So......termites! Unbelievable what those little bastards can destroy. It seems they have selectively eaten most of the plywood floor. The upside.....I know the boat about as well as the people that built it as I have had it down to bare bones. The cabin sole is out...nothing but the internal glass unit. Surprisingly, it wasnt that tough to get it out. All of the bulkheads and tabbing are fine. It's a good time to modify the veberth to allow a bigger cushion and lots of storage. Also, now I can remove the fuel tank flange, clean the tank and change out the fittings. The only real "concern" is the main support beam running mid boat under the head wall. Luckily it's only destroyed past the forward bulkhead so I believe I can improve on this as well.Adam
That's 300 pounds of hard work and sweat!!!
Jim
Adam
This is the first time I have ever heard of termites chowing down on the wood inside a boat. Where was she stored that she was exposed to an infestation? What percentage of the wood is damaged? How do you get rid of the bugs before you start rebuilding?
Getting back to the lead ingots. Are you planning on removing them? From what I know, they were put there for one of two reasons. One was that the weight of the engine (Yanmar and Perkins) ended up being heavier then expected and the weights were added to counterbalance that. Two was that Ted Brewer designed a cruising boat that called for heavy ground tackle up forward. Neither Morgan or most owners provided such tackle, so weight was needed to offset the difference. If you are not going to repower with a lighter engine or install a windlass with all chain rode then you might want to leave the lead in place. Although, if you are planning on removing it, you have a golden opportunity to do so with the v-bunk cabinetry not in your way.
Jim
I am leaving the lead as is although I will re-bed it. I took the over/under out and will make a nice big storage area after I close in the lead plugs. The lead has been there all along so why mess up what has been working? Also, the original owner bought the boat (79, 382) with a 57' mast. I'm not sure if any mods were made to the keel lead during the build so I dont want to mess that up.Adam
This is the first time I have ever heard of termites chowing down on the wood inside a boat. Where was she stored that she was exposed to an infestation? What percentage of the wood is damaged? How do you get rid of the bugs before you start rebuilding?
Getting back to the lead ingots. Are you planning on removing them? From what I know, they were put there for one of two reasons. One was that the weight of the engine (Yanmar and Perkins) ended up being heavier then expected and the weights were added to counterbalance that. Two was that Ted Brewer designed a cruising boat that called for heavy ground tackle up forward. Neither Morgan or most owners provided such tackle, so weight was needed to offset the difference. If you are not going to repower with a lighter engine or install a windlass with all chain rode then you might want to leave the lead in place. Although, if you are planning on removing it, you have a golden opportunity to do so with the v-bunk cabinetry not in your way.
Jim
Thanks Jim. The IGU I'm referring to is the fiberglass substructure below the floor that runs from the gally bulkhead to the head bulkhead.Adam
It appears you have a major overhaul taking place. As far as thru hull valves are concerned, I have been using the Marlon glass reinforced valves with great success for years. The thru hull fittings themselves you might want to replace with the bronze mushroom head type with back up plates made of G10 or solid glass.
Is the IGU that you refer to the "bucket" that the mast step sits in? Some of the boats built later on don't have the "bucket" at all.
A company called "Electrosense" makes liquid level sensors for fuel and waste that many Morgan owners, myself included, have been rather happy with. You might look them up.
Jim
**galleyThanks Jim. The IGU I'm referring to is the fiberglass substructure below the floor that runs from the gally bulkhead to the head bulkhead.