich]

This boat actually seems pretty simple. It doesn't have an inboard motor so that makes things a lot less complicated. I'm still just trying to figure out all the tubing for the head and bilge pump.

The bilge pump has one tube, that I assume is for air, since I followed it to the locker in the cockpit. (Is that what I call it?)

The other tube isn't attached to anything, but I followed it into the v-birth. It stops in the second storage locker, and directly outside of the boat at that point is a hole for draining. I assume it must take a turn somewhere that I can't see and exit to the side of the boat. Does the tube that carries water out typically attach the bilge pump?

Bilge pump is really old and is only rated for 750 GPM. I most likely want to replace this. I watched a video from a boat surveyor saying that it's really only rated for half of what's on the label considering that the water has to travel up a grade, etc... Any suggestions on a good bilge pump? I also thought it would be a good idea to have a manual one.

 

[CBessich]

I assume this post in the cabin is where the mast support and pulley for the center board is. Would it be okay for me to take the screws off and look inside? I'm so afraid of breaking anything.

 

[CBessich]

In restoring a boat, the first thing I would do is clean and the last thing I would do is paint.

I have everything cleaned so far except the upholstery. I was wondering if it's okay to pressure wash the top deck? I don't know how else to clean it. Then I would like to repaint that. There are some cracks in the floor that someone told me should be fine with an epoxy filler... These four places are the only cracks in the whole top side.

 

[CBessich]

One thing I am kind of concerned about, is on the bow of the boat. I took the panel off the front in the v berth and their appears to be some damage from what I assume would have been an anchor chain that is lowered from the top deck into the storage compartment. That is color from the outside showing through in the sunlight. Any suggestions on this?

 

[bigd14]

Welcome and congratulations on the new boat!

The bow damage is only cosmetic, just some paint flaking off. Fiberglass is translucent and when paint or gelcoat is removed or thinning light will come through. If its bothersome you could clean and sand and paint with BilgeKote.

You could pressure wash but be really careful you don't flake gelcoat off or drive water into any holes. The gelcoat cracks are difficult to fill, but those holes should be filled with epoxy to prevent water from getting into the core.

If you are just looking to paint the nonskid areas, you could use KiwiGrip, which is easy to apply. The smooth gelcoat will be much more involved. It sounds easy but for any useful or lasting results it requires an immense amount of prep work and expensive paint and supplies. And if you are doing that you may as well remove all the deck fittings and rebed them so they don't leak, etc. etc. and pretty soon you are down a rabbit hole and summer is over. Lots of posts about painting on this forum. But its more fun to sail than paint...

I doubt you will hurt anything by taking that cover off the compression post. Its good to inspect all areas anyway. For the bilge pump probably best to start fresh with all new hoses, wiring pump, etc. Since the boat is on the hard now make sure you check any thru hulls and hoses and replace any that are suspect, good resource here: https://marinehowto.com/category/plumbing/. Good time to bottom paint too if the boat will be moored for any length of time. In the Columbia/Willamette area Trinidad SR seems to be the most popular bottom paint.

Also, I suggest getting a copy of Don Casey's book for reference for all these tasks and more. https://www.amazon.com/Caseys-Compl...&keywords=good+old+boat&qid=1622512324&sr=8-1

Good luck with the projects, and hopefully you can get out on the water soon.

Doug

 

[windblown]

Welcome to the community of Ericson owners! There are great resources here, and some very delightful people. Lots of wisdom, and lots of folks who’ve gotten to know and love their boats more and more by tackling one little project at a time.

 

[gabriel]

I assume this post in the cabin is where the mast support and pulley for the center board is. Would it be okay for me to take the screws off and look inside? I'm so afraid of breaking anything.

Yes it’s ok to remove that cover and inspect the centerboard lifting hardware. I would also try to verify that the centerboard is able to move freely at this time, as the centerboard is the most problematic item on the E25 CB.

When you put the cover back on, make sure the screws grab onto the original holes or you might go into virgin wood and crack it.

i would stick the cushion covers in a bucket with soap and hand wash them. Hang them up to dry. A machine is too rough on old material IMO.

 

[klb67pgh]

Congratulations on your E25. Regarding restoring the paint and/or repainting the deck, my advice to you is clean what you want to clean, get the boat ready enough to launch and use, and go use it. Filling a few screw holes is probably smart to prevent any further water intrusion. But I'd defer any major boat beautification projects until a later time after you have gotten to know the boat, what it needs, and what you want to do with it. You'd expect fiberglass gelcoat cracking and crazing on a boat from the 70s at this point and it won't keep you from using the boat.

I think it was covered in a post above, but wrap the centerboard line on the cabintop winch, take a crank or two, and cleat it off. Make sure the centerboard is all the way up with the boat on the trailer. Currently the board should be down resting on the trailer since the the line is loose. When in the water, uncleat the line with it still wrapped on the winch, and lower it slowly - don't let it slam.

What year is your E25? I have a similar boat, cozy cabin heater and all.

Kevin

 

[footrope]

Congratulations on the boat purchase. Pressure washing the deck with an electric pressure washer with a maximum pressure of 1500 to 1700 psi is ok. Be careful of your lines because even at low pressures the stream will fray any line you hit unless you're very far away.

 

[Christian Williams]

Yes, wash the upholstery carefully. I do use gentle cycle on the washing machine, but air dry.

washing original V-Berth upholstery covers

I'm about to throw the orignal V-berth covers in our washing machine. Before I do, I thought maybe I should ask the experts on this board what they think about it. These original covers (1975) look to be in descent shape, and worth keeping. They are backed by vinyl, and I'm not sure how good...

ericsonyachts.org

(Technical note: it's better to separate inquiries into their own threads--that way each has a specific title. It's always OK to start a new thread if you can't find an old one to revive. )

 

[CBessich]

It's been months since I have posted... The boat is still on the hard.

I pulled the cover off of the centerboard post. Thank you for all the tips on how to put it back on without damaging anything.

I'm adding pictures with this because I'm wanting to make sure the line inside this compartment is supposed to be twisted around itself.

 

[Loren Beach]

I am sure it should not be twisted, but sometimes the line might not be uncoiled flat when installed and it will twist later. This happens with the multipart systems on mainsheets and vangs, also.