J/30 Class Association Forums J/30 Forum The Boat, Sails and Equipment Cabin Sole Rebuild, MaJic Carpet

There are times in a big project where a big win is kind of nice to see. Most of the cabin sole is in my shop now getting its first coats of a high solids polyurethane. I will have to admit that after putting the CPES on this wood I was having some doubts, but after sanding that out lightly with 220 and then applying this first coat I know that MaJic Carpet is going to be back into the yacht business big time.

Next up is painting the bilge followed by putting the bilge pumps and hoses back in. Some actual assembly for a change.

When I am done with installing the plugs over the screw heads and then put on at least a couple of more coats of finish I will do a short video on this crazy project, but for now it is essentially done. I supported the rear wings by getting my blocks in from the side or behind the pieces. This whole thing turns into quite the puzzle project to get assembled. This was the first time I have ever used silicon bronze screws and boy are they weak even when using paraffin wax on the threads. I was using a tapered drill bit and the ribs below are quarter sawn white oak, but even still a couple of screws twisted off without giving the slightest clue they were loaded up too much. Maybe there are big quality differences, but somehow I suspect these are just kind of weak screws.

Next step is to push some matching plugs in the outboard sections, cut them off carefully and then lightly sand them flush (I am not going to try and trim them off with a chisel, been there and cried when a plug broke off too low). Followed by more finish and rubbing and on and on. The last step will be using a silicone caulk to cover the transition from the sole to the vertical parts of the liner tub. I can't wait for that project. But this whole sole project does make a cool statement about this old yacht. The grills are worth all the effort I put into them and seeing the false bilge area is going to be very helpful in the long term. I am not sure how well my sleeved cooler hose line is going to work, but someday I can try to do a little more work there if I see that it would be worthwhile.

I have more than enough work in front of me without adding every last minor detail to the list to do now.

Also just to be clear the companion way steps are currently covered in blue painter tape.

Dave - looks great! Why the silicon bronze screws and not stronger stainless screws?

Stainless isn't stainless when it comes to wood. I didn't want to see in dark spots around the exposed heads. I guess I could have used them under the plugs, but frankly that didn't occur to me. I also didn't know how weeny the silicon bronze screws were. Learning sucks sometimes.

Beautiful job! Do you have any before pictures? I am trying to figure out how to allow water to drain into the bilge sump. An idea of the structure under the floor would be a great help. I have hull 471.

Gary, I believe that Dave passed away last summer. This boat was for sale in Anacortes, WA. His brother, Larry, inherited it and was trying to sell. It was beautifully done, hard to pass up. His brother may still have some photos of the boat - he owns yacht building company just outside of Anacortes - can't remember the name though.

That would be Larry Graf, at aspenpowercatamatans.com.

Larry is a really nice guy.