New member in San Francisco

[gvare]

My name is George Vare, and I berth my boat at the San Francisco Yacht Club in Belvedere, CA (on SF Bay). I bought my 2001, 31TE (Hummmdinger) in the late summer 2005 in Florida and shipped it to the Bay area. I use it for cruising, race committee work and for salmon fishing outside the Golden Gate Bridge. I had it for sale this spring, because I was not using it very much (only has a total 500 hours on it), but have decided to keep it for now since it is such a great boat. Blue gel coat which got trashed by the sun was very successfully covered by white LPU.

[DougSea]

Welcome aboard George!

I'm guessing the RC loves the boat and is glad you didn't sell!

I know I could probably Google it but...what in the world is white LPU?

[whwells]

Welcome George: The 31 Albin is a really great boat. Perfect boat for he Delta Crusing and Off Shore Salmon runs. Actually looked at a couple including one in Channel Islands, So Cal. but could not get a deal together.
There was also a 31 in Redwood City last year, but one of the Pennisulars engines was down at the time.
I am located in Humbolt County in Trinidad to your north. However, my Albin is going to Anacortes, Wa. soon I hope. Got stuck in Ontario, Canada due to Irene which has held up my shipper. May go later this week.
Salmon has been really great on the north coast this year. Actually, the first real season we have had in 4 years. You did right in not selling the Albin. They as you know from shipping from Flor. or hard to find on the west coast. Was the Bay Area salmon as good as I have heard from others this year?
Welcome to the group. Drop me a note if you are heading north anytime. I also hang out in Tahoe Vista. Sold the Cobalt too many boats make you poorer. I have seen what the sun does to the green and blue hulls. Hoping lots of polish will help. Going to white was a good idea.
whwells "Howard"
2006 35TE Conv. Yanmars
"Nibbles"

[jcollins]

George,
Welcome to AOG!
I'll take a stab at it.
LPU - Linear Polyurethane Urethane

[loubennett]

John, you're close but one too many urethanes. It's Linear PolyUrethane and it's used as a top coat on wood like varnish.

[gvare]

Thanks all. Yes, the race committee loves it. Good final to the salmon season off Duxbury - 3 20# & 1 25# - not bad for two guys enjoying themselves. Boat painted with white awl grip - used several light coats of grey undercoat. We actually discovered thin hairline cracks in the old gel coat which seeped moisture upon sanding. Had a surveyor look at the hull and found no problems. He felt it was due to Florida storage in sun with blue gel coat. Put heaters near boat and dried out the gel coat - several layers of undercoat showed no moisture, then put on the awl grip. Has held up beautifully for two years now.

[whwells]

Welcome George: Starting to repeat myself. See above. Howard