The Cape Dory Board

I like the idea of a fairly heavy ultra suede, which can be removed periodically for cleaning.

Bluesails,
I rolled and tipped.

Bluesails,
Signature finish paint can be applied to clean and well-sanded gelcoat, or over most one or two part, properly sanded primers or existing paints in decent condition.
The pot life is very reasonable, but directly variable with temperature.

Bluesails, In my tests, Tom's paint is definitely user friendly. He is a chemist, and he knows the subject. He is very friendly and he will answer questions one-on-one with no BS. He wrote the instructions, and they have obviously evolved over the years. There are many options for various situations...

Russell, I don't think I will use it. I think it's probably an OK product, but vendors with whom I've spoken seem in agreement that it is a step above Brightside, and a step below Perfection. This may or may not be true. Fact is, I've already calculated what I need to buy from Tom Fabula/Signature F...

Russell, thanks for the input! I think that if I use this, I will thin it to help the brush marks flow out. I will also use a fresh air respirator and plenty of ventilation. I will choose cool, dry weather.

bamabratsche,
You didn't hijack, you illuminated! All the better!

Has anyone tried this relatively new "two part, silicone/polyurethane"?

I think I mentioned once before: when I was cleaning the bilge, I discovered a hole deliberately drilled from the bilge to the exterior, apparently meant to provide a center for the knot meter sensor. The sensor was actually installed farther forward. The unused centering hole was apparently repaire...

Folks, The thruster project is progressing well. We decided to follow the Vetus instructions to the letter for their "best performance" (least drag) installation. All the lamination has been done, and we are well into sanding the fairings to shape. It's well on the way to looking just like...

Dick and all you other Folks, I finally found a very complex formula for determining the proper angle of the fairing. This is an immense problem with SO many variables to consider that it would probably be necessary to buy a program specifically for this. Otherwise, the math would take forever. I ha...

Hi Russell, The material I removed did not support anything other than interior furniture and the water tank I have (temporarily?) removed. As I understand it, the installation of the tunnel dramatically strengthens the hull. Plus, after the thruster installation is complete, I will be replacing som...

Thanks, OJ! Nice to hear from you. Actually, I've already bought a Vetus bow-thruster. As you mentioned, it was pretty tricky locating it. We have cut the hole through the bow, and we have fit the tunnel. We do have a little more than one tunnel diameter between the top of the tunnel and the waterli...

Folks, Hello again! I've been off the board for a while, mainly because the boat work needed to catch up with the well-answered questions I'be posted in the past. Finally I have a new question: For a Cape Dory 36, what would be the angle, (relative to horizontal) of the bow wave at hull speed, both ...

Folks, first, let me say HI! after a long absence from this forum. I'm resurrecting this old thread because I'm still thinking about the thruster idea. Now, has anyone had any experience with "Yacht Thrusters by Exturn?" The website, at least is impressive. They claim that this addition ca...

Thanks, Matt! This is helpful. I suspect that the foot of my mainsail has been trimmed like yours, but I've never had it out of the bag, so I don't actually know!
I'm sure that raising the aft end of the boom a little is a good idea.