Recent content by Pete the Cat

I have that same strap on my boat. As you say, this shows a boffo "repair" job of some vintage. I would do what Christian suggested: You are going to need to do a fair amount of grinding to get all that crud out of there. You will need to lay up several layers structural mat fiberglass...

I am sure you have everything timed correctly. The guys at my yard have a particular timing of barrier coats and generally want to put the first actual bottom coat on ASAP per the directions so that it binds with the barrier coat. Every different layer on the bottom creates a possibility for...

And you eschew dodgers. I would not cruise a boat without one because I am a wimp about being cold and wet. I change my outhaul but infrequently So it is style difference.

We each have our own options and I have never sailed a boat with a Tides track. But I my cunningham is a reefing hook on a 6 purchase set of small Harken blocks that is aft led to the cockpit. I work this frequently as the windspeeds vary. I can adjust it easily with one hand even with the...

Not sure what you mean. I use the cunningham for the reef luff control and, yes, it also allows you to modify the draft of the main as well. I use dog bones in the luff cringle and a hook on the cunningham. I actually thought most racing folks still do something like this. I do not try to...

I think the evolution in fiberglass has left us with some very nice options. I am not sure if we buy particular boats to fit our planned activity or if our activity evolves around the boat we bought. I started out with a little Ranger 23 in 1977 because it had a big fleet here in SF Bay and...

I see that you are right. There is such a thing in the pedestal as a throttle friction adjuster in the Edson pedestal. I did not know it existed. I learn something new every day it seems. I have several of these units apart for various repairs and I have only read the voluminous Edson...

I am not sure what you mean by a "friction adjustment screw". There is a wheel brake (with a couple shoes that clamp around a knurled shaft when the knob on the starboard side the binnacle is turned, but I have never seen any other friction adjustment in a Edson pedestal. The clamp to provide...

As I mentioned, I have never opened one even when rebuilding the couple engines I have done, I just sent them out. I am told that those O rings are very precise and that my Harbor Freight collection will not work "just as well". I also think there are probably torque specs and such as these...

I bet it cost less than the $20 cable clamp (like the one in Christian's picture) that I bought a couple years ago.

Now that I think of it, there may be another dimension to this tacking single handed: the characteristics of your boat. My Tartan 37 weighs much more than what my Ericson 32-200 and seems to be very different in a single handed tack. The Ericson is a sort of dinghy and squirrelly when...

I should not have incorrectly used the term "hull speed". Yes I meant maximizing speed through the water generally. I have made the mistake of reducing sail too much or sailing badly and losing speed in high wave situations. To me,in most snotty conditions, general boat speed is my friend...

I have seen on line diesel service businesses who will do the work if you mail the unit to them. You would need to assure they are prepared to service your model.

I have sailed on SF Bay for 50 years. Frankly, I plan my day so that I am not going into the common 6 ft+ square waves (with a short period when the tide is against them) powered by 27+ knot winds that are standard in the Summer afternoons on the Bay. I plan on leaving in the am before the...

Are you familiar with injector pumps innards? I have never had the guts to mess with one. Most of the mechanics I know take them to a diesel shop that specializes in rebuilding them--I have always been told that you do not want to open one unless you are experienced. My understanding is that...