Messages

31

Deck Mounted Hardware / Companionway dimensions?

« on: May 22, 2012, 08:34:19 PM »

Anybody know the dimensions of the companionway? Our boat was broken into over the weekend and the thieves broke our hatch board. It was a one piece plexiglass board about an inch thick, and we are just going to cut a plywood board for a temporary replacement. Thanks in advance if anyone happens to know the dimensions... It would save me a day this weekend!

Chet

32

Exterior Finish and Fiberglass / Restoration of BLUE HERON (VIDEO SLIDE SHOW)

« on: May 14, 2012, 08:15:17 PM »

Ahoy!

We finally finished restoring the the topsides of BLUE HERON. We stripped off the old paint, compounded, polished, and waxed. It is truly amazing that the original gelcoat came out as nice as it did...not bad for a 35 year old boat! Anyway, I have a video posted on Youtube...check it out

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPjeSCGOiZ0

33

General Discussion / Need help for USCG documentation

« on: November 22, 2011, 10:59:57 PM »

Hi gang,

I would like to get my boat federally documented so that I can offer sailing charters. My problem is that the USCG requires something like a statement of origin...basically a letter from an officer of the company that  manufactured the boat, stating that the boat was made in the USA...but since Pearson Yachts is out of business, I don't know how to get that.

Have any of you been through this or does anyone have some advice as to how I can get this "proof" that the boat was built in the USA?

Thanks,

Chet

34

Exterior Finish and Fiberglass / Re: Stripped the paint off of Blue Heron's Hull !!

« on: November 22, 2011, 10:52:01 PM »

We spent a total of 4 days, nine hours a day for the entire thing.

The good news is that it appears that compounding the gelcoat is going to bring it back...check out these photos of the section we did a little compounding on

35

Exterior Finish and Fiberglass / Stripped the paint off of Blue Heron's Hull !!

« on: November 09, 2011, 06:39:11 PM »

We decided to use a paint stripper to remove the paint job that was applied by some previous owner.
Not sure what kind of paint it was...guessing it was your basic marine enamel. We used Smart Strip by Peelaway...available at Sherwin Williams, and we were pretty happy the product. Anyway, we were worried that the old paint was hiding some ghastly repair, but we were pleasantly surprised to find the original Light Blue hull in great shape! Now we will see if the Gelcoat can be brought back to a uniform color and high gloss. link to slideshow on youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDoM5UhRhzw

36

Boat Handling / Re: Backing up my P323

« on: October 05, 2011, 05:50:58 PM »

Best advise I can give you is to try to get a dock that allows you to back the stern to port when leaving the slip, so you are using the prop walk to your advantage. You may have to do what we did...We moved our dock to the other side of the pier this season so that we have an approach dock with a port side tie up. No problem getting off the dock now unless we have a fairly strong breeze coming from the North, which in our case pushes the bow down to port as we clear the slip,  causing us to have to manage a 360 degree spin in a very tight fairway.

Best of luck!

Chet

37

Sails and Canvas / Re: Hard to raise main

« on: July 15, 2011, 03:52:22 PM »

You say your halyard runs up and down easily without the sail, and runs up to halfway before it starts binding when hoisting the main...Is the mast raked fore or aft significantly? If you haven't already, it may be worth trying it with more or less tension on the backstay...our main was also hard to raise all the way up until we tightened the backstay..

Good luck...

Chet

38

Sails and Canvas / Re: Hard to raise main / Strong track update

« on: July 14, 2011, 10:34:25 AM »

We have been out several times now and had the opportunity to evaluate the track system, as well as some other bits from Sail Care. Following are my observations:

Strong Track: A major improvement. Key advantage is ease of raising and lowering the main...especially lowering it. even if you are not dead into the wind, it comes down...smooth and easy. And, with the "Sail Cradle" and "Sail Jockey"  it makes for a sail handling system that is fantastic.

Sail Cradle : This is Sail Care's version of a lazy Jack system. Simple, cheap, and effective. When used with the Strong Track it makes it very easy to lower and flake the main in a jiffy. The Sail cradle stows along the mast when not in use, and you do have to get on the cabin top to deploy each side separately, but it only takes a few seconds for each side. I have tried not leaving the sail cradle deployed while underway, but I am sure you could and it might be really handy to do this if you are sailing shorthanded.

Sail Jockey : This is a system used to secure the lowered main on the boom. It consists of 2 lengths of shock cord that run the length of the boom, and various bits of hardware to mount the cords on the underside of the boom. It has 3 small plastic hooks attached to one of the shock cords and you simply pull the shock cord up around the sail on each side and join the two cords with the hook. Super simple, easy, and convenient. I REALLY like this thing!!! No more bungees or straps around my neck clenched in my teeth!

I have no affiliation with Sail Care...I am just thrilled to have actually purchased a handful of products from them that do exactly what they claim, and at what I think are very reasonable prices. By the way, we also had our main and genoa cleaned and reconditioned by them and some repairs/alterations done...it is amazing! They look like new sails,,,very impressive.

Fair Winds!

Chet

 

39

Sails and Canvas / What size / type of bimini?

« on: July 14, 2011, 09:09:14 AM »

Hi gang,

It has been hotter than blazes this summer, and the Blue Heron needs some shade!

Does anyone know of a pre-fabbed bimini that will would work well on the P-323?

I've seen other boats with rather small bimini tops mounted on the stern rail, but they don't look like they would provide much coverage...any thoughts or experience with those?

I've also looked at those "Anchor Shade" temporary type shades...looks like a pretty good size, but obviously cannot be used when under sail. then again, I usually only wish for a bimini when its hot and there is little to no wind, so maybe they would be ideal...thoughts?

Thanks!

Chet

40

Steering System, Hull Structure / Re: WEEPING RUDDER SKEG

« on: June 21, 2011, 07:15:33 PM »

Thanks Chuck. You know, We had our boat stored inside all winter and I probably should have done something similar prior to launch. I'll see what it looks like when we haul out.

I once had a Catalina 30 with a water logged rudder and I drilled a bunch of holes in it, put a box over it with a heat lamp inside for weeks and then filled and faired.

chet

41

Deck Mounted Hardware / Anchor Windlass?

« on: June 01, 2011, 06:56:20 AM »

Hi gang,

I was out this weekend and dropped anchor for a bit (mainly to test the new anchor roller we installed), and I was reminded of just how much work it is to haul anchor out of a mucky bottom . It got me to thinking that a windlass would be a real benefit, and would probably lead to a lot more overnights and anchoring in general.

Anyone have experience with a particular windlass that they either liked or disliked? Any installation tips regarding the Pearson 323?

Thanks in advance!

Smooth Sailing...

Chet

42

Boat Handling / Re: "Sailing" at anchor...

« on: May 23, 2011, 09:00:01 PM »

thanks Ed. I can't remember for sure if we locked the wheel or not, but I will definetley be sure to try that the next time we anchor out.

Chet

43

Engine and Drive Train / Re: Poll: Shaft sizes

« on: May 23, 2011, 08:50:19 PM »

I wondered the same thing...mine is also 1 1/8". I was thinking of installing a "Perfect Pitch" Atomic 4 prop but they do not offer the prop to fit a 1 1/8th shaft

44

Steering System, Hull Structure / WEEPING RUDDER SKEG

« on: May 23, 2011, 08:08:59 AM »

Anybody notice water weeeping from their rudder skeg? If so, any ideas on what to do about it?

Thanks,

Chet

45

Boat Handling / "Sailing" at anchor...

« on: May 13, 2011, 08:38:12 AM »

Does anyone else have this issue? The last time we anchored, our P323 sailed back all night long. there was no sensation of moving when we were in the cabin until we looked out the windows...then, wow!  We were zipping back and forth at a pretty good clip.

we had at least  7:1 SCOPE, and the wind it was blowing 12 to 15 knots all night. Maybe this is normal?

We are thinking of making our own "anchor riding sail"...

Any comments?

Chet