2023 Planned upgrades/work

With our plans to put the boat into the marina in late summer 2023 I have started working on the boat a little at a time to get ready.

Install Windvane:

I got a new windvane a few Christmases ago, but did not get a chance to put it on prior to going into the marina. I will need to figure out a way to install it without having it hit my Antenna. This shouldn't be too much of a problem to figure out and install as it can be installed at a 90 degree angle attached to a metal bracket that already exists.

Install a new Traveler Bar:

My traveler bar on Odin is the original. When it was built the traveler bar was a thin gauge aluminum bar. The traveler itself was two stop rings that could be moved around. Odin traveler is currently loose where it attaches to the  boat on one side. This causes it to shake when the running the outboard and has caused several shackles to shake loose and fall overboard. The new part was ordered from Catalina Direct and has just never been installed.

Add Mast Gates:

Mast gates allow a sail with slugs along the luff to lower but remain in the track. Slugs are small nylon piece that are sewn with a strap to the front edge of the sail. I purchased a set of these before and lost one overboard when I was installing it at the marina. It really will be a upgrade worth having.

Our boat originally had a bolt rope, which is a rope sewn into the front of the sail that slides into the track on the mast. The bolt rope makes it extremely hard to single hand, and takes additional time to drop in an emergency. Since it had a bolt rope, having mast gates was something that would be helpful.

Keel Inspection and Repair:

Probably one of the biggest items on the list in terms of need and work. Currently there is a lot of play in the keel. I believe it may need work to repair the keel bolt hole. I really am not sure though as it's not something I have looked at.

Replace the Rudder:

Odin has a lot of weather helm when sailing, someone has to be holding the helm at all times. One way we would like to combat this is by replacing the rudder with a RudderCraft kickup plastic rudder. This would include replacing the mast crutch. tiller, and would have 1/2 inch pintles.

Replace the Gudgeons:

With the upgrade to the 1/2 inch pintles, we will also need to replace the gudgeons. Currently our 3/8 inch gudgeons are ok, but the original model does have points of failure which could mean damaging our boat or loosing our rudder. Catalina Direct does sell four bold direct replacements, so I am hopeful that this will be an easy install.

Bottom Paint:

I have leftover paint enough to paint the bottom one more time from the last time I added a bottom coat. I will probably do a quick sand and then throw some new paint on.

Secure in mast wiring:

My boat clanks in the wind. at first I though it was the running rigging, but I secure that fairly well. I have read some people using pool noodles inside the mast with the wires running through them, that's likely what I will try to do. It may be hard because there are screws that protrude into the Mast.

Keel Inspection and Repair:

Probably one of the biggest items on the list in terms of need and work. Currently there is a lot of play in the keel. I believe it may need work to repair the keel bolt hole. I really am not sure though as it's not something I have looked at.