Hello Fellow Listers, Allow me to introduce myself....my name is Joseph Sisson and I am the proud owner of Silent Runner a 1975 C&C 35 MKII...hull # 350. I purchased her last August. She was on the hard in a marina on the North Channel of Lake Huron. After a couple months of testing, cleaning, replacing, retrofitting, restoring etc...I set out on what was supposed to be a voyage down Lake Michigan and into the river systems exiting at Mobile Alabama and into the Gulf of Mexico. The plan was that I would sail the boat to the Caribbean and eventually through the Panama Canal and onto Vancouver BC Canada which is where I want the boat to end up. Long story short I ran aground on the evening of the first day of my voyage, was rescued (taken off the boat) by the Ontario Provincial Police (Marine Unit) after several unsuccessful attempts to pull the boat off the rocks. After four loooooooooooooooooong days of waiting for the wind to die down so that we (I hired a local fisherman and his boat) could get back to my boat, I was overjoyed to find her still afloat. We attached a 400 foot line to the main halyard and pulled Silent Runner from the top of the mast until she heeled over enough to float her off the rocks. I wish I had know how to do that on the night that I ran aground and would have tried that with the OPP boat. (You learn these things as you go.)
Photos of the "rescue" of the boat can be found at: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=155629101249005&set=a.155628851249030.52955.124818477663401&type=3&permPage=1 Although the rudder was badly damaged, I still had steerage and motored SR to Gore Bay where she was hauled and is now awaiting my return in the spring. While at Gore Bay I got to know the service manager of a sailboat charter company there and shared with him the story of my running aground. After inspecting the damage to the rudder and the hull his comment was: If that had been one of our boats (they have mostly late model sailboats to offer there clients) if would have been in pieces. So I am very glad that I choose to purchase a C&C and Silent Runner's story is testament to the solid construction of these boats (something that I do not wish to test again). I have been monitoring this forum and reading the postings for months now and am only now chiming in. I found the C&C Photo Album website and this forum while researching potential sailboats to purchase. I suggest that the website and this active forum of C&C owners should be included as a selling feature with any C&C. (Great resource and great people!) Through the list I was informed of the Maritime Museum of the Great Lakes and have contacted them to obtain drawings of the C&C 35 MKII (still waiting for the results of their search). Are there any 35 MKII owners who have obtained drawings of this design? I am considering doing the repairs to the rudder myself after receiving quotes of $4K and $5K from two companies. I welcome any suggestions or comments as to the feasibility of doing the repair myself. To Jim Watts re hatch replacement: through this list I was informed of Hammerhead Nautical Systems in Toronto. I recently sent them the "glass" for my hatch on my Edel 665 (I am currently restoring her to like new condition). They are going to supply a new "glass" (with my original hardware attached) and new gaskets for about $300. The link to their website is: http://www.hhns.ca To Kim Brown re an easier third choice for leaking windows: you might want to consider butyl tape. Also through this list I was informed of this product. An informative article with photos can be found at: http://www.sailnet.com/forums/gear-maintenance/63554-bedding-deck-hardware-butyl-tape.html Sorry for running on so long.... Cheers, Joseph Sisson s/v Silent Runner 1975 C&C 35 MKII Hull #350 (second last 35 MKII off the line) _______________________________________________ This List is provided by the C&C Photo Album http://www.cncphotoalbum.com CnC-List@cnc-list.com