I'm in! Thanks for all the help!

[Sandarm]

Hi gang.

Well, it's a done deal. I am now the proud owner of a pristine, 30 foot 1957 Chris Craft Constellation. Now I just have to survive an entire winter of waiting before I can actually cruise her. It'll give me enough time to come up with a suitable name, take the power squadron course, and get aquainted with all things nautical. Our maiden voyage, and my first hands-on boat lesson will probably be early May or June. We've got a three week trip to Eastern Europe planned for May that I can't get out of, although I'd rather be playing with my boat.

Along the way to our purchase I learned what a helpful and supportive bunch boaters are. I'm looking forward to meeting some of you over the next summer. Thanks for all the help. I will be getting the complete file on the boat in the next few days. As usual, I'll keep you posted with any new information of interest at that time.

Thanks again,

Sandarm

[uncas]

Sandarm.. you have come to the right place.. We all go through our ups and down regarding our woodies.I have been and I am sure that most who hang out above the bilge will agree..... Good luck..
If you are really new.. and I suspect you are, take a boating course.. Coast Guard Aux...... If you are not new to boats, disregard...

[Figment]

I applaud you for your wise and open mindset. Far too many inexperienced boatowners try to make it up as they go along. It's great to see someone approach things with a positive attitude toward some proper instruction.
Welcome to the asylum.

[S/V Laura Ellen]

Congratulations on your purchase!

[brad9798]

Awesome!!

[Excalibur]

I'm no longer the new kid! Yay! Congratulations!

[q240z]

I think Sandarm was only the new kid for a day. Sorry I took the honor from you so quickly.:D

[Peter Malcolm Jardine]

That's a pretty boat Sandy.... good luck with it. Maybe we'll cross paths... We're not too far apart anyway.

[Steve R]

Sounds great sandarm-now that you have a boat that doesnt need to be rebuilt-you have time to help on ours!!!LOL If ya ever cross the lake let us know!!

[Sandarm]

Hi Everyone,

Here's a quick update on my future life as a boater. I reserved my slip yesterday. For those of you that don't know Hamilton, Ontario, there are no covered slips in our area whatsoever. The marina owner (actually his wife) said they "might" consider some type of covered shelter. We'll keep our fingers crossed, but in the mean time I'll plan to have a good cover made. My boat actually comes with a cover, but it is white sail cloth and I think it will let too much sun through. A darker colour would be better, or am I mistaken? Any suggestions?


Also a note to Steve R,

Canandaigua - Isn't that one of the Finger Lakes near Rochester. Is your boat on one of the finger lakes ou closer to Lake Ontario? Once it's done maybe we can raft up on that imaginary line through the middle of the lake - you know - the border. :) Seriously, are there many old wooden boats on the Finger Lakes? It's been a while since we were out that way?

Sandarm

[Sandarm]

Sorry Steve,

I just remembered that you told me all about your boat:

"Our boat is docked on the North End of Seneca lake (our cruiser) our project boat, a 1925 Richardson, is located in Canandaigua NY. Central NY in the Fingerlakes Region.

You also said you might shoot across to Hamilton as part of your trip to Clayton. You're most welcome. Hmmm, I wonder how tricky it would be for us to go to Clayton?

Sandarm

[seayou7]

KISS stick with the white. Darker colors absorb heat.
Congrats. on the boat and the berth.

[Lew Barrett]

Congratulations. Glad to hear you're on the water. Put up some pictures when you can, we'd love to see her.

[Sandarm]

Hi all,

Here are all the photo's I currently have of my boat. I promise a fresh batch of shots this spring, with live action of real people boating. We'll all just have to wait until then to trade shots of one another.

I have a couple of questions though; my boat is currently out of the water, suspended in slings over the water.

1. The bottom paint and the paint on the hull seems to be in excellent shape. I was told, however, that the best thing I could do to keep my boat beautiful and sound is to apply a fresh coat of paint and varnish every year. Is that absolutely true and necessary?

2. I believe the spring is the best time to give her a fresh coat of paint. That way the caluking, which is currently slightly proud of some planks, will be flush or below the plank level to facilitate sanding. Am I right or wrong about this?

3. How do I paint the hull? The boat is suspended over water, which will soon be ice. Should I sand while standing on the ice, with tarps below me to collect the toxic paint dust, or should the boat be put on the hard, the sanding and painting completed, and then put back in the drink?

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid218/p36911d6828eb43d61f2c595430685ca2/ec371982.jpg


http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid217/pda46ed116fb72affa2ada0ed5a6147d3/ec6a1648.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid217/p1ae361cda9d1a943c800b635da0bfd6f/ec6a1646.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid217/p1ae361cda9d1a943c800b635da0bfd6f/ec6a1646.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid217/p50673490916c764b24a517f0023acfc8/ec6a1592.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid217/p4f319967f5d956d7029b196628b1a465/ec6a157c.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid217/p50208b910e97fd790d9d5e1b143b0491/ec6a1570.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid217/p11e857fdd80cb212d26cd9f9b1ce380b/ec6a1649.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid217/pbde62cfe3d9ea592d0a3eb99dbd1aef0/ec630cf4.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid217/p62694da3e5993028d221f3542431b05c/ec630c4e.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid217/pb7eb83cd9b73f37e8dff6e1f594e3d5f/ec630ba1.jpg

[brad9798]

Paint every year? Man, not me ... perhaps two or three (at most) for me ... and I am MUCH warmer than you ...

She sure looks to be in VERY nice shape from the pix ... doesn't seem to need any painting from where I stand.

If I were you, I would use her next year, get used to her ... know her. Then worry about before 2008.

Nothing on the boats seems to be begging for any help from what you have posted.

She is very pretty.

Watch wet feet on the cockpit sole ... varnish there can get pretty slick ... and hot.

[pcford]

I agree with Brad above.

Apparently you are in a covered slip...good! Be sure that the boat doesn't get sun where it is. People pay for covered moorage but a boat will get afternoon sun.....sun is the killer of finishes.

[Lew Barrett]

The boat looks great! I think you did well to but the best one you could find. She's a winner, and looks ready for the season. New bottom paint, slip her in and have a great time.
Regarding a maintanance schedule, a boat used frequently, even in northern climates, will probably need some sort of varnish refresher every year. This doesn't mean you need to do the whole boat every time, but rather that you fix and attend to wearing areas before they look ratty. This is especially true on a mahogany boat, as mahogany won't weather quite as well as teak will, and with your Chris, loss of varnish over the red stained wood will result in more trouple keeping an even color. So I think it's best to get on varnish when you see it going dull, or if there is any crazing.
Get to know your boat before you launch into a refinish program, especially as she looks good now. Some areas will wear faster than others and will require more attention through the years. Others will hold gloss seemingly forever.
I realize a thirty foot boat seems huge (and it will seem huger when you go to paint her) but in reality, it's a nice size for a family guy to tackle and take care of. Good paint applied over healthy wood should last for at least two years, and more likely three. The tighter your boat is overall, the less problems she has to begin with, the better she'll hold her paint. My experience with friends' Chris Crafts, as well as my own (I did own one once) is that if they've been well cared for over the years, they tend to retain their solid original build qualities and are among the easier classics to keep up with.
She's a beaut. Have fun, and we'll all be here for you when you need to get on her.
By the way, nothing sounds more horrible and thankless to me than prepping a boat standing on ice in the middle of winter. You (and a good friend) will be able to paint her in the spring whenever she ends up needing it. Put that "ice sanding" thought away. Uuuhhhh.

[Steve R]

There seems to be a fair number of wood boats on the Finger Lakes although I must admit nice clean ones,as yours, seem to be getting scarce. When we plan our trip to Clayton I will let you know, as long as weather is good I dont mind crossing,usually try and have another boat with us, not only as company but a security blanket!!
Would really love to see your boat it looks great!
Steve

[Peter Malcolm Jardine]

She's a beauty... Stop in on your way to Clayton, I'm on the way.

[Sandarm]

Hi Peter and Steve,

I'm certainly hoping to get out on the lake to meet you both. Hopefully I can find the time, not to mention the money to afford the fuel (should I worry about that?). As a newcomer to boating I'm pretty clueless, so your input has been extremely valuable and much appreciated.

On the newbie topic, can either of you recommend a website that can give me a good glossary of nautical terms and boat part descriptions, not to mention some things that might be internet short forms (LOL = laugh out loud)? I know what chines, planks, stems, and sterns are, but there are definately some blanks. Like what is a strake, or is just cooler way to say "plank"?

Thanks again,

Sandarm

[pcford]

Hi Peter and Steve,

I'm certainly hoping to get out on the lake to meet you both. Hopefully I can find the time, not to mention the money to afford the fuel (should I worry about that?). As a newcomer to boating I'm pretty clueless, so your input has been extremely valuable and much appreciated.

On the newbie topic, can either of you recommend a website that can give me a good glossary of nautical terms and boat part descriptions, not to mention some things that might be internet short forms (LOL = laugh out loud)? I know what chines, planks, stems, and sterns are, but there are definately some blanks. Like what is a strake, or is just cooler way to say "plank"?

Thanks again,

Sandarm

Sounds like you are off on the right foot. Great!

I am sure there are books regarding maritime nomenclature. Most likely sites that will give an overview.

In my humble opinion, internet abbreviations are to be avoided. Even worse are the regretable "smilies."

[brad9798]

Lew brings up a good point about varnishing ... I was strictly thinking of painting ...

[Steve R]

It might help if you could find a Boaters Safety Course-I know in our over regulated country they are now manidatory for minors and may become so for all. Usually given at the schools by the Coast Guard. I sent my sons years ago and when I was reviewing thier class material I soon learned how much I really didn't know after boating for more years than I care to mention, so I took the course. I just did a quick search online for "boaters safety" and had quite a few hits, maybe start there and see what links you might find. Knowing the "rules of the road" will go along way in a new marina environment! Hope that helps a bit.

[Sandarm]

Hey there Steve,

Our laws in Ontario currently require no qualifications for powered watercraft over 4 meters (just over 13'). I think that law is changing in 2008 and that all power boater will require a Pleasure Craft Operators Card. But not to worry - I am planning on enrolling in a comprehensive boating course that includes safety (yes Steve, I don't want to hurt anyone), navigation, and a whole lot of other things. The classes are 2.5 hours a night and are held over 16 weeks. I think that will be a good start for me. In fact, some of my friends that are already licenced have asked to join me. It sounds like beer after class will be happening!

Thanks for your input Steve. It was much appreciated.

Sandarm