Gutted Hull to Offshore Boat: What It Takes

This is the place to post your ideas, thoughts, questions and comments as relates to general boatbuilding and reconstruction techniques and procedures (i.e. recoring, epoxy, fiberglass, wood, etc.)
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John Stone
Deck Grunge Scrubber
Posts: 25
Joined: Mon Apr 27, 2009 11:07 pm
Boat Name: Far Reach
Boat Type: Cape Dory 36
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Gutted Hull to Offshore Boat: What It Takes

Post by John Stone »

I have not been on the forum in a long time. I completed the rebuilding of my boat and I have sailed her offshore about 11,000 miles so far.

Thought I would share a video I made of what it took to encourage others to stick with it.

https://youtu.be/u7FdROltzPw
John Stone
Far Reach
Cape Dory 36
Hull 61
http://www.farreachvoyages.com
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atomvoyager
Moderator | Revitalizer of Classics
Posts: 421
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Boat Name: Atom
Boat Type: Pearson Triton
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Re: Gutted Hull to Offshore Boat: What It Takes

Post by atomvoyager »

Thanks for sharing this video. John's Cape Dory 36 rebuild was beautifully done with many practical added features.

John, I noticed that your tiller is 5' long and looks like it comes up to the forward end of the footwell. We are going to build a tiller for Mark's CD36 here and planned on making it about 4' long to leave some clearance to stand in front of it and have less of an obstruction in the cockpit. After all the sailing you've done with the long tiller did you find you ever really needed that extra leverage or do you think 4' is enough?
Thanks.
James
John Stone
Deck Grunge Scrubber
Posts: 25
Joined: Mon Apr 27, 2009 11:07 pm
Boat Name: Far Reach
Boat Type: Cape Dory 36
Contact:

Re: Gutted Hull to Offshore Boat: What It Takes

Post by John Stone »

Hi James. Thanks for the kind words.

I think 4' will work fine. Since I had little to go off of I had to guess at 5'. I didn't know what kind of lever arm I needed. Turns out not much as the helm is almost neutral. The tiller is 4'6" now for the reasons you suggest. For me, I think 4'3" would give me enough room. But the extra length is handy when hand steering while standing on the locker lids. Also, I have the pram hood instead of the dodger and a longer tiller makes it possible to sit on the bridge deck with legs and feet inside the boat with my torso tucked up behind the hood in the rain and hand steer if necessary. Would not be an issue with a dodger.
John Stone
Far Reach
Cape Dory 36
Hull 61
http://www.farreachvoyages.com
CapnK
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Posts: 251
Joined: Thu Aug 25, 2005 10:28 am
Location: Winyah Bay, Georgetown SC

Re: Gutted Hull to Offshore Boat: What It Takes

Post by CapnK »

Well planned, impeccably completed, beautiful, and inspirational! GREAT job, John! She is amazing. Enjoyed the video as well. Got a good chuckle at about minute 25 when you were speaking about building the bowsprit and described your learning curve as "vertical". lol

Good to see you here, and thanks for sharing! I subbed your YT channel, and will check out your other videos, too. :)
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