New Guy in CT

[rdcvsmith]

Hi there !

I've been reading around the site for the past week, thought I'd finally chime in and say hello.

The "short" story:
• I grew up in the "finger lakes" region of upstate New York sailing "swim-suit" sailboats many a days during the summers.
• Lived my adult life in New England (Connecticut)
• Have missed sailing
• Bought a used Force 5 a while back
• Everything they call a "lake" in Connecticut I call a "pond" - I got tired of turning around every couple of minutes!
• Sold the Force 5
• Decided the only way I could really get back to sailing would be to sail in the ocean (for us here in Connecticut we get the Long Island Sound)
• The past few years I have taken ASA 101, 103 & 105
• Just recently I fell into owning a CP19 - yes the stars and moon all lined up at the right time and a friend of mine had a brother-in-law trying to give away his sailboat (retired now, had taught his kids sailing, everyone moved on, wanted to give the boat to someone to do the same)

So now I have ABV000109M83B19

The previous owner bought it new back in 1983 (with trailer, ....yes, he gave me the trailer too, actually he gave me EVERYTHING related to the boat). He had a meticulous wood shop in his basement and it sure looked like he took care of everything boat related (nothing stored outside (except the boat)). He sailed it regularly from 83 to 97, then it has sat in his yard, covered up (except for the past year) and he hasn't touched it since.

While everyone was shopping on Black Friday I pulled it home. I have some pics but I haven't figured out the picture bucket thing yet but I will.

Put a deposit on a boat slip down on the sound yesterday, that felt real good!

I will have lots of questions in the future, I'll ask only a couple today. My goal now is before WINTER sets in (which could be anytime), get some basic cleaning done outside and inside and then get it covered up.

• I used some basic SIMPLE GREEN cleaner on the deck and sides to just get off the major dirt and green stuff, found out the boat actually was a nice white color on top! I plan on using that on the fiberglass inside (cushions where all stored inside his house and are in good shape).

• What is a good cleaner on the inside cabin WOOD? - I was thinking "Murphy's Oil Soap" - PLEASE ADVISE.

• Found bilge with some water in it (it hadn't been sailing in 13 years so I imagine its from rain and/or condensation. Bilge also had a lot of mud, carpet fuzz and critter nest stuff in it. Didn't even try the bilge pump, just took a wet/dry shop vac to the whole mess it and hosed it down real well several times. Put in some clean water from hose again and tried bilge pump, it made sounds but did not remove the water. I will revisit this again in the spring and ask questions about bilge pump repairs and/or replacement.

• I removed the Galley, thinking for now I may keep it out. Owners Manual say sink drains to the bilge. I followed the sink drain forward from the galley position, then though the starboard storage locker, it then goes under starboard quarter berth. I didn't notice it going into the bilge. Should I be able to see it or does it lead there unnoticed?? - PLEASE ADVISE.

• I will tie mast back over the top after this initial cleaning and then attempt to cover her up for the winter with a basic blue or green tarp using the mast as a center ridge pole.  I know, not the best of things but again I don't have much time as today is December 1st and I don't want to be out there when some Nor'Easter is coming up the coast. If anyone has any suggestions/tips, etc with the basic tarp over the top method - PLEASE ADVISE

Thats it for now, I just want to get her cleaned up and put to bed for the winter.
Looking forward to getting to know many of you, I have many more questions and I'm not afraid to ask them!
When I'm not on my "new" CP19 I am a school teacher by day, I like to listen and play Buffett and Marley tunes, and I enjoy taking my kayak out on the "lakes" here in CT and fish from it.
talk to you all soon.
-Ray

[curtisv]

Ray,

Welcome.

I lived in CT for 27 years (and still trying to sell a house there) but didn't sail much on Long Island Sound.  I've sailed on other people's boats out of Stratford and Mystic.  I've wind surfed from a number of places on the sound.  Wind tends to be best in the afternoon but dies quickly in the evening.  In the morning it is light and gradually picks up.  Afternoon winds are typically a near ideal 10-15 knots or so.  Winds don't usually get much stronger except when weather moves through.  For that reason a lot of LI Sound sailors are timid when the wind really picks up.  I was quite surprised at the number of sailors that take sails down and motor at 15 knots or just over.

Having sailed the finger lakes you probably have sailed plenty of times in 20 knots or more so this will be easy relaxing sailing, except when the wind dies and it will be boring.  Just be aware that the wind dies in under an hour in the early evening and it can be flat calm until mid morning.

CP19 should be a great boat for LI Sound.

Fiberglass or teak can be cleaned with oxcallic acid (spelling?) which is availalbe at hardware stores.  It is not harmful to the environment once diluted.  The Bon-Ami kitchen clenser is weak oxcallic acid with no abbrasives so it is safe.  Don't use anything with abbrasive such as comet as gelcoat is very soft.

Oxcallic acid will take off light mildew but it dries out the wood so oil the interior teack with teak oil after you are done.

The bilge pump is very sensitive to getting something stuck in the valves.  Just pull it apart, clean it out and try again.  A strainer on the bilge hose helps a lot.  I've had it fail to work twice where I had to pull it apart and dislodge some small debris.  Normally vigorous pumping will flush a foreign object out of the pump.

Make sure your tarp doesn't harm the spreaders.  If you have pulpits or stancions make sure that snow can't collect in low spots in the tarp.

Curtis

[romei]

You should play the lottery Ray.  No one has ever given me a CP19 :-D

Welcome aboard!

[Tim Gardner]

Say, Ray!

"I grew up in the "finger lakes" region of upstate New York sailing "swim-suit" sailboats many a days during the summers."

I grew up on Cayuga Lake.  My first date with the Admiral was on a Sunfish! - and she still married me, and still sails with me on my 19II. 

Take some pics of your galley - mine didn't come with a factory one & I'd like to see a picture or two.

Thanks, TG

[HideAway]

Ray,   
I have had good luck using Murphys for the interior but there are stronger products better for the weathered outside teak -  I have a very old 23 with a step mounted sink that is next to the bilge.  You can't see the hose unless you crawl under the deck.  Mine ran over to a plastic thru hull on the port side.  If you have any plastic thru hulls - we have two - be sure to inspect and protect them as much as possible.  When they break off they leave a mighty big hole that will ruin your cruise.  Yep three miles off shore - it wasn't pretty - but we carry wooden plugs that eventually won the day.   Welcome aboard - You re going to love sailing this boat.  Matt

[newt]

I would add my welcome here too and agree with everything- but I would add a caution about the oxalic acid- it can burn your teak in higher concentrations. I use it to remove stains on my teak- and it needs to go on for just a few minutes then washed off/or neutralized. Then as Curtis says- oil it down afterwards. Anyway good luck with your new boat!

[Bob23]

   I originally cleaned all the teak oil off my interior teak with a weak bleach/water solution. When it was dry, I applied, with a brush, 1 coat of Epifane's satin varnish. Only an occational wipe down with a vinegar/water solution and after 4 years, it still looks preety good, although I may recoat this winter.
   I found that teak oil attacted mold like bribes attract politicians although it has not been the experience of everyone. Maybe it's the warmer lattitudes I live in (39.705N) It's warmer in the summer then it sounds.
Bob23

[don l]

Welcome, I think I remember seeing the place you are talking about on a map once.  Anyway, fair winds

cajun

[rdcvsmith]

Thanks for all the "welcomes" and "hello's"!
Initial cleaning went well, I like what I see, but there is a long way to go (compared to some of the photos I see).
Finishing up the tarp project this week, then waiting till winter comes (its here now!) and goes.

I'm going to start a new thread and get some opinions on new small outboards.

Someone asked above .... I grew up in Moravia and summered and sailed on Owasco Lake but did spend time on Cayuga, used to love Ithaca.

Talk with you all soon.
thanks
Ray

[Tim Gardner]

Ray,

My brother lives in Moravia.  My Dad owned an insurance agency in Moravia, but NOBODY (unless your parent was a farmer or teacher) grows up in Moravia.  I'm from Union Springs.

TG

[rdcvsmith]

LOL !!!!!

Actually YES, my dad was a farmer (not a very good one) but that's what brought him to Moravia back in the early 60's! (& mom was a secretary at the high school). Though farming wasn't his strong suit he had a love of water and boating that was passed on to me as well. Dad and my older brothers were lifeguards on Owasco Lake at a place called the Edgewater Beach Club, I stayed there about 7 summers growing up, fishing, swimming, boating and sailing.

Union Springs !!..... I used to play football against Union Springs when I lived in Moravia.

-Ray