Boat Forum / Building / April 2006

I ordered 25 yards of 3" glass tape, cost $18.84, weighing a few ounces
...
I just received it with a S&H charge of $11.18...
I expected it to come to Michigan by US Postoffice for a couple of

When checking and old sailboat to make sure the balsa core is dry, not
saturated with moisture ....
I know that the surveyer will tap with a hammer...  What kind of hammer?
And explain what and how the hammer tapping tells the story of the deck.

 I just rescued an old O'day 20 and decided to clean up the oxidized
looking hull. That's when I realized the boat had been painted and I wasn't
trying to clean gelcoat.
 Apparently it is epoxy and is HARD. So. how do I clean it up? Wet sand?

I would be thankful for hints to boat building web-sites,
were aluminum is used as the main construction material.
thanks, klaus

Does it exist some kit or instructions for a such installation ?
Is the Perkins Prima designed in advance for fixing an additional
alternator ?
If somebody knows....

I wonder if painting the freeboard of a boat dark or flag blue will hide
some of the cosmetics defects or is white better??

Anyone know of a source to help locate good old boats with a potential
to be restored. I'm looking for something that will be a family project
and that we will spend our vacations on. Prefer powered since I've not
ever sailed and don't know the first thing about rigging, etc.

I'm a week away from pulling my 100 yaer old wooden boat the "Seawitch
" out for the every other year haul out for inspection and paint.
i receieve so many  information about   the best  bottom paint , my
head is spinning..

Hi, Lists,
Thanks for all the responses to my line cutter question.  To put one on will
require some more space, and, in general, I've come to think that a
break-away (with built-in safeguards to allow continued use until

With my bilge system complete I have turned to gutting my 120 VAC shore
power system.
I went to West Marine 2006 catalogue, page 546, item C, Marinco 120 VAC
15 Amp Receptacle. Cost: $32.99 each plus shipping.

Is it worth the money? I need 3" hose for my brand new Yanmar 4JH4SBE ,
55 HP.
Other options are Shields,Trident,Titan etc.
Have you instaled vetus exhaust hose on your boat?

I have a VHF radio connected to an antenna on the mast,
which does not make a sound. It has power, the lights on
it come on, but not a sound on any channel.
I suspect that the cable leading to the antenna is bad,

I want to build a small wooden boat. It need a historical outlook and I want
to sail with it. Is there a sort of manuel so that I can start building?
Ron de Vos.