Workday followed by Rum Race

Today I installed the longer bolt through the boom bail plates. The head was replaced too with a Jabsco unit.

Boom Bail Plates Installed

Today I installed the Rig Rite K-2172RP boom bail plates. The bolt needs to be longer than the original bolt ( 3.5" ) due to thickness of the plates. There was about 1/8' wear on the starboard hole, the port hole wasn't damaged.

Existing motor mounts

The first picture is the forward starboard motormount. The mounting holes are 4" on center. These mounts look alot like the DF-2205-2 Engine Mounts that Bill Kneller describes on the J/30 forum. The second picture is the starboard aft motor mount. The engine on Nordic Star is a 1982 2GM.

Racor Fuel Filter Installation

I recently installed a Racor 200 series fuel filter with bleed pump on Nordic Star. Following Bill Kneller's approach I cut a piece of red oak to mount the filter. The inlet fuel hose had to be moved inboard because the steps would crush the hose and cause fuel starvation.

Boom Bail Bearing Plates on Order

Inspired by Bill's scary photos I ordered the boom bail bearing plates from RigRite today. ( P/N K2172RP ) They were in stock at $24 each plus shipping. Standby for the installation saga. I need to find the stainless sleeves that Bill added.

New Rigging Installed

After failing the rigging inspection it was determined that the uppers and the headstay were too short ( no visible threads showed through the top of the turnbuckle). The bottom of the uppers had one suspicious swage. The back stay had crack starting in swaged fitting above the back stay adjuster. Since we were changing the headstay, I decided to replace the headfoil with a Harken Carbo 1 7001 ( to get the #6 luff tape ). The Head foil feeder has been very tight and it was time for it to go. 10 years in the FL sun didn't help either, the plastic foil was cracking at the upper end.

The rigging parts, swaging and Carbo head foil ran $891, shipping the bits back and forth to the swaging shop in Miami ran $50, labor was $168 for three trips up the mast and sales tax was $67 for a total hit of $1176. This is part of my pre-retirement boat fix up program.

The existing Nautec turnbuckles were found to be in good shape so only fresh threaded ends were needed.

Leaking Vangmaster & swage cracks

I sent the Vangmaster back to California for fresh O rings for about $70. The vang would leak down after 2 days so it is time for this process. No complaints after 25 years. I spoke to Doug Grant at Vangmaster, 737 Channel St, San Pedro, CA 90731, telephone 310-831-2877.

Today a rigger checked the standing rigging after a recent survey requested this be done. It appears corrosion has started on the back stay and the base of the uppers. Head stay and lowers checked out OK. This set of rigging is 10 years old. We may wait for hurricane season to pass before dismantling the rigging.