{"id":45478,"date":"2021-04-30T15:30:52","date_gmt":"2021-04-30T19:30:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/?p=45478"},"modified":"2023-05-06T17:59:03","modified_gmt":"2023-05-06T21:59:03","slug":"sailing-totem-hidden-issues-in-older-boats","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/story\/how-to\/sailing-totem-older-boats-hidden-issues\/","title":{"rendered":"Sailing Totem: Hidden Issues in Older Boats"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\"people <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n
\n It\u2019s important to take time to reflect on yard projects with friends and cold beverages<\/span>\n Behan Gifford<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t <\/figcaption>\n <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n\n

This story originally appeared on <\/i>Sailing Totem<\/i><\/a>.<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

\u201cDon\u2019t make them like they used to!\u201d One of the refrains about cruising boats is how newer vessels don\u2019t have the desirable qualities of their older brethren. It\u2019s not inaccurate to say they\u2019re different, but it\u2019s not right to suggest older boats built for bluewater sailing are better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

Totem<\/i> is nearly 40 years old. Our current Old Boat Headache is rotting stainless steel. Yes, rotting!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

This week Jamie pulled out our cockpit drains. They looked OK; just a little surface rust, no big deal. Except stainless steel doesn\u2019t age well, and these are original. Knowing the stainless surface we can\u2019t see is where stainless trouble happens, and having replaced nearly all stainless steel on board, it was time to upgrade this minor component. This would be an easy starter project to tackle as we got into the groove of shipyard life again. When the drains were pulled, this crumbling rust is what we found under that shinier top.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

\n\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\"broken <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n
\n Jamie called these \u201cLifespan used: 102%.\u201d<\/span>\n Behan Gifford<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t <\/figcaption>\n <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n\n

Classic bluewater or new production?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n

Totem<\/i> is a Stevens 47 (later evolved Hylas 47s, and same mold for the long line of Hylas 49s); these are among the makes put on a pedestal for their suitability to offshore sailing. We wouldn\u2019t disagree that Totem<\/i> has been an excellent magic carpet to safely carry our family across oceans. But suggestions that newer, \u201cproduction\u201d boats are inferior isn\u2019t fair, either. It\u2019s a longer discussion (and one we get into somewhat in our TOTEM TALKS about what makes a bluewater boat: link from our Events page to watch the replay<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

\n\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\"replacement <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n
\n The replacement is an improvement!<\/span>\n Behan Gifford<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t <\/figcaption>\n <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n\n

Taking this from the other side: the assumption that older bluewater boats are better, because of the build quality differences, isn\u2019t accurate. Something buyers fail to appreciate is that older boats come with old boat problems\u2014like those deck drains, along with chainplates, tanks, cleats, stanchion bases, standing rigging, steering chain\/cable, and countless fasteners. It\u2019s a small example but represents the wider problems that may not be apparent at purchase, despite a good surveyor\u2019s efforts. Refitting core components can add up significantly, and may leave a hopeful cruiser struggling with a money pit instead of another fine sunset at anchor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

\n\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\"old <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n
\n The old and new cockpit drains<\/span>\n Behan Gifford<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t <\/figcaption>\n <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n\n

Boat listings commonly mislead<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n

Sometimes, buyers are simply so taken by the promise of affordably buying their \u201cproven\u201d bluewater boat that they fail to appreciate the full investment required. Boat listings are often more marketing mud than truth: \u201cready to go,\u201d \u201cshe knows the way,\u201d \u201chop aboard and sail away!\u201d Our new cockpit drains<\/a> are only $59 each, an inexpensive DIY repair. Listings that don\u2019t detail rigging age, accurate engine hours, weeping through hulls, or those glassed-in chainplates that seemed like a good idea in 1979 but now represent a serious PITA project may just keep you in the boatyard longer than resources support. There\u2019s a good looking, highly-respected UK built bluewater boat near us staring down a rusty cast iron fuel tank (among other projects) and wondering how much time is left ticking on that bomb.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

Jamie decided to follow up on the cockpit drains by removing Totem\u2019s<\/i> deck drains. These drains aren\u2019t necessary with our perforated toe rail (the lip is about 3\/16ths of an inch); water simply doesn\u2019t accumulate. Totem<\/i> originally came with three drains per side. He removed four of them in 2007, but not the final ones because it meant a cosmetic above the waterline patch job. Now that we\u2019re staring down a paint job, out they\u2019ve come \u2013 and the only way was in pieces!  Another case of seriously rotten steel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

\n\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\"Rotten <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n
\n Rotten deck drain pipe crumbled on removal<\/span>\n Behan Gifford<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t <\/figcaption>\n <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile on Totem<\/i><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n

We\u2019re still coming to grips with the scope of our projects for this haulout, but it\u2019s been a very busy start in several ways. We had three trips to the USA in three weeks. It started with J&J COVID vaccinations at the high school gymnasium in Ajo, Arizona.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

\n\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\"people <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n
\n Mairen gets her J&J jab at the high school gym in Ajo, AZ<\/span>\n Behan Gifford<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t <\/figcaption>\n <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n\n

Then we road tripped with Salvador Cabrales, who runs the show for cruisers in his shipyard, in his big rig to San Diego. Salvador was picking up a boat to truck back to Mexico; we were picking up a car generously loaned by friends. We tagged in a bonus day to spend time with cousins in Carlsbad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

\n\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\"person <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n
\n Jamie in cab of Salvador\u2019s truck, with a bit of Sonora desert landscape<\/span>\n Behan Gifford<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t <\/figcaption>\n <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n\n

The subsequent trip to Phoenix got our youngest crew member on the COVID vaccination train (Siobhan couldn\u2019t get J&J; that\u2019s only 18+ currently). Last weekend was our \u201cvaxxiversary\u201d for the J&J shot. It feels very, very good to have our family on the road to all being fully vaccinated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

Little projects like the drains get us into the routine of shipyard life; we have a long haul[out] ahead. There are plenty of projects awaiting this 39.4-year-old boat. Of course, newer boats have their problems too; the newish Leopard adjacent is sorting out puzzling hull coating issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

\n\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\"two <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n
\n Jamie and Salvador discuss paint options\u2026 a sweet ride loaned by friends in the back<\/span>\n Behan Gifford<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t <\/figcaption>\n <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n\n

Maybe the dogma about the capabilities of new and old boats is a statement of crew competency more than actual capability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

\n\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\"notes <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n
\n Love notes from our seven year old neighbor at the rudder workstation<\/span>\n Behan Gifford<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t <\/figcaption>\n <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile, routines return: revisiting favorite taco carts, getting to know shipyard cat Dulce all over again, and sharing a drink with friends at the end of the day – and in this case, sharing it while we all muddle over older-boat challenges: rebuilding a rudder, replacing an engine, replacing rigging, galley remodel\u2026 And the list goes on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

In case you missed it<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n

Last weekend on TOTEM TALKS: our topic was – get weather smart! We\u2019ve heard so many sailors say \u201cthe forecast was wrong,\u201d when usually it wasn\u2019t wrong\u2026 it was mis-interpreted. Replay this session<\/a> to hear how to avoid the typical mistakes in understanding GRIBs, and tips for downloading GRIBs offshore.<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

While cruising boats from the \u201970s and \u201980s might still have a lot going for them, keeping them seaworthy can involve a long to-do list.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":38409,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"BS_author_type":"BS_author_is_guest","BS_guest_author_name":"Behan Gifford","BS_guest_author_url":"","hydra_display_date":"20210430","hydra_display_updated":false,"arc_story_id":"L4Y67EAU5JGPZGUNAYN6VRZ764","arc_website_url":"story\/how-to\/sailing-totem-older-boats-hidden-issues\/","arc_subtype":"right-sidebar","arc_exclude_from_feeds":false,"sponsored":false,"sponsored_label":"Sponsored Content","sponsored_display_label":false,"post_right_rail":true,"post_right_rail_ad_1":true,"post_right_rail_ad_2":true,"post_right_rail_ad_3":false,"post_right_rail_ad_4":false,"post_right_rail_recirc":true,"fixed_anchor_ad":true,"post_top_ad":true,"post_off_ramp":true,"post_taboola":false,"labels":false,"apple_news_api_created_at":"","apple_news_api_id":"","apple_news_api_modified_at":"","apple_news_api_revision":"","apple_news_api_share_url":"","apple_news_cover_media_provider":"image","apple_news_coverimage":0,"apple_news_coverimage_caption":"","apple_news_cover_video_id":0,"apple_news_cover_video_url":"","apple_news_cover_embedwebvideo_url":"","apple_news_is_hidden":"","apple_news_is_paid":"","apple_news_is_preview":"","apple_news_is_sponsored":"","apple_news_maturity_rating":"","apple_news_metadata":"\"\"","apple_news_pullquote":"","apple_news_pullquote_position":"","apple_news_slug":"","apple_news_sections":[],"apple_news_suppress_video_url":false,"apple_news_use_image_component":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[164],"tags":[251,183,202,319,283,238,583,182],"class_list":["post-45478","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-how-to","tag-family-cruising","tag-how-to","tag-living-aboard","tag-maintenance","tag-mexico","tag-projects","tag-refit","tag-sailing-totem"],"acf":[],"apple_news_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45478","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=45478"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45478\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/38409"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=45478"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=45478"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=45478"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}