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Thanx guys for letting me know I'm not the only one out here....

And while I've got your attention. let me ask again if any of you know about the Cape Horn vs Monitor?
The Monitor is certainly more popular, albiet heavier and more expensive, but the Cape Horn guy does do a pretty impressive song and dance about his unit. It's lighter and less expensive.
This is a big chunk of change and want to do it once and right.
All ears open............

stefan-d and all you other co26 people,
I would encourage you to look at and bookmark  the "Plastic Classic" website (Google it). Little specific to Contessas but all kinds of stuff  that is applicable to what we are doing with our boats.
This is were I found Tim, the "man" doing EQUINOX and the website "guy."

ps Watch for the Hinckley gold cove stripe coming soon...

The motor will be delivered with the std. reduction, 2:1. We'll make the prop selection based on this. Talking further with the Beta dealer, Joe DeMers at Sound Marine in CT and Tim, they like you are suggesting the 11" three bladed prop. I'm sure this will be a very nice combo. for this boat. Both these guys have been great to work with.

Other considerations at this time is the standing rigging. The former owner was preparing for some offshore sailing and in his preparation upped the size of the standing rigging to 1/4" wire w/ 1/2" toggles. To accomodate the 1/2" pins the chainplates were overdrilled. What's that adage about "only as strong as the weakest link?" I'm now in the process of seeing if the ball sockets on the mast will accomodate a ball with a smaller wire. If so then I'll rerig with 7/32" 316 ss with 3/8" pin turnbuckles with  new chainplates. The new chainplates will be 316ss 1/4"x 1 1/4 or 1 1/2" "x 10".
Something else which might interest you guys is my plan to have Tim make a laminated oak beam for under the mast step. This is best done while the bulkheads are out and before he starts to rewire. My thought on this is that although there doesn't seem to be to much of a problem with deck compression in these boats but that it is still better to help prevent a problem rather then try to slow or correct a problem once it has begun.
It has also been suggested that rather then a traveller we install a rigid boomvang. This never occured to me but sounds like a great idea. The angle of the mainsheet to a traveller would not be ideal considering the length of the boom.
I welcome and thankyou all for your interest and comments/suggestions on this project.
Thanx....

I've only seen the photo of the stemhead backing plate. Getting nuts on these bolts, if possible, would probably mean another 6" hole with a plastic screw cover. It may come to this...
As of this moment it's going to be the 10hp Beta. Beta is the clear choice but the 10 or the 13.5 hasn't been. Same engine just different governor for desired hp @ increased rpm. The biggest factor seems to be the small prop aperture. There is a 3/8" clearance with the 12" prop. It should be 1.2". We are currently looking into 11" props, two or three blade. Always something!
We're interested in hearing about your engines, props, etc.

Yes, repower.
Replacing the Bukh with, probably, a Beta 10 or 13. The Nanni and Phasor is also in the running. I would like to hear from anyone who knows anything about these.The twin is very smooth and quiet.
VARUNA's Bukh DV8 was replaced with a Beta 10, Big improvement.
The Bukh is to exotic for me. That's fine for someone who drives and loves tinkering with his or her  vintage Peugeot, MG or Triumph but I drive a Toyota. I want something that starts when I want, doesn't drip oil, is economical and can get parts reasonably priced. 
Like the DV10 I understand they no longer make the one lung 10 hp Yanmar. Parts are and will be available, price aside,  for some time to come though.

Stefan,
Thanx for the note on the genoa rails. I think these are the only things on deck that Tim is not removing probably for the reason you gave. I will email him.
I have to say that having someone else with his skills  do the refit, in the fraction of the time it would take me and best  of all to being able to watch over his shoulder via the web at 150 miles  away, is more then I could of  hoped for. She will be a beautiful co26.
Stay tuned.....

As I submit this Sam Powers is motoring VARUNA down the Chesapeake to Annapolis. He left Harpswell, ME Wed. 9/10/08 for the Bahamas. He repowered VARUNA last year with a 10hp Beta. Fits in where the the Bukh did.
He reports that it runs very smooth, quiet and fuel consumption is very low. Thats what I plan to repower EQUINOX with. Can I interest anyone in a low hour Bukh?

In another month or so Tim Lackey will be cutting into my decks, from the top, to ":fix" the crackling. I mentioned the comments on this sight as approaching the problem  from above vs from below. We'll see what happens.
This is his first Contessa refit.

After reading this thread and preparing to Awlgrip my boat this fall/winter, a boat which I've not seen in the water, I would like to ask all about how the stock (factory)  waterline may compare with the actual waterline.
I'm going to repower with a slightly heavier motor, probably a Beta, and install a windvane. The Awlgrip cannot be in the water and therefore I may need to raise the waterline accordingly. My boat has a double boottop which I plan to elimante in favor of one.
Tell us your waterline stories . . . . .