Recent content by WindHorse

I couldn't find a stock part to mount my guard aft enough of the traveler, so I made my own out of Star Board. Works great; very sturdy!

Nice to hear that the Rigids are a hit. Personally, I love my m12 set of Milwaukee tools...

Thanks for the input, bigd14! It looks like we have similar rationale--and, now, I don't plan on unstepping again anytime soon--and certainly not seasonally. Question: How do you create a dripline after pulling the wires? Or, do you bend the wire during stepping? Also, what about your VHF...

Thanks for the detailed reply! Yes, I'm mindful of needing to cut the wires to unstep in the future, but I'd much rather deal with that then to wonder about failing connections on the inside of the mast and have to unstep just to fix a connection (like I am, now!). For the coaxial, I'd also...

Forgive me if the answer is already on the forum somewhere else, but I couldn’t find it... I seem to have a short in my VHF coaxial within the mast—my best guess is that it’s at/near the connection at the base. So, what would otherwise be a simple and relatively inexpensive repair is going to...

For anyone following, I’m happy to report that it worked! Prior to the fix, my bilge pump was cycling 30-40 times/hour while under sail or motor (yes, I have a counter on it). This weekend, after 6 hours underway, cycles = 0!!! I’ll never know if the stuffing alone would have done the job...

I had them makes replacements for my 35-2, and I was very pleased. High quality workmanship (base more reinforced than the originals) and great to deal with on the phone. I forget what I paid, but it seemed very reasonable.

Update: installed packing and zerk fitting as follows: packing: 5/16” fit perfectly zerk: installed toward the top so I didn’t have to worry about water ingress. First, I drilled about 3/8” with 25/64 bit and then went all the way through with 1/8 bit, seeing as that’s all that’s necessary...

I gather, from various responses on this thread and others, that there are different sized "top plates" out there, including those like yours that take two different sizes. Mine most definitely only has one channel for about 1/4" (or maybe 5/16"). Strange, since both of our boats are 35-2's...

Thanks for the additional insight, Christian. If the "metal-to-metal seats firmly," then I suppose I need to figure out exactly which size flax to use. The stuff I pulled out was intact, but clearly wasn't making a tight seal (it measured about 1/4" x 1/4". I was thinking of taking some 3/3...

Right. When I first noticed my bilge pump going crazy (40 cycles/hour) underway, I I though it was my driveshaft stuffing, but upon closer inspection, I noticed ingress from astern. I then set up a GoPro to see what it looked like at the rudder stuffing, and it was spewing (100 times more than...

Fantastic! That's what I was looking for. Given that I think your hold is just at--or possibly below the water line (do you know?), it looks like it could even be drilled 2 inches higher and still fall below the bushing... I'll let you know how it goes!

Thanks! Does anyone know how the dimensions might differ between the 32 and 35? For one, the rudder post on my 35-2 is angled--auxilary/emergency head is forward of the pedestal and takes a full size tiller rather than coming straight up like the 32. That shouldn't make a difference in the...

LOL! Yes, I had to deconstruct the starboard side to access the bolts on that side...and sticking my head and one arm through the quarterberth access on the port side is not exactly "comfortable" either!

In addition to repacking the rudder stuffing on my 35-2 (1970, #155), I'd like to follow the advice on other threads to install a zerk/grease fitting. Does anyone know how high I can go on the rudder log without drilling into the bushing/bearing/bronze fixture at the top of the log??? Since...