Posts

Bottom paint Tuesday

Image
The clock is ticking with just 6 days left until our scheduled launch it is time to break out the respirator and bottom paint materials.  Today we had ideal weather for painting. The temperature was in the low 60's. So it was warm enough to paint comfortably but not so hat the paint evaporates of your brush.   Gloves, paint sticks, respirator, and grimy clothes.  I start the bottom by cutting in the water line with a paint brush.  I use the disposable foam brushes because nothing I dip in VC-17 is coming home.  Then I roll on the first coat of paint.   Two coats later and two hours I have a nice sleek copper bottom. 

Mothers Day Weekend

Image
The most stressful part is over.  After planning packing and preparing the boat to be moved it is over.  The boat arrived today around noon and I got right to work on it.  No time to waste as the launch date is 9 days out.  The boat is heavily oxidized so I started with washing it and then hit it with 3M Super Duty Compound.      After the first half of the hull, was done I stopped to take a break and it took me a good 5 minutes to find those safety glasses.  Yeah, the ones on top of my head.    Zoomed in here you can see the difference.  Left size compounding complete, right side still looks like a powdered doughnut. Sunday we picked up where we left off and I ran over the entire hull again with 3M Fitness Polish. This is a fine polishing compound that really brings out the shine.    #Bestwife ever came down on mothers day and helped out by painting the cove line. Then we put on a coat of wax to seal in all that polish and painting.

The search for our next boat has come to a conclusion.

Image
This weekend I finalized the transaction on our new boat a Mirage 24! This boat is a Canadia Sailboat Hall of Fame boat, designed by Cuthbertson & Cassian ( C&C yachts ).  This is the boat I went to look at back in January when it was 14 degrees out and blizzarding.  It was snowing so hard we actually stayed at a hotel instead of coming home that night.  These boats are built with amazing quality and care.  While not as weighty as the Cape Dory"s neither of the Mirages I looked at were decaying from core rot that seems to plaque so many other boats of the time period.   This particular Mirage is the Tall Rig version. Which set it ahead of the other Mirage I looked at off the bat.  The Tall rig has a slightly taller mast equating to a bit more speed.  Not that we are planning on racing but some times a bit more speed can help us cruisers  get to our destinations a little sooner and can help us duck incoming poor weather.  Overall the boat is in good condition, structu

The Search for the Next Boat and the list.

Image
Some people were surprised that I sold our Typhoon. Truth is, the Typhoon is a great boat but it was time to move on.  We simply want to be able to make some slightly longer passages have a bit more room for overnight camping and the Typhoon just was too small to do those things with.  For some time, I have been looking over the horizon and creating a list of cool boats.  Here it is.  Note: you will not find a boat over 25 feet on my list.  The annual dock costs double for any boat here over 25 ft.  So, while there are a lot of great boats over 25 ft long, financial costs have to be considered. The Classics:   Albergs, and Hershoff's Herrshoff Eagle  22  is one of my favorite boats.  A great classic look, that topsail in just too cool.  The killers here are the cabin size is to small for our family weekending purposes and the desire to stay away from any mechanical swing keel boat as we plan on doing more Lake Michigan coastal sailing trips.  Cape Cod Marlin

Mackinaw City

Image
Waking up early to look at boats. Mackinaw City is four and a half hours from my house.    6 AM roll time. January heading up north for most means Snowmobiles or skiing. I feel a bit out of place wearing my deck shoes and getting ready to walk on a boat.  The marina storage has a giant windmill. Keel smile, that's not a good sign on this model boat. Boat out the water for several years and a bilge full of water and rusty keel bolts. I think we have found the cause of the keel smile. Sure the outboard can be pulled up, that's why you modified the rudder. Well with the soft deck and other issues this boat turned out being a bust.  At least lunch at Audie's was great. Also, fit in a trip to Big Mac before heading home.

The games a foot....

Image
This weekend we really started the hunt for a new boat.  Well I've been hunting a while but we took to the road to look at two boats. Neither ended up being the one but oh the cool treasures you find along the way....See photos below and sarcasm. Sea cocks you can remove by hand. I mean remove from the hull. Storage plans for not the boat you are on. A Loran, so we will never get lost. I think I can relaminate that tiller, Its probably fine. Climb under the shrink wrap the tiller is delaminated the decks probably fine right. Mythical Creatures Count the plugs, yeah that is the Atomic 2. Good luck finding parts for a tune up, hope nothing major goes. This compass works well with the Loran. More boats to look at soon.

Cape Dory Typhoon Sold

Image
Sold :  "Kraken"   1978 Cape Dory Typhoon    This is one of the finest Typhoons and well-documented vessels you will find.  Kraken is no dry rot trailer trotter.  We sail her 1-2 times per week during the summer season.  This boat has seen exceptional care since being re-commissioned in 2012.  You can read all about the little tweaks and tunes at  http://bristol-blue.blogspot.com/   Polished Brass and Gleaming Teak this boat gets compliments every time someone walks by on the dock. You will be hard pressed to find another Typhoon as well equipped and ready to sail today.  Cape Dory Typhoon Name "Kraken" Year: 1978 Current Price: US $7500 obo Located in Saugatuck/Douglas, MI Hull Material: Fiberglass Engine/Fuel Type: Long Shaft Evinrude outboard 7.5 hp Full Keel Bottom reconditioned 2012 Draft  2'6" Sails:  Loft: Sail Rite  Main 2011 Storm Jib 2011 100% 2013 150% Genoa 2016 Loft: Hallett Main Sail  (Ex