Chip Ford's 1974 Catalina 22 Restoration Project
Sail #3282  l  Marblehead, Massachusetts

The never-ending project to fill my hole in the ocean while bailing it out

Sailing Season ‘10 has ended
Sailing Season 2011 preparations begin!

- Page 67 -

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Description

With the boat home, it's time to inspect and plan for next spring's projects -- and 2011 will be mostly if not entirely repairs. I've already contacted Joel Santarone at IdaSailor and he's promised to send out replacement parts for Chip Ahoy's rudder -- the clam clamp and gas booster -- along with a Sunbrella cover for the blade which has a strap that'll hold it upright aboard in the future.

Removing the duct tape over the top cribboard and varnished eyebrow took off some finish. The cribboards will come out before I cover the boat for sanding and a coat or two of fresh paint; the teak eyebrow should be able to be lightly sanded and a few coats of Cetol reapplied in place come spring.

The starboard side cabin windows will need to be removed again and resealed properly in the spring -- likely the primary project, again.  (Nov. 14, 2010)

After observing the actual waterline last fall after hauling out, before launching last spring I put considerable thought and effort into eliminating as much weight aboard as possible, shifted forward as much as possible of what remained. The result was negligible.

The biggest problem remains:  The weight aft of the heavy 8HP Honda 4-stroke outboard. The two six-gallon gas tanks stowed aft in the cockpit lazarettes just forward of the transom contribute as well, though this past season I ran both half-empty or less (except during my cruise to Cape Cod and back).

The two 12v batteries beneath the companionway step also add considerable weight, but having them is too much an advantage to consider eliminating.

I'm a cruising sailor, not a racer. The option to the high waterline -- removing that additional weight -- isn't going to happen, so I'll have to just live with it.  (Nov. 18, 2010)

The 2011 off-season "To-Do" List has begun, starting with resealing the starboard side windows I installed just this past spring. After discovering that the leaked even worse than previously, I temporarily "fixed" them with duct tape to get me through the season. I'll remove, reseal, and reinstall come spring.

Duct tape, "the solution for everything" with an approaching nor'easter back in September and another in October, created a number of problems that now need repair. The tape served its purpose, but at a cost. Removing it pulled paint off the top cribboard and sliding companionway hatch eyebrow.

I refinished the cribboards in 2004, so having another go at them won't hurt. But I refinished all the teak trim only two years ago. While the tape lifted a small area of varnish, I see that already much of the teak (e.g., the handrails) will need some touching up in the spring.

Refinishing the cribboards and eyebrow will be my indoor winter project this winter; minor compared to past projects. In the meantime, I've covered the companionway with a piece of vinyl tarp held by -- duct tape!

Upon removal of the eyebrow, I was surprised how well the handle is secured to it. It's held to the aft edge of the sliding hatch by just two long screws from inside. I'm always warning others who're aboard not to put any weight on the handle, that it's held by only those two screws. Now that it's off, thanks apparently to the bedding compound, I can't separate the handle from the eyebrow without applying more pressure than I dare!  (Nov. 26, 2010)

Today was perfect for covering Chip Ahoy for the coming winter; it was chilly (25° when I went out at 9 am), but yesterday's wind had died down to manageable.

For More Details See:
Covering for the coming Winter of 2010 - 2011
Nov. 28, 2010

The stern pulpit backup VHF antenna sure didn't last long -- installed down in Sesuit Harbor in 2006 while on my annual cruise after discovering the mast-top antenna had been struck by lightning (photo on right). I've contacted Shakespeare about this "Stubby Body #5215" -- I need a replacement for next spring.  (Dec. 4, 2010)

I received the following response on Dec. 6, 2010:

This looks like you might have received an antenna that happened to be made out of a different material than what was usual. About 5 years ago, a small number of canisters were accidentally made out of regular steel which would cause this issue. This being said, send the antenna into the following address and we will take care of it for you.

Chris Catoe
Shakespeare Technical Support

Note: By mistake I received two new replacements; was subsequently told to keep the second for a spare!

Overnight (Dec. 23, 2010) we got our second taste of the coming season's snow, another "dusting" of a few inches. A couple nights ago we had our first. Chip Ahoy weathers comfortably beneath its winter tarps.  By early-February we were breaking records for total snowfall accumulation. Chip Ahoy was buried behind a mountain of plowed snow.

-- More Winter 2010-2011 --

With little time over the past few months for anything but moving snow around and out of the way almost daily and hauling in firewood to keep warm, my small winter indoor project this year didn't get started until this morning. (Mar. 6, 2011)

-- Revisiting the Cribboards Project --

NEXT
Onward to Sailing Season 2011!

BACK TO CHIP AHOY

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