Old Salt - Old Boat - New CP 16 Owner

[jimmagyar]

Greetings All from Ann Arbor.  After being boat-less for a dozen years or so, I purchased my 1979 CP16 (ABV00953M79H) on a storm and cold dark day in late 2010 just before the snow began to fly and stowed it away under my deck.  I pulled it out in late May and into my garage workshop where I believe it will be for some time as her (Hearts Desire VI - for the 6th rescued sailboat boat I have owned over the years) - restoration will take me a while.  Lets say I will be lucky to have it in the water in the summer of 2012.  Joined your group about the same time as I pulled the boat out to get a good look her, and really appreciate the log of good advice spread throughout the forum.  A quick assessment follows.  Trailer - Magic Tilt - needs new coupler, rollers, lights and launch/load guides.  Of the the guides towards the bow area is bent on a 90 degree angle, wheel bearings need replacement.  The boat:  exterior of the hull seems typical for a boat of this age and is in fair to good shape.  There is a major crack in the floor of the cockpit just before going below. The embedded wood under the tabernacle seems solid, just a few cracks and holes to repair.  The interior of the boat was stripped out by the previous owner and her sons. Noting remains, but the obvious marks of where everything used to be - no foam or wood of any kind.  I just finished pulling out four inch white pvc pipe under the tabernacle.  Two of the screws at the top had missed their mark and the bottom had pulled loose from the surrounding glob of epoxy. I have cleaned out all of the loose cement around the edges of the keel and while the boat is very dry, I worry that there is water somewhere below.  The exterior of the keel has no major cracks or soft spots.  There are a few convex dimples about the size of a dime and quarter here and there and small cracks about an inch long, that for the most part look like they do not go all the way through.  The boat was always stored inside during the winters in cold storage areas.  I am not sure what to do about possible water in the keel, if anything.  All I know is that the first order of the day is to repair edges of the cement in the keel and reseal.  How should I proceed from here?  Old Salt - Old Boat

[capt_nemo]

Congrats on your most recent acquisition.

Next to actually sailing as my first love, designing and fabricating improvements to boats runs a very close second.

To answer the nagging question about water in the keel, see if you can borrow a moisture meter from a local marine surveyor to check it out.

Have fun working on your boat!

capt_nemo

[larrysimonis]

If you went through a Michigan winter without freeze damage, you should be ok. My 1975 was a mess, so I drilled a 1/4" hole  far aft in the keel, raised the trailer tongue until the rudder carrier touched pavement, and left it there for 2 weeks. Be sure to leave a note there to remind you to plug the hole. There are a lot of posts on sealing the top of the keel, ranging from rubberized driveway sealer to epoxy resins. Good Luck, Larry Simonis, Hull#59, Green Bay, WI.