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Jamie79 wrote:Q1 what do you polish? Your boat with, she looks stunning in all your pics. How much time is involved?
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2. I deoxidize and remove all the small scratches and crud with 3m compound
Q1
But Québec 1 how do you deal with scratches to the blue hull?! I have the impression that the (thin coat of?) blue scratches away quite easily to expose what I assume is the underlying white. Thus no amount of polishing or wet sanding will turn the white scratches blue again. Am I missing something? My blue hull will soon be shiny-but-white.
Kittiwake
The Blue gel coat on my 2003 is quite thick at the bow, thinner midships and quite thick at the stern. The compound does not take that much blue off. When I had to sand down a particular nasty scratch at midships it started to thin out as black dots not white, I imagine the white may follow but I don't sand there anymore and it is not noticeable. When sanding or using compound I always use a circular motion as this allows some of the scratch to remain but it does not show after glazing and polishing. I do all this work with care and attention although more attention amidships than at the bow and stern where the blue gel coat is really quite thick.
Q1
The white dog on the sandbar is a spitting image of my dog who passed away last year.
To the leaking guy: try a canvas helm cover if you don't use one already. Then Clean around the bottom edge of the helm support structure dry very well and calk with clear sealant. Don't remove the bolts yet. If it does the job fine. Next time you fix the steering, you can seal the bottom right. I have kept hardware dry by just sealing the edges and around the bolts for years at a time. Not the correct way, but it works.
Sorry to hijack the thread and actually discuss leaking BOATS - thought I would pass on one that drove me a little crazy
My 2010 had water leaking down the inside of the window just aft of the head when powering in rough water - water splashing all over the top of the boat (pretty standard when my oldest son drives, we now have one of those yellow fisherman rain caps for the occasion). Turned out the water was coming through the contacts for the mast light deck connector. Replaced with a threaded Perko brand connector and no leaks since. Good since I have converted the space above the mirror to a storage compartment for maps and books (and the hats my wife collects) Also, the stock connector always seemed to come disconnected.
RobertB wrote:Sorry to hijack the thread and actually discuss leaking BOATS - thought I would pass on one that drove me a little crazy
My 2010 had water leaking down the inside of the window just aft of the head when powering in rough water - water splashing all over the top of the boat (pretty standard when my oldest son drives, we now have one of those yellow fisherman rain caps for the occasion). Turned out the water was coming through the contacts for the mast light deck connector. Replaced with a threaded Perko brand connector and no leaks since. Good since I have converted the space above the mirror to a storage compartment for maps and books (and the hats my wife collects) Also, the stock connector always seemed to come disconnected.
What part number? I need to replace mine as the plugs have never stayed attached to the mast cord.
So far, no leaks and the connector stays connected.
UPDATE: As far as plugs not staying on the cord - I had that problem also and finally figured out the factory did not strip the wires long enough to get them fully under the set screws in the plug.
first question is what in fact is wet. Are the aft birth cushions wet on top or are you finding water in the bilge. If the cushions are wet in the middle then as pointed our previously the binnacle. Cushions in the back port side then the steering bar or cables where they enter the hull respectively. Cushions along the port or starboard edges water may be migrating from the deck joint, or rear most windows.
Bilge area check the deck to transome joint. I looked at the inside stern wall during a steady rain and found water flowing town the inside stearn wall to the bilge area. The deck to hull joint was never sealed on both sides of the motor mount. I park my trailer sloped to the stern. All rainwater flows off the cockpit and onto the stearn step areas on either side of the OB then drains to the well. Water pooled at the step area and leaked in the joint until I sealed it with 5200.
Now that you mention it.. My thru deck at the mast was an issue as well....( Sorry I just plain forgot about that one ) I too use those thru deck connections as well and have had good luck with them. I also "tinned" the ends of the wires then cut them to fit and that really helped with securing them and "Maybe" an even better electrical connection... I use 4 pins on everything for Future installs?? I also No/Ox Every Electrical Connection to reduce/eliminate corrosion..Corrosion X found at among other places Ace Hardware is a really good product..
So far, no leaks and the connector stays connected.
UPDATE: As far as plugs not staying on the cord - I had that problem also and finally figured out the factory did not strip the wires long enough to get them fully under the set screws in the plug.
- thought I would pass on one that drove me a little crazy
had water leaking down the inside of the window just aft of the head when powering in rough water - water splashing all over the top of the boat (pretty standard when my oldest son drives, we now have one of those yellow fisherman rain caps for the occasion). Turned out the water was coming through the contacts for the mast light deck connector. Replaced with a threaded Perko brand connector and no leaks since. Good since I have converted the space above the mirror to a storage compartment for maps and books (and the hats 
my wife collects) Also, the stock connector always seemed to come disconnected.
