I would like to say hello and I appreciate all the support that can be attained here. I work in the paint department at a General motors plant here in TX. When I was layed off from my job in 1986 I went to work for a Company named Aerospactial, they are the Company that makes the Dolphin U.S. CoastGuard Helecopters and others Aerospace products. When I was with this Company I learned Vaccuum bagging with Kevlar and graphite lay ups and made molds and such along with re-enforcing lay ups. It was some awsome experiance, but I was only their for about 9 months, and then I was called back to GM. Anyway, I like to Sail and me and my Dad used to go down to the coast of TX after hurricanes and pick up some cheap dammaged Sailboats and repair them to like new condition. That was along time ago and now that I am in my mid 40s I want to take all that I have learned from my past experiances in Composites and find a fixer-up Sailboat yacht, and get it ready for some long distance cruising with my Wife when I retire in 5 years. Right now I want to race sailboats at my local lake but I need a boat first. So next month I will be going to a Marina Auction and hope to pick up a neglected J24 Racing Sloop that has been repoed by the marina to pay back slip fees. Once I get my boat I am sure it will need alot of work from osmosis water intrusion and the cabin will need some balsa core replacement in some structural areas, and I may be needing some advice from you all. Glad I found this sight and look forward to poating and reading from this sight. John
Hi John,
Sounds like you have a very cool project coming up. I wish I could retire in 5 years and do the same thing. I’m not into speed sailing though so I think I’ll find a nice boat and take the wife and the kid away for the summer.
But for now… back to working.
Evan