Radical Refit – Olson 30 # 007, The Source

 

Joe Joines of Oxnard, CA contacted us recently about his boat, hull #007, that has undergone a major refit. 

I would like to pass on what I have done to the Olson, because it really improves the comfort,safety and efficiency in sailing the boat. My first Olson was in 1979  – I sold it in 1994, I then purchased hull # 7 (Kevin Connelly’s boat) in 2007. In late 2013 I decided to refit the boat with some ideas I have developed over my many years of sailing Olson 30’s. I have not modified anything that would change the boat’s speed. She has a few more pounds (approx. 300 lbs.), but if you like less clutter, a lot fewer holes in the hull, less corrosion issues with electrostatics, more space for the crew to perform, then I believe the modifications would help most owners to enjoy sailing their Olson even more and perhaps expand the class again. In the 80’s we had from 5-8 Olson’s racing together every week-end (Oxnard, Ventura area). I sailed this boat in the 2008 Nationals and there were only 8 boats. It would be great to see the class resurrect again, because it truly is a great boat. Sail in clear air…

Joe

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The key modification to The Source is the cockpit. The cockpit floor has been lowered and the new cockpit design eliminates the benches. Windward sheeting mainsheet track is mounted flush to the floor, eliminating the obstruction in the cockpit. The transom remains closed as the original. Note the RopeEyes outside cockpit for sheeting: aft eye for spinnaker, two adjacent winch for headsails. Cockpit floor has foot-holds integral. Combing removed, toerails removed. All woodwork has been removed from the deck.

 

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The cabin windows have been filled in and both jib tracks removed. Jib handling will incorporate floating jib leads mounted on RopeEyes in the deck. The companionway hatch is a reworked part from Antrim Boats. Cabin top winches removed. Toerails have been removed completely and hull deck joint reinforced inside and out. In this photo the deck appears almost as if it’s not finished but most of the running rigging is in place, it’s just below the deck.

 

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Halyards are all run belowdecks to the mast base, turning through antal-type rings. Mast base itself is a 1-inch aluminum plate. Note the lack of hardware visible on the cabin top, this is because almost all through-deck hardware has been deleted and replaced with either RopeEyes or in the case of halyard management, moved off the deck.

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Reworked mast step. Halyards run aft through holes in the keep stringers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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4 Halyard clutches are mounted just below the companionway. The double volume where the clutches are mounted is the remains of the original cockpit floor. The new floor sits about 6 inches above the original floor. This box section adds stiffness to the cockpit floor and has access holes for storage.

 

Preliminary floating lead setup. Ropeyes are used for through deck fittings, there are no tracks remaining on The Source.

 

Looking aft from the mast you can see Ropeyes, solid leads and turning blocks for genoa trimming. Backstay adjuster passes through transom into cockpit.

 

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Clutches below companionway and storage volume beneath cockpit floor.

 

Detail show clutches mounted below companionway, halyards running down and forward to mast. Rub strip on edge of companionway opening.

 

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The rig is a new Ballenger single spreader, rod-rigged and has a staysail halyard. Pulpit is custom. Spreaders are 35″.

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Note that all aluminum toerails are gone, replaced by a moulded toerail in the bow only. Pushpit had yet to be installed in this photo.

 

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Foredeck detail showing custom pulpit, molded toerail in front area, RopeEye tack at bow extremity.

 

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This detail shows the companionway hatch which now slides in a channel below the deck.

 

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The Beam of Destiny in The Source is well thought out. Laser cut plates are mounted at the chainplates, projecting inward past the bulkhead. The BOD itself has a large plate that follows the profile of the cabin top and fastens to the chainplate bracket. The top member of the beam is a rolled piece of 1″ x 1.5″ 6061 aluminum structural tubing. The spreader straps aka Jock Straps are stainless tube.