Rigging a Super Porpoise and getting parts

[Janina]

I just aquired a 1973 super porpoise. I have no idea how to get this thing rigged up and the previous owner was not a sailor and didn't really know what they were talking about. The boat pretty much needs all new lines, cleats? etc.
It's also missing the drain plug, rudder pin and the mast has no bottom cap.
Can anybody help me figure out how to get this thing ready to sail and where to get suitable parts?
If you have a porpoise and have some pics of what you did, that would be really helpful. I'm more of a visual person

Thanks
Janina

[BrainCorrel]

Glad to hear there is another Super Porpoise owner on this site. Mine is a 1972.

As yours, my original rudder pin or I think it is called pintle, is missing. In it's place is a 1/4-20 6" Panhead bolt. The previous owner said it worked.

After looking at your request, I noticed my mast base is also missing. It is 2-1/4 inch outer diameter just like a sunfish, so the base should be the same.

http://rigrite.com/Spars/A_spec_clas...ish_spars.html

or

http://www.sunfishsailboats.com/mast.php

My Drain plug is the rubber cork type with expanding clamp, I will attach a picture. Any cork type plug the right size will do. I am guessing this plug is not the original since the drain has internal threads, but it also works.

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2006-...oat2007001.jpg


As for the drain ports, only a plastic bushing insert inside each hole. I have a picture of this as well installed in the boat.

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2006-...at2007a002.jpg

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2006-...oat2007016.jpg

My boat has hiking straps on both sides of the tub, and one small cleat at the front side of the tub. The owner was not sure why because he never used this.

By the way if you plan on making inspection ports do not put one right in front of the rudder in the middle like some Sunfish owners suggest for their boats. The Super Porpoise has an internal fiberglass spar to stiffen the boat. Put it off to the side of the back. I am currently cutting out the water logged sections of foam through the inspection ports. The original foam was not closed cell. Once I dry it out it should last another 30 years.

I think these boats were fairly cheaply put together with very little extras. The top and the Hull were stapled together. However, they do have nice lines and a larger sail than a sunfish.

Maybe someone can point us in the right direction for some cheap used hardware.

Good Luck.

[Porpoise2]

Originally Posted by BrainCorrel

Glad to hear there is another Super Porpoise owner on this site. Mine is a 1972.

I have a Porpoise II. It arrived with a Sunfish sail, and is an 80s model. Is a Super Porpoise just a bigger sail? The other parts look the same.

Originally Posted by BrainCorrel

As for the drain ports, only a plastic bushing insert inside each hole. I have a picture of this as well installed in the boat.

The boat is self-bailing. You don't need two plugs unless you weigh a ton. (Like me) And I mostly skip them plugging them and just get wet. A size 1 rubber stopper works for rough water work.

Originally Posted by BrainCorrel

By the way if you plan on making inspection ports do not put one right in front of the rudder in the middle like some Sunfish owners suggest for their boats.

Now you tell me! (Though my port is offset a bit). Try for the corner. The Strengthening rib is about six inches wide.

[BrainCorrel]

I think the Super and the II are the same except maybe a different manufacturer.

It is probably smart to plug the self-bailing plugs since the foam is not the best and soaks water up like a sponge.

Let me know if you want to see pictures of the ugly job of cutting out the wet sections. I have filled a 40 gallon trashcan about 1/4 up and it wieghs about 40 lbs. In southern Ohio I will need the boat as light as possible.

Brian

[Janina]

Where in southern OH are you? We just moved from Waynesville (Caesar Creek) to CT. Actually we still own a house out there that we are trying to sell

[BrainCorrel]

Dayton, Ohio. Did you sail on Caesar Creek? I have heard the power boats are pretty bad. You probably have much better sailing in CT.

Brian

[Porpoise2]

Originally Posted by BrainCorrel

"...It is probably smart to plug the self-bailing plugs since the foam is not the best and soaks water up like a sponge..."

In soaking up water, that flotation may be better than a sponge!

I don't think your leaks originate from the self-bailers. Porpoises have a clever arrangement that allows the splashed-in water to drain out—bypassing the hull. Peek inside after removing a stainless deflector on the bottom.

Originally Posted by BrainCorrel

"...Let me know if you want to see pictures of the ugly job of cutting out the wet sections. I have filled a 40 gallon trashcan about 1/4 up and it wieghs about 40 lbs. In southern Ohio I will need the boat as light as possible..."

No thanks. I've done that myself. Even with a 6" inspection port, it was a pain.

Oh yes, forget about the "corner" by the transom. You can't put a 6" port in there without cutting into the deck brace.

I've replaced that flotation with an even better idea in flotation, but I'd be reprimanded if I posted the idea here. (And then everyone would copy me, too!)

[BrainCorrel]

My SP bailers are not very clever. Maybe something is missing? I have 2 holes in the tub and they drain into the hull and hopefully out through the holes in the hull in the bottom. My Scorpion has a bailer that bypasses the hull completely.


By the way your idea for floatation is great. It is a lot better than the guy who but swimming noodles in his boat. Also better than the packing peanuts. I can just see the bag breaking and peanuts floating all around your boat as it goes under. Sort of like throwing rice at a wedding I guess.



I am now now trying the pink foam from HomeDepot. Does anyone know of an adhesive that will be easy to apply to the sheets through and inspection port and not eat polystyrene?

BrainCorrel

[Porpoise2]

Originally Posted by BrainCorrel

"...I think these boats were fairly cheaply put together with very little extras. The top and the Hull were stapled together..."

Yes, but they're big staples.

The seam is in a good spot to drain by standing the hull on its edge. I drilled a tiny hole in one seam on the side that wouldn't drain, and water seeps out over time. (Now I have ports).

The existing flotation is now totally suspect, and I probably should have removed it all—front and rear. I sponged out the hull inside and buttoned it up just before a heavy rain. The next day, I had a lot of water inside. How much was rainwater, I don't know, but I'm thinking the flotation that I didn't remove has been leaking water like the sponge I previously described it as. Grrrr.

[BrainCorrel]

I just found out that the Super Porpoise is actually a bigger boat than the Porpoise II.
Length 14' 8" SP vs. 12' 9" PII
Beam 49" SP vs. 42" PII
Hull wt. 155 lbs SP vs. 115 PII
Capacity 450 lbs vs. 350 lbs.

[Porpoise2]

Originally Posted by BrainCorrel

"...I just found out that the Super Porpoise is actually a bigger boat than the Porpoise II.
Length 14' 8" SP vs. 12' 9" PII
..."

You had me run to measure my PII, and 12' 9" it is—including 4" for the rudder bracket. If I lop off part of the bow, I'll save $40 per season in registrations! More money for a new sail!

Now I feel a little better about not quite being as fast as a regular Sunfish.

[mike4947]

IIRC liquid nails will work....As always check it somewhere that won't matter. We did learn the hard way that polyester resin melts styrefoam/polystrene and epoxy resin won't.
As for using any foam, check the label closely. Most hardware store foams are designed for interior usage and are open celled. Open cell foamed looks like and acts as a sponge and will suck up any water it comes in contact with. You need a closed cell foam.

[BrainCorrel]

I have been learning about foams all week. If I had not already bought the pink stuff, I might go ahead and by the 2 part expanding polyurethane. I believe that is what the SP had in it originally. Hey it has lasted 35 years with at least the last 17 of those years as a fish bowl. I think the Polyurethane soaks up water and drains like a very slow sponge, so if you are patient you can reverse the process by drying. Also it will probably float long enough for you to get help. The sponge experiment I saw done was with polyurethane chips. Lots of surface area and not much core. Also in my heavy foam, I noticed that it was only the bottom 1"-1/2 and about 1/4" on the sides that was soaked. BTW I found some model airplane guys that say Probond by Borden is the way to go for bonding the pink foam board to pink foam board.

Brian

[BrainCorrel]

I just picked up a bottle of Probond. Turns out it is glorified wood glue. I was thinking of some fancy epoxy or something.

Brian