Typhoon I hope to restore next Spring_see pictures at flickr

[Steve Laume]

Do not wait to scrape and paint your new boat's bottom.

Blister problems are pretty rare on Typhoons. The main reason you want to take the bottom down to the bare hull, the first year you own the boat, is that you will never have more enthusiasm for doing the job.

You also get the immediate benefit of a clean bottom. You will know your hull intimately and it gives you lots of hours of fussing with your new Baby.

Get on that bottom. Steve.

[Dick Villamil]

I wholeheartedly agree with Steve - bottoms are the toughest problem you will have. I scraped all bottom paint off with a paint scraper (gently so as not to gouge the fiberglass). Then I wet sanded with 60 grit wet or dry (bought in an auto store). Then I used the random orbital to get a smooth finish on the gel coat and to remove all traces of old bottom paint. Do not dry sand the old bottom paint unless you enjoy breathing toxic stuff. Wet sanding allows the water to prevent the dust from becoming airborne, scraping allows you to collect the paint debris on a tarp and then dispose of properly. Don't waste your time with the messy paint it on, wipe it off paint removers, bite the bullet and use elbow grease and electricity and you will have a superior job. (After all - she is a small vessel). Then I applied a barrier coat (3 coats), then 2 coats of VC17 - the old Ty is very slippery in the water and after 3 seasons still looks great - only needing a yearly coat of VC 17. Just make sure that you get as much bottom paint off and let the hull dry out for a while before adding the barrier coat. Going to bare bottom also allows you to check out any cracks in the hull from dings and freeze damage. Repair these before doing the bottom.

[stollie]

Steve, it's good to hear that blisters aren't usually a problem on Typhoons. I've been reading Casey's Complete Illustrated Sailboat Maintenance Manual, with This Old Boat waiting in the wings. Casey mentioned blisters but I guess that, the book being generic, some boats have 'em and some don't; I take it that Alberg's boats, generally built better, don't usually have some of the problems that Casey mentions?

I don't yet know how much the yard charges, and what method they use to strip the bottom (I read sandblasting's no good), but for my health's sake, I'm thinking about letting them do it. Plus I'm also looking at it as an act of good faith towards the owner by putting some extra bucks in his pocket (IF I think he's being fair in our negotiations).

[jim ventrilio]

I've only had my Ty (Hull # 1631) for about a year, so take what I say in relation to other, more knowledgeable owners here. One thing I noticed is that the mast step is not as heavy as the one on my Ty. Was yours (or mine?) replaced. If yours is a replacement, I would look to find an original. This also leads to the proverbial mast compression problem on many Tys.
You've got the original interior cushions. I would at least save the vinyl coverings and ditch the foam. You can replace the foam, or have new cushions made using Sunbrella or something nicer to rest on if you plan on spending time below.
Take care to strip or sand the teak and revarnish. If you haven't, get all the water out of it, then dump a gallon on -100, not -50 marine antifreeze in the bilge. My Ty leaks. When I used -50, I found that the stuff was starting to freeze when the temp stayed consistently below 32F. It gets cold down in that little bilge. Also, an old timer told me to put a piece of wood down there to keep anything from freezing! Who knows, might work.
I see you gotten a lot more tips than I can offer, but remember these little things were well-built boats, like all Cape Dorys, so treasure your little treasure.

[Markst95]

Careful on throwing out the foam, suprisingly its probably the most costly part of the cushions now. It also makes a great template if you do need to make new ones.

[Bob B]

Stollie,
I don't know how thick your paint is, but I have been removing mine with a random orbital sander and 60 grit paper. It is not as aggressive as a side grinder and doesn't pockmark the gel like a sandblaster. You still have to be careful and my plans are to follow the sanding with a good epoxy barrier coating (3 coats).

B. Bundy
CD Typhoon, Liberty

[stollie]

Well, I finally was able to speak to the boatyard's owner, but no progress to note. The guy's got bigger fish to fry right now, taking care of season's end business, but will let me know when he has the title.

I asked him to have the water pumped out, and the boat covered, so now it's just a waiting game.

[Sea Hunt]

Stollie:

I am a little confused. Regrettably, as most on this board know, that is my usual mental state.

If I understand and am interpreting your posts correctly, you found an abandoned Ty Weekender in a boatyard that is just sitting on the hard taking up space. The current legal owner is no where to be found; the boatyard is sitting on a lot of unpaid monthly storage fees; and the boatyard wants to sell (get rid of) this Ty.

Assuming the above, I do not understand why the boatyard owner would not quickly obtain title (through whatever legal process is appropriate in your state) and then transfer title to you. You get a Ty at a good/fair or even cheap price and the boatyard starts getting paid winter storage fees from you, not to mention repair fees (hull and deck as needed, etc.).

I would tell the boatyard manager you want this done now or you will look elsewhere. "Bigger fish to fry" is no excuse. Assuming it is a fair sized boatyard, they have a civil attorney they deal with. All they need to do is give him/her the paperwork with instructions to get a quitclaim or default title (or whatever legal term is used in your state) for this Ty. Make sure the title goes from the boatyard to you not directly to you from the former owner. In this way, you can protect yourself using the boatyard as a shield should the actual owner some day come looking for his Ty. You will be a bona fide purchaser for value from an established and reputable boatyard. The former owner's only recourse should be to go against the boatyard - an unlikely course of action.

DISCLAIMER: I am not attorney nor did I play one on TV. I did watch a few episodes of Perry Mason many years ago.

My .02 cents and probably only worth half of that.

[stollie]

Sea Hunt, yes, you read correctly, and thanks for the 2 cents.