Messages

1

Interior Structures / 323 Dog Steps

« on: March 24, 2025, 10:19:30 PM »

As most of the 323 owners know, the companionway ladder is not the pet friendliest. I made prototype dog steps, that fold up into a box to store. they can't be used for a person as the salon roof would be too close, but a dog can fit between the roof and the steps.

I'll let you know if the dog will use them in about 2 weeks. But they fit and fold up for storage. So far a win. Below are some pics unfolded and secured to the ladder, and folded up.

2

Interior Structures / Re: 323 Water Tanks

« on: March 24, 2025, 08:59:58 PM »

PS forget what I said about epoxy, I just saw your picture. I don't think epoxy sticks to PTFE plastic, which is what that looks like.

It is plenty thick though, I would try welding it. It should hold just fine.

3

Interior Structures / Re: 323 Water Tanks

« on: March 24, 2025, 08:57:05 PM »

Hi DavidG sorry for the late reply, I haven't been very attentive at the forum. It was not too bad, but I'm doing a semi complete refit so all the cutting and fabricating is just a part of it.
I completely cut out the bow and settee tanks. Then built fiberglass reinforced wood cradles, and mounted the new plastic tanks in the cradles.Below are a few pics. If you have the original fiberglass tanks, You can use epoxy and some light weight fiberglass to repair your tank. However my tanks were really nasty inside, there was no way I was ever going to bath or drink water from them. SO I got all new tanks.


Also I decided to move the black tank to behind the head instead of under the V-Birth.

Labor of love Dave.

4

Interior Structures / Re: Lee Cloth and Galley Safety Bar

« on: March 24, 2025, 08:45:17 PM »

I realize this post is old, But I'm currently refitting the interior on my 323. Great ideas, thanks for posting, it gives me something to think about!

5

P323 / Re: Windlass

« on: July 18, 2024, 07:01:57 PM »

Nice write up, I was looking at the V700 as well, mostly because of price. I wonder if a 3 strand rode would grab better then the 8 Plait? Any way, Thanks for the info!

6

Interior Structures / Re: 323 Water Tanks

« on: July 17, 2024, 09:33:18 PM »

For anyone in the future looking to replace their 323 tanks. These are the ones I chose. I got them from Ronco Plastics.

The two Settee tanks are just a mirror of each other and are the B228, 30 gal Tanks.

The Waste Tank is B226 a 17 Gal tank. (This tank was also in the VBirth, not sure if I'm mounting in same place, or changing head layout and mounting in the head)

The Bow tank is B469 a 39 Gal tank. All fit quite well.
Below are the drawings I made for the tanks and their hose attachments.

7

Interior Structures / Re: 323 Water Tanks

« on: July 17, 2024, 09:16:11 PM »

In the above images, believe it or not, I had cleaned them up with bleach. The insides were coated in black slime and smelled bad. The tanks had baffles, which would have made them near impossible to clean properly if not replacing them.

Here are the pics with the tanks almost entirely removed.

I measured the area available to me, and scoured the inter-webs for premade tanks that would kinda fit.

I designed how I wanted the ports on the tanks and ordered them. Next I will be making supports for the tanks I will glass and epoxy to the hull, for the tanks to rest and get strapped into.
I plan on making the tank "cradles" out of 1/4" marine ply and glue and stitching them together and maybe covering them in chop strand or just epoxy to make them water resistant.

The last pic is just the tank sitting in the space under the settee to make sure it was going to fit.

8

Interior Structures / 323 Water Tanks

« on: July 17, 2024, 09:08:44 PM »

During my survey I was warned the tanks were not usable for drinking water. Also the Bow tank was cracked and leaking. Doing some digging I couldn't find much info on replacing them. So I did what any untrained fool would do, and started cutting, I mean investigating...

The water tanks were made of fiberglass and were glassed to the hull. One under each Settee and one in the V Birth. I cut out the Settee tops. They were sandwich construction like a deck, and had 1/2" plywood core and glass on each side. The tanks were glass, and quite thick. It took awhile to cut and grind them out.

9

P323 / Windlass

« on: July 17, 2024, 07:11:59 PM »

I've seen a few discussions on a windlass by googling but they are all over ten years old. Does anyone have a working windlass installed on their 323? and if so, what modifications did you make, what would you do different, and what model did you choose?
Also are you using 5/16 chain or 1/4 in chain?

10

P323 / Granny Bars

« on: July 17, 2024, 07:08:13 PM »

What do you think of Granny Bars ( Mast Pulpits) on a 323? Not sure if there is enough room. Does anyone have them? or has anyone seen any?

11

Steering System, Hull Structure / Re: Pearson 323 Skeg

« on: July 17, 2024, 06:59:52 PM »

Just wanted to follow up with progress. I had the bottom bead blasted and have been fairing and fixing other little issues. I also fiberglassed two of the thru hulls shut that are no longer being used.
As per Alma's advice I covered the bronze bolts. I used acrylic (Not Silicone) house caulk to cover the bolt heads. The epoxy stuck to it fine. Then used 10 oz glass to cover it over and faired with total boat's fairing compound.
Hopefully it lasts, but it seems to be a solid repair.
Next will be barrier coating.
Thanks for all the advice, I was worried it was more then a cosmetic repair.

12

Steering System, Hull Structure / Re: Pearson 323 Skeg

« on: December 23, 2023, 06:18:28 PM »

That's great news, thanks to both of you. Its been busy with Christmas coming and all the rain, but I'll take some pics once I start the repair and keep you both in the loop.
Thanks again for the advice!

13

Steering System, Hull Structure / Pearson 323 Skeg

« on: December 05, 2023, 05:28:38 PM »

Hi,
   Now that my Pearson 323 is on the hard, I need to address an issue found during the survey. The skeg had a crack forming at the lower gudgeon.
I chipped away all of the loose material and found that it was a really thin layer of some type of filler, and it did not bond with the bronze gudgeon underneath (See pics attached).
So my question is, whats the best way to repair this? Do I just cover with epoxy filler, fair, paint and bottom paint? Or do I use a few layers of glass?

14

New Member Introductions / New 323 Owner

« on: August 19, 2023, 08:18:54 AM »

Hi!
My name is Sonny.
I don't have any questions at the moment, just wanted to introduce myself.
Just bought Hull #21 currently named Rubicon, renaming to Voyager.
She needs a pretty extensive refit. I've done a lot of demo (i.e. cut out the old fiberglass water tanks, cut out the two cabin walls, fixed small leaks, rewired important stuff like the bilge pump, etc. the boat had a lot of rotted wood, and mold) and will be starting to rebuild her this fall.
If I can I'll document my work with pictures or maybe videos, but I'm not photogenic nor do I have video making experience so we'll see how that goes.
I'm sure along the way I'll be seeking advice from all of you experienced Pearson owners.
Wish me luck!