Another New Guy
Posted: Sat Nov 08, 2008 11:16 pm
Hi All,
I would like to introduce myself to all of you in the Trojan Boat Forum. My name is Gerry Rylands. (gjrylands@att.net) I bought my first Trojan in 1972, "At Last", a 1964 28' woody with a single Gray Marine 327. (American Motors not GM). I bought my second Trojan "Sea Breeze", in 1977. Again it was a woody , a 1969 31 footer with twin Chrysler 318's. I had that boat for 23 years and knew that boat from stem to stern. My third Trojan, "Sea Breeze", is a 1979 F36 that I bought in 2000, which is the boat I presently own. For the record, "You have to be a bit crazy to own a boat."
I live in the Chicago area and boat in Lake Michigan. I have done extensive traveling in the lake making several trips to Door County, WI, Mackinac Island MI, and one trip to the North Channel in Canada. The price of fuel has limited my travels lately and I have been a harbor bum the last few years.
I have done major work on each of my boats, and do almost all the work myself. The 31' er is the boat that took the most upkeep mainly because I had it the longest & it was wood.
Some of the projects that I did to the first "Sea Breeze", and the list is long,was:
1. To build and install an operatioal flybridge including steering ,controls, and full gauges.
2. Built and installed a teak swim platform.
3. Removed and replaced the rear deck, including all of the frame work and hatches.
4. Removed and replaced the entire front deck, including the gunnels, rub rail, toe rail, the top foot of the hull, added a bow pulpit, and reworked the bow rail. (This was the biggest project. Missed an entire year)
5. Removed the cavas from the cabin roof and hard top and fiberglassed them.
6. Installed air conditioning in the salon.
7. Converted the ice box to a refrigerator.
8. Built and installed a new power panel with duel 30 A shore power and magnetic breakers. (needed the extra power for the air conditioner)
9. Removed and replaced the entire transom.
10. Customized the V birth area with cabinets and a built in tv
11. Rebuilt, or replaced engines a number of times. (There's a story here that will have to wait for another time)
Although this may sound like a huge list, remember I had the boat for 23 years. One thing about a wood boat is that wood rots. Rot is like a cancer and if it isn't removed, it spreads. Although the first "Sea Breeze" was a labor of love, I wasn't sorry to see her go. Anyone that says wood is what boats are supposed to be made of are glutens for punishment and has never owned glass.
The projects that I did on the new "Sea Breeze" include the following.
1. Installed a sea water wash down system.
2. Installed a new water heater
3. Installed Simrad auto pilot
4. Installed an Atlantic Tower radar arch
5. Installed radar and relocated all antennas to the arch
6. Installed indirect lighting in salon and rear deck
7. Installed a 12V DC subpanel
8. Added a second holding tank and reworked the head (There's a story here that will have to wait for another time)
9. An engine rebuild (There's another story here that will have to wait for another time)
10. Replaced exaust manifold and valve job
The new "Sea Breeze" is glass, and requires far less maintenance. This is not to say no maintenance. The winter project this year is to repair the balsa core on my front deck. I have a number of soft spots on the deck. I have only just started, but what I have found is worse then I expected. I have decided to leave the deck intact and make the repairs from below. I started in the rope locker and cut the bottom layer of glass to expose the balsa core. With the bottom layer of glass removed, I found the balsa core to be mush and totaly saterated with water. Water had got in around the cleats and the anchor line hole. I removed the head liner and hull liner in the forward state room. The balsa core below the anchor chocks is discolored. there are also discolored core around the hatches. These all look like spots that will require attention. Until I remove the lower glass and core, I won't know the extent of the repair, but I thinkI will need to open the head liner in the hall and dinette. The ceiling in the head is a panel screwed to deck. I may have to take it down as well.
The owner of my boat yard told me that he had made this repair on a number of boats. He advised me not to replace the core with balsa, rather use marine plywood cut in 4" squares so it will follow the contour of the deck, and stagger the joints. Working upside down is messy. Cover everytiing with plastic to protect the boat from the drips. Cover the plastic with paper to protect the plastic. He also told me that the job will only be done when the sorce of the water is fixed. This could require making repairs in the deck. Grinding out cracks and filling them. I'll have to do what ever it takes to keep the water out. I think this project will last a long time. Probably lasting will into next season, but at least the work can be done in the harbor. I'll keep you up to date as the project progresses.
I would like to introduce myself to all of you in the Trojan Boat Forum. My name is Gerry Rylands. (gjrylands@att.net) I bought my first Trojan in 1972, "At Last", a 1964 28' woody with a single Gray Marine 327. (American Motors not GM). I bought my second Trojan "Sea Breeze", in 1977. Again it was a woody , a 1969 31 footer with twin Chrysler 318's. I had that boat for 23 years and knew that boat from stem to stern. My third Trojan, "Sea Breeze", is a 1979 F36 that I bought in 2000, which is the boat I presently own. For the record, "You have to be a bit crazy to own a boat."
I live in the Chicago area and boat in Lake Michigan. I have done extensive traveling in the lake making several trips to Door County, WI, Mackinac Island MI, and one trip to the North Channel in Canada. The price of fuel has limited my travels lately and I have been a harbor bum the last few years.
I have done major work on each of my boats, and do almost all the work myself. The 31' er is the boat that took the most upkeep mainly because I had it the longest & it was wood.
Some of the projects that I did to the first "Sea Breeze", and the list is long,was:
1. To build and install an operatioal flybridge including steering ,controls, and full gauges.
2. Built and installed a teak swim platform.
3. Removed and replaced the rear deck, including all of the frame work and hatches.
4. Removed and replaced the entire front deck, including the gunnels, rub rail, toe rail, the top foot of the hull, added a bow pulpit, and reworked the bow rail. (This was the biggest project. Missed an entire year)
5. Removed the cavas from the cabin roof and hard top and fiberglassed them.
6. Installed air conditioning in the salon.
7. Converted the ice box to a refrigerator.
8. Built and installed a new power panel with duel 30 A shore power and magnetic breakers. (needed the extra power for the air conditioner)
9. Removed and replaced the entire transom.
10. Customized the V birth area with cabinets and a built in tv
11. Rebuilt, or replaced engines a number of times. (There's a story here that will have to wait for another time)
Although this may sound like a huge list, remember I had the boat for 23 years. One thing about a wood boat is that wood rots. Rot is like a cancer and if it isn't removed, it spreads. Although the first "Sea Breeze" was a labor of love, I wasn't sorry to see her go. Anyone that says wood is what boats are supposed to be made of are glutens for punishment and has never owned glass.
The projects that I did on the new "Sea Breeze" include the following.
1. Installed a sea water wash down system.
2. Installed a new water heater
3. Installed Simrad auto pilot
4. Installed an Atlantic Tower radar arch
5. Installed radar and relocated all antennas to the arch
6. Installed indirect lighting in salon and rear deck
7. Installed a 12V DC subpanel
8. Added a second holding tank and reworked the head (There's a story here that will have to wait for another time)
9. An engine rebuild (There's another story here that will have to wait for another time)
10. Replaced exaust manifold and valve job
The new "Sea Breeze" is glass, and requires far less maintenance. This is not to say no maintenance. The winter project this year is to repair the balsa core on my front deck. I have a number of soft spots on the deck. I have only just started, but what I have found is worse then I expected. I have decided to leave the deck intact and make the repairs from below. I started in the rope locker and cut the bottom layer of glass to expose the balsa core. With the bottom layer of glass removed, I found the balsa core to be mush and totaly saterated with water. Water had got in around the cleats and the anchor line hole. I removed the head liner and hull liner in the forward state room. The balsa core below the anchor chocks is discolored. there are also discolored core around the hatches. These all look like spots that will require attention. Until I remove the lower glass and core, I won't know the extent of the repair, but I thinkI will need to open the head liner in the hall and dinette. The ceiling in the head is a panel screwed to deck. I may have to take it down as well.
The owner of my boat yard told me that he had made this repair on a number of boats. He advised me not to replace the core with balsa, rather use marine plywood cut in 4" squares so it will follow the contour of the deck, and stagger the joints. Working upside down is messy. Cover everytiing with plastic to protect the boat from the drips. Cover the plastic with paper to protect the plastic. He also told me that the job will only be done when the sorce of the water is fixed. This could require making repairs in the deck. Grinding out cracks and filling them. I'll have to do what ever it takes to keep the water out. I think this project will last a long time. Probably lasting will into next season, but at least the work can be done in the harbor. I'll keep you up to date as the project progresses.