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Ontario Yachts Viking 33 advice

27K views 59 replies 14 participants last post by  SloopDogg 
#1 ·
Hello all,

I've had the boat surveyed and the surveyor loved the boat! He said I'd probably be very happy with it and that it was in incredible shape. Very little moisture in the decks, almost none in fact. The only place that showed any cause for concern was up at the bow around the cleat. I plan on adding a windlass so I'll remove the cleat and some more of the deck in that process. I could then let it air out and remove any more of the core as necessary and replace with epoxy or inject some to try and re-laminate if necessary. I could use some advice on adding an anchor roller as the fitting doesn't really leave any accommodation for it...

I, also, plan on replacing the standing and running rigging to start and add a way of handling the mainsail more easily. i.e. dutchman or lazy jacks with some cars added to remove some friction for raising and lowering (mostly lowering).

My next question would be in regard to the mast step. It is my understanding the the original mast step was wooden. My boat has a piece of 6" aluminum channel that was bolted thru the adjacent seat base and bulkhead and lagged to the bilge stringer. The piece of channel is terribly corroded and needs replacing. I was thinking of trying to get a piece of 6" stainless channel and have it machined to the exact likeness of the aluminum and bolt it right back to where it was. I was hoping to get some opinions on the repair.

Thanks for any and all comments and advice in advance!

Humbly,
Danny
 
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#37 ·
Thanks

The hull was pink with oxide when I got it. I used McGuire's Professional Swirl Remover and a buffer for about 2 days and it was like a new boat. That stuff is amazing. I believe mine is a 1975 but I can't even remember.

You mentioned that you were fixing the C&C Smile. When I did mine I also torqued the keel bolts. I did not have the Viking 33 specs so I used this table for similar C&C models:

Keel Bolt Torques

I actually got a couple of turns on some of them.

Steve
 
#39 ·
I just put a little list together of my updates and repairs for this year...

Geeze;
New Sails
New Standing riging
New Bilge pumps
New Complete Engine
New Fresh water cooling
Reset bow deck harware
reset transom hardware with 2-new vents
canvass all serviced and cleaned
running rigging inspected and found to be fine
replaced coroded and broken thru hull valves
freed up all other valves and checked for operation
New Prop Shaft
New stuffing box hose, clamps and stuffing
New cutlass bearing
Cleaned up all dead wiring
Sanded all interior paint (ready for painiting)
 
#41 ·
Very nice job - looks better than factory new.

One quick observation - in the top left of the third photo you have a woven reinforced hose - looks like it comes from a strainer - it looks like it has a bit of a kink in it. I noticed because I just read Tim Lackey's update about replacing some new hose that looks like yours for that very reason - he changed to some similar hose that had wire in it as well as fabric reinforcing.
 
#42 ·
hmmm...Thanks for the compliment!

I think it is a bit elongated but, I don't think it is kinked. I'll be sure to double check that though! It is a bit oversized as well. It is taking in the cooling raw water so at least it won't soften up and become more pliable...
 
#43 ·
Hey, I have another question. I repacked the stuffing box and used Graphtex
Ultra shaft packing. My stuffing box has a cap reservoir type grease fitting.

do I...;
a. need to grease the fitting?

b. if so, do I just stuff some white lithium marine grease into it as best I can and then
fill the cap with it and screw it together?



Obviously that pic is before the new engine situation...
 
#46 ·
Sloop... just saw this as the thread was awakened.. looks like a shunt for an ammeter or battery monitor of some sort. If so, it creates a precise voltage drop to infer current passing by that point. The only thing is that they are normally installed on the return, not the hot side.
 
#45 ·
Re your Atomic 4 engine:
The amount of rust/corrosion internally in a raw water cooled engine is largely related to whether the engine has spent its life in fresh or salt water. An original A4 in any salt water boat of this age is already usually on borrowed time. A fresh water cooled unit had much better prospects for conversion to closed cooling at this age. Also an engine in fresh water or with closed cooling can run a hotter thermostat for less engine wear and better fuel economy.
 
#51 ·
Hello All,

I'm awakening this thread again! A new season and now it is like a normal old sailboat. I have some cosmetics to do.

Actually I had to spend an afternoon replacing ALL the SS hose clamps I bought from the auto parts store. They were simply rusting and snapping off where the worm drive meets the band... It started happening just weeks after installation. I bought the REALLY expensive ones from defender at the end of the season last year. I'm glad thats done.

Currently I'm making new handrails for the cabin top. I had them both made and just as I started finish sanding one slipped off the table and frakin' broke! There was a knot there and though it seemed solid...No knots are good knots. So, I've got as far as cutting the loops out and still need to route it and shape it and sand it... I thought I would be coating this week but, no dice!

I also bought a new hatch. The old one is a bomar with a broken hinge and missing lock knob and parts are all but impossible to find. The lens looks in pretty good shape though...

I also need to install the auto pilot I bought last year and I got new tack tick wireless wind depth speed instruments.

It looks like I won't have the windlass installed this year... I guess I'll be renting moorings all season...LOL I have a nice Rocna anchor but I'm not real keen on hauling that up by myself. I thought of installing it without a rode locker and handle the line on deck but, I'm basically a single hander with guest/s so, I'm not sure how practical that will be. I know it isn't a good idea to retrieve the anchor on the windlass alone.

All the best,
 
#52 ·
Nice to hear from you again, and get the update.. thanks.
 
#53 ·
Hey, guys...I'm the owner of a 1973 Viking 33, hull no. 32. While she's rather appallingly original in some respects (think brown plaid upholstery), I've made several fixes over the years, including a rebuilt Atomic 4, new standing rigging, and a few other fixes.



My blog is mostly about rebuilding my other, steel sailboat for extended cruising, but the Viking is the boat I sail when I can spare the time, and she's a bit of a test bed for stuff I want to do in the larger boat.



Anyone with Viking 33 questions, feel free to drop me a line at my blog, as I rarely post here these days.
 
#54 ·
Wow What a great Photo!! I think we've emailed once or twice. You're friends with my buddy Dan who sails Ketchup!

Dan has been an invaluable source of advice, inspiration and information!!!

I've finally got around to coating the new handrails and running all the wiring for the new electronics and installed the hatch. Got come polishing in while the handrails are off. What difference a sheen makes!!

By the way, WHAT is that bow fitting??!!
 
#57 ·
Just updating here...

So the yard bent my shaft and broke my strut and told me the stut broke from a stress fracture after they hauled it out. Yea right!

Anyway, I had them fix and the billed me...

I also had them do the bottom job above.

So last week of may I get launched, they left my boat a Fk'n mess with the sandblast material and footprints. i complained and made them wash it.

I go to take it off the dock and to my mooring and she is vibrating so horribly the dock kid saw the rig shaking. I couldn;t even keep her in gear because the friction was boggong the A4 down to almost a stall.

Than they say "its your prop" I say "really? I think you guys bent the shaft and broke my strut at haul out." He says. "I'll stake my 46 years in the business that it is your prop. I say "okay then," I put my money where my mouth is and order the Indigo Prop and say, "put this on" They do and guess what, still vibrating.... Then FINALLY they say, "we have to haul it and remove the shaft it is the only true and fair way to assess the issue and check that shaft" I say "great, lets go"

Sure enough the shaft was bent, the Yard has owned the responsibility and we were re-launched last friday.

I was having idling issues with the A4 so i had installed a rebuilt Carb and she idles great, like never before. I kept the Idigo prop and I have to say, she has never ran so well. I've gone from the slowest under power of 5 knots to under 3 knots and a cruse speed of 5 knots with very little effort and probably could get up over 6.

We took her out for her first sail of the year on Sunday and it was spectacular! we had 15 knots and a couple of guest. I rolled out the head sail and let run go. It was just daysailing. She was hitting 7 knots thru the water with just the head sail at 100%. So, I was happy with the easy sailing and just kept at that and we were all very happy!

This boat is truly amazing! I can't wait to get back out there. She is finally mechanically sound! New engine, cutlass bearing, stuffing, shaft and prop. New standing rigging, new sails and she is a dream to sail! It was really a great day! I sailed home wanting to stay out I think for the first time ever. All our journeys seem to have been plagued with issues and lots of stress for me. But, I think she is really good order now!

Now, we did change her name while on the hard before her first launch in many years (our first launch). However, we never christened her with champagne. So, before we went anywhere on her to motor around and move out the mooring on Saturday, we picked up a couple of bottles of bubbly. I cracked one over the bow fitting and said "I christen thee the Lolita, God Bless Lolita!" I then popped the other one and poured some across the bow and all around her into the water! A little on the late side but, I'm hoping I appeased the sea Gods! LOL It was actually a fun little ceremony! If the weekend on the boat was any indication, I'd say our bases are covered!
 
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