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# (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
Very nice, you have really brought that boat back to prime condition.
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.
That is one FINE lookin lil ship!! Ya gotta be proud !
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
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!! :o ::) :o
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:
Quote from: CharlieJ on November 21, 2010, 02:19:12 PM
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.
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
Great job! An additional inspiration as I plan ahead to projects I hope to accomplish on my Meridian this winter.
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.
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
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
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
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
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
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...
Quote from: sugar magnolia on August 11, 2011, 09:02:55 PM
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...
;D
So am I
;D
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?
Nice work Kevin and Ali, a grog for sharing!
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
So we are hauled for the winter... a bit early, but nice to get some work done in the fall
which brings me to my problem of the day: how to remove the tiller head? it seems the head is seized to the shaft
any advice on how to remove it...charlie? (I know you had tehani's off)
I've tried the gentle (and maybe a little not so gentle) prying, tapping, heating, spraying ritual
I'm thinking of building a puller to push on the deck to push the head up
I have mine off for some bronze work to fix oblong bolt holes and resulting tiller play. Liquid wrench and a hammer did it for me. If yours is the same as mine, inside is an oblong bit of bronze that fits into a groove in the tiller head fitting and presses against the post securing it in place when the tiller head bolt is tightened - be careful not to lose it!
I'll try to post some photos later.
Just emailed a pic of Tehani's rudder head
Hi. Nice boat!!! I was almost buying one once, here in Sweden (maybe I mentioned it?) On my swedish site there's a pic of her. Also some story about a blind man who crossed the pacific at:
http://evantica.blogg.se/2009/march/meridian-25.html
and here:
http://evantica.blogg.se/2009/march/meridian-25-snacka-om-bedrift.html
Hi, Kevin,
I own the green O'Day Mariner which sits on a mooring farther down the Niantic River by the National Guard Camp. I sail frequently on the River and have passed by your boat numerous times - what a gem! I have often wondered who owned such a great boat. I'm sure you don't remember, but one day I sailed close by when you were on the boat, before you had restored her. I yelled, "Nice boat," and you replied, "Thanks, she'll look a lot better once she's restored!" Anyway, she's one of the best looking boats on the River, in my opinion. Congratulations on a successful restoration.
Nate Bayreuther
Quote from: Nate8thcvi on December 15, 2011, 06:28:48 PM
I own the green O'Day Mariner which sits on a mooring farther down the Niantic River by the National Guard Camp.
Nate,
I sailed an O'Day Mariner when I was in my 20s. I had the fin-keel version, is yours keel or centerboard?
Nice little boats.
--Joe