Mr. Toad’s Upgrade Explained

[mrtoad]

i am a lake sailor – upgrades will not be in the area of long term voyages – comfort could be the rule here – i like the philosophy explored by jerry cardwell in his book, "sailing big on a small sailboat"- - - therefore, a new radio to add sirius – new and more comfortable berth cushions – upgrade the electrical system to enable me to use the keurig coffee pot – a teak table for the cockpit – etc.

but behind all the upgrading is another filter that ideas and thoughts pass – I wish Mr. Toad looked more like a character yacht, a wooden yacht, a more of salty look. I visited a friend in cornwall, England and sailed on his "cornish crabber" – a gorgeous sailboat -  and – at the club for many years was a "herreshoff eagle" another beautiful boat – I have the tanbark sails, bronze winches, bronze ports and have added a bit of teak

I would love to move the look of Mr. Toad in that direction – without changing the integrity of the basic fiberglass design – that is the big question of the project

I am not looking for another sailboat – love the com.pac – my wife who has a fear of the water is comfortable on the 23/3 – end of discussion

thanks for whatever help you can give me – and thanks for answering my questions

rdeal

[brackish]

One of my future upgrades is to pitch the gas locker cover and replace it with a teak cover that would be hinged.  I want to design it so that it would be a net weight reduction, but still strong enough to stand or sit on.  Probably tongue and groove with expansion joints like decks, but a lattice or strip vertical front. I dislike the current cover, it is difficult to lift off for simple tasks like opening the tank vent or a bulb squeeze.  It also rattles despite the fact that I've put some rubber pads on the pressure points.

I've considered capping the coamings with teak, that is standard on the inboard models I think,  looks good, but not sure I want to do things that would be net weight adders, aft of center.  same thing with teak cockpit sole.

I've recently added padded Sunbrella lifeline cushions around the cockpit, they really dress up my boat.

Came in from a sail Sunday before last, and was stopped by a woman (powerboat owner) at the marina who said my boat was the best looking and her favorite sailboat in the marina.  I get that a lot, and I know part of it is the fact that I maintain and many don't. But not bad considering there is a Pacific Seacraft Crealock 37 there.  So maybe not to much messing with a good thing.

[rip]

Yo Brackish, Splendid idea! That cover is a loser. As I have no desire to reinvent anything I would appreciate it if you would post pics of your gas locker cover if and when you get to it. Thanks, Rip

[wes]

Mr Toad - I know you said you weren't planning on painting your hull (except the brown stripe), but personally I think a dark hull is a very salty traditional look. I did mine recently and have been very happy with the results. Color is Flag Blue (Interlux Perfection). I also did the deck and bootstripe in Hatteras White (cream) which is a nice combination. It's a big job (the deck more so than the hull, obviously) but I had a long winter on my hands and needed a project.

- Wes

[hockeyfool]

I  just this summer removed the old nasty vinyle stripe near the waterline( some call a bootstripe )
and prepped with wetsand paper - 80, 120, 220 - then wipped with asetone, then painted 2 coats of petit easy-poxy .
  :foam roller and brush tipped. use good masking tape