A new boat, a new language

C

c-ness

New member
As you know, we just bought a Grand Banks 32. During the survey, I heard lots of interesting terms. It started with the surveyor saying that the boat had a few missing bungs. Did they run away? Followed by the fact that we had nice scarf joints. I thought that my knees were much less than nice. Oh, and make sure you have a Japanese Kugihike knife when replacing the bungs. Now I'm knifing bungs. An offhand comment that when varnishing be sure to roll and tip. I thought that I don't dance anymore, but whatever is recommended. But there is more.

When in the engine room, the surveyor notes that our sight tubes are good but he couldn't locate any limber holes. ???? We also had a traditional stuffing box, but we should use gortex stuffing. That doesn't sound very inviting. I prefer corn bread stuffing. During the haul out, our cutlass bearings were great and that we had a cable sheave to the rudder quadrant. More ????. I'm getting dizzy.

The survey report, I'm told, is very good, but I'm reeling from the strange language. The broker and the surveyor and talking back and forth, and I don't understand a thing. My head is hurting. Is there someone who can teach me the roll and tip? Where are my missing bungs and limber holes? My joints still don't feel that good. Now I know how someone new to sailing must feel. Thank goodness the boat doesn't have a steadying sail!!!
 
I heard once that the limber holes could flex the stringers if they got out of hand. WOW are you going to have fun. Might be time to commit Chapman v66 and probably a few other tomes to memory. Well at least give them a thorough once over :wink:

And congrats on learning a new language.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon
 
Congratulations--it sounds as if you might have purchased a wooden Grand Banks. That brings not only a whole new vocabulary and also maintenance skills. That is why many of us who have had much larger boats now own C Dorys. (Although limber holes are associated with the bulkheads in fiberglass boats, they are present in all of the frames on a wooden boat--and should have a brass chain running thru them, so keep them clear, just pull the chain a little every now and then!)

The terms you posted are very standard boating terms. There is even a book which translates these into 6 different languages. Actually you don't need any special knife for trim the bungs-just a good sharp chisel. The missing bungs also suggest that the decks have been sanded--maybe too many times--or cleaned with abrasive/cleaners which will remove the soft wood which is in the teak grain. There will be also a whole knew set skills to be learned not only in the maintenance, but in preventive maintenance.

Have fun and enjoy.
 
C-ness, At least you didn't learn about BLISTERS during the survey. They hurt a lot more on your boat's bottom than on your hands! Then again if you have them on your boat's bottom you'll probably get them on YOUR hands. Roy
 
Bob, somehow I knew that you would know these terms. Fortunately, it's not a woodie. That would be too much. I'm looking forward to the learning curve. The engine has relatively low hours and is good shape, as are all of the other important systems. Most of the upkeep will be on the "cosmetic" items such as the deck and railings. There is also more gelcoat to wax. I suppose I will find out if I enjoy this kind of work.
 
c-ness":2euu3lws said:
Bob, somehow I knew that you would know these terms. Fortunately, it's not a woodie. That would be too much. I'm looking forward to the learning curve. The engine has relatively low hours and is good shape, as are all of the other important systems. Most of the upkeep will be on the "cosmetic" items such as the deck and railings. There is also more gelcoat to wax. I suppose I will find out if I enjoy this kind of work.
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It's all in the perspective: if you take pride in the boat and consider keeping the boat "pretty" part of the experience, this will be "a new hobby." 8) If keeping the wood nice looking and the gelcoat shiny is maintenance that you have to try to fit in (and takes you away from enjoying the boat), it will get old really quick.

It's a new boat. You will want to keep it looking good. Everyone feels that way at first. How you deal with it down the road will be the test. If you do some of the tasks as part of "enjoying time on the boat", you will be content and keep the boat looking good. If you ever say to yourself, "Damn, I wanted to relax this weekend, but the wood on the boat needs another coat," you will be looking at smaller and no wood.

On the dock this summer, one of our friends was called "the mad sander" by others: he had an older boat he was constantly working on. Being retired, I considered that his "hobby." Well, it was also his home, since he is a liveaboard.

Enjoy the new boat. The vocabulary and the new skills. :thup

Best wishes,
Jim B.
 
I wondered once you get the bung situation corrected with your new boat will be it be noted that it's all bunged up? They say busy hands are happy hands. :smileo I feel like I'm missing out on the fun just having to wash and wax our water scooter. How much water does your new boat draw? I bet that is like living in a mansion after the C-Dory. Good luck with your new toy.
D.D.
 
Hope you have fun! My first boat ever was a 1978 GB 32. In addition to what you have mentioned, I had to learn how to "back and fill" using a "a left hand prop"; how to measure the fuel level in the tanks using a stick marked in inches as in "There's 6 inches of diesel left" , and that the Ford Lehman engine will not shut off if your batteres are discharged because the shut-off relay needs juice...
 
The GB draws a little less tha 4'. Right now it seems like we will never fill up the space. I know that will change, however! I'm semi-retired, workin three months on and thee months off, so I have the time to putter on the boat. Indeed when we had our TC24, I got bored when their wasn't a project on the boat.

Thanks all for the advice and support!
 
One item if it has the standard Ford Lehman, be sure and change the oil in the Sims injector pump every 50 hours! The hardest part of that is to get a funnel fitted so you can catch all of the old oil. These injector pumps are lubed by oil, not diesel flow as many of the other diesels are.

There is a real pride in maintaining a boat like a Grand Banks. You sort of have to love that, since it is part of the culture. It is unusual to see one which is shabby!

I have spent a lot of time on various friends' Grand Banks, including the 32. Sure glad it is not a woody!
 
Thanks Bob, the boat, Scout, has a Cummins engine. Last year Scout received new electronics, new upholstery in the cabin and the flybridge, fresh bottom paint, and new canvas. This past September all the teak was revarnished. Thus, from now on if she doesn't look good it's my fault.
 
on the rails and teak. I would get rid of the teak if you have the money. stainless would be better but cost a lot. I have wandered why no one has used the new plastic deck boards for rails? Just need to cut them to the right shape. I hate working on boats, even though I do a lot of it. I love using boats and getting out. I have watch my father work on one project after another on his 44 the last couple of years but use the boat very little. I would say 3 to 4 weeks total away from the dock per year. And yes he loves a project but my mother would rather be boating. Just remember that even thu you like working on the boat you may be the only one, go use it between projects.

Now to help dad not have to work so hard Susan made rail covers for the 44. It was a easy project for her that did not take to long. She used sunbreala ( spelling) . Came out nice looks good and the teak is in great shape after two years still. if you keep the teak get covers.
 
starcrafttom":127vz2x5 said:
on the rails and teak. I would get rid of the teak if you have the money. stainless would be better but cost a lot. I have wandered why no one has used the new plastic deck boards for rails? Just need to cut them to the right shape. I hate working on boats, even though I do a lot of it. I love using boats and getting out. I have watch my father work on one project after another on his 44 the last couple of years but use the boat very little. I would say 3 to 4 weeks total away from the dock per year. And yes he loves a project but my mother would rather be boating. Just remember that even thu you like working on the boat you may be the only one, go use it between projects.

Now to help dad not have to work so hard Susan made rail covers for the 44. It was a easy project for her that did not take to long. She used sunbreala ( spelling) . Came out nice looks good and the teak is in great shape after two years still. if you keep the teak get covers.
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Ah, Tom, ol' buddy.

Let me take this one: new-to-them boat, everything is in nice shape, it's a Grand Banks for goodness sake, and all that wood is part of the attraction of that boat. I have no doubt that you would start tearing at the boat, and all the more reason to keep you away from it! :mrgreen:

The wood feels warm, looks traditional and nautical. It would absolutely NOT dissuade me from buying a boat like this. In a year or two, they will know if they are "wood people." If they are, it is a perfect match. If they aren't, they have a Grand Banks - they can always hire someone to keep it up.

Your Dad just may be very content to putter around on the boat. If your Mom needs to go out more, you should offer to take her out.

Now that we have all that solved, let's get back to celebrating the acquisition of the Grand Banks! 8) :thup :thup

Best wishes,
Jim
 
starcrafttom":1jhkj59c said:
on the rails and teak. I would get rid of the teak if you have the money. stainless would be better but cost a lot.
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JamesTXSD":1jhkj59c said:
... it's a Grand Banks for goodness sake, and all that wood is part of the attraction of that boat.

The wood feels warm, looks traditional and nautical. It would absolutely NOT dissuade me from buying a boat like this. In a year or two, they will know if they are "wood people." If they are, it is a perfect match. If they aren't, they have a Grand Banks - they can always hire someone to keep it up.
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I agree with Jim on this one. On a Grand Banks, I can't see getting rid of the teak. The thing is, it's so much a part of the identity and value of the boat. And someone who doesn't want to mess with teak (or pay someone else to) would probably not buy one (I'd think they would choose something else). In addition to the (scrolled/carved) rails, there are usually teak decks, and the window frames (though painted) are wood.

I do have a friend who had a boat with a LOT of brightwork. He planned to go to the tropics for a couple of years, which is really hard on brightwork. What he did was give it all a *good* base of glossy varnish, and then paint over it all (some white, some mahogany color). The paint stood up to the tropics just fine, and he had no maintenance to do. When he got back up north, he stripped the paint off (it came off relatively easily due to the way he prepped it), and there was his glossy varnish underneath, ready for a light sanding and a re-coat.

'course it is all up to each individual owner.

Sunbeam
 
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