I can understand your apprehension with doing work on a boat.? However, as I told one particularly nasty wench at a prospective marina…. Every boat that ever touched water is a project.? A new boat becomes a project the absolute moment it backs away from the travel lift for the first time.

?

Be realistic about what you want, what you will get and how long you will own it.? Painting is very easy and the industry likes to make it seem like going to the moon.? To be bluntly honest, the “marine industry” is full of charlatans and scam artists who will do some form of work in return for a large sum of money.? Everything is measured in hundreds or thousands of dollars.? A few of them are reputable and reliable.

?

I personally had a “experienced expert mechanic” tell me my Volvo Diesel was “DEAD”…. Funny it still runs strong.? It had sat for a while and the rings were stuck.

?

My boat was painted at some point by the PO… both on the deck and the hull.? This year I jumped on the dreaded resurfacing project.? The deck is a pain, but at the same time it’s not that bad.? The prep work is annoying.? But if you have gelcoat then it’s easy as pie.? Just rough sand and wipe down and paint.? I used Interlux Brightside on the deck and the hull.? It was extremely easy to use.? I did use the primer which does have a filling quality to it for minor crazing.? For non-skid I used “kiwi-grip” which goes on very easy, leaves a great looking non-skid, and hides an amazing amount of cracking.? There were a couple areas near my winches where the gelcoat was in very bad shape.? Same thing for the cockpit sole.? The boat looks AAA+ now.?

?

In my personal, non-expert opinion, gelcoat is a cheap way to avoid painting for manufacturers.? I can’t find anything that indicates that it does something important for fiberglass.? Nothing I’ve read suggests that it is structural, etc, etc.? I can find that it is used up against mold release to get a smooth surface.? Past that, nothing.

?

One thing that is important to understand about gelcoat is how it is used now, and how it was used back in the day.? It is currently sprayed in first to the reverse mold.? Then the glass is built up on top of it.? It’s also useful to pay attention to how the brits name fiberglass, they call it FRP or Fiber Reinforced Plastic which is exactly what it is.? It used to be that the glass was laminated, extracted from the mold, and then gelcoat was very liberally sprayed on.? I have a 1964 Tartan (#71) and I’m certain that is how they would have done it.

?

As for osmotic blistering, I suppose the last years might have that issue.? Glass got very expensive in the late 70’s and early 80’s.? Blisters are primarily from incomplete curing of the resins forming nasty compounds and pulling water in.? Different experts have different opinions about them.? Neil Calder has never seen a boat sunk from them (per either? Practical Sailor or Good Old Boat article).? Boatyards think they are the scourge of the devil and must be removed at once, along with a bottom peel, epoxy coat, 3 layers of gold foil, and a princess to bless the process.? Coincidentally a massive bottom reconstruction is a nice chunk of work for a boatyard.

?

My point here is that the cosmetic stuff can be fixed in a few weeks.? You aren’t going to put the boat in the Smithsonian, or any other boat show for that matter.? It’s only worth $14K in pristine condition…. $3.5K in bad condition.? If you are lucky you’ll spend more time sailing than working on it.? A new sail set will get you for $3k.? Rigging will be $1200.? Rigging will undoubtedly need replacing.? Your chainplates are likely to *NEED* replacement…. Every other T-27 needs them done, including mine which sails fine with them.?

?

I have a saying.? If you get within 5 feet of it and have anything critical to say…. There are tools in the starboard lazarette, what would you like to work on first?? There is bottled water and soda in the fridge, can I get you one while you start working?? I assure you that this shuts up even the most voracious critic.

?

If your marina is like mine, 80% of the boats never move.? The T-27 is a very sturdy, capable boat.? They are better built than nearly anything else of their time.? They are also becoming scarce as they are either owned by those of us who will care for them, or gone through scrap or accident.

?

I trust if you are looking at a neglected T-27 that you are bottomfeeding for a boat.? No big deal, I did it twice with my T-27 and my C-22.? It’s a great way to get a good boat.? Just realize that you can’t turn a Ford into a Caddillac.? The Tartan is a classic Caddillac in every single sense of the word.? Tartan competes with Beneteau.? My boat originally sold for $30K in 1964!? They are covered with $TEAK$.....? Just don’t fall for one of the many problem children brands out there that made 100, went out of business and was never really successful.? Every old boat is going to need TLC.? Many of them simply need to be buried.? The Tartans have excellent glasswork, are very sturdy, have true craftsmanship and for the most part are easy to sail and forgiving.? Oh and most of the cosmetic stuff is just that and not as hard as the boat expert$ would have you believe.

?

Brian Greul

Texas Shirt Company

713-802-0369 / 713-861-6261 (fax)

Targeted, Effective Promotions to help you grow your brand

There isn’t a pulley of sorts…. Accept for the lifting pulley.

?

I added a marine bronze pipe bushing as a wear component.? You really should inspect this particular point on a regular basis.

?

It’s also a good idea to go through the hassle of dropping your CB to check the pivot pin and pivot point.? My CB was a hack job replacement and it rotted and fell out when I was replacing the pennant.? Since then it really hasn’t affected sailing ability… although occasionally it’s a nuisance not having it.? It’s really only when you are trying to point… so if you race you need it.

?

Brian Greul

Texas Shirt Company

713-802-0369 / 713-861-6261 (fax)

Targeted, Effective Promotions to help you grow your brand