... Ok, that didn't get too far.  I'll take another whack at documenting Karma on this blog.  

Next really huge project will be a deck recoring.  Perhaps I'll have time between epoxying sessions to post the discover and repairs. 

 Kinda stepped away from this.  I had good intentions, but perhaps my commitment was lacking.  I have about 11 years of backlog on this site, but fortunately have plenty of photos to jog my memory and to post.  Let's see how far I get this time.

Labor Day Weekend 2009

Jennifer and I spent time on Karma Labor Day weekend. Karma was slipped at up the Great Wicomico River Marina. It was a beautiful weekend, the marina and restuarant was pretty busy.

Bottom Painting & Barrier Coating

This was a major event…still in progress

The materials

Here’s the deal:

Final prep the hull, wash down with solvent; sand; remove dust with another solvent wash down; apply 5 coats of an epoxy barrier coat, then 1 coat of bottom paint while each coat is still tacky.

Time and temperature dependent

Each coat requires about 45 minutes to apply and 3-5 hours to get to the recoat stage. Doing the math gives you about a 36 hour around the clock project…

The mixing tool: 1/2” drill, mixer and paint can lid (important)

Barrier coat applied

Still gotta do the same thing for the keel, rudder and under the jack stand pads. Except this time I’ll use straight epoxy instead of the Interlux 2000E barrier coat paint.

Bottom coat applied, waiting for round two.

Sailing on Argo

Argo is a 35 foot yawl that is owned by Brent. We went sailing on her today. This was Argo's first sail with her new owner.

Crusin' with Kelly and Michael

Kelly and Michael went on a day sail with me. The wind was up quite a bit in the bay so we went up the Great Wicomico River and had lunch till it layed down a bit. We did manage to get the sails up coming out and did a bit of river sailing.

I gave Michael the helm so he could get the feel of a sailing vessel.

Father's Day Cruise

It's difficult to get the whole family on a cruise with everyone's schedule this summer. I used Father's Day as the motivation for us all to cruise around the bay.
Autopilot sure is a nice feature.

Karma is way bigger than Short Run a Coronado 28. There's lots of room. Just look how relaxed Kelly is.

First Time as Captain of Karma

Needless to say I was very apprehensive concerning commanding Karma for the first time, truth be known I'm apprehensive each time I take her out, but I channel that into acceptance of my responsibilities to the crew, the boat and myself so that's a good thing. I've done a few reckless things in my life, still do from time to time, but I sail mentally sober.

Free from the slip and neverously checking the depth and every and anything else.

Sails up and we're sailing! ...okay not much wind, but sailing none the less.

Rick was my crew on this venture, I'd like to thank him for the trust to be the crew on the initial cruise.

Spring 2007 Now the Fun Begins

Karma is an old girl that will never be perfect. But by the spring of 2006 she was ready to be launched with fresh bottom paint and new stern decals. Repairs and upgrade at this time; new fuel tank and system; fresh oil change and raw water impeller; reupholstered cushions and new main sail cover.

In her slip ready for the summer.

Engine Startup

I've never worked with a diesel engine before. Karma has a Universal 24 HP 3 cylinder diesel engine. After reinstalling the fuel tank it was time to fire her up. I connected a hose between the raw water intake and the bilge. Then flooded the bilge so that there would be coolant and fired her up.

Needless to say I was very pleased....

Fuel Tank Replacement

After the general clean up, clean up and more clean up... diesel fuel doesn't give up easy. Came the fuel tank replacement.

Evidence indicates that there had been a chronic leak of the grab rail mounts in the floor of the cockpit. This leak rotted the 3/4 inch backing board in the floor of the cockpit.

The cockpit floor was still sound however the backing board was mush. The original installation of the backing board was glassed in which hid the leaking and did not allow the board to dry out.

This eventually caused the aluminum fuel tank to rupture with pinhole size leaks along the forward bottom edge of the tank.

After removing the tank I was able to install the new backing board. No small task, we're taking about completely removing the wheel, pedestal and all the associated cables and wires; epoxying in the new backing board and then reinstalling the pedestal and controls. >

I was able to have a new fuel tank build for me by the original manufacture and reinstalled it along with new Racor fuel filter and water separater.

Sunk on the Hard

Karma was basically neglected for over 2 years. She was hauled after Isabel hit the Northern Neck of Virgina September 2003 and sat on the hard until I acquired her May of 2006.

The previous owner had suffered in an automobile vs bicycle accident (he was on the bike) and had not been able to tend to her. When he was able to get back to her she was a mess with 8 inches of water and diesel fuel floating above the floor, destroyed cushions and the resulting mess that a boat sunk that has sunk on land.

Add to that the fact that Isabel had done some cosmetic damage to the hull.

All in all, compared to some other boats in the bay after Isabel, Karma got off easy.

Changing Up

The first week in May, 2006 I had, some say tongue-in-cheek, the two best sailing days ever. I sold Short Run my 1974 Coronado 28 and bought Karma, my new 1981 O'Day 34.

Short Run was a good boat and we had a lot of good memories sailing her. Karma has been the same but is more liveable with more beam, more length and more creature comforts.

This site will chronical the ownership of Karma.