Recent content by sharonov

I used butyl tape. Several layers. Tighten screws over several days time. Remove squeeze where excessive amount got applied. No oozing after that. Maybe because the tape was from Maine Sail. As for adhesion, I had to remove the hatch later and had to use halyard and winch to pull it off.

+1 for GFlex. One-to-one mix ratio, small portable no-spill (unlike regular west system jars) containers, does not crack. I use it everywhere. Just throw away internal unlabeled caps. Easy to mix those and poison the whole bottle. Ask me how I know ;-)

Absolutely, no question about it. That is why I could not decide if I should celebrate the victory or pull hair in frustration and tell myself that a better man would have made that V-belt work. I suspect the bracket was bent a bit and pulleys were ever so slightly angled out of plane. Mister...

About that "easy to install" part, specifically removing the old pulley. I have to admit, Balmar did warn that even though it may be possible to use wrenches, an impact nut driver would be better. Well, in may experience only the second part of the warning is correct. I was not able to remove...

Bitter victory or sweet defeat? I thought I would post an update. The problem was solved about half year ago by installing Balmar serpentine belt kit 48-USP-M25. Ordered from PKYS. Bloody expensive but was easy to install and works really well: Initially the new belt was rubbing against that...

+1 on this Dewalt vacuum. Actual part number I got is DCV581H. Replaced useless Black&Decker handheld vac. The only complaint is that it will not charge the battery - need to use external charger. Since my other tools are Dewalt it is not a big deal. Also this thing doubles as a dinghy...

Do you guys clean and oil K&N filter? I suspect it needs oiling but I have never done it.

Been there: soaking in PB Blaster, soaking in Coca-cola, soaking in vinegar, boiling in water, heating with propane torch, freezing in the freezer, hammering with small sledgehammer and punch on a block of wood, cussing it repeatedly. Went for two weeks. Two things I have not tried: pressing it...

I feel rigid vang is a safer choice because we do not often get to inspect the guts of the topping lift inside the boom. Like never? My rigger replaced external wire for the topping lift but refused to break into the boom citing stainless screws corroded into the end piece. Some time ago I...

I think the most money I saved on bits were from buying expensive cobalt bits instead of homedepot junk. May not mater much for wood or even aluminum but once in a while when you need to drill stainless steel cobalt is worth its weight in gold.

For years I had water always weeping from that limber hole in the bottom of the mast. And when I say always I do mean always - it was never dry. I pulled my hair trying to come up with a sensible explanation - from "it is very humid in Houston, it is just condensate" to "oh my god, the boat is...

Good point. Using a good cutting fluid is important. However using any cutting fluid is way better than using none. I occasionally would use soap if that is all that can be had on a short notice. As for real cutting fluids I found this video quite educational:

Dang.. need to tell all my friends with newer sailboats to swap those dangerous rigid vangs for good old topping lifts ;-) But seriously, I have topping lift and had exact same issue with the gooseneck. I would gladly swap my topping lift for the vang, both for convenience and for safety.

I had exact same problem on my E32-3. I think only one screw was holding it and that gap "smiled" real wide. Scary... I added two extra screws (total of five) and dunk them all in anti-seize compound. I think I used both tefgel and locktight. Not that locktight would lock it with stainless...

Thank you Christian. All your suggestions have been thoroughly pondered over. I also added Shelman's idea of running thinner hose inside the old one. In the end brutal violence had the most appeal. With admiral doing the pushing and me the pulling the recalcitrant hose moved a bit, then a bit...