Woohoo!!!
I just got a package in from Garhauer Marine. If you don’t know what Garhauer Marine is, you’re missing out on one of the best vendors for blocks and such on a boat. They’re a family-owned company in California that sells both direct to the public, and to manufacturers. Catalina and several other boat builders use them for their stock hardware.
To give you an idea of their prices, the genoa traveler cars, lead blocks, and cam cleats for the 1-1/4″ x 3/16″ Schaefer track on the boat cost about half of what the Schaefer setup would have cost me, even using the trade-up from the pin-stop cars to the line-controlled cars that Schaefer offers.
Running Rigging Upgrades
One of the biggest upgrades this year is converting the genoa fairleads from pin-stop to line-controlled. This should make controlling the genoa sheet trim a lot easier. The hardware from Garhauer is very nice, and probably better than the upgrade I could have gotten from Schaefer. The system will be a four-to-one purchase, which should make controlling the fairlead position very simple. I also ordered the cam cleats for the genoa fairlead lines which mount on the track. This should keep the lines a bit more organized.
A new double block and double block with becket should make adjusting the back stay a bit easier. The new blocks are a huge improvement over the stock double blocks. They’re a bit beefier and should run smoother than the old blocks.
When I was down at West Marine the other day, I picked up 300′ of 5/16″ polyester double braid. This line should work quite well for the genoa cars, the outboard raising system and the ama retraction system. I plan on re-using the existing line for the backstay adjustment.
All of these modifications should make the Pretty Gee much easier to single-hand. As part of making the Pretty Gee easier to single-hand, I am planning on installing eight blocks on the mast-foot collar, to use to lead lines aft this spring as well. I have some Lewmar blocks that I found on sale at Defender last year that I will be using for these lines. I hope to be able to remove the mast step this weekend, so I can bring it home to modify it.
The biggest project is probably running the lines aft. This project involves adding the blocks to the mast collar, adding deck organizers to the deck and installing a new winch on the cabintop. The new winch will go just forward of the solar vent that is to the port side of the sliding hatch. This is the biggest project of the three, and when it is completed, I will be able to raise, lower and reef the mainsail from the cockpit. As part of this upgrade, I’m modifying the lazy jacks so they will contain the mainsail a bit better.
Deck Systems Upgrades
I ordered two of the three stanchion mount blocks, so I can setup the ama retraction system that another Telstar owner developed. I should have fairlead blocks left over from the screacher furling system and two Spinlock PowerCleats to use for this. Retracting the amas when singlehanding used to be reminiscent of a Keystone Cops skit. This should eliminate the running from the bow to the cockpit in an attempt to lock the amas down before they self deployed again.
The third stanchion mount block will be used to modify the outboard motor lift to make it possible to raise and lower the outboard from the cockpit. Again, this was developed by another Telstar owner. I should have a third Spinlock PowerCleat to use for this, but I think that will be my last one. Currently, you have to stand on the swim platform to raise or lower the outboard mount. Kudos to Ron for this upgrade idea. The idea was so well received that Will has considered adding it to future Telstar 28 boats as part of the production setup.
Electronics Upgrades
There is a new Icom M504 VHF unit that I am planning on installing—replacing the current Raymarine unit, which I haven’t been very happy with. The M504 also has a hailer/foghorn unit, so I will have to figure out where to place the horn for it.
Electrical Upgrades
The biggest project here is upgrading the 110 VAC panel and adding a Freedom 20 inverter/charger. This should take care of all the electrical needs I’ll have for a few years to come. I want to modify the navigation console so that working on the electrical system is easier. I haven’t figured out exactly how to do this yet.
Lighting Upgrades
I have to install a foredeck/steaming light, as well as an LED upgrade to the stern light. I’d also like to convert the bicolor over to an LED-based fixture. My friend Rick is supposed to have some LED-based cabin lighting for me as well.
Cockpit Upgrades
I have a ship’s bell to mount on the boat. Apparently, the ship’s bell is required by Massachusetts state law on boats over 26′ long. I found this out on the Vessel Safety Check I had done last year. I plan on mounting plates for the bell arm in both the cabin and the cockpit.
I also got two hatches in from Hamilton Marine. One is a large aluminum hatch, which I plan to use in the cockpit sole. From my examination of the boat last year, there’s a fairly large open space under the aft end of the cockpit. I plan to glass most of this space off and use it to store dock lines and such. However, I didn’t want to use a plastic hatch, since the cockpit sole is a structural member from what I recall, and think that the aluminum hatch should transfer loads across the boat as well as the original sole would have.
The second hatch is a much smaller plastic inspection hatch. This is going to be mounted in the transom bulkhead of the cockpit, between the two speakers I have installed. Apparently, this type of hatch appears to be standard on the newer boats, and allows access to the tiller stock as well as helping with access to the wiring in the aft end of the boat.
Other Projects
These include upgrading the propane locker and sealing off the cockpit lockers from the main cabin. Fortunately, I still have some fiberglass and epoxy leftover from the bridgedeck project last year. I would also like to make the bimini a hard bimini, so that I can stand on it when trying to put the sailcover on. Right now, I’m just a bit too short to be able to do that easily.
I would also like to make a new sailcover and dodger in Pacific Blue, to match the rest of the canvas work on the boat. Towards this end, I’m going to be purchasing some Pacific Blue Sunbrella and have recently bought a Pfaff 360 sewing machine. If I can get enough Sunbrella, I’d like to make lee cloths, weather cloths and a cockpit enclosure of some sort.
The ama retraction system, the genoa car upgrade, the outboard lift upgrade and the backstay upgrade should all be done this weekend. The Icom installation and 110 VAC system upgrade should take two weekends, since I have to re-arrange a lot of things. I have to get wire and heat shrink crimp connectors for the project. The two hatches and the ship’s should take about two days to do, since they’re not too complicated to do.
I’ll post photos and updates as I get the various projects finished. I have a lot of gear that needs to go to e-Bay. I’ll get to that this spring hopefully.