Hanging a Keel in the Paint Shop

Hanging a keel in the paint shop for access to all sides

Among other things going on in the paint shop this winter is keel work for a race boat. This one is headed out to the west coast to compete in several regattas including the Transpac.

Paint Shop Project Update

By Andrew Spaulding

Beneteau Oceanis 45 with AwlGrip 545 primer going on the hull

It is time once again to update you on the progress we’ve made on our Beneteau Oceanis 45 paint job. In November, we answered some reader questions about the project and now I’d like to update you on the job progress.

The first picture shows the gelcoat being sprayed with AwlGrip 545 primer which is the gray going over the white. The second step, seen in the second picture, is painting the boat with AwlGrip high build primer which is beige.

Beneteau Oceanis 45 with AwlGrip high build primer going on the hull

Strictly speaking, applying 545 primer to the hull, before applying the high build primer isn’t necessary. The high build primer is thick and therefore doesn’t do a good job of filling the pin holes, so the 545 primer allows us to ensure all imperfections are filled. The initial layer of 545 primer also helps seal the gelcoat and Awlgrip suggests this method to achieve the best results with the high build primer.

We use the high build primer to fill in larger hull imperfections and scratches. High build primer is named particularly well since its job is to build up a thick layer on the hull that is sanded to remove evidence of any defects, scratches or dings from the hull. This job could be done with many coats of the 545 primer, but as the name implies, high build primer gets the job done in fewer coats.

Beneteau Oceanis 45 in AwlGrip high build primer ready for sanding

We sanded the whole hull fair with 150 grit sand paper. Once that was done, we sprayed the hull with 3 more coats of the 545 primer. This final layer of primer gets sanded in preparation to spray on the topcoat of Awlgrip paint.

Hose and Hose Clamps

By Andrew Spaulding

Wire reinforced hose

By now you’ve felt the chilled bite of winter’s arrival. What to do to keep warm over the long winter months? Work on the boat of course! A hose and hose clamp inspection project isn’t too taxing, although beware those few extra cookies around the middle don’t trap you in the lazarette.

What is the hose and hose clamp project you say? Checking all of your hose and hose clamps…bow to stern. Hose related failure can lead to dramatic, catastrophic failure. Anyone that has even a few years working in the marine industry can tell a horror story about a hose gone wrong. An annual ritual ought to be a comprehensive survey of your hose. The winter doldrums are a perfect time of year to inspect your hose.

I prefer to break down the boat compartment by compartment as I go looking for my hose. This way I know which hose I’ve looked at and which hose still needs inspection. Every hose and hose connection is suspect. Check each hose for cracks, discoloration, and kinks. Make sure that any place where the hose can abrade on a bulkhead or piece of equipment, that there is protection for the hose.

In any place that you have wire reinforced hose make sure to check for signs of rust. Rust indicates that the hose has suffered some wear and tear that is exposing the internal structure. This is a case for immediately replacing the hose, as this situation can lead to a dangerous failure. Typically wire reinforced hose is used in exhaust systems where even a minor hose failure can lead to carbon monoxide building up in the main cabin.

While you're checking the hose, make sure each hose clamp is tight. Even if it looks tight, loosen the hose clamp a quarter turn and then tighten it back up. If you don’t feel the hose clamp tighten right back up, it could be breaking, twisting apart, or the teeth could be loosening. Any of these situations require a new hose clamp. 

Since you are going to make the effort to look at all of the hose and hose clamps, take advantage of the current camera technology and take digital pictures of all of your hoses. This way you can compare your hose year to year to identify any degradation to your hose.

Taylor Canfield and Team USone Win the Monsoon Cup

Taylor Canfield from the Chicago Match Race Center and the rest of Team USone has won the World Match Racing Tour's Moonson Cup.

HARKEN MKIV Furler

Harken MKIV Furler SALE! See below for details.

By Andrew Spaulding and Jon Paige

Harken MKIV Furler

One of the greatest labor saving inventions to find its way onto a sailboat is the jib furler. The jib furler was invented in Britain over 100 years ago and the original design was upgraded by a rigger from New York in the 1960s. Ever since jib furlers were invented a steady stream of upgrades has increased the reliability so now a properly maintained furler will provide a decade or more of faithful service. Furlers have a long history of innovation:   First they freed cruising boats from needing large crews and now furlers can be found on the latest racing boats furling spinnakers from the top down.

Harken’s MKIV Jib Furler is the iconic brand’s latest edition of a world renown furler. The MKIV is designed to be a performance cruising and racing furler. I prefer it from the cruising furler because it has a double groove headstay with robust construction for racing which means a long, trouble free life in a cruising application. The double groove forestay allows you to fly double headsails down wind which is much easier to do short-handed than flying a spinnaker.

One of the upgrades the MKIV offers over Harken’s cruising furler is the foil joints. The MKIV foil joints are triple-interlocked with shaped connectors, adhesive and screws. When attached together according to Harken’s specifications the foil joints will withstand years of torque loading.

MKIV Foil Section

Another great feature of the Harken MKIV jib furler is its ability to perform well on wire or rod forestays with rod, swage, Norseman, or Sta-lok terminals. It has multiple toggle options to adapt to a variety of turnbuckles and it can be fitted for a fork or a toggle chainplate installation.

Harken’s recommended MKIV maintenance is to flush the unit frequently with fresh water…easy to do here on Lake Michigan! Also, periodically it needs to be cleaned with a mild detergent and water solution…we recommend at least once a year. It is this easy to maintain your furler and protect your investment in easier sail handling.

This December (2012), we are offering the Harken MKIV at 25% off retail, including new forestay.  For example, the Unit 1 furler (typically sized for a 28’ – 36’ LOA) with new forestay is normally $3266, your price $2450 + $570 installation.  That’s a total of $3020, still less than the retail price of the furler.  This offer only applies to installations carried out at our yard.  For further details and a more detailed estimate for your boat, contact Jon Paige at jon@crowleys.com or 773-364-1339.

Picture of the Week - December 5, 2012

Taylor Canfield from the Chicago Match Race Center

Taylor Canfield from the Chicago Match Race Center competing in the World Match Racing Tour's Moonson Cup. Currently Taylor is in third place. Click here for the latest results.

Picture of the Week - November 28, 2012

Hurricane Sandy left this boat high and dry in Rowayton, CT

20 Questions with John Spies, Fiberglass Department Manager

1. How long have you worked at Crowley’s? 25 years.

2. How did you first start working here? A friend of mine worked at Crowley's. He spoke to me about an opening and I applied for the job.

3. Which departments have you worked in? The Yard, Administration and Fiberglass departments.

4. What is your favorite time of year at Crowley’s? Spring. Springtime is when we go crazy, but it managing the craziness keeps me busy which I like.

5. How often do you go boating? Not as much as I'd like. 

6. What kind of boat? It varies; mostly if I am out on a boat, we are out fishing. 

7. Did you grow up boating? No, I learned to enjoy boating later in life.

8. What is your favorite boating activity? Fishing.

9. How many employees work in your department? Seven.

10. Do they have job specific training? If so, how often do they go? The Fiberglass Department technicians have a wide range of training available which is provided by the manufacturers of the products that we use. Depending on what training is scheduled for the year, our guys typically go a few times per year.

11. What job specific training do you have? I've been to West System Epoxy, Awlgrip Paint, composite fabrication and management training.

12. What certifications do you have? I have 2 West System Epoxy certifications, an Awlgrip system application certification and a composite fabricators certification. In addition, all of these lead to a ABBRA (American Boat Builders and Repairers Association) certification.

13. What is your number one recommendation to boat owners? Pay attention to your boat: It will let you know when it has a problem.

14. In your area of experience, what can a boat owner do to maintain their boat?  Keep it clean, wax it, resolve leaks quickly and don't ignore warning signs of a problem like surface cracks.

15. What is the one boat owner complaint that you hear most often? My hullsides look terrible. What can be done?

16. What is your number one money saving tip for boat owners? Preventative maintenance.

17. What is the toughest part of your job? Managing the expectations of the boat owner. 

18. When are you most likely to be found in the harbor? In the summer.

19. What is your favorite winter activity? Building a snowman with my grandson.

20. What is the best way to get a hold of you to ask a question? My office number: 773-364-1302

As always, give us a call if you have any questions or send an email to lakesidestory@crowleys.com

Picture of the Week - November 14, 2012

A sure sign that winter is approaching - Crowley's North Docks coming out of the water.

Raymarine UPDATE

RayControl turning a tablet into a multifunction display

Raymarine announced that it is offering its RayControl and RayRemote apps for smartphones and tablets for free from November 13 to January 13. The apps are available from Raymarine.com. Both of these apps work with the built-in Wi-Fi networking found in the new Raymarine c-Series and e-Series multifunction displays. The RayControl app will turn your tablet into a multifunction display.

The ability to put touch screens into use on boats to control navigation and auto-pilot functions always made me a bit nervous since boats are always moving and tossing people around. One swipe of finger on a touch screen can have unintended results. Raymarine wisely has addressed this by requiring additional confirmations when using the tablet to control autopilot functions to prevent false changes.

Raymarine AIS100 Antenna Splitter

In other Raymarine news, they have developed a new VHF antenna splitter that is designed for use with AIS. In the past, the difficulty of an AIS installation was partially due to the need for a second VHF antenna to ensure that emergency VHF communications weren't interfered with by AIS communications. Raymarine's new AIS100 Active Antenna Splitter allows one VHF antenna to handle a VHF radiotelephone, a Class B AIS transceiver, and a FM radio tuner. This antenna splitter actively routes the different signals giving priority to the VHF radiotelephone transmissions. Check below for an example wiring diagram. 

For those of you that don't know, AIS stands for Automatic Identification System. It is an electronic system that exchanges vessel information including position, course and speed automatically through a VHF antenna. In my opinion, the  best thing about AIS is that ships can now can see small boats on their navigation and/or radar screens. I highly recommend AIS, particularly with the concentrated commercial traffic on southern . The new generation of antenna splitters makes the installation of AIS even more reasonable since one VHF antenna now does it all.

Possible AIS wiring diagram

Raymarine has also developed an Online Print Shop for Product Documentation. Now, as a Raymarine dealer, Crowley's can order for you a replacement handbook for your Raymarine electronics in multiple languages. Currently most of the current products are covered and in the future most legacy products will be covered.

Please contact Kathy Lindt, our Installation Department Mangager, at kat@crowleys.com for futher information regarding any of the above items. 

Crowley's Ship's Store First Annual One Day Only Sale!

Interview - Michael Argyelan, Store Manager

1. How long have you worked at Crowley’s? Two years.

2. How did you first start working here? In the rigging department during the spring and fall for 4 seasons stepping and un-stepping masts. I wanted to work at Crowley’s full time so I applied for the Store Manager position when HR approached me with the opening.

3. Which departments have you worked in? Just Rigging and the Store.

4. What is the new news in that department? We have a BIG sale coming up in December…”The First Annual One Day Only Sale!” We thought that a sale just before the holidays might be good for our customers. After the sale we are going to do a little remodeling and install a counter, etc. See the above blog post for more information or click here for the web page.

5. What is your favorite time of year at Crowley’s? Spring…that’s when there are the most customers in the store and helping customers get what they need is what we are here to do and what we love to do.

6. How often do you go boating? 4 days a week or more when possible.

7. What kind of boat? My Frers 33 Mystify and any other boat I can get my hands on, power or otherwise.

8. Did you grow up boating? No, I started boating 12 years ago with my former in-laws. So, I’m thankful to them for that! My first sail was from Detroit to Chicago. After that I wanted to learn everything I could about boats, water, wind and equally as important, rum!

9. What is your favorite boating activity? Port-to-port sailboat racing and of course a good sunset sail with friends.

10. How many employees work in the store? Five.

11. Do they have job specific training? If so, how often do they go? We don’t have job specific training for everyone, but we do cross train with the different departments to help learn the needs of the boatyard and to gain experience with the products that we sell. Also, everyone in the store has boating experience.

12. What job specific training do you have? I have a 100 ton USCG Captain’s license. I am a boat owner and in my spare time I run a sailboat charter and lesson company Go Sailing Chicago. Umm…sorry for the shameless plug. So, nothing specific to my job, but lots of DIY experience with boats.

13. What certifications do you have? Other than my Captain’s license none really unless you want to count my CPR/First Aid certificates and my degree in Print Media from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

14. What is your number one recommendation to boat owners? Know where the water comes in and out of your boat. Every thru-hull, drain, in/outlet you name it. We need the water to float on, but it needs to stay where it belongs, out of the boat. When something goes wrong and the boat starts taking on water, you need to know where to look.

15. In your area of experience, what can a boat owner do to maintain their boat? Keep it clean. A clean boat is a safe boat. Not to mention problems can’t hide behind dirt if you are cleaning the boat inside and out regularly. This is how you will find leaks and cracks and anything else before it becomes a problem.

16. What is your number one money saving tip for boat owners? Make sure your bottom is clean to save fuel.

18. What is the toughest part of your job? Having to be at work while my boat is on the water.

19. When are you most likely to be found in the harbors? When I’m not at work.

20. What is your favorite winter activity? Snow skiing.

21. What is the best way to get a hold of you to ask a question? Email: mma@crowleys.com 

Picture of the Week - November 7, 2012

The Crowley's Yacht Yard Rigging Department removed the arch on this 92 foot power yacht in preparation for heading down river to the Mississippi.

Paint Shop Projects #1

By Andrew Spaulding



Beneteau Oceanis 45 - Stripes still on

I wanted to detail some of the projects that we are doing around the yard this winter. The Fiberglass Shop was the logical place to start since we started the winter’s first hull paint job. No to mention the differences in the before and after pictures can be quite striking. With this in mind, Lakeside Story is going to follow the paint job of a new Beneteau Oceanis 45 from the original factory gelcoat white to a dark blue.

The success of any paint job hinges on the proper preparation of the surface. The first picture shows the boat as it came from the factory with a vinyl boot stripe (the stripe that goes along the water line) and a vinyl cove stripe (the stripe that is higher on the hull below the gunwale). Once the vinyl stripes and other graphics are removed, the hull needs to be washed and de-waxed perhaps several times if there is a build up of wax on the boat.

The removal of the wax is critical since the next step is sanding. If the boat is sanded with wax still on it, the wax will be ground into the gelcoat making it very difficult to get the primer and paint to stick to the hull. Once the hull is de-waxed and wiped down with solvent to remove any lingering dirt or wax, it can be sanded to remove surface imperfections. Since this boat is new, there are very few imperfections that need to be repaired before the primer can be applied.

Beneteau Oceanis 45 - Paint prep started

This is the point in the paint job where we would repair any gelcoat cracks or deep scratches in the hull. Many times, particularly with older, oxidized gelcoat, cracks will show up once the surface layer of gelcoat is removed by sanding. Making all of the necessary repairs to the hull at this point is critical, since from here on out we will apply new material to the hull. With the cost of these materials it doesn’t make sense to sand everything off to make a repair that was missed prior to spraying the first coat of primer, so we double and triple check.

In many cases where a large percentage of the hull has minor defects such as scratches, or the gelcoat is porous or filled with pin holes we may elect to spray a coat (or several) of high build primer. High build primer is thick and made for filling minor imperfections without having to repair each one individually. Standard primer isn’t thick enough to fill in defects. More often than not, it is more effective in man-hours to spray high build on the hull and sand the whole hull than it is to repair imperfections individually. Once the hi-build is applied and sanded smooth, the paint job can proceed with a standard primer in the usual way.

Keep your eyes out for the second installment of “Paint Shop Projects” sometime next month. Let me know if you have a paint job question or if you want more details about a particular portion of the paint job.

Picture of the Week - Fireworks Cruise

Christmas Tree Ship Benefit Fireworks Cruise

Michigan Avenue Lights Festival Fireworks River Cruise

Chicago’s First Lady - Saturday, November 17, 2012

Join CHICAGO’S FIRST LADY CRUISES for this spectacular kickoff in support of Chicago’s Christmas Ship. Click here for the website.

Product of the Month - Kanberra Gel

Kanberra Gel

Kanberra Gel is relatively new to the pleasure boat market, but has enjoyed years of success in the mega-yacht and ship markets. Kanberra Gel is an air purifier, not a deodorizer that kills the big three (bacteria, fungus, and mold) that threaten air quality.

While big boats use it directly in the air handlers, smaller boats can use Kanberra Gel effectively over the winter once the boat is sealed up. A container left open in the boat once the winter cover is on, will slowly dissapiate into the air over the winter. Over the winter the vapor that comes off of the gel will have time to reach all of the hidden places where bacteria, fungus and mold can hide.

Kanberra Gel can also be used all year long in air handlers or ventilation systems on a boat. Also, bathrooms, basement apartments, and other places that tend to harbor bacteria, fungus and mold are great locations to use a tub of Kanberra Gel. Kanberra Gel will be effective in an often used room, although a constant stream of fresh air may dilute the concentration.

Kanberra Gel is an all-natural proprietary blend of pharmaceutical-grade Australian Tea Tree Oil. Kanberra Gel allows the natural antiseptic properties of the Tea Tree Oil to become airborne. As the air dispurses the oil throughout the boat, the droplets of oil attack and degrade bacteria, fungus and mold spores. Kanberra Gel does this naturally without the need for harsh chemicals.

Once you are ready to close your boat up for the winter, prop open all of the cabinet doors, pull up the floor boards and otherwise open the interior so that vapor can reach all parts of your boat. Open the appropriate sized container and place it on a flat surface. For boats up to 25’ use the 4 ounce size; for boats up to 40’ use the 8 ounce size; and for boats up to 60’ use the 16 ounce size. Keep the doors closed so that the vapor is not just blown out of the cabin.

Kanberra Gel will cease to vaporize if it freezes, but as soon as it thaws it will begin to vaporize again, so feel free to leave a container of Kanberra Gel open in your boat over the winter without losing any effectiveness.

 

Kanberra Gel Air Handler Placement

In boats with air handling units, you can place an open container of Kanberra gel directly in front of the evaporator coils. The 8 ounce size would be appropriate for a large cabin over a season.

The natural oils that make Kanberra Gel effective won’t affect the color of any fabics or carpet and it is safe to use around children and pets. Tea Tree Oil has been used for centuries by the Aborigines of Australia for medicinal purposes…and its modern common name came from Captain James Cook when he brewed a tea from the tree’s leaves hoping to cure scurvy. 

Kanberra Gel can be purchased at Crowley’s Ship’s Store. To purchase online click here. Contact the store at 773.221.9990 or email Michael Argyelan, Store Manager, at mma@crowleys.com. More information about Kanberra Gel is available online: click here.

Picture of the Week - October 17, 2012

Ready to wrap!

Getting boats ready for their shrinkwrap covers on a beautiful early fall day.

20 Questions with Kathy Lindt - Installation Department Manager

Kathy Lindt

Introductions to John StHow long have you worked at Crowley’s? 20 years last April.

How did you first start working here? I wanted a job working with my hands, and I've always loved the water, so I applied in spring for seasonal work.

Which departments have you worked in? I started in the Yard Department under John Trojan, and a few years later I went into the Installation Department as an apprentice.

What is your favorite time of year at Crowley’s? Definitely Spring, that is the pinnacle time here.

How often do you go boating? Not as much as I'd like, but mainly when I visit family in Michigan over the summer.

What kind of boat? Well, if I had my choice, it would be a canoe.

Did you grow up boating? I spent most of my summers up north in Michigan at my family's lake cabin. We would spend our days water skiing, tubing, fishing, canoeing, and exploring every nook and cranny of the lake.

What is your favorite boating activity? I would say fishing and exploring inland lakes and rivers.

How many technicians work in your department? Three full-time and we usually hire a couple extra in the Spring.

How often do they go to training? Every winter we attend various training offered by some of our vendors, as well as ABYC [American Boat and Yacht Council-ABYC sets standards for boat manufacturers and repairers] training.

What job specific training do you have? That's hard to say considering the full range of what the Installation Department does, but I would say my art degree has gone to some good use in developing creative solutions and using analytical thinking to repair boats.

What certifications do you have? I have been certified ABYC Electrical Technician, currently I am a NMEA [National Marine Electronics Association] Certified Installer, as well as, Garmin & Raymarine Authorized Installer.

What is your number one recommendation to boat owners? Right now would be updating your shore power system with ELCI - which stands for Electrical Leakage Circuit Interrupter. It will shut down the power to your boat if a low level fault occurs preventing stray current leakage into the water. This makes a lot of sense from a safety stand point, and you'll find it is now standard on all new boats being built.

In your area of expertise, what can a boat owner do to maintain their boat? Considering how often we as a department end up in many areas of a boat you wouldn't normally think about, the thing that comes to mind is cleanliness. Keeping things clean and orderly can cut down on repairs and their associated costs.

What is the owner complaint that you hear most often? The head isn't working and I have people invited to the boat. I need it working by the weekend.

What is your number one money saving tip for boat owners? Reseal your chainplates regularly. A leaking chainplate over time can lead to thousands of dollars in repairs.

What is the toughest part of your job? I strive to meet boat owner's deadlines on jobs, so when I can't get the job done on time making that call is hard for me.

When are you most likely to be found in the harbors? During harbor call season - summertime.

What is your favorite winter activity? Vacationing to a warm beach-side destination.

What is the best way to get a hold of you to ask a question? Email is probably the best: kat@crowleys.com

Picture of the Week - October 10, 2012

Winterizing a twin engine powerboat

Mechanical department tech Ryan Bumber enjoying the fall ritual of winterizing.

The Cleaning and Care of Marine Canvas

By Andrew Spaulding, Crowley's Yacht Yard

Sunbrella in action

 

As any boater can tell you having a set of good canvas onboard can extend your season and allow boating on even the hottest summer days by protecting those onboard from the elements. Of course since it goes on boats, marine canvas is expensive. Given this situation, the proper care and maintenance of canvas will give your canvas the longest life possible.

 

There are many sources of this information online and the best source is the manufacturer of the material that was used to construct your canvas. Most of the manufacturers have web sites with care and cleaning sections. The basic premise to canvas care is that you should keep the canvas clean, store it properly and keep the zippers, Velcro, and windows out of the sun.

 

To clean your canvas use a mild soap such as liquid dish detergent. Make a soap solution using warm but not hot water (less than 100F). Apply the soap solution with a soft brush or sponge. If you use a brush be careful not to use the brush on the vinyl windows as they will scratch. Rinse the canvas thoroughly to remove the soap and allow the canvas to dry completely without artificial heat. Be mindful to not use any soap that has detergents. Detergent additives to soap often have abrasive components or solvent additives both of which will damage your canvas.

 

Many marine canvas applications for tops, enclosures and even cushions below use Sunbrella fabrics. The Sunbrealla website has detailed instructions on how to care for Sunbrella products. Click here for their website.

 

Once your canvas is clean and dry, you will want to treat it to restore its water and stain repellency. Many manufacturers recommend using 303 High Tech Fabric Guard. Click here for their website and more information about this product. We carry 303 Fabric Guard in the Crowley’s Ship’s Store and it is available from other marine retailers.

 

Now that the material portion of your marine canvas is cleaned and protected, it is time to address the other important components of your canvas. Typically the zippers and Velcro are made from nylon which is easily damaged in the sun’s UV rays, so make sure the protective canvas flaps are properly covering the zippers and Velcro. It is important to clean and lubricate your zippers and snaps. Keeping them lubricated will extend their life significantly and help prevent damage to them. Use a clear silicone spray, but be careful to keep the silicone off of the canvas. You can spray the silicone on a rag and then apply it to the zipper and snaps if necessary. Also, do not use a petroleum based product as both silicone and petroleum products are not compatible with most marine canvas coatings and materials.

 

There are various manufacturers and processes used to make the vinyl for marine canvas windows. Start the cleaning process by rinsing any loose debris and dirt from the windows. You should use a mild soap solution to clean the windows with a soft sponge or cloth. Be wary of using an old sponge or cloth as they can accumulate dirt and debris over time which will scratch the vinyl. If the vinyl does get scratched, it is possible in some cases to buff the scratches out. Check with your manufacturer for their particular recommendation.

 

Since the windows are made of vinyl the sun’s UV rays will damage the windows over time. When is comes time to order a new set of canvas, have the canvas shop include covers for the windows. If you have canvas that is relatively new and in good shape consider having the local canvas shop make zip or snap on covers for the windows. Covers will extend the life of the canvas and also make the enclosure cooler by keeping out the sun.

 

In the off season, be sure to remove your canvas from the boat and store it carefully. The best case is to lay the canvas flat or fold it carefully. If you do need to fold it, fold it on the canvas portion and let the windows lie flat. The better option is to roll the canvas in a loose roll. Be sure to separate the window from itself or other pieces by placing a soft towel or sheet between the windows.

 

Most of the information in this article came from Great Lakes Boat Top Co. To visit their web site click here. They provide the OEM canvas for over 25 boat manufacturers.