A new slider replaced the pop top
Using the old companionway rails for templates my father made us new ones out of red oak and we made the new companionway covers from ½" oak plywood. We elected to make wood hatch covers, one that slides under the other, rather than attempting to repair the pop-top fiberglass covers that were cracked and weak. The sides of the hatch covers are made out of 1 x 4's and 1 x 2's sanded and planed with rounded corners that are screwed and glued to ¾" oak plywood with aluminum "L" strips. When on deck you can stand on these covers. The wood rails, bathroom door and tiller that were on the boat were sanded, and then varnished. There is anywhere from 6 - 8 coats of varnish on each piece of exterior wood on the boat.
A new slider replaced the pop top
I did not like the condition of the Formica tabletop so a new
wood top was made along with a new countertop. The countertop
now extends across where the bench was to the left of the sink.
Left over pieces of wood was configured to make storage bins across
the back of the tabletop and countertop. At this time we also
replaced the starboard berth decking as it had started to rot
out. Cost for hatch covers, woodwork, varnish, stain, brushes,
sandpaper and cleaning materials was approximately $450.00 plus
two old sheets used for wiping.
Interior when we bought the boat
The new interior
While working on wood pieces in the garage during the evenings,
I started painting the red stripping on Soulmate during the day.
I woke up one Sunday morning, measured out, taped off and painted
a vertical red "V" on the sides in the center of the
hull of the boat. I hope I don't offend any Cal owners with this
design. There are 4 coats of Interlux Brightside paint on this
design. The paint contains Teflon and its' deep color does vary
from dye lot to dye lot, just a warning.
While trying to refurbish the gel coat, we discovered lots of
minor dings and spider cracks. "Hattress off white"
topside paint was used on the sides of the hull, and deck. Two
quarts of red and 2 quarts of white paint (well 3 of red due to
the "video moment" when Randy went to rest his arms
on the ladder and sent a quart of red paint tumbling in the air)
along with brush cleaner and cleanser #333 run right at $100.00.
Hanging the boom, tiller and traveler support from the rafters
in the garage proved to be a great way to apply finishing material.
After sanding the boom, I walked into the garage one night and
got out the paint. Cliff at the sail loft encouraged me to do
my thing; the red boom looks awesome.
Soulmate's floor needed fiberglass work and I then checker-boarded
it with white and brown paint and an overlay of stain. The pattern
and finish camouflage the fiberglass and wood joints and it looks
great, like an aged but well kept parkway floor.
We chose to move the traveler from in front of the companionway
to behind the tiller. Made a wooden "V" out of a 2"
x 8" piece of red oak to attach the traveler track to. It
straddles the seat behind the tiller. The traveler car has ¼"
continuous line running through it, using 2 blocks and 2 clam
cleats with bull-eyes to keep it in place. Harken's catalogue
was a great help in making the mainsheet along with the boom-vang,
cunningham and outhaul system. Cost for the mainsheet and traveler
was around $300.00. The boom-vang, cunningham and outhaul were
about $175.00 thanks to Minnie's and Steve.
To repair the ruder Randy had to get the vertical bow out of it.
By laying it on its' side with a 25 lb lead brick on it for several
weeks, the ruder slowly was reshaped. After reshaping, the same
process used on the hull and keel was applied to the ruder, sanding,
epoxy filling, sealing, and painting.
For the electrical equipment we selected Raytheon products,
because of their response to inquiries we had made. Depth finder,
boat speed, wind gauges and VHS radio ran us $875, which included
a 10% discount for opening a charge with West Marine. The only
problem we have found with our ST-40 series equipment is that
no where in any literature does it tell you, that you need a 3rd
component to get "true wind speed". It appears the additional
cost for this apparatuses with cables is about $47.00. Display
gages are mounted on the port side of the exterior of companionway.
Depth and speed sensors are installed in the hull just under the
forward sleeping berth. To do this we had to cut out the water
storage tank.
To mount the wind instrument, a Windex, antenna and running light
Steve found a bracket made out of stainless steel to fit on top
of the mast. New electrical wires and cable for the antenna were
run inside the mast and through the deck. A steaming/foredeck
light was added. Cost for the Windex, lights, cable and antenna
about $140.00.
The port side of the rear bulkhead was disintegrating. It was
rebuilt and a bracket for the new battery was made. Battery and
trickle charger cost $170.00.
Finding a 6 horsepower, 4-stroke motor with a long shaft was a bigger chore than what we expected. Six weeks later, with the help of Boater's World, a week before we launched, we had a Nissan Motor. It cost us $1495.00 and works fine. We ran the gas supply under the starboard side of the cockpit. A small hole drilled through the side of the interior of the deck with some self-rigged fittings and a hose provides fuel to the motor, thus cleaning up the cockpit area.
I wanted an extra jib halyard - heard and read about too many
horror stories of jams, runaways etc - ended up with 2 extra so
we also have a topping lift. We ran one halyard on the rear side
of the mast and one on the front. To avoid conflict with the main
halyard when raising the sail, position the upper block for the
topping lift on the rear side of the mast slightly off center,
approximately ½ way between the height of the main sail
when raised and the top of the mast. After rigging the mast, we
ran routing blocks on the deck, added power clutches, 2 winches
and replaced all the tracks. The track on the boat must have been
the originals and finding Genoa leads that fit snugly was difficult.
(The old track worked great for the new wood hatches that we made.
The rear hatch slides under the front hatch on Teflon guides.
We mounted the track on the wood rails and then screwed and glued
the Teflon slides to the underside of the hatch cover.) The cost
for halyard lines (60 feet of 5/16"line for each new halyard
and 30 ft each for main and jib halyard), track, clutches, blocks,
cleats and shackles was approximately $750.00. (The winches were
given to us in exchange for the winch on the mast.)
Two jobs that are fun in December with the cold and wind are installing
a new rub rail and new lifeline covers. Seals and Spars sold us
the rub rail and although the old one came off easy enough and
the new one went on well it is hard to stretch in the cold. It
will be re-stretched in the spring. As for the lifelines, a knife
and elbow grease removed the old one. A new rub rail and lifeline
covers cost $270.00.
Well now we are ready for final finishes. Don't waste your
money on cleaners for the mast. Elbow grease worked. We then waxed
it and called it a day. We secured all nuts, bolts and washers
and cut them off, installed hooks to hang extra lines and sail
ties on, purchased jib sheets, fenders, dock lines, anchors, life
jackets, personal safety cushions, winch handles, a porta potty,
rugs, first aid kit, cotter pins, clinometer, flashlights, assembled
a parts and tool box, put red numbers and Cal 25 logo on the mainsail
and repaired the headsails (by hand). Probably spent another $600.00
along with $225.00 for Genoa leads, $140.00 on tires for the trailer
and $85.00 on a light kit for the trailer.
Launch day made it, Dec 29, 2001. It was dreary and drizzling.
Backing Soulmate into the water wasn't as easy as we expected.
She didn't want to float off. On the third try the boat trailer
was removed from the truck and a small 2- wheeled dolly was attached
to it. Soulmate raced into the water and was guided to a safe
haven. Randy started her motor and took her to her new home- slip
# 47 on dock B.
Soulmate is Launched
It was now dusk. After joining the electrical wires from inside
the mast to the deck and straightening out halyards and shrouds
the mast was raised and stanchions were tensioned. With 2 cabin
cruisers on her bow and one to her port Soulmate held her head
proud.
The next day we attach the bright red boom, did some adjusting
and put up the mainsail. In ecstasy and awe, with grins from ear
to ear, we thanked all that helped and supported us. We christened
Soulmate on our maiden voyage with her. I smiled as she frolicked
in response and promised her many fun filled adventures.
The Maiden Voyage of Soulmate.
Much thanks is owed to Nancy Cox who wrote the story of the restoration of Soulmate and contributed the pictures for the Cal 25 communitiy to enjoy.
