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I appreciate the comments and the sentiment, but I am not on expert on crossing the Columbia Bar - and not qualified to run a bar clinic. I think the Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 62 has put on clinics in the past - mostly geared toward sport fishing boats - but it might be a great place to start trying to organize something like that. If organizing a bar clinic is something you are taking on, let me know if I can help in any way! I could help spread the word via this channel as well and with the Christmas Ship group in Portland, and with Sauvie Island Yacht Club (a cruising sailboat yacht club).

Hehe! Ok, you are not expert but yes experienced 😉. Participate in a Clinic would be great but just sailing out as well. My sailboat is a Newport 30, engine Volvo Penta MD7, 13 hp. Think is good enough. I’ll be back US in February. Keep me posted by e-mail please

@@tinomolinski Yes, that boat and motor are sufficient - as long as planning goes into it for tides, swell, and wind. We can keep in touch for spring/summer.

Considered the SS sprit - but way past that decision point now. Lots of good back and forth between wood and SS on the Westsail Owners site. There is a WS32 in St Helens OR with the SS sprit - always did like the look of it. Our boomkin is solid at this time.

Do you mean difficulty with the springs? or with the pawls themselves? If the latter, you might look carefully for rounded corners on the pawls or cogs from wear. You might try replacing with new pawls if you see wear.

It was a fun boat to sail. Intuitive. Eckhard has since sold that boat I believe. Nice stable boat - better than some other 14ft boats I have been on.

Good luck with your work. Will you be building up a new beam? All the cables from my mast almost fully fill the 1-1/2 hole down through the mast step - that means either a really big hole in the mast or several smaller ones - I am not sure if that would affect the integrity of the mast. Are you in the WOA? Lots of good info on the forums there.

@sail-on yes, making new beams. I was really surprised when I took the old beams. One of them was slightly cracked (aft) and the other was rotten from the water dripping over the years. That is why I don't want to use the hole in the step for the wires as time may end up with the same issue. Spoke to a few ppl in the boat yard about drilling a hole in the mast, and they all seem to think it should be fine and it won't compromise the mast (there are only 3 wires). I am not on WOA but I probably should join.

Yes sir! By the way, I met a new person in my marina last week on a Polaris 43. He said he had been admiring Dreamcatcher, he loves Westsails, and asked if I ever watched that sailing into Oblivion guy!

Yes, G10 would eliminate possible future rot if water ever got in. In my case the area of plywood to replace was so small I figured it didn't really make a difference. If I had cut out all the plywood in that raised area, I probably would've gone the G10 rout.

Yes. Figuring out as I go.

I don't want to give you incorrect numbers - I'll measure next time I get down to the boat.

Headroom and the bunk lengths are both about 74.5". This is a good height for Kara and I.

Thanks for the reply. I' 6'4" so I'll have to think about this for a while.@@sail-on

@@captainandthelady For a little extra height, consider a Tayana 37 - a guy in our marina who is taller - probably about 6'4" - had looked at Dreamcatcher but ended up buying a Tayana 37. Funny, because we had looked at that very same Tayana as we looked for boats, and Kara, who is shorter, preferred the Westsail. We didn't know each other then, but now the two boats are about 5 slips apart and we are good friends. We compare notes and consult with each other as we both work on our boats. We both are happy with our purchases, and also still admire the other's boat.

Hmm... I haven't see one like that.

@@sail-on thanks.

The rope wrap idea worked for me on my Barlow 34's. Thanks for the idea😊 Incidentally, 7/16A/F Allen keys on mine. Just didn't look it!

Thanks for the note. Yes, on an older boat there are often so many things that need work it's easy to become overwhelmed and paralyzed. Just do what you can do now - and then do the next thing next. One Westsail guru advised me NOT to do a full haul out and complete refit all at once - he said he'd seen that happen so many times where a person completely guts a boat, never to put it back together, and they never get to use the boat. That said, if time and money are unlimited - go for it!

Yes, it goes to show the resiliency and strength of the overall structure of these boats. Thanks for the comment.

We would have waved as you went by had we known. Where were you heading/where are you now?

The entire cockpit floor is one large hatch. It is held down with bolts and then just lifts out. The dang thing is VERY heavy.

Thanks for the helpful feedback. I actually did tamp down the music to 60% and up the voice to 110% - but I'll have to remember to go back through and listen and re-adjust as needed. I'll work on that more for future videos.

Glad to hear that your repair has lasted so long. I'll be putting out a few more episodes on the mast step and beam repair in the next few weeks.

Island Marina, on Sauvie Island

Yep, and Plywood aBulkheads or anything Plywood on a boat no longer appears to be a good idea, especially if intending heading to the Tropics, but Europe / Mediterranean are has Termite issues as well. a new channel, the guy has bought a Wharram Catamaran, intends sailing it to the Tropics, and the entire boat is one massive Free Termite Restaurant, because it is 100% Plywood. My planned next Sailboat is a brand new Trrmite proof Island Packet. So many former Customers had Termite issues, the new Owners of Island Packet have replaced Plywood, with a Structural Termite Proof Composite Board, plus I'll have Zero Timber on Deck, it'll be heat reflecting white nonslip instead, plus a bit of Synthetic Teak under the Aeats in the Cockpit, just to make it look nice. Rather a lot of other boats were ruled out due to the amount of Termite food in them, plus too many have too deep a Draft for Cruising, plus have gone for Stupid unprotected Twin Rudders - Sail from Maine down to Florida as just one example, and you have to question whether Any Current Boat Designers have done any extensive Cruising where there are Lobster and Crab Pots ? Seems not doesn't it . 😡

Making progress, so stay tuned.

Just wait till you see episode 28!🤯

I would love to see the pictures and learn more... lets work on finding a way to communicate directly. Are you on Westsail Owners page?

Yes, I am….sv Glorious

I’ll upload some pix there

Do you have any photos of your work or finished beam?

Likewise - at some point I need to remove and repair a few abandoned thru-hulls. Been watching your content on that looming project. Carry on!!

@@sail-on Cool! I am about to install new seacocks and I can finish the new Beta install. Replacing old thru-hulls definitely puts the mind at ease.

Thanks. I'd rather make sailing vids, but more project vids on the way.

We had overheating issues on a previous attempt to get to Astoria. I figured just sensor issues or something like debris in the tube stack, but we found a leaking head gasket. Beyond that, just lots of corrosion, and we were having difficulty locating parts for the engine. We talked to our mechanic about pulling, overhaul, and reinstall - but comparing costs decide to just replace it.

We had enough previous experience in the river to know we needed a rock solid reliable engine - that weighed heavily on the decision for the new engine. The Columbia is a great over-nite/weekender river. Just travel 1-2 hours and you can be completely alone.

Perfect! Let me know how it goes with your winches.

For the next year we will be sailing the Columbia River, OR/WA coasts, and up into San Juan's and Vancouver Isl as we continue to repair/refit. The plan is Sea of Cortez later in 2024. Are you on the boat full time? Have plans for further destinations?

Totally agree - lonely, craggy islands. We gave Tilly plenty of leeway - out of concern for Dreamcatcher - and out of respect for the urns of ashes that may, or may not, still be out there. We have been watching your heavy weather stuff lately - some of the best heavy weather footage ever! Solid!

Yup - the Beta and new prop are just the ticket - and even more important as we push up the Columbia River to the Portland area. Thanks for following!

Yes, I was pleased with the pointing of the boat. I suspect that with any bigger swell we would have had to fall off a bit.