New F32 owner
Moderators: BeaconMarineBob, Moderator, BeaconMarineDon
New F32 owner
Hi All,
Been lurking around for quite awhile now. Figured its time to post up and say thanks for all the great info..
I picked up a 1981 F32 a few months ago.. spent the first week cleaning up all the wiring and re running all the wire that feeds the two gps plotters that had been installed with all surface mounted wire. While I was at it I added LED lighting to the salon and the kitchen. I also swapped all the nav lights to LED. Now all the wire and add on installation are all cleaned up, looking good and safe!
Week two I started on plumbing. There was a small leak that just kept working down the line. That original 3/8 crap that was in the boat sucked! I gutted all of it and replaced it with 1/2 pex. All color coded insulated and brass fitting. While I was at it I put shut offs at every fixture for future work..
Week three I started the head replacement. This turned into a two week job only because I'm OCD about some things.. I replaced the head with a Raritan Elegance. ( Best money spent so far) while I was at it I replaced all the lines from the head to the tank tank to the pump out and the three way valve and the line running to it. Oh and the vent line. All new, all double clamped with S.S. clamps. All I can say is love it!
Now while I was there and basically had the port side and bow all uncovered and opened I decided to clean up and modify a few things first I rebult the bow are storage so that the holding tank sat lower and added some extra storage space.. I also relocated the 3way valve to under the storage floor with just the handle visable. I made a few extra pieces and completely enclosed the holding tank and lines. Making the under cusion storage fully functional. And all the head components hidden.. While doing all this I picked up a couple gallons of bright white paint and everything was painted the bilge areas all the storage compartments everything I opened up got two or three coats! She looks clean and bright!
Week five..I liked the way the white came out so much I kept going I did the insides of the bath cabinet the kitechen cabinets and both port and starboard storage cabs in the salon.. The white will just keep going as I work on things it looks great..
Week 6- current is wood work. I have been oiling the interior every 7-14 days and it's looking so much better! I have start the exterior bright work but it's a slow process. The previous owner varnished and didn't do a great job so lots of sanding and lots of oil.. I'm not a varnish fan so oil it is! So far I have the ladder complete the back rail complete and getting ready to start the side pocket trims next week. Then on to the upper helm. Last will be the swim step.
So far that's where I'm at.. my next big project will be to swap the A/C out for a heat pump.. I'm in the PNW and heat is just as important as A/C. I think I have all the routing figured out in my head but we will see I gotta get the unit sized right first..
Thanks for all the good info!
Been lurking around for quite awhile now. Figured its time to post up and say thanks for all the great info..
I picked up a 1981 F32 a few months ago.. spent the first week cleaning up all the wiring and re running all the wire that feeds the two gps plotters that had been installed with all surface mounted wire. While I was at it I added LED lighting to the salon and the kitchen. I also swapped all the nav lights to LED. Now all the wire and add on installation are all cleaned up, looking good and safe!
Week two I started on plumbing. There was a small leak that just kept working down the line. That original 3/8 crap that was in the boat sucked! I gutted all of it and replaced it with 1/2 pex. All color coded insulated and brass fitting. While I was at it I put shut offs at every fixture for future work..
Week three I started the head replacement. This turned into a two week job only because I'm OCD about some things.. I replaced the head with a Raritan Elegance. ( Best money spent so far) while I was at it I replaced all the lines from the head to the tank tank to the pump out and the three way valve and the line running to it. Oh and the vent line. All new, all double clamped with S.S. clamps. All I can say is love it!
Now while I was there and basically had the port side and bow all uncovered and opened I decided to clean up and modify a few things first I rebult the bow are storage so that the holding tank sat lower and added some extra storage space.. I also relocated the 3way valve to under the storage floor with just the handle visable. I made a few extra pieces and completely enclosed the holding tank and lines. Making the under cusion storage fully functional. And all the head components hidden.. While doing all this I picked up a couple gallons of bright white paint and everything was painted the bilge areas all the storage compartments everything I opened up got two or three coats! She looks clean and bright!
Week five..I liked the way the white came out so much I kept going I did the insides of the bath cabinet the kitechen cabinets and both port and starboard storage cabs in the salon.. The white will just keep going as I work on things it looks great..
Week 6- current is wood work. I have been oiling the interior every 7-14 days and it's looking so much better! I have start the exterior bright work but it's a slow process. The previous owner varnished and didn't do a great job so lots of sanding and lots of oil.. I'm not a varnish fan so oil it is! So far I have the ladder complete the back rail complete and getting ready to start the side pocket trims next week. Then on to the upper helm. Last will be the swim step.
So far that's where I'm at.. my next big project will be to swap the A/C out for a heat pump.. I'm in the PNW and heat is just as important as A/C. I think I have all the routing figured out in my head but we will see I gotta get the unit sized right first..
Thanks for all the good info!
- prowlersfish
- 2025 Gold Support
- Posts: 12723
- Joined: Sat Nov 05, 2005 6:56 pm
- Location: Lower Chesapeake Bay ,Va
Re: New F32 owner
Sounds like your getting it together . any photos of the projects ?
Boating is good for the soul
77/78 TROJAN F36 Conv.
6BTA Cummins diesels
Life is to short for a ugly boat
77/78 TROJAN F36 Conv.
6BTA Cummins diesels
Life is to short for a ugly boat

Re: New F32 owner
Wow thats a lot of work. Pics?
Dustin
78 F-32 Express Hard top twin 360s Abyss
1999 360 Express twin 7.4
Catawba Island, Ohio
78 F-32 Express Hard top twin 360s Abyss
1999 360 Express twin 7.4
Catawba Island, Ohio
Re: New F32 owner
I'll have to work on the photos it always says they are too large..
Anyone have a btu recommendation for a new heat pump?
Anyone have a btu recommendation for a new heat pump?
- captainmaniac
- 2025 Gold Support
- Posts: 1922
- Joined: Sat Apr 30, 2005 10:26 pm
- Location: Burlington, Ontario
Re: New F32 owner
A little late to the party but wondering if you added the raritan tank monitor as well when you did the head.
Re: New F32 owner
Congrats! I’ve been getting used to our 1980 F32. She is definitely a fun little project. I use the word little with great sarcasm.
Currently Trojan-less 

Re: New F32 owner
Ok the new photo upload is working great! I'll post some project photos soon..untill then you just get my girl in her July 4th outfit.
- prowlersfish
- 2025 Gold Support
- Posts: 12723
- Joined: Sat Nov 05, 2005 6:56 pm
- Location: Lower Chesapeake Bay ,Va
Re: New F32 owner
Nice
Boating is good for the soul
77/78 TROJAN F36 Conv.
6BTA Cummins diesels
Life is to short for a ugly boat
77/78 TROJAN F36 Conv.
6BTA Cummins diesels
Life is to short for a ugly boat

- RWS
- Ultimate User
- Posts: 2857
- Joined: Sat Feb 18, 2006 7:01 am
- Location: West Coast Florida
- Contact:
Re: New F32 owner
sounds like a full time job !!!!!!!
but it's fun, and satisfying, isn't it?
RWS
but it's fun, and satisfying, isn't it?
RWS
1983 10 Meter SOLD after 21 years of adventures
Yanmar diesels
Solid Glass Hull
Woodless Stringers
Full Hull Liner
Survived Andrew Cat 5,Eye of Charley Cat 4, & Irma Cat 2
Trojan International Website: http://trojanboat.com/
WEBSITE & SITELOCK TOTALLY SELF FUNDED
Yanmar diesels
Solid Glass Hull
Woodless Stringers
Full Hull Liner
Survived Andrew Cat 5,Eye of Charley Cat 4, & Irma Cat 2
Trojan International Website: http://trojanboat.com/
WEBSITE & SITELOCK TOTALLY SELF FUNDED
Re: New F32 owner
I love doing projects. The key to boat projects is one at a time and try not to let them spool in to larger projects. Like when I did the bright work I realised all the stantions need to be rebed in sealent and the fasting hardware needs replaced and backing plates should be added. I was half way there having all the rails off and choose not to do that. That is it's own project and one I'll tackle over the winter.
Re: New F32 owner

Some bright work photos..
- Attachments
-
- IMG_20180822_180647.jpg (56.03 KiB) Viewed 9628 times