Plastic Classic Forum

CharlieJ

Thanks and say hi to Mei for me- she's a great cook :) Tehani is still here, but suffered some fairly minor damage in Hurricane Harvey. I say minor because 14 boats in the marina were sunk- every boat opposite her on the dock !! I suffered a back injury ( from my own stupidity) and have had back sur...

CharlieJ

I don't have the ocean miles that Atomvoyager dos (hi guy- enjoyed the day an lunch with you and Mei) but I've got some 12,000 ocean cruising miles on my 1961 Meridian(Phil Rhodes design) I'd not hesitate to sail her anyhere

CharlieJ

My Rhodes Meridian 25 was built in Holland in 1961. I fully expect my family to pass her on to someone else when I'm gone. Absolutely zero reason she won't go another 30-40 years, given good care.

Picture taken while anchored Pipe Creek, Exumas, Bahamas

CharlieJ

That's what I did, then covered the foam with ash ceiling

CharlieJ

the pic shows if you click the link.. And I have no idea

CharlieJ

The one book that got me hooked on sail cruising was "Princess, New York" by Joe Richards

CharlieJ

Iff it were my boat ,I'd take the opportunity right now to glass that rudder. It's out of water, dry and looks iffy to me. The consequences of it coming apart under sail are not worth the chance you take. The Vanguard is a great solid boat- I have a plug sitting right in front of me from the hull of...

CharlieJ

I did that on my Meridian 25. No more deck leaks, no more toe stubbers on deck and have been completely happy with it. been almost 12,000 miles now

CharlieJ

You might also look at Beckson- They often have overstocks at much lower prices.

CharlieJ

Kurt- take a serious look at the Yamaha's. I've pushed Tehani all over with an 8 HP, usually running at the "start" setting for hull speed. Cruising the coast, Texas to Annapolis, Bahamas, and Pangas in Mexico, I saw Yamaha's maybe 3-4 to one over any other brand And they build their own e...

CharlieJ

Huh. Apparently the forum has just died. Over a year since the last post I made here, and I see VERY few new ones.

Sad

CharlieJ

Just re found Classic Plastic. What's been going on? Any of the old crew left here?

CharlieJ

Wow- first new post since Dec 29 when I made mine. This place really has died. Sad thing too

CharlieJ

WOW- doesn't look like much activity last few years. I lost bookmarks in a computer crash and just re found the site. My ex had Tehani for close to two years, and then I bought her back in 2013. Have only done one longish cruise aboard Tehani- May thru July to Florida and return , and a 10 day trip ...

CharlieJ

Ipe.. Used as decking boards on docks. Looks like teak, finishes like teak. Is EXTREMELY dense (won't float), and holds up well

CharlieJ

lol- in 1962, Pearson did NOT use silver paint on chromed Bronze. It was all messed up from years of exposure- that part peeling, part speckled look. And yes, it was a lot of work. But yes, I used a Dremel. Now thinking back, I may have had a sanding drum mounted part of the time.

CharlieJ

I used a wire wheel in a Dremel tool and scrubbed it off. Did all the chromed ( read measled) bronze on a Vanguard 32 that way

CharlieJ

Or maybe many finished reworking, and went sailing? I know that's why I don't come here all that often. And sadly, lately I haven't even been sailing much. It's been a CRAPPY winter!!!

CharlieJ

nice article, thanks

CharlieJ

Thanks, particularly for the "battery melt down"' post. I shall go asap and re-check my own boats battery connections.

Very good info

CharlieJ

For the past 22 years, the ONLY paint I've used on boat interiors, both my own, and customer boats, has been ACRYLIC Latex enamel in semi gloss. Emphasis on the ACRYLIC. Most have a mildewcide added, they are water reducing, water clean up, low odor, fast drying and washable. I have some inside a bo...

CharlieJ

At the moment, Rachel is in "Gad about mode" and not posting much of anything- she is touring the country.

CharlieJ

I would darned sure grind it out and fix it. Not something to ignore

CharlieJ

galleywench- I know the guy who runs this forum. I don't think there's any danger of it being shut down, at least not at this time.

CharlieJ

I think you are correct about facebook (and others). I saw it pretty much kill another forum.. And it's sad. because there is no back reference. Here there are historical posts that can be referred to. On facebook, unless you KNOW the person who posted, it's almost impossible to find things. Face bo...

CharlieJ

I seriously doubt you will EVER see Rachel on here again. For exactly the reason I see on this thread. She got totally fed up with crap. Serious knowledge lost I stopped because I've been out cruising the last 3 years, and then went through a separation, and pending divorce. Tehani had a broken off ...

CharlieJ

Another point is to be sure the epoxy has totally cured. Give it a few days at least.

CharlieJ

Interesting- I'll check mine. But I'm on the Texas coast, and that frame has been all around the Gulf of Mexico, including two partial offshore crossings, all through the Keys, the Bahamas, up the east coast to the Chesapeake, up and down the Potomoc, then up to Annapolis, and return all the way bac...

CharlieJ

Agree on the Sunbrella. But not on the aluminum tubing. My self made Bimini has stood, full time, for some 5 years, and maybe 10,000 miles of cruising. Sunbrella, and 7/8 aluminum tubing. It's up ALL the time, unless de-rigging for a storm. My solar panel rides up there full time too. A Bimini shoul...

CharlieJ

A good friend of mine bought a new Bimini, made by Taylor Made, sold through Wholesale Marine. It was up in a rain, sagged terribly, to the point of damaging the bows, and appears to be permanently stretched. When he called Taylor Made, he was told "It's YOUR fault- NOBODY leaves a bimini up in...

CharlieJ

I don't always agree with Casey. This is one time where I certainly don't. I've ( and all the pros I know) always put the largest patch in first. And on a thick layup, I'd do it in several stages, mainly to avoid sag and excess heat build up. And Amine blush comes off just fine with plain old water-...

CharlieJ

I've used ten year old WEST - no problem. It really has no practical shelf life. The hardener will darken though so don't use it where you'll varnish over it. WEST Sys hardener will go almost purple, but still work fine. If it has gotten cold, you might see some whitish sludge in the bottom- just se...

CharlieJ

I just built a new ice chest in my boat and I final coated with epoxy with a white pigment added. Takes a few coats, because it isn't very opaque, but works well. Pigment can be obtained from the Gougeon's. Include the pigment in your mix rate because is IS resin. Of course, if you don't object to t...

CharlieJ

The cam cleats should do just fine- wouldn't if it weren't for the winch, but once wrapped around that several times, very little load on the cleat. Even on a BIG boat, you can hold the sheet load with two fingers with three wraps on the winch.. I was doing just that two weeks ago short tacking on a...

CharlieJ

And one more for the large piece first. Seven holes in Tehani's bottom, and 3 in my trailerable sloop were all done that way.

If you put the small patch in first, when you smooth down, you grind away the contact parts of the rest of the patches. Stronger done largest first.

CharlieJ

Research Coal Tar epoxy. It's what is used on offshore structures, and will hold up a LONG time. I've used it under the bottom paint on both of my cast iron keels, with excellent results.

One warning- the stuff really stinks while curing

CharlieJ

one important consideration- if you use too LARGE a rode, it cannot stretch, thereby negating some of the advantages of nylon, and the ability to stretch is a MAJOR factor in anchor rodes. I used to cruise a 35 trimaran( 3 years). Disp about 10,000 loaded ( three aboard, our only home). Windage thou...

CharlieJ

Bear in mind that a submersible, centrifugal pump won't ever get the bilge DRY. The water in the hose will always run back, and it's not recommended to put a check valve in. A suction pump will pump it totally dry since the pump itself sits up out of the bilge. Not a major thing, but something to be...

CharlieJ

wouldn't know. Can't recall ever trying to cut a tight radius. I just cut a bit oversized, square the corner, glass it down, then trim. Wasted too much time trying to make the glass fit EXACTLY. But then when I was doing a lot of this, I was building for a living- time was money.

CharlieJ

If your going to be cutting a lot of fiberglass cloth (especially biax or heavier), there is no substitute for a pair of 12" Wiss scissors. They aren't cheap but I think they are worth every penny. They cut biaxial cloth like a hot knife through butter. http://www.jamestowndistributors.com/use...

CharlieJ

Note the classic Rhodes sheer line, In my opinion, he did prettier sheers than Alberg. Really sweet.

For comparison, here's a Rhodes Meridian 25. This was at the beginning of 7000 miles of cruising aboard her, last three years, In fact, pic was taken exactly three years ago yesterday.

CharlieJ

Rhodes Ranger, designed by Phillip Rhodes

Built in Holland

Big sister to Tehani, the Rhodes meridian I had.

CharlieJ

A really neat way of removing caulk, excess epoxy,etc, is a plastic soda straw. One of the large ones from DQ works really well. Just push it into the corner, it forms itself to the shape, and push it along. Scoops the excess up into the straw. Later, you can just clip off the part with the "st...

CharlieJ

How about giving TSP, a brush and water a try? It's a wax- Tsp will cut the wax.

Like amine blush with epoxy- pretty simple to get rid of- soap and water.

CharlieJ

You are correct- that is the topsides

CharlieJ

There are also knife blades that go into jig saws. I use them for cutting foam. Those should also do a great job

CharlieJ

Jeremy- I had a three paragraph post all typed and it went away, leaving me looking at a Gary Jobson advertisment.,

Give me a call- three six one, two 3 seven, 999 zero, and I'll talk to you about the cockpit drains on Tehani, my Meridian 25, cause it takes me too bloody long to re type!!!!!

CharlieJ

we use lemon juice

CharlieJ

and it's so simple to just keep the seacock closed except when in use. failsafe, always. And they need to be exercised once in awhile anyway, so double duty.

CharlieJ

If the rim is below the waterline, you MUST keep the intake seacock closed, otherwise it'll flood over. I speak from experience.

I'd go with Ric's suggestion- whole lot less hassle.

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