Charlie Jones

Using lower camera settings can be a two edged sword though. I lost the chance to do an article for Good Old Boat on the rebuild of Tehani, because my images weren't hi- res enough for print publication.. I now shoot and store in hi res, and reduce image size and resolution for posting on web sites. Most often at 800 x 460, and under 100k. Simple enough to do. I use a free program called "Paint" at Paint.net

LOL- Yep- got lots of those.. I did say " long sad experience"

Nice video, but I've learned from long sad experience to start painting anything at the FAR side, not the near side. Otherwise you WILL have a shirt freshly painted sooner or later!

I have anchored Tehani, my Meridian 25, all over the Gulf and Atlantic coasts of the US, and all over the Bahamas, using a 22 pound Claw (Bruce style). Tehani, loaded for cruising, displaces roughly 7500 pounds. I anchored my previous 21 footer in many many places, including through a frontal passage with two boats rafted to me, on a 16 pound Bruce. On Tehani, I use 75 feet of chain, on the 21, I used 30 feet. As to smell? I always wash down the rode before it gets stowed, I DO NOT stow muddy line or chain. Period. If possible, I leave it on deck til it's dry. Sometimes that's not possible, but washing the rode with a bucket certainly is. In many miles of cruising, I have noticed little to no smell from the locker. I don't have a picture of the locker on Tehani, but here's one from the 21 footer. Tehani is set up the same- a door held in place with turnbuttons. Anchor is stowed on deck. If cruising, you want at least one anchor ready to be used almost instantly. Second pic is the foredeck of the 21 showing cleats (yes, two BIG ones) deck pipe, and anchor in roller. Third pic is Tehani's bow, showing cleats (those are 10 inchers), anchor in roller and deck pipe. That rusty chain hook has been replaced with a stainless one II have no cowl, or any other vent on deck either.

Agree- I usually use a plastic tray or tub. But sometimes-----Ya just gotta improvise

This is a timely spot for some pics. I've been working on my sadly neglected 18 foot tri, getting her ready for the upcoming Texas 200. CLC John's Sharpie with B and B designed Amas. She's painted with Ace Porch and Deck- a single part poly and this is what she looked like after close to two years sitting totally unprotected in the Texas sun. You don't want to see what the varnished masts looked like The dark line across the hull is where the tie down line was lying. That's the original color The second pic shows the paint with just a quick wet down with mineral spirits. The paint had chalked a good bit, buit if I had not had to repair some scrapes, I could easily have waxed the hulls and been good to go. Last pic is the boat assembled, pulled onto a oyster shell beach during a previous 200. The bow up on the beach is why repairs were needed- a layer or two of glass is no match for several dozen encounters with oyster shells. That's Graham Byrnes in the red shirt by the way..And Marissa, of the Marissa boat name, in the red shorts on the end. Just finished repainting with the same stuff. THIS time i'll keep her under cover. The 200 is in less than two weeks

One thing I have done is put the mixed epoxy into a metal paint tray, then set that tray into a second one with crushed ice or ice cubes in it. I glassed the hull on a Princess 22 (Pilgrim) by myself in a shop that was at or above 100 degrees. Used B and B epoxy with just slow resin. Still can't mess around, and still need relatively small batches.

Been my theme song for YEARS!! Guy Clark has been a favorite for many years "Sails, are just like wings and the wind can make 'em sing songs of life, songs of hope Songs to keep your dreams afloat" Kinda says it doesn't it?? He's just under a year younger than me by the way, from Monahans, Texas

The Shinto Rasps are absolutely fantastic. They are also sold through Duckworks online. Chuck and Sandra began carrying them because of my suggestion Good prices too. http://www.duckworksbbs.com/tools/shinto/index.htm

Isn't it amazing how many of those little tiny places show up, even after all the sanding? For the little minor scratches, pin holes, etc, I use 3M Marine putty, applied with a squeegee. It comes in red and or white. I use the white under light colors and the red under dark. Comes in a large tube, like toothpaste and hardens quickly. The white is part #05113-05962. Goes right on over the primer Normally you can sand within an hour. This is NOT for major oops's. Just the pinholes, etc.

Two points First, I ALWAYS assume there is blush present, and ALWAYS wash the surface before trying to paint, or apply another coat of epoxy if it's been a while. Not of course if I'm hot coating. Just saves grief down the line. Second, yes, I've used the Acrylic Latexes on boat interiors for some 20 years now.. Started with Sherwin Williams Incredi Coat, but they've changed it to a different name now. I had a boat I sold recently that I piainted in 1994 and the interior, other than the usual dings and nicks, is in great shape. Other major brands have about the same thing though. Understand I'm NOT referring to EXTERIORS. Just inside cabin boats.

And there you have it

Yep, Graham stores Skimmer in a shed. And hurricane Irene tilted her up so the bottom was VERY easy to reach

Hah- that ain't steep-try working on my house!! Looking good Scott

OOPS I for sure missed the "26" part. Yes, I was thinking of the 22. Here where I live the tides are maybe a foot, once each day.. On the Florida west coast still one high, one low each day, and again maybe a foot. EAST coast of Florida- 2 tides a day, and in North Fla, southern Ga, 4-5 feet. Move up into north Ga, South Carolina, and the tides run 7-9 feet and on springs, as much as 11. So for sure consider where you are. Still, anchoring and swinging the stern around is a better idea than doing it bow first, just for ease of boarding Sorry if I mis informed. Here's a pic of my previous boat over in Pensacola Florida last year anchored like that. Mine is the one in the foreground and draws 2 feet

Yep- the boat will float in less than a foot, so totally beachable. Travis has beached his Pilgrim several times.Just be careful there's no small gravel there that could wedge in the centerboard trunk,- sand, mud, etc- non problem. In fact, the lead ballast will be what rubs. The ballast pig is only 4 inches deep Having said all that, It might be better to anchor out, and swing the stern around to the shore-much easier to get on and off the boat that way. That's what Travis does when he takes Pilgrim to the BEER Cruise in Florida, using a stern boarding ladder..

JUST 2500??? Why not 8000? Sanded wet! Agree- the topsides (waterline to deck edge), and then the deck and cabin ( if it has one), are where to spend time. Bottom is gonna get scraped up anyway

Put a piece of tape on the back side. Insert the syringe all the way to the bottom and slowly pull it out as you inject the epoxy, thus filling from the bottom up Leave a lump on top, and when it's just in the plastic stage, slice it off. Or just sand it later.

Never used their paints. In fact, since 2004, I've used nothing but epoxy from B and B. 12 boats now, a variety of paints-no problems

I have had "issues" with Sys 3 in the past. I've never had a problem with West, MAS or Raka, given proper cure times and prep.

LOL- not on a regular basis no. I've done some rework on a few larger boats. Rebuilt the interior woodwork on a Tartan 37 last year at the marina- they brought it for a month. Redid the brightwork and some new noon-skid on a Vanguard 32 also at the marina- he left it a month. Also a few odd jobs here and there that interest me. One or two small furniture repair/refinish jobs, mostly for friends, Oh, and built another MiniPaw- written up in Duckworks in 5 parts- here's part 1- http://www.duckworksmagazine.com/13/projects/dinghy2/index1.htm#.UxYy1s7vgbt Did a six weeks long trailer trip to Florida with the 21 footer before I sold her. Sailed in four different places. Gearing up to do the Tex 200 in June- gotta get Traveler ( the 18 foot tri) ready for that Maintaining house, and yard, and sailing as I can Mostly though, just being retired :P Seems to be very time consuming!! What are you up to these days- gonna be in Texas again sometime?

LOL- I have buckets full of them, I have them in 2 inch, 3 inch, 4 inch and 6 inch. You can reach further in, by putting a small one, then a larger over that, then the largest. I've said fore years if I ever find who dreamed them up, I'd buy him a case of beer

Hi Ken. I remember you well. Down under now eh? Graham knows about that It's been part good, part bad. Came as an unexpected shock after 20 years together. But life goes on. And she was pretty well put to bed while we were gone-MIGHT have been tough to sail her then She had some battle scars after some 8000 miles of cruising, but is pretty much back in shape now.

Greg- I haven't spoken to Laura in months. She is living down by Corpus and last I heard was selling her paintings in Corpus. Apparently doing well. And yes, Tehani is in the marina in Port Lavaca. Picture taken just after relaunch,, down in Port Aransas on way back home

Got it- I'll give you a yell tomorrow. Been really nasty down here too. Not as bad as others, but for us, bad. Houston has had freezing rain FIVE times this winter season- That's absolutely astonishing. It just doesn't DO that here. Well, Maybe once in 3 -4 years, but FIVE times??? Never hit us- the line was always 25, 30 miles east, but got plenty nasty anyway .32, 33 degrees and drizzle, with 30, 35 mph winds wind SUX. Hell- it snowed in Louisiana and Mississippi, on the gulf, TWICE so far. I've been watching the east coast- you guys have been getting HAMMERED. Hopefully, it's winding down and we can go back to doing things outside again.