pmf44
Member
I purchased Non Sea Quitter (1980 382, formerly Galewynd) in April, 2015 and have been operating six-passenger tours out of Galesville, MD while continuing to restore her to her former glory (yeah that sounds a bit hackneyed...) as she had been neglected and somewhat run down.
A partial list, at least of the BIG items included pulling the mast and doing work on the mast base, spreaders, boot, removing, polishing, inspecting and rebedding the chainplates and replacing standing and most running rigging. I pulled the original 4.108 engine and painted and insulated the engine room, replaced shaft, prop, and cutlass bearing and rebuilt the Hurth transmission, raw water pump and other items. She starts up like a charm every time, but there is apparently a slow leak in the forward seal.
I replaced the water heater, three portlights, added solar vents, did a lot of rewiring, got a new fully-battened mainsail with strong track; repaired rubrails where needed and made repairs to the forward bulkhead and anchor locker; replaced nav lights, new instruments and much, much more. I am now completing a major cleaning and recoating of all interior enclosed spaces, exposed woodwork, replacing the headliner and refinishing the cabin sole and will finish installing a new propane stove system (where did you install the propane bottle and what kind???).
I hope to eventually add autopilot, new headsail, new canvas and cushions, and maybe repair or replace the overhead hatches (any recommendations on that one are most welcomed). I replaced all the batteries and installed an inverter/charger and am now putting in LED light fixtures. I built a shelf in the starboard pilot berth. I am doing most of the work myself except the major engine work and for wiring, fiberglass, carpentry and technical issues I am working alongside and sometimes depending upon a retired, veteran cruiser and handyman/electrician.
I had the Rigging Company do the standing rigging work but I removed and reinstalled all the chainplates. So..it has been....tough. Despite many years of experience in owning and operating all kinds of power and sailboats as a professional skipper and advising others on various aspects of boat ownership, purchase, operations and maintenance in which I tell them to expect and be ready to pay twice as much and work twice as hard as they anticipate....there was and still is a lot to learn on my part. And it has taken longer and cost more than I anticipated.
I could have bought a different boat of course, and there are days when I wonder why I am doing this but I know my boat inside out and know that everything needing to be repaired or replaced has been done or will be done. I would surmise that some of you are in a similar situation. Having sailed hundreds of different boats, many on long trips, I am intimately aware of different characteristics and construction and design between boats. I know what I like, what works and what makes sense. I still believe that the Morgan 38, a boat I first sailed in the early 1980's, is indeed a classic in every sense of the word and is extremely well-built. There are many smart features.
There is only one thing I really do not like about the boat--and it is minor, but why did they make those dangerous and sharp-edged aluminum frames/liners underneath the two cockpit locker covers? Molded glass would have been easy but those aluminum pieces are hell on hands and knees when working in or with those lockers open.
Anyhow, now that it is really beginning to look nice and comfortable, I am finally becoming satisfied and pleased--especially as I recoat the interior wood. Of course there are many things I would do differently and some priorities would have been reordered if I could do it all over again, but this experience has given me much greater confidence to professionally advise other boaters who are considering buying older boats. I'll get photos up eventually!
Anyone interested in my sailing tour business can visit www.nonseaquitter.com. Fellow Morgan 38ers are welcome to call upon me when in or near Galesville. Thanks for reading.
A partial list, at least of the BIG items included pulling the mast and doing work on the mast base, spreaders, boot, removing, polishing, inspecting and rebedding the chainplates and replacing standing and most running rigging. I pulled the original 4.108 engine and painted and insulated the engine room, replaced shaft, prop, and cutlass bearing and rebuilt the Hurth transmission, raw water pump and other items. She starts up like a charm every time, but there is apparently a slow leak in the forward seal.
I replaced the water heater, three portlights, added solar vents, did a lot of rewiring, got a new fully-battened mainsail with strong track; repaired rubrails where needed and made repairs to the forward bulkhead and anchor locker; replaced nav lights, new instruments and much, much more. I am now completing a major cleaning and recoating of all interior enclosed spaces, exposed woodwork, replacing the headliner and refinishing the cabin sole and will finish installing a new propane stove system (where did you install the propane bottle and what kind???).
I hope to eventually add autopilot, new headsail, new canvas and cushions, and maybe repair or replace the overhead hatches (any recommendations on that one are most welcomed). I replaced all the batteries and installed an inverter/charger and am now putting in LED light fixtures. I built a shelf in the starboard pilot berth. I am doing most of the work myself except the major engine work and for wiring, fiberglass, carpentry and technical issues I am working alongside and sometimes depending upon a retired, veteran cruiser and handyman/electrician.
I had the Rigging Company do the standing rigging work but I removed and reinstalled all the chainplates. So..it has been....tough. Despite many years of experience in owning and operating all kinds of power and sailboats as a professional skipper and advising others on various aspects of boat ownership, purchase, operations and maintenance in which I tell them to expect and be ready to pay twice as much and work twice as hard as they anticipate....there was and still is a lot to learn on my part. And it has taken longer and cost more than I anticipated.
I could have bought a different boat of course, and there are days when I wonder why I am doing this but I know my boat inside out and know that everything needing to be repaired or replaced has been done or will be done. I would surmise that some of you are in a similar situation. Having sailed hundreds of different boats, many on long trips, I am intimately aware of different characteristics and construction and design between boats. I know what I like, what works and what makes sense. I still believe that the Morgan 38, a boat I first sailed in the early 1980's, is indeed a classic in every sense of the word and is extremely well-built. There are many smart features.
There is only one thing I really do not like about the boat--and it is minor, but why did they make those dangerous and sharp-edged aluminum frames/liners underneath the two cockpit locker covers? Molded glass would have been easy but those aluminum pieces are hell on hands and knees when working in or with those lockers open.
Anyhow, now that it is really beginning to look nice and comfortable, I am finally becoming satisfied and pleased--especially as I recoat the interior wood. Of course there are many things I would do differently and some priorities would have been reordered if I could do it all over again, but this experience has given me much greater confidence to professionally advise other boaters who are considering buying older boats. I'll get photos up eventually!
Anyone interested in my sailing tour business can visit www.nonseaquitter.com. Fellow Morgan 38ers are welcome to call upon me when in or near Galesville. Thanks for reading.
Last edited:
