The original headliner material was vinyl, attached to thin strips of non-marine plywood and non-stainless steel staples. The real problem with this original, factory installed headliner is that it prevented access to all of the deck mounted hardware. Another serious problem with the deck mounted hardware is that it was embedded into the fiberglass at the factory, requiring a chisel and hammer to gain access to the underside of the deck hardware. If a DE has not removed the original headliner there is every possibility that all of the deck hardware bedding is original and has long since failed, thereby exposing the deck core to water infiltration.
We took the time to remove the old vinyl (vile) headliner and attachments (weeks of work plucking rusted staples) and installed a headliner system that can be removed to allow continual access to deck hardware in order to inspect and replace, as needed. We installed a product called Spectropile and used Velcro strips bedded with 5200 marine caulk and stainless steel staples. (We have since embed the Velcro with epoxy putty. Or another option is Velcro now comes in has self-adhesive strips, however, there has been no reviews as to how the glue will hold up to the marine environment.)
The original vinyl/foam backed headliner was susceptible to mildew and mold formation. Also, from a structural standpoint, preventing access to deck mounted hardware maintenance and inspection is a real structural issue.
Spectopile is not an inexpensive material, but is well suited to a marine application, such as headliner. (We also use if for chafe protection and removable fender covers–very durable.) Not only is Spectropile made from recycled materials it is […]
Attached are severalphotos of the steel bow sprit/anchor platform, and a few thoughts of about this project. Typical of many boat projects, this one started out modest and innocent enough. When I first purchased the boat I wanted to remove the anchor windlass to clean and service it. After removal though, I found rot around the mounting bolt. There begins the real motivation for the bow sprit/anchor platform redesign.
The bow sprit/anchor platform was completely redesigned and replaced with cruising in mind. It is constructed of steel tubing. Aesthetically I believe there is no significant difference in appearance from the original painted wooden bow sprit.
The primary difference is that the wooden bow sprit was actually heavier and the lamination and wood are higher maintenance than steel.
The new steel bow sprit has transferred the weight of the anchors inboard and provides a strong, integrated bow pulpit assembly; which, provides greater structural integrity than the original arrangement. The anchor rollers are custom designed to receive the two bow anchors (CQR and Plow). There are also additional custom features included such as attachment points for fair leads/snatch blocks for the anchor roads, jack lines, jib downhaul and difter (spinnaker). A few photos are included to illustrate the new platform with and without the platform base. The new bow sprit is extremely seaworthy with strong backing plates and reinforced platform assembly. It should hold under extreme sea anchoring as well as conventional anchoring conditions.
The final leg of The Journey was to take Windsong from Harbortown Marina in Merritt Island up to Oasis Boat Yard in St. Augustine to be hauled out. I had convinced a few friends to crew for me and to entice them I arranged the final leg to be when one of the last shuttle launches was happening.
I wanted to have a good view of the shuttle launch, and I also wanted the final leg to be easy going so I got a head start by sailing up the ICW about 17 nm to Titusville Municipal Marina. Jenny and I did the sail on a Saturday after my month in Harbortown was done. The weather was great, with Southeast winds at 15 knots. The ride was relatively uneventful but definitely a fun day. It was my first time under full sail in the ICW, something different since steering between the markers under sail was a bit more difficult than steering offshore. I kept Windsong in Titusville for a couple of weeks until May 14th when the shuttle was set to launch. We all met up on Friday morning before the launch to load up the boat and get ready for the weekend cruise. The crew was Jenny, Jeff (from the first leg) and our friend Brian who flew down from Connecticut. The traffic was getting crazy pretty for the shuttle launch, so we were glad to get an early start. The launch was at 2:20 p.m., but we were ready to go by noon. We got some fuel from the marina and then decided to wait out the remaining time at anchor in the ICW. The marina is very spacious, but my slip was near the basin wall and I had 15-20knot winds pushing me forward into my slip. […]
Saturday May 1st was the ideal day to leave New Zealand. Unfortunately about 40 other boats thought so as well. 30 some of them were part of the Island Cruising Association rally to Tonga and had cleared customs the day before, but there was still quite a line at the customs office in Opua. By 10am we had cleared customs and immigration and by 11 we were on our way, killing the motor and setting sail after we cleared the Opua ferry lane. The wind was fresh and favorable, but the clouds were threatening. A rainbow shown over Pahia to send us on our way. Too bad the rain part was also there as I actively sailed in the rain for maybe the 10-12th time in my sailing career. I’ve really been a pretty fair weather sailor for years now. The only time I get caught out in the rain is at sea where I button up the boat and hang out down below until it drys out. We were still in the crowded Bay of Islands waters and had the rally driving hard behind us to catch up, so a soggy captain dawned his foulies and kept a watch, but he wasn’t happy about it.
Leaving New Zealand with the ICA rally close behind
The weather window leaving New Zealand was great with fresh south westerlies turning to southerlies for the first 36 hour easing to moderate south easterlies for another day before the wind died and we had to motor for 8 hours before we started getting some light easterlies. A low was passing over the north island compacting the isobars in the trades. So we got a few days of reinforced trades blowing out of the east at 25-35 knots […]
Just got this in hot off the wire from Martin Samuel. So I’m going to put it up now.
Hello Scott – from Bermuda…
Left Fort Lauderdale 8.45 AM Wednesday 26th May – docked St. George’s at 2:00 PM Friday 4th June. Now anchored out, quiet, peaceful, warm, breezy with WiFi and my mobile phone works too.
Weather was great for the most part but had some damage to the boat – more later.
No problem with Customs. Tomorrow I start to explore … boat repairs later.
Re: boat damage … a stainless steel pin sheared and disappeared – it holds the front stay which holds the mast up and and also the roller furling head-sail. Of course it happened at 1.00 am, the sail was flogging and the metal hardware was beating the boat to bits. Got a hold of it and was able to do a temp. fix putting it back in place. Also, the shackle that holds the sail up at the top snapped with all the pressures – but I was able to drag the sail down. All of that done without stopping the boat – wet, dark, slippery, frustrating. Everything useful falls overboard but not the broken shackle – found it the following day – it had hit and shattered the glass on 1 of my 2 solar panels and was still sitting there just to prove it… what are the chances… ! ! !
Following day sailed with 1 sail missing – just the main and the staysail see photos:
1. clear, sunny, calm sea sailing the day after the debacle
2. same day with dinghy under wraps
3. still sailing
4. daytime configuration – that’s the bagged sail tied down on the deck
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