Port Lights

[Nailhead432]

As the new owner of hull 264, and on a working class budget, I thought I'd seek some advice.  Prioritizing the needs of the vessel, I feel the first that needs to happen is prevent water from getting into the boat. 

The mast boot is leaking (and tensioning rod isn't installed), all the port lights are leaking and hatches are cracked really bad. 

I'll order a universal mast boot and eventually make a sumbrella cover for it, but unsure where the tensioning rod connects too.

As for the port lights, I really like the stainless ones from NFM, but unsure if I should drop the coin on those just yet.  Those that have resealed port lights, what products did you use to do so?  Or, should I bite the bullet and get the NFM ones?

[Dale Tanski]

Welcome aboard!
The tension rod attaches to the mast base and goes to up through the deck and into the collar around the mast.
As for the port lights, I have yet to find better than the NFM's.  They are all 316 Stainless cast with robust locking dogs. They also have no external fasteners showing and the clamp pressure for the hinges can be adjusted to hold them open.  I know many of the owners with 365's have gone this way and I am confident that none of them are regretful.  Yes they are relatively expensive, but well worth the money.  Do one or a set at a time to ease dollar outlay. 
As far as the deck hatches, I changed out the plexiglass and installed tempered glass.  The glass never crazes and is less scratch resistant.  Mine are around 15 years old and look new.  I went with a solar green tint.
Keep us informed and good sailing....
Dale

[Nailhead432]

Thanks for the reply Dale.  You seem to be a wealth of knowledge on here.  Concerning the port lights, me and butyl tape became best friends as I tackled the worst offender.  Gotta go cheap for now after numerous other priorities have popped up. Been difficult to decide on what takes the number 1 spot.  Because the boat is 4 hours away, everything has to be pre planned.  Being able to stay on the boat was my first priority, that way I could avoid expensive hotel stays.  But, the sea cock to the head is frozen shut (and I don't know why it's 2").  That turned out to be a blessing in disguise because the holding tank is slap full.  Well, the discharge hose going to the waste outlet isn't connected and is too short by 3" or so.  But that doesn't matter, because I can't move the boat to the fuel dock to get it pumped out.  I can't do that because the V-Drive is full of water (since sucked out and overfilled with 30 weight oil), the jack shaft is rubbing on the sole, and all 4 motor mounts are busted.  Plus, engine coolant is mysteriously disappearing into never never land.  To make matters worse, the marina it's at wants to know what my hurricane plan is because the boat can't stay there during any named storm.

Sorry to complain.  There isn't a single item outside of my wheelhouse, but a whole bunch of them get overwhelming.  Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[Dale Tanski]

Mike,
The 4 hour thing is a positive trust me. 
1) It forces you to be productive and organized. To do so you need to keep a notebook of what you need, what you are going to do, where you are getting materials, dimensions etc.. You will find the ride home very productive as well.  It is thinking time.  Write it down.  Take lots of pictures.
2) When you are at the boat there are no distractions.  You are not going home to cut the lawn. You are not going home for a party.  If someone needs help they just have to wait. You work until you are over hungry and then eat.  If you wake up in the middle of the night do something. No TV, no distractions.
3) You must always have a plan A, B & C.  If you were going to do A and it rains, you do B.  If an item doesn't fit you do C and so forth.

I drove 6 hrs to our boat every other weekend for a total of 31 visits.  I would get there at about 2:30 Am on Saturday morning and leave at around 4Pm on Sunday afternoon.  I had heat as many times it was in the 20's when I arrived on the boat.  I had more trouble working in hotter temperature than cold. The marina had showers and a head.  Food was in walking distance and I knew of every home improvement store, hardware and marine outlet within a half hour. 

I too inherited a full holding tank.  Getting that out was indeed a challenge.  Everything was replaced or repaired but my boat was missing the majority of the port side interior from the forward bulkhead to the transom to make things more interesting.  While I was down at the boat I made yard buddies if I needed help lifting something onboard.  That cost me time however as I was asked to advice and help on a regular basis. I even rebuilt on guys Pacific Seacrafts Orion 27 bow sprit from scratch.

There should still be pictures of my V-drive in pieces on this sight.  My boat sank in the slip bow down and water also got in the V-Drive.  The bearings and seals were standard issue but the universal joint located inside to a bit to find. A doable project if you know wrenches and an hydraulic press. 

The disappearing engine coolant thing is symptomatic of a bad headgasket.  That typically is a motor pull but that's Ok cause that leads you to the fuel tank the EZ way and that is a known issue on a 365.

Hurricanes I can't help you with.  I would never live south because of the heat, snakes and the hurricanes.  I tell people all the time that take on big projects. Its is one step at a time.  You eat and elephant one bite at a time and that is how you finish a big project.  Make a list.  Make several lists but set priorities and work on those first. NEVER look at the entirety of the project or you will end up like 90% of people that buy project boats, overwhelmed and five years in and further behind than when you started. 

Everything takes longer than you think. So what.  What is the hurry? enjoy the journey. Just like when sailing, the most dangerous thing on a boat is a schedule.  I couldn't afford the boat when I bought it but made it happen.  EBay was a huge help.  The boat was 40 years old so what's wrong with a good used part?  I didn't have the time to work on it, but made it happen.  Everybody has the same time as everyone else, they just waste it. Most people wait for a Saturday or hours of time. In reality things get done 20 minutes here and 20 minutes there.  Most people talk themselves out of those 20 minutes cause it "isn't enough time".  Collect materials on you way home. Try not to make special trips especially when at the boat.  That is a time suck for sure.  We live in a third world country today.  Nobody seems to have anything. Plan way ahead. 

Vary your tasks. Work on this for a bit then go do something else.  Boats are unusual because many times you are scrunched in to a small awkward space.  Many a time I walked around the yard looking like I needed a wheel chair cause my legs were numb and my back was twisted. Just wait until you have to get up forward in your anchor locker. Keep asking yourself, is what I am doing value added? I have seen people worry about the right shade of contact paper for a shelf when nothing on the boat works electrically.  Don't be afraid to walk away from something.  Your mind is a wonderful thing. Your subconscious will solve a problem on its own while you work on something else. 

Boats are rarely finished after they are floating.  Don't fall for that trap.  I still have items 10 years after just because I launched.  Once floating you want to sail it.  Its the same as a kid... homework or baseball.  Short term wins every time. 

Use this forum.  The people here hold a universe of knowledge. Don't be afraid to ask.  My last piece of advice is "do something even if it is wrong".  This is something my father always said.  If you aren't moving you will never get there. Showing up is 80%. Its not a job, its a passion!
Dale