A few years ago just prior to my trip to Kaua’i and back to CA, I spent considerable focus on structure and safety related projects (chainplate replacement, standing rig replacement, etc...). Those were well worth it: I had very few issues in these areas on each passage. It left me with lots of time on those passages to have a conversation with my boat that went something like this: “Get me to where I want to go, and I’ll get you some bling when we get home.”
So here we are. In 2020, I started the process of making good on my promise. Here are the major highlights of improvements over two haul outs between Fall 2020 and August 2021.
Awlgrip deck and Awlgrip 2000 topsides
This was the initial priority. I removed all hardware and did all the initial deck sanding and prep for this. In some areas I had to scrape away the old paint applied 2 owners ago (~20+ years) with a paint brand that is lost to history. It had a tendency to gum-up the sandpaper, even when sanded at a low speed.
I focused the yard on the topsides first at the first haul out. That went well. The yard did the sanding and spraying for this portion, including the cove and boot stripes.
To do the deck, I decided to wait for better conditions, since it had started raining. I’d have to bring the boat back for a second haul-out anyway to tackle a different project with my strut (more about that in a subsequent post), so I decided to resume the paint project on the second haul.
By the time conditions were ideal to tackle the deck on the second hault, I sanded a few remaining deck areas, removed more hardware, and did all the masking. The yard sprayed primer, and then a guide coat, which I sanded smooth with 320 grit. The yard then sprayed the Awlgrip topcoat.
Guide coat
As I later learned, they were short a paint guy that day for this two-man job, so the yard assigned an inexperienced hand and gave him time on the spray gun ("training"). The runs and other issues that resulted were ultimately corrected by the yard after some discussion with the project manager.
Splash day after second haul and completion of all projects.
Back at the slip.
New Foss rudder
I’d long read about the performance improvement of the Foss rudder, so decided to add this to the project list.
The old rudder was easy to remove. I put an automotive floor jack under to support the old rudder first, remove the deck cap and quadrant, and then lowered the rudder. Easy one-man job.
The new rudder came with a basic primer coat. I added an epoxy barrier coat. The quadrant and cap bolt holes needed to be duplicated on the new rudder post, so I just had the yard do this. I then wiggled the new rudder into position, raised the jack and, with more wiggling, raised it about 4” shy of complete insertion. At this point, I applied a few layers of UHMW tape to help take some play out of the lower bearing. I can’t say I’m totally satisfied with the UHMW tape, but it works for now. In a future haul, I may use the West System graphite solution in the rudder tube to take the slop completely out.
I can confirm that the Foss rudder has made a significant difference in handling and helm response.
Old rudder at removal
Looking up from the lower bearing. That small hole is the grease injection port I installed in 2014.
New rudder delivery
New rudder installed and with barrier coat and antifouling paint
So here we are. In 2020, I started the process of making good on my promise. Here are the major highlights of improvements over two haul outs between Fall 2020 and August 2021.
Awlgrip deck and Awlgrip 2000 topsides
This was the initial priority. I removed all hardware and did all the initial deck sanding and prep for this. In some areas I had to scrape away the old paint applied 2 owners ago (~20+ years) with a paint brand that is lost to history. It had a tendency to gum-up the sandpaper, even when sanded at a low speed.
I focused the yard on the topsides first at the first haul out. That went well. The yard did the sanding and spraying for this portion, including the cove and boot stripes.
To do the deck, I decided to wait for better conditions, since it had started raining. I’d have to bring the boat back for a second haul-out anyway to tackle a different project with my strut (more about that in a subsequent post), so I decided to resume the paint project on the second haul.
By the time conditions were ideal to tackle the deck on the second hault, I sanded a few remaining deck areas, removed more hardware, and did all the masking. The yard sprayed primer, and then a guide coat, which I sanded smooth with 320 grit. The yard then sprayed the Awlgrip topcoat.
Guide coat
As I later learned, they were short a paint guy that day for this two-man job, so the yard assigned an inexperienced hand and gave him time on the spray gun ("training"). The runs and other issues that resulted were ultimately corrected by the yard after some discussion with the project manager.
Splash day after second haul and completion of all projects.
Back at the slip.
New Foss rudder
I’d long read about the performance improvement of the Foss rudder, so decided to add this to the project list.
The old rudder was easy to remove. I put an automotive floor jack under to support the old rudder first, remove the deck cap and quadrant, and then lowered the rudder. Easy one-man job.
The new rudder came with a basic primer coat. I added an epoxy barrier coat. The quadrant and cap bolt holes needed to be duplicated on the new rudder post, so I just had the yard do this. I then wiggled the new rudder into position, raised the jack and, with more wiggling, raised it about 4” shy of complete insertion. At this point, I applied a few layers of UHMW tape to help take some play out of the lower bearing. I can’t say I’m totally satisfied with the UHMW tape, but it works for now. In a future haul, I may use the West System graphite solution in the rudder tube to take the slop completely out.
I can confirm that the Foss rudder has made a significant difference in handling and helm response.
Old rudder at removal
Looking up from the lower bearing. That small hole is the grease injection port I installed in 2014.
New rudder delivery
New rudder installed and with barrier coat and antifouling paint
