New Owner, Papillon

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From: venno0 (Original Message) Sent: 30/05/2007 6:25 AM
I have finally bought a TopHat Mk3 "Papillon" by name and have it moored at Bowen Nth Qld. Looking forward to sailing the Whitsundays over the next few years. Thankful to this website in helping me make a TopHat choice in preference to some other yacht model. Took the opportunity subsequent to boat haulage, to sand blast and 2pak the mast step whilst the mast was down. It was badly rusted but has come up well. Looking forward to the overall refurbishment prosess whilst still being able to enjoy sailing on a regular basis. Regards, venno0



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From: longdeepthinker Sent: 31/05/2007 3:54 PM
Hello and congratulations.
I hear that Bowen is a good place to visit.
I seem to remember the name of your yacht, where did it come from?

Good luck for the future.
Regards,
John.
"Aeolian"
Camden Haven River,
NSW
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From: venno0 Sent: 14/06/2007 5:45 AM
Hi John,
Sorry for not getting back to you. Still trying to track around this website.
Bought Papillon from Gladstone, Qld. and had her trucked up to Bowen by Southern Cross Boat Haulage. SthCross have a good haulage facility but are absolutely hopeless at customer service. Very frustrating experience with them but very satisfied with the delivery. I am doing maintenance on the rig whilst the mast is down and hope to have the mast back up in a couple of weeks. The mast step was badly rusted so I had it sand blasted, etched primed and two packed painted. Am also building a GRP canopy to fit where the blue tarp was. Should give me lots of shade cover.


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From: longdeepthinker Sent: 14/06/2007 9:11 PM
G`day,
Thanks for the info and photo. Great cradle you have your yacht on, don`t have anything like it down here.

My mast step is also leaching rust and needs attention, it`s on my list!!

Your yacht appears to have an outboard in a well and also provision for an inboard looking at the rudder cutout.

I have the outboard in the well ( 9.9 Yamaha 4 stroke, gearbox just packed it in so looking for new outboard for some time now. Modern outboards may not fit in well depending on make. See previous discussions re this if interested.)

Your rudder on the stern might make steering when going astern more effective.

Good luck with the yacht.
Regards,
John.

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From: venno0 Sent: 15/06/2007 12:14 AM
Hi John,
Yes the cradle is a good one and is at the Gladstone slip. Papillon had an Arona 12 hp diesel inboard that is now in bits. Previous owner couldn't get parts and put a Johnson 8hp in the well. Inboard prop still in place ready for a new diesel. Would like an inboard but the outboard works ok. The transom rudder is for a manual set Raymarine auto helm. The mast step was in a bad way and I ground off layers and layers of flaking rust, especially underneath. Doesn't seem to have altered shape and it bedded down on sicaflex without any problems. Cost $20 bucks to be blasted and etched plus the 2 pac. Have replaced all the turnbuckles and will do the stays in due course. Turnbuckles are of a Ronstan variety. They are evidently prone to give way and were all ceased up. Having lots of fun and looking forward to getting out and about in due course.
Regards, Brian Venten