Early 70s Seafari Questions

[benemack]

Hey guys. I've been a long time reader of various posts, and now I'm a new member. My father and I co-own a 72 or 73 Seafari. I can't remember exactly which year it is. I'd like any details anyone could offer up on this year/model combo. Mine looks to have originally had the portside galley seat, but has been converted over to the "Todd" style pedestal. I'd like to look at restoring it back to the galley set-up. Is it worth doing? Anyone have a bulkhead door that they've replaced that is willing to part with the original lock/latch? I'm also looking for replacement forward hatch adjusters. And, lastly, I need some replacement knobs for the windshield brackets. Mine currently still work for the most part, but one or two are worn out or don't work. Any ideas on covering replacing the "paneling" used on either side of the bulkhead? The sun's basically cooked mine. I was thinking of trying to replace it, or sanding it smooth and painting over it with probably white boat enamel--Interlux Brightsides? I'll try to post some pics once the weather up here in near the Cape breaks some time this spring... Thanks in advance for any tips/advice, etc.

Ben

[Bushwacker]

Welcome to CSC! You'll find a wealth of info on this site. I have a 72 Seafari I've had since 1975; it's a very versatile boat that can comfortably do more different things than any other model. If you'll send me a PM with your e-mail address, I can send you a 72 brochure. Both the Seafari and the galley seat are Carl Moesly designs, so check out this web site for more info and a brochure on the '69 model: moeslyseacraft.com

As for the galley seat, check out this post I recently made: classicseacraft.com/forum
You could either make one from scratch with a sink sized to fit a modern stove, as I was thinking about doing, or find another member that has one he doesn't want. Is it worth doing? Depends on what you use the boat for, but I think it'll be real handy if you spend many nights on the boat. Will be able to give you a better answer after the Long Point Gathering!

As for the bulkhead, it originally had woodgrain contact paper on it which fades pretty bad. I'm thinking about covering mine with the same Formica I used on the galley seat.

For the adjusters on the cabin hatch, I used these: BOW
They're pretty slick as they don't have any knobs sticking out to get in the way. All SS and I think probably cheaper than most of the stuff from Perko. Original cabin door had a Perko lock/latch set that's still available. The lock didn't work too well so I added a simple drawer lock to mine. The windshield adjuster knobs are simply threaded for 10-24 screws, so there should be a lot of knobs that would work; maybe check a good hardware store or the Beckson web site.

[benemack]

Thanks for all of the tips! I did like the link you gave for the hatch riser/adjuster. You are right, the oe style does jut out into the hatchway kind bad, and the threads of the screw could catch on clothing. I'm 6'2", so getting through that hatch is tough already, not to mention that I think the hatch was supposed to have to risers. Mine is missing one, or the prev. owner may have removed for that reason...too tight a fit to actually get through with both in place. Price BOW had listed was pretty good too. Does your hatchway have snaps around the perimeter on the inside of the cabin? Mine does, I think it may have been for a screen to be snapped in place to use maybe at night to keep out mosquitoes, no-see-ums, midgies, etc. Not sure if it's factory or not, but was a good owner's mod/idea. I got your PM about the galley seat. Looking forward to seeing the pics and details. Will be interested to hear back from you when you get yours built and in place to see how useful it is. I've been incontact with American Marine as well from a previous poster. Unfortunately, they only did windshield/glass work on the Sceptre and Tsunami models. They mentioned the knobs were 1/4-20 threaded, but this could refer to the Sceptre and Tsunami windshields only. Does your engine box lid have some kind of risers to hold it open? Mine has what looks like re-inforced bolts on the lid and the base... As I said, whenever the sun comes out, I'll try to gets some pics to go along with my posts.

[Bushwacker]

The cabin hatch definitely needs 2 supports to keep it from twisting; it's a little thin and probably won't tolerate a lot of that. Original factory configuration has velcro around inside on bottom of gutter and there is a screen with velcro that fits it. Cabin is 100% bug proof provided you seal up around where rigging comes thru next to IP on starboard side. Still need to spray the screens on hatch and cabin door to keep out the no-see-ums however.

The windshield hatch adjusters on mine have # 10-28 screws/knobs on them. My boat is outboard model, with transom closed and Hermco fiberglass bracket installed. I ended up buying a galley seat from another CSC member. Photos can be seen in link I provided, or just search for it under Photos section. I just posted it a couple of weeks ago.

[benemack]

Very nice... Did the galley seat come from the factory with the bucket style seat mounted on top like that, or was that a design change that you made? Just curious as I've never actually seen what the galley seat looks like/is supposed to look like. When opened up, what supports the seat side? Does the top edge of the seat just rest on the deck, thus holding up that side of the fold out lid? Does that whole galley box rest on the deck, or is it somehow mounted? Also, where does the water actually come from/get drained to? My Seafari has the cut-out in the port gunwale with a removable hatch. On curiousity I've opened it before, and there is a short length of hose. I guess it might run to an outside pick-up/drain? Have you decided what to recoat the bulkhead with? That project will be coming soon for me too, as the contact paper has faded pretty bad, and the clear surface film is actually starting to peel off a bit. I really like your woodwork. What did you use on the cabin door and rod holders? Mine needs some definite cleaning, sealing to be done. The cabin door needs to be rebuilt a little as it has a couple splits, and the fiberglass has stress cracked in the corners. I remember reading other posts about the same problem on other boats. Keep up the good work!!

[Bushwacker]

They used various style seats. I believe the 69 model had seats with arm rests, but it didn't have the padded coaming bolsters. I was planning to add arm rests to my seats but there's not enough room with the coaming bolsters. The bucket seat was the original seat that was mounted on a pedestal. The top panel is supported by the seat when opened; I had to put a spacer under seat to insure table was level when open. The box is mounted to cockpit sole via 8 aluminum angle brackets. There's room underneath for a 5 gal water jug to supply the sink faucet which is actually a hand pump; I use a collapsible jug so no need for a vent. Found a neat Coleman pump & shower that screws onto outlet of their collapsible jug, powered by 4 D cells with a foot switch. I rigged it with a couple of pvc valves so I can feed the sink faucet or showerhead for rinsing dishes. Also have rigged it so I can feed it from 2.5 gal black Sunshower bag so can take hot shower on board! Sink drains via a thru-hull fitting in port side of hull. Someone probably covered the access hole to the thru-hull with an inspection port/plate.

I finished all my teak with Epifanes Wood Finish Gloss which was found to be the most durable varnish by PowerBoat Reports magazine; cabin door was done with Honey Teak which is why it's a little darker; Honey Teak was the most durable finish in an earlier PBR test, but it hasn't held up as well as the Epifanes. Be careful with the harsh 2-part teak cleaners if you're gonna varnish it because they destroy the soft part of the grain and leave a very rough uneven surface . . . maybe ok if you're just gonna oil it, but it'll take 10+ coats of varnish with wet sanding in between to get a smooth surface. Better to sand it or run it thru a planner.

I'll probably use the same Formica on the bulkhead that I used on galley seat panels. Got it thru a local kitchen remodel outfit at their cost, but was still about $50 for a 4x8 panel; should be more durable than contact paper though, and not too hard to install.

[JUST JOHN]

Hey Bushwacker, Do you have the info on the hatch adjusters you provided in the above (dead) link labelled BOW? My hatch hasn't had any in years on my '77 and I'd like to add them. My stock hardware is #6.

EDIT (I saw you post them in Dogbomb's thread; thanks for that!):
https://www.westmarine.com/buy/west-...ecs-_-MB-_-PDP

EDIT EDIT...
Also saw you posted this link in another post:
http://www.boatownerswarehouse.com/b...fm/4,7869.html

Have you had experience with several different offerings over the years? I would ideally find something more economical (since there's two) than the WM ones, especially with that one terrible review regarding thin sheetmetal halves spotwelded together w/ shallow-threads on the moving "nut" part. I have two on hold to go check out...

OK, final EDIT:
They are installed. I had to slot one of the hatch holes; the bolt pattern is 1/8" off from what was originally there. On the cap I had to drill one hole per side and use one of the original ones. The bolt pattern is smaller than stock by like 1/4" hole-to-hole. The holes originally drilled were not "laser accurate" or the same side-to-side, not aligned, not really symmetrical. I finished at dark with two kids commanding my attention, but the struts do not hold the hatch well at the lowest angles unfortunately. I'll try cranking down on them harder to see.. I may exchange one of them b/c the measured retracted length from one to the other is off 1/4"... essentially in the lowest position, on the starboard side, the clamping part is all the way collapsed and "off" the inner rod. I swapped side to side twice to get around this but to no avail... I didn't want to drill more holes than necessary to move it forward.

PHOTOBUCKET IS THE BIGGIST POS EVER!!!!!!!!!! What is everyone else using!?