This bulletin board, hosted by the CDSOA, Inc., is the on-line meeting place for all Cape Dory owners and groups. We welcome everyone's questions, answers and comments about Cape Dory sailboat
Well the most stressful part is over (other than returning her to the water) and Rhapsody is nestled on her trailer in a friend's yard waiting her new bottom, polished topsides, and whatever else awaits her over the winter. This is her first haul since July 2009 when she returned from the Chesapeake. She is looking tired and worn, but alas, this too shall pass.
Amazingly her five year old bottom paint (from the winter of 2007/2008) has held up incredibility well so rest assured I'll back with the same stuff (Pettit Trinidad).
From time to time I'll add an update here and I am not sure what her next horizon will be. Actually (with retirement in the offing), I have no clue! We'll just have to wait and see.
I would be interested in the name/model of the trailer and the make/model of the truck used to pull her.
I spent precious and scarce resources placing S/V Bali Ha'i on the hard at a marina while a lot of "out of water" work was done. I am thinking of investing in a trailer.
I have an old (1994) Chevy Tahoe 5.7 L/V8. She has about 225,000 miles on her. I am thinking S/V Bali Ha'i plus a trailer may be a little too much for the old girl to pull.
Thoughts
Fair winds,
Roberto
a/k/a Sea Hunt "The Tadpole Sailor"
CDSOA #1097
________________________________
"I wish to have no Connection with any Ship that does not Sail fast for I intend to go in harm's way." Captain John Paul Jones, 16 November 1778, as quoted in Naval History and Heritage Command, http://www.history.navy.mil
You can do it. Attitude is half the battle. No doubt there will be some nay sayers. I pulled mine out single handed with a 97 half ton GMC with the 5.7L. Just take it slow and easy. It is necessary to have a trailer that fits the boat. Stop doubting yourself and give it a try. Here in the north we haul out in the fall and launch in the spring. Way too much ice and snow to even think about leaving the boat in the water. I have seen someone pull a 27 foot boat that was heavier and deeper than the 25D at the ramp with a half ton conversion van.
Well I'm looking for someone thats been there, done that, and has the T-Shirt. Two of the first chores I want to do while Rhapsody is out of her natural environment (aside from sanding her booty) are, replace the main battery cables (to include moving the start battery) & replace the coamings in each of the cockpit lockers.
The Battery Cables: From previous adventures in pulling new wiring (10-16 ga) into the backside of the electric panel it gets pretty scary when I start to think about pulling 2 ga battery cables. Even more scary when I start to think that the cables may be "tabbed" to the bulkhead with a layer of glass from the factory. Anyone ever pull and replace the battery cables?
Locker Coamings: I know they are bedded with something and I have tried to remove one in the past (I didn't put a great deal of effort into the process) but was unsuccessful. Being a Tadpole in woodworking projects where complex angles are involved, I have found a craftsman that can and will duplicate the coamings but it would be very nice to get them out in tact. Any suggestions? Also, while the coamings are out any suggestions on how to keep the rain/sleet/snow crap out of the lockers (covering the cockpit is an option)?
battery cables go from battery to 3way switch, a smaller wire, (#8 ? check for proper gauge ) from switch to panel.
replacing combings not difficult. Use existing for pattern. Mine were screwed to fiberglass with # 10 ss sheetmetal screws and the wood bedded with tan dolfinite - a sharp putty knife between the glass and teak will break the bond.
When installing and fitting new combings use a 2x4 to 'spring' the straight boards to conform to the curve needed.
I used ss machine screws/fender washers/nylocs to fasten them back.
have fun
barfwinkle wrote:The Battery Cables: From previous adventures in pulling new wiring (10-16 ga) into the backside of the electric panel it gets pretty scary when I start to think about pulling 2 ga battery cables. Even more scary when I start to think that the cables may be "tabbed" to the bulkhead with a layer of glass from the factory. Anyone ever pull and replace the battery cables?
Bill:
I (and a marine electrician ) installed new batteries and re-wired all of the battery cables going to the electrical panel and engine block on S/V Bali Ha'i in November 2011. I am pretty sure we used 4 gauge marine grade wiring and "we" (the marine electrician) did not have any difficulty in removing the old battery cable wiring. It was not glassed in. Of course, I do not know if the factory original battery cable wiring was layered with fiberglass from the factory and one of the two prior owners had the task of initially removing the battery cable wiring.
I know next to nothing about marine electrical wiring. 4 gauge is pretty thick wiring. 2 gauge wire seems more than "robust". It was more than a tight fit to get the 4 gauge wiring properly positioned so that the electrical panel cover could be closed/screwed back into place.
I wish all Safe and Happy Holidays.
Fair winds,
Roberto
a/k/a Sea Hunt "The Tadpole Sailor"
CDSOA #1097
________________________________
"I wish to have no Connection with any Ship that does not Sail fast for I intend to go in harm's way." Captain John Paul Jones, 16 November 1778, as quoted in Naval History and Heritage Command, http://www.history.navy.mil
Well half (or actually 1/4) of the job is done. And just in case anyone should ask removing that teak from 30 year old bedding "goop" was NOT an easy task. I hope to remove the port locker coaming sometime today and hopefully it'll come out in tact. All it needs is re-bedding.
On the Starb'd coaming there were three screws (from the bottom) in the opening into the actual locker and 5 screws, buried deep in the teak, on the "shelf" portion. I knew this one needed to be replaced (wood rot), so my only goal was to remove it in tact. Success!
Fair Winds & wishing you and your's the very best in the New Year.
Here they are dry fit, awaiting finishing and re-bedding. I am seriously considering bedding them with butyl tape. You can rest assured that I WILL NOT use 5200 or 4200.
Grand total: $60 labor! I had/scavenged the teak (free). Yea!
I know, I know, I still have to work the locker lids, but due to this deep freeze crap (being polite here), I'm a bit behind!
Bill, the locker coamings on Meander were leaking badly last summer. I removed them, cleaned the fiberglass up and re-bedded them with buytl tape. No leaks now. Happy sailor.
That is really some terrific finish carpentry work. What type of wood did you use
Fair winds,
Roberto
a/k/a Sea Hunt "The Tadpole Sailor"
CDSOA #1097
________________________________
"I wish to have no Connection with any Ship that does not Sail fast for I intend to go in harm's way." Captain John Paul Jones, 16 November 1778, as quoted in Naval History and Heritage Command, http://www.history.navy.mil
) installed new batteries and re-wired all of the battery cables going to the electrical panel and engine block on S/V Bali Ha'i in November 2011. I am pretty sure we used 4 gauge marine grade wiring and "we" (the marine electrician) did not have any difficulty in removing the old battery cable wiring. It was not glassed in. Of course, I do not know if the factory original battery cable wiring was layered with fiberglass from the factory and one of the two prior owners had the task of initially removing the battery cable wiring. 
