I think headroom is a problem in these boats any way you cut it. Speaking of cutting it, I have seriously considered cutting out the cabin sole and lowering the floor enough so I can stand. I looked at it closely this spring and found that at my height (5'6") I could lower it and have a 9" wide floor, and enough room for me to stand up from the sink back to the companionway. Nine inches doesn't sound like alot, but it would give me enough room to walk. I don't think it does anything structurally, and once I glass the sides of the quarterberths back in, everything would be the same. My bad back would certainly appreciate it.
1 2006-09-19 09:46:03
Re: anyone know the headroom on the post 1983 models (7 replies, posted in Technical)
2 2006-09-18 05:57:53
Re: Vire 7 HP twostroke (7 replies, posted in Technical)
I have that problem to. I've read that the seal in the waterpump is notorious for leaking into the transmission, I always shut my water off when the engine isn't in use.
3 2006-09-06 06:06:11
Re: Vire 7 HP twostroke (7 replies, posted in Technical)
I also have a Vire (Vire BVR), say what you will, it runs like a champ! I do regular maintenance (oil, plug) but over the last winter I replaced all the ignition parts, new carb kit, and made a new head gasket for it....now it starts everytime no problems. I do find that if I don't make it up to the boat (a 3 hour car drive for me) for a couple weeks, it takes about 15 seconds to start....but I spent two straight weeks on the boat this year, and the Vire started everytime with a quick turn of the key, and no choke. At 6.5hp, it will push the contessa at 5.5 knots in flat calm, even in big winds it still pushes it pretty good. Not bad for an engine built in 1971!
4 2006-07-11 10:24:50
Re: topside, bottom and deck restoration (26 replies, posted in Technical)
I reduced the pre-kote about 25% to get it to flow out better, but I didn't have to reduce the Perfection at all...but I didn't spray either. I ended up having to do alot of sanding with the primer, but it turned out extremly smooth.
5 2006-07-11 07:30:32
Re: topside, bottom and deck restoration (26 replies, posted in Technical)
This is my first post on this site, although i read it regularly and my boat, Mustard Seed, is on the site.
I can swear to the fact that no matter how much sanding, buffing, waxing you do to a colored gel coat, once it starts to chalk, there is no fix that will last longer than a couple months. Mustard Seed was yellow, I say was because I got tired of the chalky look and painted it this year. Now I'll have to update my picture on this site! Maybe you'll have better results on an '86 as opposed to my '72.
I considered AwlGrip (rolling and tipping, because there was no way I could afford to have it done), but the stuff is so expensive when you add up all the converters and solvents you need. I ended up using Interlux Perfection, it's a 2 part epoxy paint. It's super glossy, and I gotta say, it rivals the look of awlgrip, maybe better. I did the whole thing myself, the steps were easy, but it's alot of labor. I did two coats of primer and two coats of paint. I rolled and tipped each coat, and the results were better than I expected. But it's true what they say, it's all in the prep.