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Updating a classic fiberglass cruising yacht.

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Author: goldenstate

Dodger-mounted Solar Panels

Dodger-mounted Solar Panels

Solar panels meet the standard: “any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.”  Really.  You just lay these man-made things…
April 19, 2022 goldenstate
Garmin InReach Mini 2 Set-Up

Garmin InReach Mini 2 Set-Up

If I were invited to join a boat as crew for an offshore trip, after an iPhone, a Garmin Inreach…
March 31, 2022April 1, 2022 goldenstate
Installing, Programming, and Testing a Balmar MC618 regulator

Installing, Programming, and Testing a Balmar MC618 regulator

References:  Balmar Manuals Section Balmar 2019 Service Bulletins Re Lithium Programming MaineSail – Rodd Collins on Programming a Voltage Regulator…
March 23, 2022March 23, 2022 goldenstate
Balmar SmartLink Network and Balmar App

Balmar SmartLink Network and Balmar App

A careful user of a sailboat (or any boat, really) should want to periodically know the answer to the questions: …
March 15, 2022March 15, 2022 goldenstate
Power Update 4: Yanmar Balmar Renogy Noco Lithium Installation w/Costs

Power Update 4: Yanmar Balmar Renogy Noco Lithium Installation w/Costs

Summary I recently installed a new power supply system for my sailboat utilizing lithium batteries and a new alternator.  The…
March 15, 2022March 15, 2022 goldenstate
Power Update 3:  Product Selections

Power Update 3: Product Selections

Product Selection For house batteries I believe I can fit two group 24 style 50ah batteries and a small start…
February 15, 2022 goldenstate
Power Update 2: System Design Factors

Power Update 2: System Design Factors

Battery System Requirements Basics The battery/power system has to be safe. The battery/power system should be “set-it and forget-it” as…
February 15, 2022 goldenstate
Power Update 1: Forensic Analysis

Power Update 1: Forensic Analysis

Until recently I had been ignoring the battery/power supply system of my boat.  The previous owner had advised me with…
February 15, 2022February 15, 2022 goldenstate
Aries Vane Control Line Updates

Aries Vane Control Line Updates

I made a couple of updates to the routing of the control lines for my Aries wind vane.   My boat…
January 31, 2022 goldenstate
Good work by Pineapple Sails

Good work by Pineapple Sails

I recently had a 3rd reef point installed on my Main sail.  In the photo below I already have my…
January 26, 2022 goldenstate
How to Sew Reefing Dog Bones

How to Sew Reefing Dog Bones

“Dog Bones?   We make them ourselves!” So says Professor Williams.   A “dog bone” in this context is a helper…
December 16, 2021December 16, 2021 goldenstate
How to Sew Sheet Bags

How to Sew Sheet Bags

Summary I bought a Sailrite sheet bag kit and modified the design to suit my tastes.  The project is fairly…
December 15, 2021December 15, 2021 goldenstate
How To Sew Fabric Winch Covers

How To Sew Fabric Winch Covers

Summary:  I bought a fancy sewing machine and made winch covers out of Sunbrella canvas by following a how-to video…
December 8, 2021 goldenstate
How to replace a battery charger on a sailboat:

How to replace a battery charger on a sailboat:

Summary I replaced the battery charger on my sailboat.  The most important lesson I learned was the value of using…
November 18, 2021November 18, 2021 goldenstate
How to replace a Ronco freshwater tank on a sailboat

How to replace a Ronco freshwater tank on a sailboat

Summary I replaced an 18 gallon freshwater tank in my sailboat.  Determine the correct part number from your existing tank…
November 3, 2021November 3, 2021 goldenstate
How to Rebuild a Raritan PHII Marine Toilet Pump

How to Rebuild a Raritan PHII Marine Toilet Pump

Summary:   I rebuilt the manual pump for the marine toilet on my sailboat with a kit from Defender.com.  It was…
October 27, 2021October 27, 2021 goldenstate
Yanmar 3GM30F Fuel Filter Change

Yanmar 3GM30F Fuel Filter Change

How to change the primary fuel filter and inspect the secondary fuel filter on a Yanmar 3GM30F engine
October 17, 2021 goldenstate
Yanmar 3GM30F Oil Change

Yanmar 3GM30F Oil Change

How to change the oil in a Yanmar 3GM30F engine:
October 12, 2021October 12, 2021 goldenstate
How to update mid-boom sheeting

How to update mid-boom sheeting

TLDR: I replaced and subtly reconfigured the lines for my mainsheet and boom vang, as well as replacing almost all…
October 12, 2021November 8, 2021 goldenstate
Out of the Blue, Into the Black

Out of the Blue, Into the Black

There are many sailing skills I have yet to develop, and not the least of them is a portfolio of…
October 11, 2021 goldenstate
How to replace sailboat engine compartment insulation:

How to replace sailboat engine compartment insulation:

When I bought my 1990 Ericson 32 the engine compartment was lined with reflective engine insulation, but many of the…
September 11, 2021 goldenstate
Sailing to Drake’s Bay

Sailing to Drake’s Bay

TLDR:  I took an overnight trip to Drake’s Bay, north of San Francisco with two friends.  Anchoring out in high…
September 2, 2021September 3, 2021 goldenstate
How to service a Lewmar winch

How to service a Lewmar winch

I recently serviced all of my winches and found the process to be straightforward and satisfying in a clean-and-tidy improvement…
August 24, 2021August 24, 2021 goldenstate
Farallon Islands, Cetaceans, Beginnaker Experiments

Farallon Islands, Cetaceans, Beginnaker Experiments

California offers coastal visitors only a few island-visiting opportunities.  Los Angeles has the lovely Catalina group, Santa Barbara is near…
August 1, 2021August 1, 2021 goldenstate
How to remove Ericson Yacht galley drawers

How to remove Ericson Yacht galley drawers

A quick note on a task I recently puzzled out: My boat’s galley offers two latching drawers intended to store…
July 28, 2021July 28, 2021 goldenstate
Yanmar 3GM30F Heat Exchanger Service, Don’t Mix Coolant Colors

Yanmar 3GM30F Heat Exchanger Service, Don’t Mix Coolant Colors

While I had my engine out of my sailboat this spring, I earnestly(!) thought of good proactive, preventative maintenance I…
July 22, 2021July 27, 2021 goldenstate
How to repair a fiberglass keel stub

How to repair a fiberglass keel stub

I’m writing this note in mid-July, 2021.  The repair work described was completed in June of 2021.   I hit a…
July 21, 2021July 21, 2021 goldenstate
How To Replace Keel Bolts

How To Replace Keel Bolts

The short answer is to find a competent boatyard and have them replace the bolts. Here’s how it worked in…
June 3, 2021June 3, 2021 goldenstate
Yanmar Transmission Mount Fabrication

Yanmar Transmission Mount Fabrication

For a Yanmar 3GM30F diesel sailboat engine, a mounting bracket is necessary to provide a fixed point aft of the…
May 18, 2021 goldenstate
How a Propeller Connects to an Engine

How a Propeller Connects to an Engine

A beginner’s note for myself/for future reference:  A quick overview of how a propeller shaft attaches to both the engine…
May 8, 2021May 8, 2021 goldenstate
Fiberglass Surgery, Minor Engine Work

Fiberglass Surgery, Minor Engine Work

After pulling out the engine of my boat, my friendly local boatyard has now made an incision in the hull…
May 3, 2021May 3, 2021 goldenstate
How to remove a sailboat engine

How to remove a sailboat engine

For those just arriving at my storyline, I recently went for a solo cruise and crashed my boat on the…
April 25, 2021 goldenstate
How to remove a sailboat keel

How to remove a sailboat keel

The best way to remove a sailboat keel is to do so in a boatyard with specialized equipment to manage…
April 7, 2021 goldenstate
Re-packing a propeller shaft stuffing box

Re-packing a propeller shaft stuffing box

Summary:  I changed the packing flax material on my propeller stuffing box.  It seems that no one had done this…
March 28, 2021April 13, 2021 goldenstate
Rudder Post Observations and Anatomy

Rudder Post Observations and Anatomy

My rudder is currently out of my boat and I thought this would be an opportune time to make sure…
March 23, 2021 goldenstate
How to remove an Edson radial quadrant: (Clean and Rehab)

How to remove an Edson radial quadrant: (Clean and Rehab)

Never waste a crisis, right?   While my boat is hauled out to have the hull repaired, it seemed like an…
March 12, 2021July 27, 2021 goldenstate
A fine line between stupid and clever

A fine line between stupid and clever

Here’s a rambling update in the writing-instead-of-financial-advice-or-psychological-therapy vein. I recently had a bit of a setback in my sailing adventures…
February 27, 2021February 27, 2021 goldenstate
The End of the Affair?

The End of the Affair?

This is a long post about a short cruise with a twist at the end.   Getting out of the Bay…
February 21, 2021 goldenstate
Projects:  Voltage, Balls, Bilge, Cold Start

Projects: Voltage, Balls, Bilge, Cold Start

High Voltage I headed out for a day sail this week and was motoring about 50 yards out of my…
February 5, 2021April 13, 2021 goldenstate
Using a Whisker Pole

Using a Whisker Pole

With the purchase of my boat I inherited an under-sized whisker pole that I subsequently sold.  Nevertheless I wanted to…
January 22, 2021 goldenstate
How to install Dyneema lifelines

How to install Dyneema lifelines

Summary I replaced the aged stainless steel cable lifelines on my boat with Dyneema synthetic lines.  The total cost was…
January 22, 2021 goldenstate
New Mast Cleats

New Mast Cleats

Summary: Adding new cleats or attachments to a mast is quite simple if you have the correct size tap set…
January 15, 2021January 15, 2021 goldenstate
Aries Wind Vane:  Rigging and Test Sail

Aries Wind Vane: Rigging and Test Sail

Summary:  I completed my final installation of my Aries wind vane and went for a test sail.  So far so…
January 12, 2021 goldenstate
Aries Wind Vane: Hardware fitment

Aries Wind Vane: Hardware fitment

Summary After some research and some comments and suggestions from others, I wound up buying a used Aries wind vane…
December 13, 2020April 13, 2021 goldenstate
Aries Wind Vane: Fabricating transom backer plates with G10 and Epoxy

Aries Wind Vane: Fabricating transom backer plates with G10 and Epoxy

Summary I’m working on installing an Aires wind vane that I bought second-hand on eBay.  I’ll write more about the…
December 9, 2020January 12, 2021 goldenstate
Slip Flips, Speed Mods, Sunsets

Slip Flips, Speed Mods, Sunsets

Slip FlipHave you done a slip-flip? Spun your boat by hand in your marina/berth so that instead of being docked…
December 4, 2020December 13, 2020 goldenstate
Tides Marine Sailtrack 4: Test and Conclusion

Tides Marine Sailtrack 4: Test and Conclusion

I’ve had a few days out now, with my self-installed Sailtrack.  I can confirm that the sail raises and drops…
December 1, 2020 goldenstate
Replacing Sideliners

Replacing Sideliners

What’s a sideliner you ask? It’s like a headliner, but a sideliner covers the diagonal side portion of the interior…
November 21, 2020April 13, 2021 goldenstate
Tensioning and Rigging a Harken Mk1 Furler

Tensioning and Rigging a Harken Mk1 Furler

In the process of replacing all the standing rigging on my boat, I had the wire forestay/jibstay replaced as well,…
November 18, 2020 goldenstate
Standing Rigging Replacement:  Colligo Install & Test Sail

Standing Rigging Replacement: Colligo Install & Test Sail

Summary:  The Colligo standing rigging I ordered for my boat was difficult to get pinned in the initial set-up, but…
November 17, 2020April 13, 2021 goldenstate
KKMI Richmond Boatyard Review

KKMI Richmond Boatyard Review

It started with my haul out on July 21st and ended on October 21st, 2020 and all in all I…
October 23, 2020November 11, 2020 goldenstate
Form, Function, and Folly on a Foray into Fiberglass

Form, Function, and Folly on a Foray into Fiberglass

Summary: I shaped, decorated, and encased in fiberglass, an adult-sized(!) wooden skimboard. On a strategic basis, my key lesson was…
September 29, 2020April 13, 2021 goldenstate
The Mechanical Windvane Market

The Mechanical Windvane Market

Summary By the internet-testimony of their customers, the companies listed here seem to produce quality products, based on the positive…
September 24, 2020December 13, 2020 goldenstate
Standing Rigging Replacement: Colligo order receipt and review

Standing Rigging Replacement: Colligo order receipt and review

At somewhat long last, I received nearly all of the rigging I had ordered from Colligo.  As I mentioned in…
September 13, 2020 goldenstate
Yanmar Engine Panel Warning Light Diagnostics

Yanmar Engine Panel Warning Light Diagnostics

When I first bought my boat, the cockpit “dashboard” engine panel was something of a mystery. There were six little…
September 12, 2020September 12, 2020 goldenstate
Re-bedding Lewmar hatches and mast collar with Compass Marine Bed-It butyl tape

Re-bedding Lewmar hatches and mast collar with Compass Marine Bed-It butyl tape

Total hours: 12-15 hours, on multiple daysCost, $50 for butyl tape. $40 for Debond cleaner (only a little used on…
September 9, 2020September 9, 2020 goldenstate
Tides Marine Sailtrack 3: Installing sail slides

Tides Marine Sailtrack 3: Installing sail slides

After ordering the Sailtrack and installing it, the final step is to have the Sailtrack slides affixed to one’s mainsail. Any…
September 3, 2020April 13, 2021 goldenstate
Removing a painted boat name

Removing a painted boat name

Another one from the University of YouTube. How about these nice women from Long Island? I picture them traveling merrily…
August 26, 2020September 4, 2020 goldenstate
Standing Rigging Replacement: Ordering from Colligo

Standing Rigging Replacement: Ordering from Colligo

I’m replacing the standing rigging on my boat, and at a local workshop/seminar put on by a local sailing group…
August 19, 2020December 8, 2021 goldenstate
AIS Systems for Sailboats

AIS Systems for Sailboats

Summary: AIS transceivers are good – try to buy a 5 watt one. AIS Systems Generally International “Law Of The…
August 17, 2020September 4, 2020 goldenstate
Splicing Tiny Wires

Splicing Tiny Wires

This note like my other one on coaxial cables has been marinating since late May, 2020. As part of my…
August 10, 2020April 13, 2021 goldenstate
Connecting coaxial cables

Connecting coaxial cables

Luke: Dang it Yoda, I didn’t fly all the way to the swamps of Dagoba to learn about some Ham…
August 10, 2020April 13, 2021 goldenstate
Mast re-wiring, lighting upgrades

Mast re-wiring, lighting upgrades

Time dedicated: About 7 hours – two yesterday pulling wires and five today messing with fixtures. Edit: 8/5/2020 – Costs:$165…
August 4, 2020April 13, 2021 goldenstate
Stuffing box inspection, analysis

Stuffing box inspection, analysis

I’m learning everything about keel sailboats as I go about fixing my own. A basic problem that boats with so-called…
August 3, 2020September 3, 2020 goldenstate
Tides Marine Sailtrack 2: Luff Track Installation

Tides Marine Sailtrack 2: Luff Track Installation

So after cleaning and polishing my mast while it was out at the boatyard, today I was able to install…
August 3, 2020July 27, 2021 goldenstate
Bringing sexy back: Hull paint cleaning/buffing

Bringing sexy back: Hull paint cleaning/buffing

Pretty much everything I know at this point about cleaning gel-coat boats is from a week or so I spent…
July 26, 2020April 13, 2021 goldenstate
Through-hull inspection, Minor maintenance

Through-hull inspection, Minor maintenance

When you turned on your computer today, you were probably thinking, “Man, I sure hope I get something exciting to…
July 26, 2020September 1, 2020 goldenstate
Haul out, Initial Conditions

Haul out, Initial Conditions

Up into the slings she goes. The underside was not exactly bright red: Power-washed and placed on a cart: Can…
July 21, 2020July 27, 2021 goldenstate
Mast disassembly and cleaning

Mast disassembly and cleaning

Arrived at the boatyard, patted myself on the back for the yard crew noting my earnest application of labels and…
July 21, 2020September 1, 2020 goldenstate
Tides Marine Sailtrack 1: How to order

Tides Marine Sailtrack 1: How to order

I decided to install a Tides Marine SailTrack system for my mainsail, based on the very positive reviews from members…
July 14, 2020July 27, 2021 goldenstate
Sparcraft Masthead Tour, ATN Mastclimber review

Sparcraft Masthead Tour, ATN Mastclimber review

“Dude, that Alex Honnold guy climbed up the face of El Capitan with no ropes and no help. You just…
July 3, 2020August 31, 2020 goldenstate
Installing new rope halyards

Installing new rope halyards

I wrote about my plans to ascend my mast with a newly-purchased mast-climber on my wire rope halyards. The feedback I received…
July 2, 2020August 31, 2020 goldenstate
Haul out and mast-crane preparations

Haul out and mast-crane preparations

I’m preparing to have my sailboat hauled out of the water for the first time. I’ve never been through the…
July 1, 2020September 1, 2020 goldenstate
Preparing to climb the mast with an ATN Mastclimber

Preparing to climb the mast with an ATN Mastclimber

I need to climb my mast to run a new spinnaker halyard/topping lift for a yet-to-be-purchased whisker pole. I also…
June 16, 2020August 31, 2020 goldenstate
Installing a NMEA2000 network on a cruising sailboat

Installing a NMEA2000 network on a cruising sailboat

Summary: It cost about 5.5 grand and 40-50 hours of work. Much longer time waiting for parts than installing. Wiring…
May 31, 2020April 13, 2021 goldenstate
Replacing pedestal guard feet

Replacing pedestal guard feet

[Rodney Dangerfield] I used to think that a hot mess was something like my ex-wife. Then I tried the West System…
May 10, 2020August 31, 2020 goldenstate
Fabricating a new navigation station dashboard

Fabricating a new navigation station dashboard

Replacing the dashboard on a sailboat shouldn’t be that complicated. You just unscrew one piece of rectangular plywood, cut a…
April 29, 2020August 31, 2020 goldenstate
Removing old wiring and electronics from a cruising sailboat

Removing old wiring and electronics from a cruising sailboat

One of the marks of good craftsmanship is tight tolerances between materials – pieces of wood, metal ducts, pipes, etc..…
April 24, 2020August 31, 2020 goldenstate
Installing a NavPod instrument enclosure and pedestal guard

Installing a NavPod instrument enclosure and pedestal guard

Inching my way along into my electronics replacement project. Logisitics delays what with the global pandemic have slowed me down…
April 18, 2020April 13, 2021 goldenstate
Replacing corroded zipper pulls

Replacing corroded zipper pulls

My 1990 Ericson 32-200 features a “leatherette” headliner that conceals various wires and the inside portions of deck-mounted hardware such…
April 5, 2020August 30, 2020 goldenstate
“A culinary tour de force”

“A culinary tour de force”

One spends all this time going fixing, upgrading, repairing. Fun to balance out with the actual sailing. Great progress –…
March 31, 2020August 30, 2020 goldenstate
Recreational yacht as pandemic isolation chamber

Recreational yacht as pandemic isolation chamber

I didn’t use the restroom at the marina. I didn’t see anyone or encounter anyone. I practiced anchoring, though. That’s…
March 30, 2020August 30, 2020 goldenstate
How to design a NMEA 2000 network for a cruising sailboat

How to design a NMEA 2000 network for a cruising sailboat

“Ko’olea felt the wind across his cheek, the beams of light soaking into the apex of his left shoulder, and…
March 17, 2020August 30, 2020 goldenstate
Removing a stuck Edson steering wheel

Removing a stuck Edson steering wheel

Two truths and a lie: 1. “It’s important to be able to remove your wheel from your pedestal in the…
March 12, 2020August 30, 2020 goldenstate
Go sailing, go sailing, go sailing

Go sailing, go sailing, go sailing

Not really contributing information, other than some pictures of a beautiful lap I took today around the central San Francisco…
March 2, 2020August 30, 2020 goldenstate
Reefing revisited

Reefing revisited

More practice learning to sail my boat. The high pressure system that’s been sitting off the coast of Northern California…
March 1, 2020August 30, 2020 goldenstate
Hawaii, June 2021

Hawaii, June 2021

Sixteen months from now, prepared and well-planned, setting sail from San Francisco to Hawaii. Somewhere between bucket list and midlife…
February 27, 2020August 30, 2020 goldenstate
Rebuilding Edson engine controls

Rebuilding Edson engine controls

In a previous post on updating my wheel brake, I discovered that my diesel engine governor and transmission pedestal controls (the handles…
February 27, 2020August 30, 2020 goldenstate
Overhauling a Kenyon Boom, new reefing sheaves

Overhauling a Kenyon Boom, new reefing sheaves

After some initial sails and testing, I came up with a list of updates that I wanted to make to…
February 24, 2020August 30, 2020 goldenstate
Rebuilding an Edson Wheel Brake

Rebuilding an Edson Wheel Brake

Edson is a manufacturer of sailing steering systems commonly found on American cruising yachts. My 1990 Ericson came equipped with…
February 6, 2020August 30, 2020 goldenstate
Practice Reefing Sails

Practice Reefing Sails

Sailing in the San Francisco Bay requires that one be ready and able to change the amount of sail he…
February 2, 2020August 28, 2020 goldenstate
Maintaining a Forespar Twist-Lock Whisker Pole

Maintaining a Forespar Twist-Lock Whisker Pole

My boat came with a Forespar Anodized Aluminum whisker pole that had been little used in recent years. I believe…
January 29, 2020August 29, 2020 goldenstate
Prototyping Dog Bones for Reefing

Prototyping Dog Bones for Reefing

My boat came with a set of new-ish crispy Dacron sails. The broker who joined me and the seller on…
January 28, 2020August 29, 2020 goldenstate
Rebuilding a Whale Pumps Gusher 10 Mk 3

Rebuilding a Whale Pumps Gusher 10 Mk 3

A manual bilge pump is a vital component for any recreational sailboat. None of us can predict if and when…
January 25, 2020April 13, 2021 goldenstate
How I bought my used cruising sailboat

How I bought my used cruising sailboat

After my initial experience working to bring a little Coronado 15 racing dinghy back to life, I decided that I…
November 30, 2019August 30, 2020 goldenstate
Compounding the gelcoat hull on a Coronado 15 dinghy

Compounding the gelcoat hull on a Coronado 15 dinghy

I wanted to bring some vibrancy back to the finish of the hull of my recently-purchased Coronado 15. As I…
October 2, 2019April 13, 2021 goldenstate
Rehabbing a 1983 Dilly boat trailer for a Coronado 15

Rehabbing a 1983 Dilly boat trailer for a Coronado 15

I bought my C15 in Oakland, California and drove it about 35 nerve-wracking miles to Vallejo, California where I planned…
September 26, 2019August 30, 2020 goldenstate
I started off buying an “experienced” racing dinghy

I started off buying an “experienced” racing dinghy

It starts with me hiding from the authorities in a hotel bedroom. By “the authorities,” I mean my belligerent children…
August 30, 2019August 30, 2020 goldenstate
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