When we restored WAVE we sanded off all of the old paint and found gelcoat shadows where her Hawaii registration had been. We thought it would be a tribute to put the numbers back on, but in stealth mode.
HA 1988 B.
Log of WAVE.
Showing posts with label sunfish cover. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sunfish cover. Show all posts
Saturday, April 11, 2020
1965 Alcort Sunfish WAVE 11 Apr 20 Hawaii Numbers
11 Apr 20:
When we restored WAVE we sanded off all of the old paint and found gelcoat shadows where her Hawaii registration had been. We thought it would be a tribute to put the numbers back on, but in stealth mode.
HA 1988 B.
Log of WAVE.
When we restored WAVE we sanded off all of the old paint and found gelcoat shadows where her Hawaii registration had been. We thought it would be a tribute to put the numbers back on, but in stealth mode.
HA 1988 B.
Log of WAVE.
Tuesday, July 16, 2019
Storm Prep Notes
10 Jul 19:
We expected rain from Hurricane Barry, outer bands as it came ashore 200 miles Wst of us, so we made the rounds of the Boat Works and Marine to check on the Fleet. No winds over 30 were expected so we didn't need to get boats off of the lifts but we did want to put Willow's cover back on.
Skipper heading out to check on our Day Sailer II CYANE. We keep a line on each side tied to the strap lift pilings so winds don't rock her in her sling cradle. We use the bow line on the port side to cleats and a spare Sunfish sheet on the starboard. Her straps are set to give her a stern down tilt, we make sure the self bailer drain is open and not clogged. She also has a small dodger covering the cuddy opening and the bilge inspection ports to keep a deluge out of there.
Vacuumed out a little rainwater, WILLOW needs a rinse to get out some dirt and sand and then maybe a recoat of Cetol. That's what she got 5 years ago and it has held up well. We'll research that a bit but we want something that lets the wood breathe a bit, not wanting to totally encapsulate the wood with paint on the outside and have her sealed up inside as well.
When the cover goes on WILLOW we move the gas cans from under the seat to the side, this lets more air flow through the bilge and we don't create a dark, damp area with minimal airflow. The battery case gets moved up off the bilge as well. We pay special attention to the floor when we wet vac, the frames are doubled up down there and there are a lot of nooks and crannies for sand, leaves, etc... to gum up the works. We don't want muddy beaches to form and hold moisture against the wood, rot will follow.
Our special tie down knot, a slip knot with the tail of the line run through the loop. It might blow loose a little but it won't blow out. It is also easy to tie and untie. Leo at Uncharted Marine Canvas, Gulf Breeze, Florida, did a great job on our cover, added tie down tabs.
Oops looks like I forgot to run the tail through the loop. The cover is regular Sunbrella, it is water repellent, so it is important to get the ridgepole set, snug the drawstring and keep the tie downs tight. The Sunbrella we chose breathes, there are variants that are waterproof, but we have had mildew form under those. Every few years we should reapply 303® Fabric Guard, "it is used to restore water repellency and protect against oil-based liquids and other stains for indoor and outdoor fabric, carpet and upholstery. This water-repellent spray does not affect the color, feel or breathability of fabric, nor does it attract dirt. 303 Fabric Guard stops leaks, resists soiling and impedes mildew formation." (Sailrite)
The cover fits great, we have even trailered short distances with it on, but there is a caution that regular Sunbrella can wear thin on the road. Leo added a rub strip of fabric over the windscreen and the motor, but for long hauls a different fabric should be considered. Basically there is no One-Type-Does-All fabric, the heavier duty fabrics don't breathe as well, or may mar finishes with road flapping.
Having a tilt motor makes tightening the cover easier, I secure the bow and then loop the tie down over the trim tab or prop while the motor is tilted up, then set the ridgepole, get out of the boat and tilt the motor down to get a nice, tight tent ridge.
Sunfish Shack, covers are taut. For a bigger blow we lash the front of the dolly to the 6x6 post and tie a line around the stern to the posts aft. That's one of the reasons that the boats and dolly sit at an angle, that is their tie down spot. It also gives them a little more coverage from blowing rain and pine needles. We sell those great dollies, available for most style small boats up to 500 pounds. Contact us through a note below or through our facebook page Small Boat Restoration if you want one!
SCOUT, CLARK and SACAGAWEA are tied to the tree so they don't tumble. For big blows they go sleep in the Carriage House.
We expected rain from Hurricane Barry, outer bands as it came ashore 200 miles Wst of us, so we made the rounds of the Boat Works and Marine to check on the Fleet. No winds over 30 were expected so we didn't need to get boats off of the lifts but we did want to put Willow's cover back on.
Skipper heading out to check on our Day Sailer II CYANE. We keep a line on each side tied to the strap lift pilings so winds don't rock her in her sling cradle. We use the bow line on the port side to cleats and a spare Sunfish sheet on the starboard. Her straps are set to give her a stern down tilt, we make sure the self bailer drain is open and not clogged. She also has a small dodger covering the cuddy opening and the bilge inspection ports to keep a deluge out of there.
Vacuumed out a little rainwater, WILLOW needs a rinse to get out some dirt and sand and then maybe a recoat of Cetol. That's what she got 5 years ago and it has held up well. We'll research that a bit but we want something that lets the wood breathe a bit, not wanting to totally encapsulate the wood with paint on the outside and have her sealed up inside as well.
When the cover goes on WILLOW we move the gas cans from under the seat to the side, this lets more air flow through the bilge and we don't create a dark, damp area with minimal airflow. The battery case gets moved up off the bilge as well. We pay special attention to the floor when we wet vac, the frames are doubled up down there and there are a lot of nooks and crannies for sand, leaves, etc... to gum up the works. We don't want muddy beaches to form and hold moisture against the wood, rot will follow.
Our special tie down knot, a slip knot with the tail of the line run through the loop. It might blow loose a little but it won't blow out. It is also easy to tie and untie. Leo at Uncharted Marine Canvas, Gulf Breeze, Florida, did a great job on our cover, added tie down tabs.
Oops looks like I forgot to run the tail through the loop. The cover is regular Sunbrella, it is water repellent, so it is important to get the ridgepole set, snug the drawstring and keep the tie downs tight. The Sunbrella we chose breathes, there are variants that are waterproof, but we have had mildew form under those. Every few years we should reapply 303® Fabric Guard, "it is used to restore water repellency and protect against oil-based liquids and other stains for indoor and outdoor fabric, carpet and upholstery. This water-repellent spray does not affect the color, feel or breathability of fabric, nor does it attract dirt. 303 Fabric Guard stops leaks, resists soiling and impedes mildew formation." (Sailrite)
The cover fits great, we have even trailered short distances with it on, but there is a caution that regular Sunbrella can wear thin on the road. Leo added a rub strip of fabric over the windscreen and the motor, but for long hauls a different fabric should be considered. Basically there is no One-Type-Does-All fabric, the heavier duty fabrics don't breathe as well, or may mar finishes with road flapping.
Having a tilt motor makes tightening the cover easier, I secure the bow and then loop the tie down over the trim tab or prop while the motor is tilted up, then set the ridgepole, get out of the boat and tilt the motor down to get a nice, tight tent ridge.
Sunfish Shack, covers are taut. For a bigger blow we lash the front of the dolly to the 6x6 post and tie a line around the stern to the posts aft. That's one of the reasons that the boats and dolly sit at an angle, that is their tie down spot. It also gives them a little more coverage from blowing rain and pine needles. We sell those great dollies, available for most style small boats up to 500 pounds. Contact us through a note below or through our facebook page Small Boat Restoration if you want one!
SCOUT, CLARK and SACAGAWEA are tied to the tree so they don't tumble. For big blows they go sleep in the Carriage House.
Saturday, June 2, 2018
Sunfish Cover by SLO Sail and Canvas
02 Jun 18:
We have bought several Sunfish covers from SLO Sail and Canvas and are pleased with all of them. We tried out the basic hull cover, the spars on deck cover and the mast up cover. What we are most pleased with is the spars on deck cover, cut from Sunbrella, with straps. We can leave the spars and blades with the boat and everything stays nice and clean, optimizing our boating time. The straps hold the cover tight and they have been through several tropical storms. The hull only cover is nice for our project boats, but we should have added the straps. The mast up cover is nice but we decided we would not leave our boats down by the water, but rather roll them into the Sunfish Shack each night because of the sprinklers. SLO has been very quick to ship and they answer the phone!
The spars on deck cover with straps in the foreground covers everything nicely and the cover stays secure. We managed to slide spars under the hull only cover but it is a tight fit.
The straps have come in very handy
The mast up cover can be used with the mast down as well. The halyard must be untied at the gaff to use it with the mast up.
Have a great season!
We have bought several Sunfish covers from SLO Sail and Canvas and are pleased with all of them. We tried out the basic hull cover, the spars on deck cover and the mast up cover. What we are most pleased with is the spars on deck cover, cut from Sunbrella, with straps. We can leave the spars and blades with the boat and everything stays nice and clean, optimizing our boating time. The straps hold the cover tight and they have been through several tropical storms. The hull only cover is nice for our project boats, but we should have added the straps. The mast up cover is nice but we decided we would not leave our boats down by the water, but rather roll them into the Sunfish Shack each night because of the sprinklers. SLO has been very quick to ship and they answer the phone!
The spars on deck cover with straps in the foreground covers everything nicely and the cover stays secure. We managed to slide spars under the hull only cover but it is a tight fit.
The straps have come in very handy
The mast up cover can be used with the mast down as well. The halyard must be untied at the gaff to use it with the mast up.
Have a great season!
Wednesday, April 25, 2018
Boat Covers
25 Apr 18:
We like to cover our boats when they are outside, it protects them from dust, tree sap, bird poop, pine tree needles and many other things. It also keeps critters from nesting in the boats, chewing on the sails or storing nuts in various places like a new Sunfish sail, not that that ever happened to us.... So when it is time to go sailing we can go sailing, not spend time getting the boat clean enough to use or wonder how much an new sail is going to cost.
On our Sunfish we experimented with a few different types of covers from SLO Sail and Canvas;, a Hull cover, a Spars On Deck cover and a Mast Up cover. We also experimented with a few of the different fabrics and the one we like is Sunbrella, it is not totally waterproof but it allows the boat and gear to breathe. The waterproof cover developed mildew, fast. We bought some with straps, some without. At the end of our test period, what we like the most is the Spars On deck Cover with straps, we can leave the spars on top of the boat during the sailing season. The Mast Up cover might work for some, but we like to roll our boats under a shed and the mast was too tall, you also have to untie the halyard, either on the gaff or take down the mast, which defeats the purpose. Both the Spars On Deck and Mast Up cover have pockets on the stern for the spars to fit in.
Hull cover.
Spars On Deck cover, in this picture just the mast is stored underneath, it fits nice and snug when sail and spars are on deck. It is cut a little fuller towards the bow.
Mast Up cover. Can also be used with the mast down, but there may be small leaks around the mast collar. This cover would be great if you have a week at the beach and want to leave your Sunfish down on the shore for a few days.
We incorporated several of the ideas that we liked and made a cover for our Penboscot 14. We use the sprit underneath the cover as a ridgepole and it has held up great under heavy rain and our gusty bayfront winds.
Penobscot 14 cover
We like to cover our boats when they are outside, it protects them from dust, tree sap, bird poop, pine tree needles and many other things. It also keeps critters from nesting in the boats, chewing on the sails or storing nuts in various places like a new Sunfish sail, not that that ever happened to us.... So when it is time to go sailing we can go sailing, not spend time getting the boat clean enough to use or wonder how much an new sail is going to cost.
On our Sunfish we experimented with a few different types of covers from SLO Sail and Canvas;, a Hull cover, a Spars On Deck cover and a Mast Up cover. We also experimented with a few of the different fabrics and the one we like is Sunbrella, it is not totally waterproof but it allows the boat and gear to breathe. The waterproof cover developed mildew, fast. We bought some with straps, some without. At the end of our test period, what we like the most is the Spars On deck Cover with straps, we can leave the spars on top of the boat during the sailing season. The Mast Up cover might work for some, but we like to roll our boats under a shed and the mast was too tall, you also have to untie the halyard, either on the gaff or take down the mast, which defeats the purpose. Both the Spars On Deck and Mast Up cover have pockets on the stern for the spars to fit in.
Hull cover.
Spars On Deck cover, in this picture just the mast is stored underneath, it fits nice and snug when sail and spars are on deck. It is cut a little fuller towards the bow.
Mast Up cover. Can also be used with the mast down, but there may be small leaks around the mast collar. This cover would be great if you have a week at the beach and want to leave your Sunfish down on the shore for a few days.
We incorporated several of the ideas that we liked and made a cover for our Penboscot 14. We use the sprit underneath the cover as a ridgepole and it has held up great under heavy rain and our gusty bayfront winds.
Penobscot 14 cover
Wednesday, April 1, 2015
Sunfish Sailboat Covers
SLO makes a nice boat cover, snug elastic strap, tie dow loops and it's waterproof.
Need a couple more!
01 Apr 2015: Bought another cover, now all 3 fiberglass boats have one. I can't cover up the wood boats because the squirrels want to build nests in them :) In fact a squirrel ate part of the keel off of the Super Sailfish, which was actually helpful because it is rotten anyway.
 |
| From SBR 3: Jan 2014 - Jun 2014 |
 |
| From SBR 3: Jan 2014 - Jun 2014 |
Need a couple more!
 |
| From SBR 3: Jan 2014 - Jun 2014 |
 |
| From SBR 4: Jun 2014 - |
01 Apr 2015: Bought another cover, now all 3 fiberglass boats have one. I can't cover up the wood boats because the squirrels want to build nests in them :) In fact a squirrel ate part of the keel off of the Super Sailfish, which was actually helpful because it is rotten anyway.
 |
| From SBR 4: Jun 2014 - |
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