checking in

[bajaron]

Hi: Just joined the log, I have been sailing since 1958 and have done partial trans Pac and US Bermuda runs plus extensive coastal cruising and the great lakes. Worked at the AF sea survival school for a few years and also owned and operated a sailboat dealership for a few years. Own a NanTai 37 taiwan teakie since 1983 and we are just now going through an extensive refit on the hard. We should relaunch in April and head off from Annapolis to the Carib, Panama and then to Hawaii and back to Baja to park her in the back yard for local use.

We're interested in talking with other NanTai owners or those who have similar interests.

Hope to make use of this resource as we get ready for departure.

[redbopeep]

Welcome aboard! It sounds like you'll have a grand trip. Oh, those re-fits! Lots to do. Are you going through all the systems? Are you changing anything? What about rigging and sails?

We look forward to hearing about your work, your boat, your past sailing, and your adventures to come.

Fair winds,

[bajaron]

Thanks for the reply:

Our refit started with taking the bottom back to bare gelcoat and then putting on 2 coats of epoxy and 4 coats of 2000E interlux barrier coat. No blisters and don't want any in the future. Rebuilt rudder as it had water intrusion. Just about to order the new campbell sailor 3 blade. Topsides we again sanded to bare gelcoat, filled, epoxy primer, two coats of wet look white urethane.

Interior refit to include new plywood bulkheads and teak backing, new plumbing, wiring, reefer replaced (30 year old sea frost). Rebuild icebox, redo floors, rip down overhead plywood and insulate under deck, new naugasoft headliner. Rebuilt the steering system, blasting and epoxy coating the black iron tanks comes next, then sanding and varnishing the entire interior.

We are stripping and repainting the mast, and have ordered new sails from the wife (black kat sails--shameless plug). Will put on a new dodger as for me it is an essential part of enjoying life offshore.

The real expensive part will come later on this spring with all new electronics and a new autopilot system from RayMarine.

We can't wait to get offshore again and have another adventure, last time was with two little kids, this time two dogs.

Some stuff never dies like the Diesel stove and heater that we simply cleaned up.

We are redoing the table with photos of prior adventures and other interesting memories, inlaid under clear epoxy.

[redbopeep]

Sounds like a great deal to do. Are you doing most yourself or having it done by others?

We have a Campbell Sailor 3 blade fixed prop--wonderful thing that prop. It is quite sculpted for good bite/control in reverse as well as forward. Doesn't look anything like the 3 blade fixed Michigan wheel prop that most sailboats in the USA end up with. The folks (North by Northwest?) in Canada are wonderful to work with as well. We had ours sized/pitched for rough conditions rather than flat conditions since we figured we can always bob about with no wind but we could appreciate the extra bite when fighting our way motor-sailing upwind. We've used ours for a bit over 2 years and like it very much.

Have you sailed much offshore with your dogs yet? There's quite a bit of interest in that here at moment. How old were your children when you were cruising before?

[Istioploos]

Welcome to Cruiser Log bajaron and have a great sail to the Caribbean in April.

Please take a look to our Cruiser's Guider wiki, even better contribute your knowledge.

[bajaron]

Not much offshore with these dogs, did cats the last time, kids were say 5 and 8 or so, now 30 and up.

We're going to have to get serious about training them to artificial turf soon, great stuff, dog goes, you have a bit of line tied to a corner, dump over and rinse off.

One son lived aboard again when he graduated from univ, now thinks we should give him the boat to use,,,,,,fat chance as we can't wait to sail over the horizon again. the upgrade is going well at this point. Departing Sept 2012 for warmer climes.