Another 45 coming back
We have just aquired a Morgan 45, (built by Starrett & Jenks according to the prior owner) I love the design and as she has been out of the water for the last ten years at least, she is in remarkably good condition -- no blisters, osmosis or soft spots. We will barrier-coat with epoxy before launch. The interior is unfinished (just what I wanted -- I have my own plans, so it's nice to start with a nearly empty hull)
So far we have removed the engine and are converting the bilge to integral water tanks. Many of the floor timbers had rotted. All are rplaced with new wood and lots of glass and epoxy. The engine will NOT be replaced. The rudder aperture will be closed. She will be a sailboat.
I am curious as to her exact type. She is called a Morgan 45 -- 45'8" LOA, 25,000 lb displ, 11,000 lb ballast (NOT a centerboarder) She has an aft cockpit and relatively low coachroof with a curious shape viewed from above -- rather wide at the cockpit and aft end, then it swoops in to a long narrow and low profile ending for'd the mast.
The hull shape is nearly classic, stem raked for'd about 45o, long deep keel with attached rudder, counter stern with the transom NOT on backwards, although it is a bit upright as C Morgan apparently liked.
She is a yawl, wheel steered. The rigging is 3/8" 1x19 on 5/8" t'b'kles.
She was masthead rigged ala CCA with a roller furling Genoa, high main boom, permanent backstay, etc. Mainmast head is about 54' above the water.
I was a bit leary about buying her, having read the review by Jeff H. But I am a director and don't believe in taking critics too seriously. My instincts in just looking at her is that she could be a real witch, especially if rigged properly and that awful hole in her rudder fixed.
We plan to re-rig her along modern lines. (Actually these are old practices, prior to the influences of CCA, RORC, IOR and other stupid rules) To wit: a taller mast (about 60') 7/8 rig, so the mast can be bent to change the camber of the upper part, spreaders swept aft about 30o to take most of the backstay load, the masts move for'd about 24" to leave the chainplates where they are, the forestay goes through the deck about 5' aft the stemhead and terminates belowdeck on the keel/stem structure.
This should keep the balance about the same, the CE a bit more for'd. the CLR a bit more aft, so the tendency to weather helm I've read about should be reduced.
My other boat is an International One Design (IOD) on San Francisco Bay. This will help to explain my tastes, perhaps.
Looking for'd to hearing from other 45 owners.
Oh, ... she is being re-built at Salt Creek Marina, St Petersburg, Florida, in view of the old Starret&Jenks Building where she started life. And she apparently had a rudder post problem like that mentioned by other owners, but that whole area was completely re-constructed by the Salt Creek guys before I bought her.
We hope to get wet within the next six months.
Hope to hear from you.
K E & J S Froeschner
ORION
Update as of April 2008:
The interior structural work is done and all of the new cabinet furniture structure is built. The prop aperature is closed and the rudder is being re-built with about 8" more chord. (We have heard that the original was a bit squirrelly downwind and the original rudder does look rather small to almost all eyes.) With the prop hole filled, the rudder enlarged and the CE a bit farther for'd I think she will work well.
We lowered the cabin sole in the galley area so it matches the for'd salon, giving a much greater feeling of space below. (No need for it to be as high as it was as the engine is GONE!)
The space beneath the cabin sole is now almost entirely water tanks. (at least 200 gal.)
The work is being done by Robert Hailey of Elan Yacht Services, wh we highly recommend.
I want to cover the decks in wood. And since the interior is being done in American Black Walnut Burl (which I scored cheap here in California) I thought it might be nice to keep her "all American" and do the decks in White Oak. Eoxied down with West's new E-Glas perhaps? I have heard of problems with oak and epoxy and am a little concerned that it's shrinkage/swelling rate with moisture is a bit higher than teak. Any experience out thete?
Thanks again for a great Forum.
keforion