FalconSailBoats.Org

by **William** » Sat Jan 28, 2017 9:59 am

She is in rough shape. Seems to have been partially stripped for restoration then left exposed to the weather for about a decade at least. I could get it for a hundred bucks but I'm not sure if I want to take on another Falcon project. This one has a lot of gel-coat cracks are they difficult to fix?

by **William** » Sat Jan 28, 2017 9:44 pm

Here is a photo

by **William** » Sun Feb 05, 2017 11:52 am

I have decided to take the Falcon and try to restore it for my nephew. The mast and hardware seem to be there as are the ruder and centerboard. Owner is looking for the sails. Combings are totally missing as are the storage covers/seats. I am not worried about the storage covers but has anyone had to replace their combings? The combings on my Falcon are the original which I assume are mahogany. That sounds expensive has anyone used another more easily obtained wood for combing replacement? anyone out there... Dave?

by **DaveD** » Wed Feb 08, 2017 1:04 am

Hey William!

She's a BEAUT!!

My falcon had a lot of cracks, pits, and bubbles that I had to grind out and sand...

That being said, I filled the spots that I ground out with West System and their 404 filler (like thick peanut butter), then I "painted the gelcoat with a couple of coats of West System "straight", rolled on. That really stiffened things up.

The coaming boards originally ARE mahogany as you suspected, as are the seats.

My coaming boards were still in tact, and some sanding and varnish were all that were needed. I assume that you could use some kind of 3/8 - 1/2 inch stock, dense wood or some other composite material to substitute for mahogany, if you couldn't find it at a reasonable price. I don't know if you have a boat "boneyard" near you, but you could check there for scrap mahogany (or if you are lucky, you could even get some teak). FYI, "lauan" plywood (underlayment), is usually faced (veneered) with "philippine mahogany". Sanded and varnished, it's hard to tell the difference (other than the cross section).

Keep in mind if the wood you are going to be used under extreme marine conditions, there is no substitute for the real thing...

For my benches were dry rotted out around the hinges, and seams, so I used "cabinet grade" 3/4 inch ply-wood. Is it marine grade? NO. BUT the glue holding the layers together is waterproof, AND it's HALF the price of marine plywood. I cut them to fit, then I "painted" it with 2 coats of West System to seal it, lightly sanded it and painted it with regular topside paint. Be aware that if you are going to step onto the seats, support them from below, and add some "grippy" stuff to the paint to avoid slipping.

Sorry for the delay...

Let me know if I can help, you can also PM me if needed.

--Dave

by **William** » Sun Feb 26, 2017 4:30 pm

I brought home the Sterling Falcon Saturday and have been taking inventory of what's there and what's not. Centerboard, rudder, mast, boom, standing rigging, all present but the previous owner is still looking for the sails and no wood combings. It also is missing the rub rail. Not sure how I am going to replace that. The Sterling Falcon has some different features than my early Beetle. The wood floor deck has been superseded by a fiberglass panel and there is a slight modification to the seats. In my original Falcon there is a seat on each side of the stern with storage hatches over. The Sterling has this as well but also has a piece that crosses the stern and connects the seats. Since the tops are missing I can't figure out what its supposed to look like when the seats are complete. I will post pictures soon.

by **DaveD** » Sun Feb 26, 2017 4:33 pm

Did you get the lawn chair with it?

by **William** » Tue Feb 28, 2017 9:39 pm

Did not take the chair though I could have had a Chrysler Mutineer for another 100 bucks. here are some pictures of the peculiar stern section and it shows the SBC logo which is what makes me think it is a Sterling.

by **William** » Sat Mar 25, 2017 1:27 pm

Weather in New England keeps me unable to work on the hull of new boat which for now I'm calling the White Falcon. However I am doing whatever inside work I can which means mostly building the covers for the seats which I am going to convert to flotation tanks rather than storage compartments and making replacement coamings using my Falcon as a pattern. I think I solved the missing rubrail by running a 3/4 inch PVC pipe through my table saw to open a channel on one side. I then used a propane torch to soften it into place. The bow piece seems to be proof of concept so I'm relieved I won't need a $300 rubrail kit for a daysailor. I have been keeping Ebay busy buying blocks and sails as it is.

by **William** » Sun Apr 30, 2017 6:37 pm

In spite of having the flu during April Vacation, work on the White Falcon is progressing. I have already worked on repairing the extensive crazing below the water line and applied bottom paint. I hope to have the topside painted by next weekend if the weather holds.

by **William** » Sun Apr 30, 2017 6:41 pm

Here is more progress

by **William** » Tue May 23, 2017 8:09 pm

The White Falcon is almost ready for the water just a few finishing touches now. Jib Sheets, a few additions to the trailer, a topping lift, and reassemble the rudder and tiller which had to be refinished.