Bridge Top Needs Help

[spartonboat1]

Ok, I finally admit it, my bridge top, where is mounted the flying bridge, needs a major rehab. I have visible cracks under the bridge top, its starting to sag, and regularly get leaks in rainy weather. So all the top should probably come off and new core installed. Probably means the flybridge will need to come off.

This is on a '72 43'DCFBMY.

Any out there with similar experience (I've seen pix posted) about how much trouble am I looking at (range from 'a lot' to 'ooh boy').

I am bracing myself.

 

[ppat324]

OH BOY!!! Bill will reply soon...this is just the prelude!!! ppat

 

[SKYCHENEY]

Boats are so cheap now you might want to buy another 43DC with a good top and use that. I'm kidding, of course, but compared to the price of having a yard to the complete job, you may not be far from it in buying another parts boat.

 

[GJH]

Are you talking about your hardtop that covers the bridge, or the top upon which you stand, over the salon? Your comment about core indicates the latter and if so: "WOH BOY! There's gonna be some head bangin' " ...as Keith Jackson used to say.

 

[yachtsmanbill]

Garner your patience and a bunch of coffee cans for the screws... and take lots of pics!! I can see now why a lot of boat movers butcher stuff when removing the FB's.
I was going to lift mine for a re-bedding, but my arch is bolted to the FB and the roof simultaneously. Repairing the coring is tough, but pretty straight forward. The only problem I have encountered was trying to lift a large area of outer skin for a big repair. I ended up cutting out the bad sections, and "spot" repairing.
When we re-core this week, I am going to brace the inside to slightly exagerate the outer curve when glassing all this stuff back in... I hate puddles on the roof! ws

 

[Bill Root]

I'm having the same problem with my 43 DCMY. Although not as serious as Spartonboat's, I do want to get at it before it gets so bad I have to remove the flybridge to repair. I'll be following this thread closely.

 

[REBrueckner]

Bracing the roof from underneath is a good idea because your weight and possibly that of a helper, can deform the roof crown while you work. Be sure to use epoxy resin not polyester, vinylester might be ok too...perhaps someone can recommend a specific coring product for you.

 

[REBrueckner]

Bracing the roof from underneath is a good idea because your weight and possibly that of a helper, can deform the roof crown while you work. Be sure to use epoxy resin not polyester, vinylester might be ok too...perhaps someone can recommend a specific coring product for you.

When you refasten your flybridge and other attachments, bed ALL screws in a quality long life caulk, not silicone, that remains flexible...that's how these problems get started.....

 

[spartonboat1]

Any ideas on the dry weight bare of the flybridge? I have seen at least one pic of the fb in a removed state. 150-300#'s? more? less?

 

[yachtsmanbill]

All I can say is dont short change yourself! We just removed the two built in seats for the paint job and the 6 foot long bench was about 75 lbs. The helm pod (with gages still mounted) is about 50. I would guess the bare shell on mine would be in the 400+ range.
Sounds like a fun project, but then ya know I'm a sicko! LOL ws

 

[spartonboat1]

Sounds like a jobs, where you leave her on the hard for the summer and put up scaffolding. Plus the yard has a scissors truck and an extendable arm hoist, so the FB could be lifted off by moi, if crazy, or a 'sicko' (da sickos got to stick together).

 

[yachtsmanbill]

C'mon man... thats a short winter project... diversify and adapt!! ws

 

[spartonboat1]

C'mon man... thats a short winter project... diversify and adapt!! ws

It's those 70mph winds and 15degree temps that restrict my thinking. A calm day and 30 degrees is almost too warm (lol). Actually that's one reason I have been thinking of moving her closer in the winter, so that it would a one hour and not 4.5 hour drive to get to her. But the fuel cost would be about $1,200 seasonally to get 'up north' and back, plus runtime (which I would like to do!). Got to pace yourself on the Lake MI weather though. Can be wicked.

 

[yachtsmanbill]

4.5 hours? ?? I know the boats in Cheboygan so wheres home? Mines an hour away (40 miles). Thats about 5 gallons per day ($15) X 6 = 75/week X 20 weeks = 1500. Its the propane thats killing me!
Ah! To have a heated barn with a marine railway on your own property... ;-)) ws

 

[spartonboat1]

4.5 hours? ?? I know the boats in Cheboygan so wheres home? Mines an hour away (40 miles). Thats about 5 gallons per day ($15) X 6 = 75/week X 20 weeks = 1500. Its the propane thats killing me!
Ah! To have a heated barn with a marine railway on your own property... ;-)) ws

Home port in summer is tied up at the Cheboygan, MI BK&C insurance docks, which they own and rent out at good rates. BK&C was originally the Majestic Marina, in 50's 60's, since converted to offices.

The 4.5 hours is drive time by car, from GR, MI to Cheboygan. Boat runtime from e.g. Grand Haven winter storage would be more like 25-30 hours at 9 knots (hull) or 20 hours at 13 knots (cruise); roughly 2-3 day cruise. I think SkyC has made that run many times, so maybe he knows the runtime. Fuel burn obviously higher at cruise. So I am guessing 460 miles at 1 to 1.2 mpg is 450-460 gals at $2.8 diesel...very approx $1,300-$1,500 fuel. The offset on fuel cost is the much higher slip fee 'downstate'.

 

[spartonboat1]

For no other reason, other than knowledge, the road from Rogers City, MI to Onaway, MI (M68) has virtually no overhead obstructions. So if someone wanted to build a boat barn (or 2), they could then trailer (?) their boat from Rogers City, provided they could arrange for a Travel Lift to get out of the water, thence to their barn along M68.

The reason for no restrictions, is that Moran Iron Works in Onaway cut a deal with the State of MI to remove all overhead utilities so that Moran could ship its very large industrial fabrications by truck from their plant in Onaway to the docks in Rogers City. They then ship all over the world via the GL's and the SLSW. Lots of stuff for air makeup, coal burning plant systems, etc. In fact, he is trying to enlarge his plant, so business must be holding up.

I already own a 16'x46' x 19' high storage condo in N. MI, but it is 'too small' for my Hatt (sigh)...need 50' internal. It is in a group of such condos, mostly for boats, but all for RV's. Its for sale, if I ever get off my duff.

 

[SKYCHENEY]

Quincy,
You can run from GH to Cheboygen in two long days at hull speed with Frankfort being about halfway. Three days is easier as it is about a 240nm run. Winter storage rates are actually cheaper in west Michigan than most other places. We get many boats from WI and IL for the winter. There is also a man with a 53MY from Duncan Bay in our building this winter. He was fed up with Walstroms policies regarding access to his boat in the winter and their rates. He figures it doesn't cost anymore to come south and he gets a nice trip each way as well.

You should stop over and see us in Montague. You might check out the summer rates there as well. I think you'll be surprised. We have the 6 mile long lake there if the weather is not good so you can still get out. We used to keep our boat at Boyne City but got sick of the drive. Whitehall/Montague is a great compromise.

 

[spartonboat1]

Quincy,
You can run from GH to Cheboygen in two long days at hull speed with Frankfort being about halfway. Three days is easier as it is about a 240nm run. Winter storage rates are actually cheaper in west Michigan than most other places. We get many boats from WI and IL for the winter. There is also a man with a 53MY from Duncan Bay in our building this winter. He was fed up with Walstroms policies regarding access to his boat in the winter and their rates. He figures it doesn't cost anymore to come south and he gets a nice trip each way as well.

You should stop over and see us in Montague. You might check out the summer rates there as well. I think you'll be surprised. We have the 6 mile long lake there if the weather is not good so you can still get out. We used to keep our boat at Boyne City but got sick of the drive. Whitehall/Montague is a great compromise.

Sky, thanks for those thoughts. I suspect my Admiral would be quite interested to follow up as you suggest! I suspect I know the party with the 53MY from DB. I was in the barn at Walstrom's, when Ward Walstrom came in to boot me out, right after 911; I was probably the first. Said the insurance rates would not allow us boaters to in there anymore. I doing something dangerous like removing pillows at the time. However, I do think Shepler's allows full access to their bldg's in Mack City.

So don't be surprised if we show up at your doorstep this summer. P.s., my brother in law used to keep his sailboat in Whitehall, years ago. Beautiful area.

Look forward to looking you up!