Capt'n Pauley's Virtual Boat Yard -- Projects Galore!!!

Sealing the Hull/Deck Joint

 

Of all the leaks aboard a boat, the hull/deck joint is probably the most persistent, hardest to find and hardest to fix of all. By the vary nature of the joint, water can travel great distances before appearing as a leak below deck. There are no magic bullets to fix these leaks but here are some tools

 

Rusty Keels

Hi Paul,

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

 

 

Well, it just so happens that my daughter and her friend just completed a keel job on their boat. It’s a little bigger than the Cal 20, but the principles are the same. Here goes!

 

Installing Vertical Handholds

How secure are you moving about below in rough weather? Can you safely negotiate from the companionway to the vee-berth when things are bouncing? Our Columbia 10.7 has a typical layout for an older 35-footer. A galley to port and nav station to starboard, both next to the companionway. The galley and the nav station both butted up against a partial bulkhead that was also the aft end of each settee. There were handholds at the upper corners of the companionway, very useful when coming down the companionway ladder. However, once you reached the cabin sole, it was a long stretch to reach the overhead handrails over the settees, especially for a shorter person.