Capt'n Pauley's Virtual Boatyard -- Projects Galore!!!

Miscellaneous Matilda Meanderings...

I've received a spate of questions about small boat rigging details, some from the Matilda 20 Forum and some from other venues. Instead of trying to answer them in individual posts, I've decided to incorporate them in one omnibus posting.

Rigging Details:
One question concerned how the tack of the Matilda mainsail was restrained. Here you see my solution. Originally, the was a small hole for a cotter pin. The cotter pin passed through a grommet at the tack of the sail. I drilled to hole out and now use a 1/4" Qik-Pin. The pin is tied to the gooseneck by a short lanyard so it doesn't get lost.

Capt'n Pauley's Sketchbook - The Gerr Downhaul

Making Life Easier: A Cockpit Table

While we all talk about the finer points of sail trim, better ways of rigging the boat and other esoteric sailing topics, what many of us hanker for are some simple pleasures afloat. This is especially true of Small Craft Advisor readers as we tend toward smaller and more compact boats. Building in creature comforts takes just a little more effort on our size boats.

Building a Better Mast Step

I knew I was in trouble when I tried to unbolt the mast step on my Columbia 26. I had been working on a complete restoration and needed to remove the mast step to repaint the deck. A Columbia 26 has a deck stepped mast. The mast rides on a cast aluminum mast step. That was the start of the problem.

Rusty Keels

Hi Capt'n Pauley!
Hope you're hanging in against the forces of Mother Nature. Just had a
subscriber call asking about how best to treat rust on his Cal 20 keel.
His was the second call I've had on the topic. Wondered if you might
consider a Capt'n Pauley column on rusty keels. This last caller said,
"Do you think Paul would consider it?"

Best,
Josh

PWC Work/Storage Stand

A reader wrote in the other day looking for a stand for his PWC. He mentioned seeing a stand made from PVC pipe somewhere but couldn’t remember where or when. I checked the catalogs we have on hand, but didn’t come up with anything for him. I did ask him why he was interested in a stand for his PWC, though. He had two good reasons.

Got an EPIRB? Better check your registration code!

 
ACR Products Urges EPIRB and PLB Owners to Re-Check Registration Codes

If you have an EPIRB, check the registration on file with the one on your unit. While the investigation is ongoing, it appears that the registration code error was entered incorrectly by the registration clerk.

Capt’n Pauley

2009 CYOA (Columbia Yacht Owners Association) Calendar, WORD or PDF

Each year I do a calendar for CYOA (Columbia Yacht Owners Association). The pictures are sent in by members and I pick the best ones for use in the calendar. It is available in hard copy at: www.captnpauey.com. I also make it available for downloading (free) here, in either PDF or WORD format. Be warned, the PDF is BIG and your ISP may not allow you to download it. Enjoy!

Capt'n Pauley

WORD Doc.
Download 2009 CYOA Calendar

PDF
Download CYOACalendar2009

Alternative Transom, Deck and Stringer Repair

A recent post here on The Virtual Boatyard covered a process for replacing a rotted and water saturated transom. That process required cutting away the interior fiberglass layer, bonding in a new plywood core and re-laminating the interior transom wall. At best, this is no small task and requires the internal equipment and structure around the transom to be removed for access.