CSR Marine Grand Banks 50 Restore

Soles Nearly Finished

2009-12-08T15:45:00.000-08:00

The teak parquet floors which had been taken out in sections weeks ago to be refinished in one of our heated shops, have for the most part been re-installed. It's nice to have the temporary plywood flooring finally removed! All the teak was repaired, where necessary, and refinished with three coats of varnish. They look fantastic! While the floors were out, we were able to clean and paint the bilges with an Interlux product called "Bilgekote," which is highly scrubbable and resists oil and other nasty things that might find their way into the bilge. Other things we handled prior to re-installing the parquet floors: checked bilge wiring and corrected any deficiencies, replaced both shower sumps, serviced the bilge pumps and replaced a couple float switches.

New Anchor Riser Block, Windlass Tweaked

2009-12-03T15:55:00.000-08:00

In this owner's continuing focus on his anchoring system, we've repaired the original riser block, which is made out of solid oak. It had a couple bits of rot which was removed and replaced with some new oak inserts, after which the whole block was stripped of paint, re-faired and re-coated with a white Sterling linear polyurethane (LPU). While we were fixing the riser we went ahead and enlarged the hole where the chain falls and put in a a bronze tube so that no water will migrate into the oak block. We made the tube long enough so it could go all the way through the deck where we'll be able to attach a piece of hose to minimize chain abrasion. We also installed a G-10 pad on top of the winch base so the foot print of the anchor windlass would not leave an indentation in the wood like it had done before. We also ran the windlass wiring around the block to a deck fitting, instead of through the block, as had been done before. Finally, to get a better drop angle on the chain into the new locker, we moved the windlass four inches forward. Last, but not least, the windlass itself was rebuilt and painted.

Anchor Locker Almost Done!

2009-11-23T09:17:00.000-08:00

The new chain locker is nearing completion! Photo shows new bulkhead which has been moved aft approximately one foot to allow straight drop of the anchor chain. New design also allows locker to be drained out the side of the hull, well above the waterline and also eliminates the old tube that used to run through the foot of the v-berths. The step underneath is a footwell for the berths. Picture also shows that the teak strips, which had been removed, have now all been refinished with a satin varnish. While the teak was out, we also were more easily able to paint the entire cabin. This forward stateroom nearing clean-up stage!

Anchor Locker

2009-11-16T14:44:00.000-08:00

After taking a week or two to catch our breath, we're back on the GB 50 full time, finishing up the battery install and moving forward with our expanding plans to rebuild the anchor locker. As we may have mentioned earlier in the blog, the original locker had several issues. After several attempts at running the 7/16ths chain it became apparent it simply wouldn't stack correctly, no matter how we changed the fair-leading around. And now that the owner has requested a 300' chain capacity. Our solution was move the forward bulkhead back one frame, so that instead of the chain being under the v-berth and running through a steel tube, it will now just fall into a much larger space, the floor of which would be above the waterline, allowing it to be flushable and self-draining--a big plus.

While working on the locker, we discovered that the windlass was attached with mild steel fasteners and to make matters even worse, we found that two of the four fasteners were rusted through and broken. Our plan is to replace the fasteners with greatly stronger and more durable stainless steel--he feels it would be beneficial for the windlass to actually stay attached while anchoring. Since the windlass is off, we'll take it in for service and also have it painted. The owner is very pleased with our efforts and it just shows that a little creativity can go a long way towards solving most any operational challenge that might come up.

A Busy Day

2009-10-29T08:59:00.000-07:00

Got a lot done today! A batteries were yarded out and replaced with new. It was a back-breaking job, but a couple young bucks from the Locks yard came over and the task was accomplished in just a few hours. Nothing like having a fresh set of batteries--one less thing to worry about! Meanwhile, Jeff removed all the anchor line and chain and starting laying out an improved anchor locker. Previously the anchor rode lived in a loose compartment without proper containment, no floor and no drainage. In the lower level hall and the master stateroom, all the carpet was removed, exposing a potentially beautiful parquet floor. We'll start refinishing that tomorrow or Monday. Finally, James was tackling the AC switch, a crucial safety improvement.

Going Through Systems

2009-10-28T08:59:00.001-07:00

Much of yesterday and today was spent getting to know the extremely complex mechanical and electrical systems of the boat. With an eye towards safety and functionality, more specific gameplan was formulated, which included the following items, not necessarily listed in order of priority:
• Total electronics upgrade
• Fresh water system improvements, with total redundancy
• Remove marble from pilothouse, replace with wood
• Make plans for additional storage, room for extensive provisioning for longer cruising
• Come up with a plan for better storage of paper charts
• Galley updates, including new refrigerator
• Remove existing radar mast, plan for improved replacement
• Plan for better energy efficiency, updated wiring and lighting
• Replace engine controls
• Improve anchor locker
• Replace AC switch, which controls power dispersion between shorepower and generator and routes through boat
• Rewire inverter
• Check stuffing boxes
• Improve heads
• Remove carpet in lower deck, re-varnish parquet oak floors
• Change engine and generator oil
• Check turbos
• Replace batteries
• Arrange for new canvas
• Improved anchoring functionality, with possibly a new windlass
• Countless details!

Arrival at Lake Union Yard

2009-10-26T08:58:00.000-07:00

After spending the weekend docked at our Lake Union yard, Legacy was officially checked in this morning. The owner was introduced to the crew that he'll be working with and the boat was secured at the main dock for what is expected to be an extended stay for interior improvements, electronics installs, new canvas and possibly new windows and cabin paint.
While the Lake Union yard does offer haulouts, it's mostly limited to sailboats of 40' or less. Because of its extensive docking facilities, the Lake Union yard specializes in work that can be done with the boat in the water. This involves marine electronics, mechanical work, interior improvements, cabin repair and painting, as well as wiring, plumbing, window and port replacement and varnishing, just to name just a few.

Zincing Up and Launching!

2009-10-23T08:43:00.000-07:00

Removed the front part of the portable shelter from around Legacy's bow late this morning and hooked up the Travelift. By noon, Legacy's visit to the west yard was nearing completion and we started rolling her towards the water. Just prior to the launch, we replaced all the zincs and and lubricated all the thru hull fittings. After a final double-check, the boat was launched and steaming toward the Lake Union yard. Twenty five days after hauling out, phase one was over.

Priming and Painting Topsides

2009-10-20T08:41:00.000-07:00

We finished the prep late Friday and yesterday morning applied the high-build primer. This morning we sanded the primer down to 120 grit and applied the first coat of top-coat. Although it made for a long day, we applied the second coat late in the afternoon as wind and more humid conditions are forecast for tomorrow. All in all the paint made for a spectacular improvement in Legacy's appearance and we all can't wait until tomorrow when the boat is removed from the shelter and we can step back a few feet and see how she looks.

Prepping the Hull

2009-10-15T09:40:00.000-07:00

Started the big job of sanding the hull today. With a crew of two guys, it seems to be going pretty well. Scaffolding had been set up for the seam work, which makes for a pretty efficient operation. We used mostly dual-action sanders with 80 grit which is doing a good job of removing the old paint quickly and still leaving a good surface for the primer, which we hope to put on tomorrow or Monday. The temperature is perfect and we hope it holds up for the actual painting.

Prepping Topside Hull Seams

2009-10-13T08:38:00.000-07:00

Now that the bottom was done, the owner decided to proceed with topside paint. To do a proper job, any paint job requires careful and well-considered prep. For wood boats like Legacy, it is suggested that all the seams between the planks be reefed out, sanded and re-sealed with a flexible epoxy-based compound. This not only assures a good seal, but will give the painters a good, stable surface to work with. This is a little detail that will contribute greatly to the appeal and longevity of the final paint job. We're hoping to get this started today and finished tomorrow. We're anxious to get started with the final prep and painting while the weather window is still open.

Bottom Paint

2009-10-09T20:22:00.000-07:00

We finished prepping the hull this morning. This involved moving all the jackstands holding up the boat and sanding those areas, as well as doing "cut-ins"--areas of the hull that couldn't be reached by the big grinders, such as around thru hulls and other exterior fittings. We re-masked the wateline, cleaned the bottom with compressed air on starting rolling on bottom paint. The owner chose to use Interlux Fiberglass Bottomkote, a classic modified-epoxy anti-foulant, which despite its name, is an excellent paint for wood boats. Common considerations for boat owners when choosing bottom paint are: is the existing paint hard or soft (ablative)? It's critical that this is determined because the two paints are not necessarily compatible. When coming into any boatyard for bottom paint, it's very helpful if the boatowner has bottom paint records. If those records aren't available, CSR can usually spec the kind of paint you have. Another consideration is if the boat's bottom will need any prep prior to paint. With new boats, a good pressure wash is often sufficient. If the boat's paint is flaking off, that's a sure sign that there is an adhesion problem and pretty much guarantees that if new paint is put on, it, too will also fail. Often a bit of prep is needed only on the waterline, or just in isolated parts of the hull. Sometimes, there's just too much paint on the boat and good adhesion simply cannot be guaranteed. In these cases, all the paint must be stripped off. This sounds a little scarier than it actually is, especially to sailboat owners, where the keel and the hull's bottom is of critical importance. It's a fairly routine for CSR Marine and while somewhat labor intensive, at the end of the day, most owners agree that it is a good investment.

Wooding the Hull, Prepping the Transom

2009-10-07T20:10:00.000-07:00

We briefly considered doing light prep on the boat's flaking bottom paint and calling it good, but after a discussion with the owner it was decided to do it right and remove all the paint down to the bare wood. This would give us a rock solid substrate for future bottom paint, with good assurance that anything we put on there would stick. This is not one of the favorite jobs of our crew, but nobody does this work better than CSR Marine. The plan is to "tent" the boat by applying a sheet of heavy visqueen from mid-way up the topsides to the ground, making a skirt all the way around the hull. This is intended to contain all airborne particulates from escaping the work area and getting into the yard's stormwater system, and hence into the lake. After scraping off as much of the loose paint, our crew of three got in there with grinders and 40 grit sandpaper and by the end of the day, all the bottom paint was removed with just bare wood remaining. After carefully cleaning the ground cloth, the tent was removed and the waterline masked off for bottom painting, which we'll start tomorrow.

Most boats at some point will need their bottom paint removed. At some point there is simply too much paint on the vessel and future coats fail to adhere. At CSR Marine, we have developed very precise methodologies for removing paint and are able to do it in a timely and cost effective manner, all the while keeping the bottom fair, which is a critical concern for sailboat owners. After the antifoulant is stripped, owners can either reapply new bottom paint, or apply an epoxy barrier coat, which is a very reasonably price guard against future osmotic blistering.

After the bottom paint was removed, we did a quick sanding of the transom, in preparation of future varnishing.

Cleaning Up Running Gear

2009-10-05T15:35:00.000-07:00

Yesterday the sale of Legacy officially closed and this morning we got a call from the owner to proceed with prepping and painting the bottom and cleaning up the running gear. This involved scraping extensive barnacle growth off the shafts, props and rudders in particular, as well much of the boat's hull. Barnacles are a particular problem, as many boat owners don't understand how tenaciously they can attach themselves to the boat's various surfaces. While scraping with a broad putty knife, or even a flat shovel, is effective, there always remains some of the barnacle that simply cannot be removed, except by sanding--and that can be a very tedious, time-consuming task. In the case of Legacy, it was decided to scrape off as much as we could and then come in with a die grinder, or dual-action sander, to clean up the running gear. After that's done, we'll go ahead and "wood" the hull from the waterline down, removing the barnacles from the hull and taking off all the existing bottom paint, which hadn't been maintained and was starting to fail.

Survey

2009-10-02T15:20:00.000-07:00

Today was somewhat tense for the prospective buyer of Legacy. While the in-water survey didn't reveal any serious issues, today the boat would be gone over not only by the surveyor, but by an experienced marine woodworker. As the day progressed, the news coming out of the depths of Legacy was good. The boat was showing its age with obsolete electronics and outdated interior accommodations, but the structure itself, including planking, frames, deck and superstructure were in excellent condition. It was determined that the owner would proceed with the sale and CSR anticipates starting work on the bottom as soon as the deal closes, likely in the next 3-4 business days.

A couple notes about surveys when buying a new boat: If you don't already have a surveyor in mind, CSR is also happy to provide you with the names of several qualified individuals. Unlike some other boatyards, we will never insist, or even strongly recommend, that you use a particular surveyor. To us this amounts to a conflict of interest. We want the survey process to be completely transparent, without any influence between the boatyard and any repairs that the surveyor may recommend.

Unlike with Legacy, a typical survey involves hauling the boat out for only an hour or two while the surveyor inspects the underwater portion of the boat, which usually involves tapping out the hull for signs of rot in wood boats, or broken lamination or voids in fiberglass hulls. At that point the boat is often put back in the water while final negotiations take place and returned to the yard at a later point if the owner chooses to use CSR to make any needed repairs. Of course, if you're confident the sale will go through, you can keep the boat in the yard and save the cost of a second haulout. Many buyers will use this time to at least put on a fresh coat of bottom paint and to replace zincs.

Haulout!

2009-10-01T14:57:00.000-07:00

Today was a big day! After a favorable in-water survey, it was decided to haul and block Legacy at CSR's West Yard. The guys hooked up 4 straps to the 70-ton Travelift to help spread the load, a common practice with heavier wood boats. After getting the boat out of the water and pressure-washed, it was seen that the bottom and much of the running gear was encrusted in marine growth, mostly good, old-fashioned barnacles (see photo under "Bottom Paint). This was good and bad. Good, because it would help explain the boat's lack of speed on the recent sea trial, but bad because the bottom would need a considerable prep prior to going back in the water. Another thing we focus on at CSR is the general condition of the running gear (and by "running gear" we generally mean the shafts, propellers, struts, rudders and cutlass bearings): is there any obvious damage, any signs of electrolysis, do the propellers appear to be in good shape? We also routinely evaluate the zincs and the condition of the bottom paint, preferably in the presence of the owner, so that options can immediately by discussed. After a careful walk-around, it was determined by Legacy's owner that there was nothing obvious that would stop the purchase agreement from going forward, so it was decided to block the boat in the yard for an extensive out of water survey. The boat was moved to the end of the yard and put into one of our portable shelters, mainly to keep the sun off the vessel's seams so that they wouldn't dry out excessively in the early autumn heat. The shelter would also be a good enclosure if the owner decided to paint the hull.

Aesthetics

2009-09-28T11:33:00.000-07:00

Last on this owner's list of things to consider are the aesthetics and the dynamics of taking on such a large project. While a vast array of improvements are planned, whenever possible and practical, the owner wants to stay within the original design framework of this boat. Any external changes to the vessel are to maintain the original character and lines. In some ways, it's much like a restoring a vintage car, where maintaining the vehicle's character is paramount. This owner, however, is very keen on making technological and operational improvements wherever possible as long as the basic nature of the boat comes through. We'll be addressing aesthetics in more detail in later blogs.

Comfort, Convenience & Efficiency

2009-09-27T11:32:00.000-07:00

As critical systems are improved, the creature comforts of the vessel becomes more important, as well as the operating efficiency of the mechanical systems. Plumbing and heating improvements are planned, bow and stern thrusters are possibilities, as well as a water-maker. Lighting and other changes are planned to take advantages of recent advantages in operating efficiency. New furnishings are being discussed, as well as upgrades to the vessel's obsolete sound and video systems.

Maintenance

2009-09-25T11:30:00.000-07:00

To protect his invesment, the owner wanted to catch up on some of the maintenance that had been recently neglected. This included obvious things like removing extensive marine growth from the bottom, stripping off the old bottom paint, sealing the seams and applying new anti-foulant. Less obvious, but critical to this owner was new topside paint. The paint was solid but showing it's age and if left as is, would start failing in the next year or two. The engines, while sound mechanically, needed some TLC, such as oil and filter change, check the turbos, replace most of the hoses and other routine maintenance. The thru-hulls would have to be checked, as well as all the running gear, including the stuffing boxes, which hadn't been serviced in years. The steering would be checked and lubricated as necessary. Wiring, switches and fixtures would all have to be checked and replaced if not as safe and efficient as possible. The cabin, deck and windows would be carefully checked for leaks and repaired if necessary. While the vessel had a clean bill of health showing no perceptible rot, if any small areas were subsequently found, they were to be addressed. Within economic reason, everything possible was to be done restore the vessel to it's original operational condition.

Safety First

2009-09-24T11:28:00.000-07:00

The number one priority of this owner is safety. He has plans for extensive cruising along the inside and outside of Vancouver Island and as far north as Alaska. With him would be his wife and his dog, plus plenty of friends and family. We started the safety process with a complete mechanical and structural survey. Fortunately, the initial survey prior to purchase was confirmed and the vessel was found to be in excellent condition for its age. Electronics, especially navigation and communication equipment was showings its age and in the interest of safety, certain equipment was planned to be replaced, with an emphasis on redundancy. Anchoring systems, another particular concern of this owner, were to be improved. Reliability of mechanical systems were to be improved. Emergency systems and hull integrity were also to be enhanced.

All About Finding Solutions

2009-09-23T11:17:00.000-07:00

Like many new boat owners, the buyer of this once-majestic 1974 Grand Banks 50 had to come up with a realistic game plan for bringing the boat back to it's former glory. Bought at a repossion sale, the boat had great bones but had been somewhat neglected for several years. Considerations for this particular owner were safety improvements first, maintenance of existing systems second and actual improvements third. All along, aesthetics were to be considered of paramount importance. Nothing was to be done that altered the essential nature of this 35-year old power boat. While the owner wanted the safety of improved electronics and the convenience of updated appliances, the vessel's lines and interior cabin arrangements were to remain true to the designer's original intent. Like many projects on land or sea, it came down to identifying issues and finding solutions. After careful consideration of priorities and extensive consulting with CSR Marine specialists, the owner formulated a gameplan and a budget. Follow us as we work with the owner to establish a framework for future work and then watch for day-by-day updates as the project tapes shape.