2 2016-12-20 00:07:01
Topic: Stanchions on Canadian Contessa - imperial or Metric (0 replies, posted in Repairs/Modifications/Upgrades)
I need a new set of stanchions on my Contessa. I live in a metric country, and was just going to buy some local 25mm replacements, until I spotted this on the rig-rite website:
"On boats built in North America, Stanchions are usually made from 1" OD (25.4mm) Stainless Steel tube. On boats built in Europe, Stanchions are usually made from 25mm OD (.984") Stainless Steel tube, and are usually Tapered.
While this might not seem like a significant difference, it can be, as 1" Stanchions Will Not fit Bases designed for 25mm Metric Stanchions."
So, am I best to order from the USA? My stanchion bases look original, as do the stanchions themselves, so I am surmising I need the 1" OD stanchions, not 25mm in order to fit the bases.
3 2016-08-28 12:22:14
Re: Creaks all over deck and coachroof (8 replies, posted in Repairs/Modifications/Upgrades)
I can report that the injecting of resin into areas that were "creaky" was pretty much a success. For now, this seems to have done the trick.
4 2016-07-18 00:42:52
Re: Creaks all over deck and coachroof (8 replies, posted in Repairs/Modifications/Upgrades)
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5 2016-07-18 00:27:15
Re: Creaks all over deck and coachroof (8 replies, posted in Repairs/Modifications/Upgrades)
Hey Chirstopher, apologise for a lengthy post? My god man, I would be buying you rounds of beer pints if was not 10,000 miles away - or however far NZ is from Canada.
Thanks so much mate, this is just the sort of detailed info I was looking for, and also explained in a way that a non-boatbuilder guy such as myself can understand.
One thing I didn't mention is that I am rigging her as a junk rig, along the lines of Blondie Haslars JESTER, although MATILDA is of course a Contessa rather than a Folkboat. Close cousins.
I will post a draft drawing of her junk rig sailplan, subject to change as may be adding another panel and increasing mast length.
Christopher - thank you again, you have eased my mind very much, and also given me a lot of pointers on where to look and investigate.
6 2016-07-09 01:53:36
Re: Creaks all over deck and coachroof (8 replies, posted in Repairs/Modifications/Upgrades)
Hi seeadler, thanks for your reply mate.
Buying a better used Contessa is not an option I have down here at the bottom of the South Pacific.
Initially just day sailing, but hope to go longer sails in future.
7 2016-07-04 11:54:15
Topic: Creaks all over deck and coachroof (8 replies, posted in Repairs/Modifications/Upgrades)
I've bought what I think is a '73 or '74 Canadian Contessa, and it appears to be full of voids on deck and coachroof as it makes creaking noises when you stand on it, and on the coach-roof, especially, you not only get the creaks, but you can see it move underfoot.
I got a core sample taken from part of the deck which indicates the plywood is slightly damp but not rotten, that it has either delaminated or never bonded properly in the first place, and was told that resin injecting should be good enough to fix that if I am lucky - if I am not lucky then is core replacement at many thousands of dollars by a boatbuilder.
For the cabin-top I got told, again, if I am lucky, that $15,000 ought to do it to do something called "vacuuming" through the resin? These boatbuilding terms confuse me. If I am unlucky, then it is a whole new cabin top to be made at $30k cost.
I never got the Contessa surveyed before I purchased her here in Auckland, New Zealand. I was all starry eyed at owning possibly the only Contessa in this country that I literally paid no attention to the construction of the deck and coachroof and what may have happened over the last 40 years.
Do I just sail the boat and maybe get all these deck and coachroof creaky problems looked at if I decide to sail offshore one day - which I do plan to do. Or, do I leave the boat on the hard at my parents place while I save up the money to get the boat "creaks" professionally fixed?
Another thing I noticed is that the liner inside the boat is sagging in places in the cabin top corners, and, for example, on the cabin sides in the interior I can push my thumb against it and see it move and make another sort of creaky noise.
Please be aware I am not a boatbuilders backside, and what is more, the little epoxying I have done have realised I am allergic to it and come out in rashes if exposed. So, even if I was the bees knees at DIY I'd still have problems - as it is I am not the bees knees.
I debated naming my Contessa "Creak" as it would be apt, but settled on "Matilda".