Sugar Magnolia, Rhodes Meridian Restoration

[sugar magnolia]

I finally took the time to collect, organize, edit, and upload all the pictures of Sugar Magnolia's restoration

here is the link to my album on picasa:
http://picasaweb.google.com/kevin.w.fowler87/BoatRestoration?authkey=Gv1sRgCIvRqp7EuI2BiQE#

those 6 weeks were so much work, but I look back with only fond memories,
special thanks is in order to the folks at Portland Riverside Marina in Portland, CT, both employees and fellow boat owners

and our constant helpers, who we could always count on and couldn't have done it without: David, Tommy, and Sarah

[skylark]

Very nice, you have really brought that boat back to prime condition.

[CharlieJ]

Oh boy do we know EXACTLY what kinda effort those pics represent!!! Been there!!!

Looking good Kevin. Hope we can hook up somewhere summer 2011. We'll be rejoining Tehani in the spring.

[Frank]

That is one FINE lookin lil ship!! Ya gotta be proud !

[Pappy Jack]

Okay, when all is said and done...how much sand paper did it take ? I heard of one guy that used $500 bucks worth of the stuff to redo his boat!!!

Fair winds and full sails.. on a really good looking boat!

Pappy Jack

[CharlieJ]

Lol- don't know about on Sugar Magnolia, but on Tehani we NEVER keep track of that stuff.

The money is going onthe boat what ever, so why bother?

Besides, we're kinda afraid to!!

[sugar magnolia]

Thank you all for the kind words. As many of you know when you look back on your own work you see the flaws, things you wish you had done, things you wish you hadn't, and things you just wish came out better. All in all I think that we found a good balance of time, energy, money, and results

...just don't compare Sugar Magnolia to Tehani...
Charlie and Laura have redone and gone over EVERYTHING on Tehani! And done so with the highest level of craftsmanship. They repeatedly rekindled Ali and my spirits, gave me ideas and gave faith that the meridian was a worthwhile design. And on that note:

Hope we can hook up somewhere summer 2011. We'll be rejoining Tehani in the spring.

yea, I've been thinking about that, how far north do you plan on coming?
I imagine we won't make it out of the Long Island Sound area, but if you get this far you can't possibly skip Mystic Seaport which is an easy day sail from our home port in Waterford. Another cool thing is Sailfest in New London, known for having [supposedly] the best fireworks on the East coast, they are for sure the best I've seen, and of course Block Island, despite being overrun by tourists...
But if you need advice or any other help as you get closer to our waters don't hesitate to get in touch.

on a final note: I don't think I used nearly that much sandpaper, at least I hope not...
things I went way over budget on were primer (doesn't go nearly as far as the brochures claim), cabin paint (there is way more surface area than you think), and various things like broken screws and bolts that really add up at the yard's ship's store when you are in a hurry and just have a running tab... all told we spent about 130% of what we meant to, can't be sure what to blame, just some things that I remember having to go back and get more of and still run out and have to get even more.

[mrb]

Very nice job, I am so amazed at the workmanship shown on these pages.

Once these old boats are gone they will never be replaced, so for each one of you that preserve a great old boat,

Many Thanks

[Jeremy]

Great job!  An additional inspiration as I plan ahead to projects I hope to accomplish on my Meridian this winter.   

[CharlieJ]

Jeremy- haven't forgotten the pics. Just have not been home yet. Gonna be there this weekend ( Turkey day) though. I'll get to them then.

[Jeremy]

Thanks and no worries, Charlie - I figure you'll get to it when you can.  I'm not in a rush - she's only been on the hard since last Friday! 

Managed to unstep the mast without incident.  I knew I'd at least have to refinish it, but am also finding some delamination of the mast's seams and a poor repair (by way of screws) by a prior owner.  So I've already got a high priority project to keep me occupied for quite a while.

Charlie and Sugar Mags, did either of you have to deal with similar issues?

Thanks!

Jeremy

[sugar magnolia]

FINALLY got arouond to posting pics of this spring's projects aboard sugar magnolia

https://picasaweb.google.com/117577898580678608498/2011Projects?authkey=Gv1sRgCIzqq9ry-MTXhAE#

projects for 2011 included:
-anchor roller
-headsail bag
-"instant" spin/whisker pole
-boom gallows
-sun awning
-new lifelines using 3/8" twisted dacron
-lazy jacks
-new mainsheet arrangement
-windvane self-steering

if anyone wants more details or better pics feel free to ask away

-kevin and ali

[CharlieJ]

looking great Kevin.

Tehani made it as far as Annapolis, but we've  turned around now, heading back south. Guess we'll have to sail together another time.

I like the gallows by the way

[phil416]

Kevin and Ali; I am very interested in your 3/8 dacron lifelines.  Did you draw them tight or leave them a bit loose.  I did a Catalina 27 using Sampson Ultra Tech drawn tight, but chafe was a problem. Phil

[Oldrig]

Kevin & Ali:

Sugar Magnolia looks great! (That was one of my favorite Grateful Dead numbers, possibly because I was dating a Southern girl when the song came out.)

How did the self-steering windvane project work out.

Your video indicates that it was "semi-successful."

I'd be interested in knowing if that means that it only works when close-hauled. If so, it's not too different from the results I got with pulleys and surgical tubing.

Thanks and good luck,

--Joe

[sugar magnolia]

phil, in regards to the lifelines, I drew them taut with seizing line, I had spliced them a few inches short to allow for retightening, not sure where you had chafe issues but on our boat the stanchions have cast bronze end caps that are well radiused. they are only a few months old now, but seem to have stopped stretching and no sign of chafe issues

the windvane is still a work in progress...I think I will post about that in the thread I had started for the purpose (I'll edit this to add a link to that thread)

forgot to mention the table as one of my projects--charlie, yours was perfect and I copied it quite closely, just trying to figure out how to make it work in the cockpit too...

[CharlieJ]

forgot to mention the table as one of my projects--charlie, yours was perfect and I copied it quite closely, just trying to figure out how to make it work in the cockpit too...

 
So am I
 

[sugar magnolia]

charlie, have you experimented at all?

ali and I tried hanging it from the boom, which wasn't awlful as long as it was attended...
also considering a second set of the brackets mounted to the aft end of the cabin, but that would be unsightly when not in use...
the brackets mounted on something that slides into the dropboard slots would work, but who wants to carry yet another item onboard

we are struggling with where to store the table, luckily we thought some before copying charlie on that as we usually sleep with our heads forward and I know it would be a constant head-ach creator... right now it goes under the companionway steps

have you seen the meridian on yachtworld right now?

[Tim]

Nice work Kevin and Ali, a grog for sharing!

[phil416]

Kevin; thanks for the reply,  I'll post here how mine work out.  On the Catalina 27 the cafe apeared at the stantions.    Hang in there with the self steering vane there is a huge learning curve with these things.  After 2 years at sea I was still refining my adjustments.  By the end Deep Blue would sail a straight course dead downwind for days at end, the course not varying more than one degree.   Near to land where points of land islands etc. cause shifting winds vanes are less effective.  I use the auto pilot mostly on the Chesapeake or hand steer.   Very nice job by the way.  Phil