Recent content by Beachnut

Blue Heron is SOLD! Thanks for shopping and good luck finding the right one for you!

This 2003 C-Dory 22’ Cruiser is well-kept, in excellent condition, lightly used, and ready to run. The boat has been garage-kept for many years, and was purchased at the boat show by its original owners, who used her for local crabbing around Port Townsend. I bought the boat from them and have...

Sounds like blacksmithing! So what should I avoid doing if I don't want to break off the bolt head? Need to understand what causes metal fatigue sufficient to do that. Obviously I crossed the line with the trim tab bolt... Never torque on the bolt if it doesn't give easily? And, should I...

Well, I did just buy a torch yesterday... How long would you aim it a the bolt, and at what distance? I don't want to hurt the paint job, and it's the one in that confined space at the base of the lower unit... The problem with the PB Blaster is that it does drip off rather than soak down...

Thanks, Bob. I have to follow hunches sometimes and that's what I was thinking would be the better course. OK, on to the next chapter! I am at least enjoying learning new stuff!

Worked on the diagnosis effort this week, using my new shop manual. Everybody has to start somewhere! Turns out an important element to the story is the "routine" maintenance visit to a local shop back in May: in retrospect I should have started doing my own maintenance this year, since I...

Stay tuned! Ended up having to work this weekend. As in; the kind of activity that doesn't involve boats and water, but fattens rather than slims the wallet. How parts get paid for!

The SELOC shop manual just arrived! This is going to be a game-changer for me since I need to become self-reliant in so many ways. It's written and illustrated clearly for the do-it-yourselfer. This weekend I'll follow some of the troubleshooting steps they lay out, and hopefully find easily...

That's very helpful. The photo is scary, like those xrays of your arm you don't really want to see! Is changing out the dog gear difficult? My shop manual should arrive in a week or so...

Yup, Harvey, the R "8" channel marker by the false entrance has all the south side red paint stripped off and it can't be easily seen at a distance. I made the mistake of thinking I could head from R "6" by Rat Island to G "9" by the park beach and be safe. There's a rip there like river rapids...

I didn't test reverse after realizing I had lost that port drive. So, I put them both in forward and reverse just now, on the trailer, with engines off. The port doesn't turn more than a few degrees, the starboard is quite loose. I've never tested that; should they turn by hand if all is well...

I'm a new skipper (2 years), but have been boating as crew for decades. Last week, I had a slow, soft sandbar grounding on my 22. I can blame the channel marker that was missing all its red paint, or I can admit not carefully watching my Garmin or the color of the water in a minus tide. In a...

:( I was so looking forward to meeting all of you and your awesome boats! Unfortunately, there's been a death in the family this week. Blue Heron will have to roost in the driveway for a few days. I'm new here and have only had the boat for a few weeks. I've been out in Port Townsend Bay a few...