Looking Ahead

Sailing In Hand on Flathead Lake. September 2014

 The sailing season is winding down and it's time to take stock and make plans. Although I missed a huge part of this years season it was well worth it to have a boat in good repair and enjoying the company of friends. But as I look forward to the next season I have work before play. The list is short but definitive and I'll try and address each in turn.

•  Hull Issues-This issue actually has a name and it's crazing. The topsides of my boat look like alligator skin. This is a common enough issue in a boat of this age. The best thing to do is to apply two coats of epoxy primer, sand with 120 grit sandpaper, then two coats of a two part polyurethane. The issue most likely will not be getting worse at this juncture but it sure is not getting any better. So that will have to be looked at.
• Sail Issues-I need new sails. The jib is a bit worse off the main but both need at a minimum to be sent off to be cleaned and repaired. This will be started when the boat is done for the season. In the meantime a bit of sail tape will have to do.
• Transom issues-I need to encapsulate my transom. Fiberglass cloth and resin. And paint.

 Those are the really big ticket items. The rest of my list is making my boat mine. Now for a long time I've harkened in my head the idea of doing a full restoration of the boat to it's 1962 glory with all the hardware as it was then. After this last sail I've abandoned that idea. I don't want to sail a half century old boat to say I do. I want to sail a boat that will take me where I want, when I want. With a minimum of fuss and less worry about how the past worked. I need the daysailer of today with a bit of nostalgia and class.  To that end I hope to make the following adjustments.

• Updated Standing and Running Rigging-I need to get some new shrouds and halyards. The shrouds will be ordered new stock but I'm thinking of going modern on the halyards. Right now they are the classic wire/rope mix. In looking at what racers are doing I'm thinking that going with Spectra may be the way to go. Using a singe material for ease of maintenance and less to go wrong. I'm not sure how to rig it but it does intrigue me. New blocks are also on the list. I love the original Tufnols but getting new Tufnols or going with more modern blocks is a must.
• Updated Main Sheet-As built the Lido main sheet goes from boom block, through the transom block, through the boom block, forward to another boom block and down to a combination block cam cleat on the centerboard. This works great in centering weight but leaves the sheet hanging in the middle of the boat. The Blanchard Jr. Knockabout's sheet comes over the tiller and is a better fit to the type of sailing I do. A wonderful example of this can be found in a demonstration aboard a Blanchard Jr. at the Center for Wooden Boats in Seattle.
• Seat Cushions-I really needs these. Poor hips and knees are not happy on hard fiberglass benches. I want to do extended sails and my comfort is important.
• Motor Option-Either fix my broken gas rig or find a battery for my electric. Goal is sail alone but having an option for no winds or mooring is a luxury I can live with.

That about covers plans. Here to more sailing in 2014!