Topics

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Interior Structures / P323 Dinette Table Clamping Bracket

« on: September 09, 2020, 12:27:06 PM »

Hi Everyone,

The dinette table on Blue Sky will not stay in place after fully clamping the bracket (trying to think the proper name of this bracket - clamping bracket?) so I took the table, pole and mounting hardware home to take a look at it. The first thing I noticed was that the bracket's aluminum threads were history. I'm always surprised when I see threads cut into aluminum, especially for something that holds as much weight and gets worked as much as the dinette table. I think that they should have used stainless or brass threaded inserts. I'm sure that the threaded aluminum bracket worked fine for many years in most cases but after 40 years, I don't think threaded aluminum parts hold up well. However, everything else looks good after 40 years!


Notice the stripped threads and the damage around the hole from people trying to clamp the table down hard.

After looking at the mounting bracket closer, I noticed a plastic sleeve within the aluminum clamping bracket. The plastic sleeve becomes worn after years of table movement and clamping and because of this, Blue Sky's table will not hold fast when fully clamped. It's a natural reaction to tighten the table bolt even tighter when the table wont stay put but that's how the aluminum threads get stripped.



My first idea was to turn the plastic sleeve around where the top would, theoretically, be less worn than the bottom. However, I couldn't pull the plastic sleeve all of the way out from the bottom and I didn't want to remove the clamping bracket from the table in order to remove the plastic sleeve from the top. So, I used what I think is called gaffer's tape (cloth material tape) around the bottom of the outside of the plastic sleeve. I overlapped the tape in some places. Once back in the clamping bracket, the tape decreased the inside diameter of the plastic sleeve. That seemed to work.

The next hurdle was how to clamp the bracket to the pole. Blue Sky did not have the table bolt when I bought her so I had to think of something else as others have mentioned in this forum. My solution was to use a quick-release bicycle seat clamp and it works perfectly as far as I'm concerned.





The preliminary test results look good.

2

Ports & Hatches / P323 hatch refurb

« on: July 20, 2020, 07:50:41 PM »

Hello all,

I have decided to refurbish the hatches on Blue Sky as Dolce Vita and Alma have described in their posts. After removing the hatches, I noticed that one of the pins on her aft hatch is bent. I believe that these pins are pressed into the the frames. Any ideas about removing and replacing this pin?

3

General Discussion / Blue Sky has launched

« on: June 21, 2020, 05:18:22 PM »

Ahoy fellow sailors,

My wife Sarah and I introduced ourselves on this forum early this year after we purchased Blue Sky - a 1978 323. Blue Sky had been in dry dock on the Chesapeake for the last six years, about 100 miles from our home. Her previous owner kept her in good shape while he was able but she had been left uncovered and alone for more than five years.



Over the winter we got the Universal M25XP engine flushed out, replaced the heat exchanger, hoses, checked the water pump and other things to get her running. Also fixed some of the electrical issues (dead batteries, trickle charger, lighting etc).



We received our Coast Guard registration a few weeks ago, so we are now able to move the boat closer to us on the Delaware. Once I get her closer I will be able to work on her more often and for longer periods of time.

My first priority will be fixing the leaky hatches and any of the core that has been damaged as a result of years of rain water leakage. Here's a picture of the worst of the damage. What do you folks think about this? I've read the hatch rebuild threads on this forum so I partially know what to do but I'm a little concerned about core rot. Anyway, we'll see once we get those hatches out.



Last week Blue Sky was launched after six years and she has dry bilge and all systems (electrical, plumbing, drive train, etc) seem to be working. Well, all of the ones that we checked at that time. : ) Here she is, looking a little worse for wear but wait till you see her next year. She's a beauty and the manager at the marina said she's in fine shape and should be good for another 40 yrs!



If anybody within a two-three hour drive of Philadelphia would like help working on their P323, I would be glad to volunteer for a few weekends. I have very little experience with boats except for some general maintenance and blister repair on our old 27' Catalina. I am reasonably mechanically inclined though and would love to learn more about P323s.

4

New Member Introductions / Hello all you boat lovers. New member from New Jersey.

« on: January 03, 2020, 03:42:50 PM »

My wife and I recently became the proud new owners of Blue Sky, a 1978 P323 that has been in dry dock for about six years. We look forward to getting her in shape for what she was made for. We are novice sailors but hope to be sea worthy ourselves someday. We used to own a 27' Catalina but that was a long time ago when there were no forums to seek advice and see how others addressed issues. How fortunate for us that this site exists! Looking forward to reading your posts and contributing.