2005

"Further" was hauled out in Annapolis MD at Bert Jabins Marine and was proffesionally surveyed.  The boat was found to be in very good structural shape, and showed very little stress.  The bulkheads and furniture joinery were all found to be in good shape.  No voids or delamination was found in the hull or deck laminates.  A small area of elevated moisture was found in the deck to the port side of the anchor locker.  The spars, mast step, and rigging, were all found to be in excelent shape, as was the rudder and steering system.

     Following the survey the hull beneath the waterline was stripped to bare glass and dried for 2 months.  A few osmotic blisters were discovered in the first layer of laminate and were ground out and repaired with West Systems Epoxy and high density fairing compound.  The Cast iron Keel and bolts were inspected and treated for rust and then capped with West Systems Epoxy.  The hull, keel, and rudder, were then faired with West Sytems epoxy and fairing compound.  Next, 5 coats of Interlux Interprotect Barrier Coat were applied to the hull, followed by 3 coats of Trinidad SR Hard Epoxy Antifouling.   

 

2006

After some tuff offshore sailing to windward in 10 ft seas an issue with flex in the V-Berth walls was discovered.  The problem is all too common in "Racer-Cruisers" and their largely unsuported sections of hull between the anchor locker and forward bulkhead.  I decided that my bow needed some beefing up, as the flexing walls were not at all comforting.  While in the Exumas in the Bahamas I gutted the V-berth, stripped all of the headliner out and ground all of the gelcoat down to glass.  Longitudinal carbon fiber stringers were epoxied into the hull and then the walls were built up with 5 layers of Xnytex biaxle cloth/mat combo using West Systems Epoxy.  The bulkheads were tabbed with extra glass as were the bookshelves which act as I-Beams.  The V-berth was then painted with white modified alklyd enamel.  It is solid as a rock now.  I have left the V-berth void of headliner and carpeting as I like to be able to see and have access to every peice of hardware backing and possible leak.  I do no like the way that liners hide so much of the stuff that really should not be unseable.  I plan on removing the liners from the rest of the boat at a later date. 

 

2007

While waiting out hurricane season at Aqua Vi Marina in Puerto La Cruz Venezuela, I decided to take advantage of the quality labor and materials at extremely low prices.  A number of projects were undertook.  A custom swim-step scoop was built into the transom extending the waterline 2 feet and giving a much better exit which should make the boat faster as well as getting aboard easier.  It will also be the perfect place to clean fish and take showers.  The hull portholes which I never liked were removed, fiberglassed over, and faired.  All of the liners, which I also never liked, have been removed from the aft cabins and taken down to glass which was then prepped and painted with modified alklyd enamel.  The Perkins diesel was craned out and completely rebuilt as was the transmision.  New mounts were installed and the engine powertrain was religned.  The propeller shaft was remachined and the cutlass bearings replaced.  The steering geers and steering were then serviced.  The fuel system and tank have been dissasembled and cleaned, The alternator has been rebuilt.  All of the electrical, hoses, and exaust, have been inspected and replaced where necessary.  The engine was painted and a custom K&N filter installed.  The engine compartment has been repainted and new soundproofing and weather seals installed.  The deck has been epoxy primered, faired, and sprayed with 2 coats of Cloud White Awlgrip.  Partical nonskid was then mixed with Awlgrip and sprayed over the molded nonskid.  The topsides were faired and sprayed with 2 coats of black epoxy primer and then 2 coats of Flag Blue Awlgrip finished with 2 coats of UV Clearcoat Awlgrip.  New stripes and the name were applied in Cloud White.  The water line was adjusted and new ablative antifouling applied below the waterline.  The teak deck in the cockpit was rebedded and refinished.  The cockpit grate was refinished as well as all teak deck hardware.  A new spray dodger, bimini, and "stack pack" sail cover were fabricated by Orient Canvas.