Restoring a 1981 Santa Cruz 26

[carriegerner]

Hello! My husband, Brett, and I never expected to become "yacht owners" in our 30s, but this 1981 Santa Cruz 26 came up for sale in our area and -- as you can imagine -- the price was right! It hasn't been on the water in over 10 years and we can't wait to change that soon. We're hoping to take the first test drive on a local lake next weekend and go on longer trips on Lake Michigan and Superior this summer.

We'd love to connect with others who've restored fixer-uppers, owners of similar models, and anyone with recommendations for routes around Door County and beyond. It would be great to have people to lean on and for us to help in any way we can as we learn more through the process.

Please feel free to follow along if you're interested in seeing the progress:
https://www.homesteadontherun.com/category/boat-travel/

[plittle2005]

While I lived in South Milwaukee WI, I owned a '77 Santa Cruz for 33 years(!), for the same reasons you stated: Acceptable comfort and safety, trailability and ease of maintenance. I kept it in Ephraim for 10 years until the kids grew up and we cruised all over northern Green Bay, from Sturgeon Bay to Fayette, over to Leland, and up to Petosky, Charlevoix, Mac and around to Cheboygan and the Cross-Michigan waterway.

Then I trailed all over, up to the North Channel (6 times, an 18 hr. drive instead of a 2-week run on the water!) down to Chicago and the rivers down there.

About your boat: I believe it has a balsa-core bottom like mine so be very careful of ant bottom scrapes or holes, repair quickly. Good you got the deck repaired, keep an eye on the plywood transom as well.

Feel free to contact me for any questions, and definitely when you want to plan a cruise and I could give you some information. Been there, done that, so i am glad to comment!

Phil Little
plittle2005@yahoo.com

[km1125]

Welcome aboard! Good luck on your project!

[Viper]

Congrats and welcome aboard. You have your work cut out for you but I'm sure she'll look awesome when you're done. Always good to see the oldies saved from the scrap yard and getting back in the water where they belong.

Keep us posted on your progress, and we really like pictures here

[waybomb]

Welcome aboard!

[RGrew176]

Welcome Aboard and good luck with your project getting her up and running. Hope you get to have many fine adventures aboard.

[carriegerner]

Source of the post While I lived in South Milwaukee WI, I owned a '77 Santa Cruz for 33 years(!), for the same reasons you stated: Acceptable comfort and safety, trailability and ease of maintenance. I kept it in Ephraim for 10 years until the kids grew up and we cruised all over northern Green Bay, from Sturgeon Bay to Fayette, over to Leland, and up to Petosky, Charlevoix, Mac and around to Cheboygan and the Cross-Michigan waterway.

Then I trailed all over, up to the North Channel (6 times, an 18 hr. drive instead of a 2-week run on the water!) down to Chicago and the rivers down there.

About your boat: I believe it has a balsa-core bottom like mine so be very careful of ant bottom scrapes or holes, repair quickly. Good you got the deck repaired, keep an eye on the plywood transom as well.

Feel free to contact me for any questions, and definitely when you want to plan a cruise and I could give you some information. Been there, done that, so i am glad to comment!

Phil Little
plittle2005@yahoo.com

Hi Phil! Wow -- it sounds like you had some amazing adventures on your Santa Cruz. We've had similar ideas for destinations and will greatly appreciate the guidance. Thank you so much for being willing to share your experience. After passing the "float test" we're going to plan a short multi-day excursion, likely from Sturgeon Bay to Chambers Island in June. We'll definitely be in touch. Thanks again!

[carriegerner]

Thanks everyone for such a warm welcome! We'll be sure to check in with more pictures and updates as we go along.

[Cooler]

Welcome to the neighborhood! Review all the areas mentioned in plittle note above. I am not sure if the below waterline does have a balsa core, but mostly everything else is. Try to get someone with a moisture meter to go over the entire hull, and stringers. I see a lot of teak areas that need refinishing. Interlux Sikkens product is great for that. If you come to Menominee, check in with me. I can get you a great price on quarts.

I am in Menominee, just 20 miles from Sturgeon Bay, so if you stop in, check slip D 3 to see if I am there. Gas price is always less than the Door County side, so a good place for a top off. er

[plittle2005]

For delaminated teak ply panels, I got a 4'x8' sheet of 1/16" white plastic at Home Depot. I just cut out pieces and glued over the bad teak. You cannot renew that stuff with any kind of finish.