[Rhodes22-list] NEWS ITEM *****FLASH***** Shanghai'd SummerFinallyLaunched May 25!!

[Michael D. Weisner]

Rob,

If I pull her to do repairs, I must completely pack up and bring her home - 
there is no overnight parking at the town ramp area.  While it is only 2 
miles journey, it seems so unnecessary.  I was thinking of finding a rubber 
gasket for the through-hull that would hold until the end of the season when 
I would rebed properly.  If I pull out, I would prefer to make the repair 
and relaunch immediately.  We only have a window of about an hour or so for 
the entire operation due to the tide changes (7-8 ft).  I need all the water 
I can get under the hull to recover and a bit less to launch.

Mike
s/v Shanghai'd Summer ('81)
Nissequogue River, NY

From: "Rob Lowe" <rlowe at vt.edu>Sent: Tuesday, May 27, 2008 5:29 PM
> Mike,
> Congratulations to being (back?) on the water!  As far as 
> replacing/rebeding
> your through-hull, is there any way to pull the boat while still rigged 
> and
> leave it on the trailer overnight and then relaunch in a day or two? 
> Would
> certainly make working on a through-hull easier if you're out of the
> water. - rob
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Michael D. Weisner" <mweisner at ebsmed.com>
> To: "Rhodes 22 mail list" <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
> Sent: Tuesday, May 27, 2008 3:48 PM
> Subject: [Rhodes22-list] NEWS ITEM *****FLASH***** Shanghai'd Summer
> FinallyLaunched May 25!!
>
>
>> On Friday I picked up the 2-1/2" square 1/4" thick steel tube stock that
> is now the new extension tongue for my R22 trailer.  After fitting a new
> coupler and drilling many holes in the steel on Saturday, I pronounced the
> trailer "launchable" once again.  Sunday morning I removed the winter tarp
> and checked out the boat.  All was as I had left it last September when we
> failed to launch due to a collapsed extension tongue at the ramp.  I
> purchased fresh gas and oil, ran the old Suzuki DT7.5 engine in a garbage
> can (started on 2nd pull!) and hitched up.
>>
>> We launched without incident.  Once I was happy that there were no major
> leaks or problems, I parked the truck and trailer.  We motored over to our
> mooring to get away from the busy ramp area.  Once safely anchored, we
> stepped the mast and rigged.  We went for a short sail (2 hours) and came
> back in to discharge passengers (helpers) and clean up.
>>
>> I noticed that we had a bit of water in the laz.  We pumped out about a
> half gallon, total.  We had been in the water for only four hours.  Oh 
> well,
> she hadn't seen water in several years (I think 3 years of repairs and
> restoration), maybe some seals had shrunk and would swell when wet.
> Reluctantly, I boarded the dinghy and made for land, dinner and some well
> deserved rest.
>>
>> The next morning, Sheryl and I went back out and were pleasantly 
>> surprised
> that only about a half gallon of water was present in the laz.  The 
> forward
> bilge remained dry.
>>
>> I mopped up the water and found the leak to be coming from the cockpit
> drain through-hull fitting.  I had suspected this and brought along a
> wrench.  It was fairly loose so I tightened it securely and the flow is
> pretty nearly stopped.  I am afraid to put too much torque on the nut 
> since
> it and the fitting are from 1980 and failure would be catastrophic.  I
> assume that the sealant (gasket, bedding, etc.) has deteriorated
> significantly over the years.  At this time, I am afraid to play with it 
> any
> more than I have until she is safely on the trailer.
>>
>> Has anyone had experience with rebedding or replacing the drain
> through-hull fitting while in the water?  Is there a safe method of 
> beaching
> to access the area below the cockpit drain?  I think that when I service 
> it,
> I will replace the fitting, the hose and the clamps just to be safe.  Does
> anyone know the size of the fitting, the hose and the clamps (you needn't
> run out and measure them - I will measure mine in the next day)?
>>
>> Is there a way to seal the fitting (temporarily) without removing the
> fitting, so that it may be done while in the water?  I was thinking about
> using some duck-seal or similar putty or caulk.
>>
>> Somehow, while I was rebedding all of the portlights, deck fittings, the
> seat drains, etc. I forgot about the cockpit drain.  Word to the wise, on 
> a
> 25+ year old boat, service and rebed everything, especially the fittings
> below the water line.
>>
>> Thanks to all on the list who provided information and links to
> information that helped me learn the art of fiberglass repair.  Probably 
> the
> best information I received was to purchase Don Casey's books - I now have
> the entire set, I think.
>>
>> Even with the slight leak, it is much better to be in the water and
> sailing, finally ...
>>
>> Mike
>> s/v Shanghai'd Summer ('81)
>> Nissequogue River, NY
>> __________________________________________________
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>
>
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