Harmony pix – the inside, keel, engine

I have spent the day on the boat - just assessing things

the fuel tank is stainless steel - so that is great

the electrics looks a bloody mess

I also got a spare origo

does anyone down in thei area want to sort the electrics in return for an almost new single ring origo

here are the snaps

 

let me know if you see any potential probs - apart from the wiring - which is going to be bad

She has the original Centaur Livery - worth preserving I think

sbow view

engine 3

 

the engine looks great

horrible electrics

 

but the electrics look like a liability

 

and they are not working at the moment

more electrics

bulkhead

the bulkhead complete with local charts and a bird book - I like this man

tool box

 

handy box at the foot of the companionway

cupboard 1

 

the slide front cupboards - rope and guff

glasses

 

good quality plastic glasses

mugs

nice mugs - although I prefer china

plates

melamine plates

clock

clock and barometer - stuck on stormy tonight

origo 3000

Origo two burner - wonderful

welcome aboard

 

welcome aboard indeed

saggy headlining

 

saggy headlining

forecabin

 

forecabin - full of junk

bog

 

the bog - jill will hate it

horrible valve

ugly valve

valve

 

no such a bad valve

quarter berth

stb quarter berth - cushions and pads

quarter berth 2

port quarter berth - dinghy, more charts, plastic see through hatches

engine hatch

engine access

foredeck

 

looking forward

winch

winch

cockpit 2

companionway - lot of cleaning to do

down river view

looking downstream

vent

vent

mast step

mast step

chain track

chain marks bow - assuming the chain is pretty rusty then

buried stanchion

half buried stanchion - source of squidginess

rr

Roller reefing

mast winches

mast winches

stern view3

steern view

stern view 2 ladder

madder

bow view

bow view

keel 1

stb keel

keel join

keel joint

rudder (2)

rudder

stern outbaord bracket

spacings for outboard bracket

outboard holes 2

spacing for outboard bracket

inside bracket

inside pad

step

companionay step

step 2

step

step 3

one little step

stainless steel diesel tank

stainless steel tank

fenders and anchor

danforth rudder and lots of dock fenders

 

any

This is about Centaur Project, Dylan Winter's Blog, Sailing around Britain.

28 Responses to “Harmony pix – the inside, keel, engine”

  1. 8 February, 2014 at 9:34 pmRichard Aston says:

    Looks not too bad, Dylan. I seem to have missed the story of how, where and when you found it. Oh, and was it within the budget you set yourself?
    Is there a post somewhere that I have missed?
    Richard

  2. 8 February, 2014 at 10:07 pmdylan winter says:

    http://www.keepturningleft.co.uk/scuttlebutt/centaur-katie-l-ii-a-boat-for-the-rough-stuff/

    I got PM on YBW telling me to phone a bloke who told me to ring Richard Blake at hayling Yacht Co. I had been into his yard and given him a bit of paper saying what I was after

    The boat has to be craned in on March 18th – and the current owner has been too ill to do the work. She is a pretty good boat but not without a few faults – she has not been sailed much over the past couple of seasons – maybe not sailed at all. Loads of little things to sort –

    most can be done after she goes in

    but the keels need prepping – the gap needs filling, primer, antifoul.

    Engine is an unknown quantity – electrics look pretty horrible.

    mast needs dropping to inspect the rigging, outboard bracket on the stern

    D

  3. 8 February, 2014 at 11:55 pmGiles says:

    Never mind about the ugliness of the valve – it looks corroded! If so replace immediately! I hear terrible stories about failed seacocks. I’m so obsessed with this issue that I have suitable bungs tied to each through-hull fitting on the boat…

  4. 8 February, 2014 at 11:57 pmRichard Aston says:

    Thanks for that info. If you need an extra pair of hands for a day or two during the fitting out just shout. As a retired OG I can usually find the time during the week if it helps. Just send me an email.
    Richard

  5. 9 February, 2014 at 3:51 amStephen Tate says:

    Mmmmm, I suspect that this boat has so much potential that a strong bond will ultimately form posing issues of loyalty to Katie L. You may end up with 2 boats permanently!

  6. 9 February, 2014 at 9:08 amdylan winter says:

    thanks R

    are you any good with electrics… they look a mess

    if anyone has the ability and will to sort them I have inherited a spare, almost new single pot Origo I could swap in return for the time and skill

    Just a day spent identifying and eradicating the weak spots rather than re-making the lot

    D

  7. 9 February, 2014 at 9:33 amTim Granville says:

    She looks a really nice boat, Dylan. I very much doubt you’ll find much that isn’t immediately obvious. The only thing that would definitely concern me (in terms of what it could mean regarding substantial money) is the disappearing stanchion base. All the other issues look relatively straight forward to sort out at a reasonable cost. I certainly think you should keep the original livery; to my eyes it gives the boat a clean, up to date look.

  8. 9 February, 2014 at 10:09 amdylan winter says:

    Tim,

    the stanchion is well down my list – electrics are a mess – but a bloke called Bill is coming to have a look this morning. The ball cocks bother me – keels less so – they look pretty good, fuel in the tank – all time consuming. Need to get that outboard bracket on the back so that she is mobile. the stanchion is just a deck leak and some rot – all fixable once she is afloat and watertight coming up – watertight coming down is less important.

    D

  9. 9 February, 2014 at 10:31 amRichard Aston says:

    Hi Dylan,

    I have always thought that electrics are best left to people who do that sort of thing every day so I must decline for your sake. I have had my own boats pretty much all my life so I can do most ‘boaty’ jobs. I could help you with: cleaning, painting,scrubbing,woodwork,gelcoat repairs, re bedding fittings and windows, polishing, refitting head linings, in fact almost everything except what I would call professional jobs such as electrics and engine rebuilds (although I have rebuilt an engine for myself).
    I am not looking for any ‘return’ although I would expect you to provide the materials for the job.
    Incidentally, I have no desire to sail on your boat. I have had the horrible experience of crewing for a friend on his bilge keel Centaur many years ago on a very slow and rough trip from the Solent to London. To me, the best place for a Westerly Centaur is on land! Anyway, I have my own boat to play with.
    As I say, just shout if you need help but I will not be offended in any way if you don’t need my services.
    Richard

  10. 9 February, 2014 at 10:56 amRichard cooper says:

    You seem to have a nice engine there. Two cylinders are a lot smoother than singles. The worst thing for marine diesel is extended periods of low speed running. An ‘Italian tune up’ would work wonders – run at high revs for an hour or so. This reduces carbon deposits and bore glazing. Sounds counter intuitive but works.
    Good luck with the trip. Well worth including orkney and shetland but beware of getting stormbound there.

  11. 9 February, 2014 at 2:21 pmrichard says:

    Electrics – I’ve been looking around at old boats recently and your electrics look exactly like the majority I’ve seen. Ideally a complete re-wire is needed but that will take time you probably don’t have. The first necessity is to produce a wiring diagram of what’s there. You need to trace every wire and that means crawling into some very awkward spaces and waggling them to see what they’re attached to. Remember that every electrical component (switch, sensor, light, radio etc etc) will have a feed to it and you need to know where it’s switched and fused from. You’ll probably find that on a boat of Harmony’s age, some wires will be redundant supplying things that have long since been scrapped. Conversely, supplies to new stuff will have been piggy backed onto convenient (but not logical) supplies. Once you’ve traced everything you can rationalise it and tidy up the wiring with proper terminations, adequately sized wires and durable labelling so that you can identify it in the future. I found it useful to keep a copy of the new wiring diagram on board.
    Seacocks – I’ve not had personal experience of any sinkings related to defective sea cocks but they do happen. The ones you’ve pictured are a nightmare. They are very likely plain brass and subject to de-zincification and also the wheel/gate type are undesirable because you can’t see at a glance if they are open or shut and they jam easily. GET RID ! and replace with DZR ball valves. Also, check the material of the elbows and other fittings and replace with DZR if doubtful. New hoses and stainless double jubilee clips would be a good idea.
    Keels – They look unsightly but are not going to disappear any time soon – cast iron is pretty durable. No one can see them when you’re at sea (hopefully). I used to power wire brush mine, Kurust, Primocon and anti foul. Others will tell you to grit blast/needle gun etc. I saw a rather anal account of someone who took them off, grit blasted and coated them to some extreme level, encased them in fibre mat and rigidly glassed them back on! You pays your money etc.

    It’s all a matter of time and money and what satisfies you.

    Cheers,
    Rick

  12. 9 February, 2014 at 2:23 pmrichard says:

    Electrics – I’ve been looking around at old boats recently and your electrics look exactly like the majority I’ve seen. Ideally a complete re-wire is needed but that will take time you probably don’t have. The first necessity is to produce a wiring diagram of what’s there. You need to trace every wire and that means crawling into some very awkward spaces and waggling them to see what they’re attached to. Remember that every electrical component (switch, sensor, light, radio etc etc) will have a feed to it and you need to know where it’s switched and fused from. You’ll probably find that on a boat of Harmony’s age, some wires will be redundant supplying things that have long since been scrapped. Conversely, supplies to new stuff will have been piggy backed onto convenient (but not logical) supplies. Once you’ve traced everything you can rationalise it and tidy up the wiring with proper terminations, adequately sized wires and durable labelling so that you can identify it in the future. I found it useful to keep a copy of the new wiring diagram on board.
    Seacocks – I’ve not had personal experience of any sinkings related to defective sea cocks but they do happen. The ones you’ve pictured are a nightmare. They are very likely plain brass and subject to de-zincification and also the wheel/gate type are undesirable because you can’t see at a glance if they are open or shut and they jam easily. GET RID ! and replace with DZR ball valves. Also, check the material of the elbows and other fittings and replace with DZR if doubtful. New hoses and stainless double jubilee clips would be a good idea.
    Keels – They look unsightly but are not going to disappear any time soon – cast iron is pretty durable. No one can see them when you’re at sea (hopefully). I used to power wire brush mine, Kurust, Primocon and anti foul. Others will tell you to grit blast/needle gun etc. I saw a rather anal account of someone who took them off, grit blasted and coated them to some extreme level, encased them in fibre mat and rigidly glassed them back on! You pays your money etc.

    It’s all a matter of time and money and what satisfies you.

    Cheers,
    Rick

  13. 9 February, 2014 at 4:34 pmJohn says:

    Hi Dylan,

    Boat looks good. I would though, replace those gate valves with 1/4 turn ball valves. Gate valves, in my opinion have no place on a boat.

  14. 9 February, 2014 at 5:14 pmMick says:

    Congratulations on finding a boat, look forward to seeing her on the water.

    All the best & kind regards
    Mick

  15. 9 February, 2014 at 8:04 pmdylan winter says:

    gate valves came out today

  16. 9 February, 2014 at 8:07 pmdylan winter says:

    Rick,

    Bill is coming back with an avometer to trace, replace and simplify the electronics

    the gate valves came out today and will be replaced with newer ones

    the keels… going to dig out the mastic, replace with sikaflex, use zirconium sanding disks on the metal,prime and paint, then antifoul.

    D

  17. 9 February, 2014 at 8:10 pmdylan winter says:

    Richard,

    I am going back this week – Bill is going to have a go at the electrics

    my job is prepping the keels, anti-fouling

    are you any good with a varnish brush?

    the bright work and rubbing straight need a couple of coats – I have all the materials

    also a second man with a cheap drill to do the other keel would be great

    I will be on the boat Tuesday afternoon, weds, thursday I reckon and will be under it whenever it is not raining

    be great to see you

  18. 9 February, 2014 at 9:15 pmRichard Aston says:

    Dylan,
    I should be able to come down on Wednesday and Thursday but will confirm on Tuesday when I get back from London. I will bring the camper van to stay in Wednesday night.
    I am not sure where the boat is. Have you got a postcode?
    Richard

  19. 9 February, 2014 at 9:33 pmdylan winter says:

    R,

    how far away are you? No need to drive bloomin miles just to roll around under another man’s boat

    I thought you were local

    but the yard is beside the arun view pub

    BN17 5DD

    D

  20. 9 February, 2014 at 10:24 pmRichard Aston says:

    Dylan,

    I have the time this week. You have a lot to do.

    It will be a bit of fun. No problem. It’s only 85 miles and my own boat would be 55.

    Richard

  21. 9 February, 2014 at 10:33 pmdylan winter says:

    let us keep an eye on the weather then

    no point in coming if the rain is going to arrive again before the varnish has a chance to skin over

    good man

    D

  22. 10 February, 2014 at 6:51 amJonathan Sharman says:

    Dylan,

    If it helps I have a spare marine switch panel you could have, it is a 6 switch cct breaker panel so you don’t need to carry additional fuses.

    More than happy to contribute this to the greater good of all KTLers

    All the best with the refit

    Jon

  23. 10 February, 2014 at 8:25 amdylan winter says:

    thanks John

    I think it might be better to improve what I have there now rather than throw it all out

    it has been right jiggered around but the original layout has worked for a while

    D

  24. 10 February, 2014 at 10:30 pmrichard says:

    Dylan,
    Good
    and good
    Keels – I used a knotted wire brush on a (cheap) angle grinder to get rid of most of the rust. Then Kurust etc, didn’t work 100% but less to do each year. Tried to rake out existing sealant to a depth of 10mm but its difficult because, when the boat is resting on its keels, the seal is compressed by the weight. When the it’s afloat, the gap opens somewhat. Just about worth doing though and kept the water out.

  25. 11 February, 2014 at 12:29 pmBob (Tam Lin) says:

    Hi Dylan,
    Nice pictures! Good to see that you have proper glasses and colourful mugs! Seriously though, she looks better than Tam Lin was when I got her. She has clearly been looked after for most of her life and has nice touches like amidships cleats, which Tam Lin doesn’t have.
    The engine looks in good condition, it has been fitted with care as I can see a water strainer, which again I don’t have.
    After using lots of different chemicals I found that the glue for the headlining in the fore cabin came off the walls with a washing up sponge (rough side) hot water and some Jiff. I didn’t bother replacing it as I still had a nice gel coat finish.
    You may have found out where the wiring for the lights, including the masthead ones go but on Tam Lin they run under the port side bunks through some trunking into the heads. which isn’t original. Your pictures look much like my wiring and not all of it does anything!
    It is always interesting looking through what has been left on a boat! On Tam Lin there were about half a dozen large knives. I don’t know if they were used to gut fish or for protection, anyway, I got rid of them. Other stuff was more useful. It doesn’t look like you will have to buy much!
    Good Luck!
    Bob

  26. 11 February, 2014 at 6:16 pmdylan winter says:

    £700 in already – I will be lucky to get away from the solent with less than 1K spent. Just cleared the stern locker – lots and lots of bottles of unguents

  27. 11 February, 2014 at 9:17 pmdave kay says:

    Hi Dylan,
    Glad to see you found your next project. If you need a hand with the electrics I would be happy
    to help. As you know I live at Hayling Island. For a reference Look at U tube Phoenix Rises 2.

  28. 11 February, 2014 at 10:08 pmdylan winter says:

    I am on the boat until thursday evening

    I would love to see you

    tell me what needs sorting

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