Saw this, and thought it would be a good project for someone. http://www.ebay.com/itm/1963-Seafarer-Meridian-25-ft-/190910640435?forcerrptr=true&hash=item2c73293133&item=190910640435&pt=Sailboats
And would be a great boat when finished.
But then I'm not prejudiced at all ;D ;D
Quote from: CharlieJ on September 23, 2013, 09:19:42 AM
But then I'm not prejudiced at all ;D ;D
Oh no, would never cross our minds... ;)
Also, just saw an ad re-posted for that sisterboat here in Maine...
Free - Project Sailboat 25' Rhodes Meridian (Peaks Island)
http://maine.craigslist.org/boa/4084638386.html
When I looked at it a few years back, before the current owner got it, I could feel some soft areas on the deck. Still, if you're going to do a deck re-core project, you can do a lot worse than start with a Meridian...
This guy...
http://www.lackeysailing.com/logs.html
...does a great job of documenting and photographing his projects in an archive that includes much recore work...
Such as this Rhodes Swiftsure 33
http://www.lackeysailing.com/waanderlust/june10/60810.htm
Ah yes. Been there, done that. Recored the side decks and foredeck on Tehani.. Moved chainplates outboard so no worries about THAT anymore. Cabin sides and top are both solid glass, so no soft problems there.
Had planned to spray a coat on the repaired gouges (from an inter action with an oyster encrusted piling) today, but the forecasters lied. It's all ready, so maybe tomorrow.
Hoping to re-splash Tehani before months end.
Yay - rain dissipated. Tehani got sprayed. The Maderia Beach Oyster scrapes are history.
Hi, all, first timer here. So be gentle with me.
So, that free Meridian 25 on Peaks Island? It's coming to my yard. Whoever is the patron Saint for crazy people, that's who I need to build a shrine to.
But first I need to rearrange my yard so I can fit the damned thing. Charlie et al, I'm going to need assistance and encouragement now and again, so I'm counting on you.
I figure the first task is to make the repairs so that it can be sailed, then I'll worry about cosmetics, interior furniture and accommodations, etc. It needs deck rebuilding, at a minimum.
Charlie, I'd be curious to ask if you think moving the chainplates had any effect on the masthead failure? I'd also need to ask if anybody has dimensions for a boom, as this boat lacks one.
Once I get the thing here I'll send up pics.
I look forward to this project, and to hearing from any of you who care to chime in.
Thanks,
OB
Quote from: gbdfa15 on September 25, 2013, 04:05:36 PM
Whoever is the patron Saint for crazy people, that's who I need to build a shrine to.
Welcome aboard, plenty of crazies here... a worthy project... personally, I do a novena to St. Jude Thaddeus every Thursday... he would be the patron saint of hopeless cases, of which, I confess, I am one... Cheers, =jim
OB...welcome aboard and congrats on obtaining a fine sailing boat. You'll probably question your sanity a few times...but in the end will love it! Have fun. Post pics....
Thanks, Frank. Questioning my sanity is nothing new, though it's generally practiced by my neighbors.
Quote from: gbdfa15 on September 25, 2013, 04:05:36 PM
Charlie, I'd be curious to ask if you think moving the chainplates had any effect on the masthead failure? I'd also need to ask if anybody has dimensions for a boom, as this boat lacks one.
Thanks,
OB
Absolutely zero effect. The cause was undetected rot at the main halyard sheave. One of the better changes I made in my opinion. The companionway rebuild was a second.
I'll measure the boom tomorrow, and if I can get your email address, send you pics of mine when I was building it.
And I'd be more than happy to help any way I can. LOVE seeing another Meridian come back
And if you'll look at the first and second pics in the Tehani galley ( on SailFar) you'll see yours can't be any worse.
http://sailfar.net/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=20
Thanks, C. I'm not sure what is the best way to get my email to you. Still trying to figure this site out.
I don't think I'll be worrying about a boom til spring. If I get any time to work on it, my first priority will be getting the deck repaired and waterproof. Previous owners drilled a hole in the hull to drain all the snow melt out. Getting coamings and other woodwork back on will come next, then making a toe rail.
I like the idea of moving the chainplates so that they aren't going through the deck. Any other modifications you'd recommend?
Also, what size winches would you suggest? There are apparently none on the boat. I don't intend to race her, just cruise comfortably. Of course, the fact that I am trying to do this on a shoestring adds to the insanity.
Are there other Meridian owners on the East Coast that you know of?
Soft decks are minor... :o :o This is about the time you start wondering what the heck ya got into ;D ;)
Click on my name-brings up my profile- email is there.
And yeah, there are several. Here's a link to the SeaFarer site on Facebook. At least three Meridian owners there.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/seafareryachts/
Welcome, dbdfa15. I'm a fellow Meridian owner on the east coast (Boston/Buzzards Bay). Had a fairly major amateur refit (ham handed compared to Tehani, of course), but its been a great boat. Recoring is honestly not that hard. If you're going to repaint, don't skimp on the sander!
One of these days, I'll get around to posting some photos. Happy to be whatever resource I can be.
By the way, mine's a '63 as well. Do you know your hull number?
Hi, Jeremy-
Don't know the hull number yet. I have been told she was built in Holland circa 1962.
Anybody know what she should have for winches? None on the boat.
thanks...
Tehani carries these. Most likely overkill but I got them as a gift. Smaller would most likely work as I seldom use the handle.
Yep, Dutch built. Tehani is #10, built 1961. DeVries Lentsch, Amsterdam Shipyards
They installed builders plates like this one on the wooden cross piece of the traveler. Tehani's was stolen, but here's what they looked like. Note the hull # 67, built 1962- could well be yours
Tehani's boom measurements
Boom is 10 feet, 2 inches, NOT counting gooseneck.
It's a box section, 2 inches wide and 3 3/4 deep, with a raised part where the track sits. Here's a pic of the end, before completion
Man, that's beautiful. Did all the joinery yourself?
Now here's a dilemma: it turns out that the boat I am getting comes with a set of sails that doesn't belong to the boat. The guy who is giving me the boat says "no problem getting the sails cut down."
Sounds sketchy to me. So this "free" boat turns out to have no sails, no winches, no boom, a delaminating mast, and I'm betting there is hardware I will need to replace as well. I went through the Hamilton Marine catalogue, and I figure I'm going to be in the ballpark of $3500 on supplies and replacements, including $1000 for a new suit of sails ( main and jib only.) That doesn't even include a motor, mooring fees, and insurance, which would be necessary for any boat.
I'm starting to wonder if this makes sense. I could probably buy a fully found similar boat ( Columbia Contender for sale locally ) for $1500. On the other hand, if I can resurrect this thing, I have a boat that I have been able to outfit the way I want it. ( Which may cost well over $4k before I'm through.
Any thoughts on the sails cut down issue? Good places to find used sails/hardware? I don't need to outfit the interior for next year, just want to get it on the water and sailable for 2014.
If you mean me on the joinery, yes, I did. I retired as a furniture repair /refinisher (25 years)and licensed boat builder(8 years). And my "free" Meridian had no sails either, and no boom or winches. And cost me $1500 to get it from Rochester NY, back down here to Matagorda Bay.
Sails are SailRite kits, and ran, I think, $1100.
I've put a ton of money into her ( I don't keep receipts) but for me, she's been worth every penny. She's had some 10,000 miles under her keel since I launched her.
Your mileage may vary- buying a well found boat is a good alternative, for sure. I have the shop, and the skills to restore. Your mileage may vary :D
I don't know how you were pricing things out, but definitely have a look around at what you can find used. It's actually quite possible to get great deals on used hardware, particularly winches. You might even be able to track down a useable boom for much less than the cost of building a new one. I'm sure you could find sails that would fit her too, for much less than new. I bet you could get what you need for less than half your quoted cost, at least if you intend to repair the mast rather than replace. Not that it isn't a huge commitment, boats *always* are, but it may be more doable than you expect.
Welcome gbdfa15
Just looked at the Meridian on eBay...1 day 8 hours left, no bids yet, so still at $300.
If you do like the Meridian [design], despite the distance, maybe that is a better value than the free one. From the description, the one in NJ seems to be in much better shape than the one on Peaks Island. The photos show the mast with stays and running rigging. May have a complete rig with sails? Condition is still a question. Might want to try to get more photos and have Charlie look at them? Sounds like it may have far less deck core trouble.
If you get an outboard and someone experienced at sailing, it may be possible to coastal motor/sail it up to Maine this fall. The first two weeks of October usually aren't too bad weather wise.
Might still be worth getting the free local Meridian as a long-term project, or even for spares [in the interim]? [Hopefully both would eventually be saved/restored.]
Just thoughts for your consideration...
Edit: Have another idea, but think that I should probably pm those involved (on second thought)...
It would probably be more practical to have it transported up, especially if it is a hydraulic trailer that could deliver and unload it directly in your yard. Then you don't have to rush to get an outboard and gear, etc. By the time you invest the time, pay for the fuel, and have it hauled out and delivered to your house, it may cost more to sail/motor it up. If the boat were ready to sail and it was the beginning of the season, it might be worth it to put it in, but the local season would be over by the time you got here.
For reference...I paid a transporter $600 to bring a 26-foot boat up to Southern Maine from the New York City area, a couple years ago. It was 7k lbs and already on a trailer, so probably less than a hydraulic trailer would be.
If you have a pickup, can get (or make) an adjustable cradle, and rent a tandem axle trailer, you may be able to go pick it up yourself?
GB, if you can wait for another option or find a hauler for the boat in NJ, you may find your situation considerably advanced over the "free" option. I'm a sucker for a nice hull, and free sounds great. I get it.
I bought my Meridian for a song off of craigslist, but even though that one was generally intact (with [delaminated] mast, boom and a very recent set of sails / and relatively new though problematic motor), and sailable the first year, it took the next year out of the water and quite a lot of time and effort (with limited time to give) to get her into the passable shape she is in now. In some ways, when I bought Windrift, I bought a hobby more than I bought a boat. It's a joy now that she's sailing, and there's a lot of pride to be found in bringing a derelict back from the dead. If you want to go sailing immediately, however, you may want to explore your other options.
Better yet, get both and use one for spares, as Jim suggests. Ultimately I hope both could be saved, but better one than none.
Nowhere near as inspirational as the Tehani before and after, but mere's my Meridian as purchased vs. as she was yesterday:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/60779326@N00/10010046225/ (http://www.flickr.com/photos/60779326@N00/10010046225/)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/60779326@N00/10010084986/ (http://www.flickr.com/photos/60779326@N00/10010084986/)
The "before" doesn't actually look that bad in that photo . . . looks can be deceiving.
In any event, good luck - and, as I said, I'm happy to be whatever resource or provide any encouragement that I can.
On your winches question, you can get small sizes fairly cheaply even new, and non-self-tailing versions in good shape used (as people feel a need to upgrade to self-tailers). I lucked out an bought a set of Murray bottom-action MW-5s off of E-bay.
You can see them here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/60779326@N00/10010296146/ (http://www.flickr.com/photos/60779326@N00/10010296146/)
Total overkill, but the price was right. I spent a heck of a lot more for the bronze winch bases than I did for the winches themselves. Guy selling them had another pair (wanted to sell them for $75 apiece) - wish I'd bought them. Anyway, point is that if you are patient and careful (and don't go bid crazy on nice old bronze hardware without having a very set idea of what you want to use it for) you can do well on the used market. But the risk is that you wind up with a bunch of stuff you bid on in a whim that didn't do the trick (as I sometimes have), and you realize (as I now have) that it may be cheaper to save up for the right thing the first time 'round.
Quote from: Jeremy on September 29, 2013, 08:42:56 PM
On your winches question, you can get small sizes fairly cheaply even new
Agreed. I just picked up a pair of Lewmar #10s for $75. Have seen a couple pairs of similar winches on CraigList for $50...but they went quickly. Have also seen some on eBay. These smaller winch sizes are not that heavy so not too expensive to ship.
Thanks to all for the suggestions. I'll keep people posted on what's happening. Right now I have to find a place in my yard to put the free boat, which may be complicated by sewer work on our street. They have done most of the blasting, but they will still dig up part of the yard, and my available area is boxed in by a temporary water line that I know a trailer with a 5,000 pound boat on it can't drive over. Plus, the maneuvering by the tractor and trailer would be very tight.
So, I may be stuck without a place for that boat, in which case, I can't take it.
But I am looking into other options, and the Meridian seems to be a worthy project.
Okay, so, if one Meridian is good, 2 is better right? Right? Can I get a heck yeah?
That Meridian in NJ? I'm buying it. It'll spend the winter in the boatyard, then we'll do a shakedown cruise up to Maine. It'll be the template for what I have to do to Meridian #1.
I have yet to get down there and look at it, but I'll be doing so fairly soon, I hope.
And there is now room in the yard for Meridian #1. I cleared enough space to fit it and still get over the temporary water line running through the yard. So it'll be handy to work on.
I didn't plan on having my own fleet of Meridians. But looks like I have one now.
Wish me luck.
Hey- there are worse things than a fleet of Meridians ;D ;D
Congrats- when you get to sail one of them, you'll understand ;) I got to sail Tehani yesterday for the first time in almost 2 years. Man she still makes me grin
Here's a boom - a bit too long, but otherwise very like my original:
http://boston.craigslist.org/nos/boa/4120921792.html
probably pretty easy to trim the clew end to length Or get a different goose neck and get rid of the roller furling. Looking further, the clew end would seem best.
Looks solid
I redid one like that, only larger on another Rhodes- a Vanguard. It carried a 6 inch diameter boom
Quote from: gbdfa15 on October 06, 2013, 09:46:15 PM
That Meridian in NJ? I'm buying it. It'll spend the winter in the boatyard, then we'll do a shakedown cruise up to Maine. It'll be the template for what I have to do to Meridian #1.
Wish me luck.
Congrats, and good luck! :)
Well, the S/V "Lawn Ornament" has arrived at her new home. I'll post pics shortly, but I found the plaque. She is boat # 5113, from Yard no. 13, built in 1961.
And boy is there a lot of work to do. Much of the interior is missing, I have a 5 gallon bucket full of bronze and stainless steel bits and pieces that go I know not where, broken glass and moldy sand paper to vacuum out, along with water in the bilge that does not at the moment seem to be breeding mosquitoes...in short, she's beautiful, someday.
The former owners even threw in a little sailing dinghy. So if I get a project done, I can reward myself with a little sail in a little sailboat.
But I think I'll hold off on that until I can get this ready for winter. Expect lots of questions. I'll try to keep the groaning and crying to a minimum.
Sounds good to me. and you have my email address I think.
Oh, and Tehani is hull Number 10, 3 before yours in 1961
Quote from: gbdfa15 on October 19, 2013, 03:51:50 PM
Well, the S/V "Lawn Ornament" has arrived at her new home. I'll post pics shortly, but I found the plaque. She is boat # 5113, from Yard no. 13, built in 1961.
So this is the free one from Peaks I.? Grog to you for taking that boat on...both of them.
Quote
The former owners even threw in a little sailing dinghy. So if I get a project done, I can reward myself with a little sail in a little sailboat.
It's nice to have a small boat to get out on the water when you need a break from working on the longer-term larger boat project. Can provide a good balance between the now and the future.
Thanks for the grog, I'll need it for sure!
Yes, this is the Peaks Island boat. Still on Peaks. Oddly enough, I saw a friend and told him about the boat acquisition, only to learn that he owns a Meridian as well, stored in Gray, Maine. He also got his from people who lived on Peaks Island. Go figure.
One of the projects first on my plate is dealing with the many little holes left from deck hardware removal by the PO's. Can anybody recommend a suitable temporary caulking that I can use to help reduce water infiltration over the winter? I know not to use Silicone, but I wonder if anybody has a recommendation? I don't want it to be permanent, obviously.
Also, what is a recommended deck core replacement substance? I will mostly be working from the interior up, as the PO's removed the old core from the inside. Part of the deck has come adrift from the hull, so I either need to bridge the current gap, or draw that section of hull in to meet the deck.
Oh, and if people could post a few pics of their interiors? I have an assortment of random pieces of wood and plywood, and I'd love to know where they actually belong.
Thanks again to all!
Oops. Anybody know how to turn a photo right side up?
My storage of photos on my computer lets me do that. Just the standard Windows Documents.
let's try this:
dammit! It's right side up on the desktop!
Try saving it in the right side up position. And then reload that newly saved file to your post.
I've done that twice. It appears on my screen right-side up. When I upload it, it comes out upside down.
Shows as a PNG image. Won't let me do anything with it for you. try resaving as a .JPG
Are you south of the equator? ;D
Hm. My computer is telling me it's a jpg.
On the other hand, that might explain the mast step on the keel...
Viola
Boy does THAT look familiar!! Looks just like Tehani when I got her, except she didn't have ports or pulpits installed.
Is that an aluminum mast?
Wooden mast. There is a boom, but I don't know if it's the right one. I haven't yet measured it. It seems light for the boom. There appears to be a spinnaker pole as well, also wood.
The boom has been out in the weather these last 7 years. Looks to be some partial delamination at the seams. I'll worry about that later, getting the deck sealed and repaired is my first task.
Correction: In previous post, it's the MAST that's been out in the weather.
Got the boat cleaned out, most of the plywood pieces where they belong. Removed the starboard chain plates, and of course, the bulkhead is wet and funky. Add that to the list.
Gearing up to spend a hellish day doing nothing but grinding, prepping for taping and other repairs. Spend one day in the HazMat suit, burn the clothing at the end of the day, and hopefully only one day of fiberglass itch.
I'm looking into repairing the decks with Coosa. Anybody have any experience with it? I figure it's not affected by water, light and strong, and a good choice for repairing spongy decking, especially from underneath.
Any suggestions about reattaching the chainplates? How do you get the 90 degree bend?
Have a good weekend, all.
I moved the chain plates to the sides of the hull. I've repaired too many customer boats (and Tehani) from rotten core sat the chains. Put them just aft the bulkhead, with solid backing plates inside.
Can see them in this pic
Sent you an email about rebuild pics a while ago.
Well, I finally saw the boat that started this thread. And yes, I'm buying it. The original picture makes it look much newer than it is, but it's in pretty decent shape overall.
It was especially cool to see what my original boat is supposed to look like when finished. Now I know where all the bronze and stainless bits go. And this one is pretty damned complete!
The mast does have some funky repairs, and looks like it will need a lot of attention. But there is only one really soft spot on the deck, and a crack in the transom that needs proper repair, and some minor tabbing that needs doing.
I got it covered up with tarps so it won't spend another winter in the weather. Maybe come March I'll be able to put some more time into getting her ready. But she won't be neglected.