Refit Round-Up Part 3: Hanging Upside Down and Battling Balsa Core on a Classic San Juan 21
- Jul 8
- 3 min read
There is a special kind of bravery reserved for first-time boat owners. Most people start small, maybe a coat of paint, a new bilge pump, or a change to some interior lights. But for Adam, his first step into the world of sailboat DIY involved a Tyvek suit, safety goggles, and hanging upside down inside a 50-year-old hull.
Today, we’re heading to Grass Lake, Michigan, to look at a project that embodies the exact spirit of why we love this community.
A New Bern Connection in Michigan
Adam is the proud owner of Lazy Loon, a 1974 San Juan 21 Mark II. For those who don't know, the San Juan 21 is a classic, trailerable centerboarder designed by Don Clark. And as a fun little twist of fate, Adam’s project brings together two places very close to our hearts. His specific boat was originally built right here in New Bern, North Carolina, just a stone's throw from where we are currently based. However, it's now being restored up in Michigan, which is where I (Ava) am originally from! Talk about a small world.
Adam had been a Sail Life viewer for several years, gathering inspiration from videos but waiting for the right moment to jump in. When Lazy Loon popped up on Facebook Marketplace, he knew it was time to stop watching and start building.
The catch? It was his first sailboat, and this would be his first-ever attempt at boat restoration.
The Ultimate First Project: The Upside-Down Re-Core
Instead of easing into things, Adam jumped straight into one of the most notoriously messy, physically demanding projects a boat owner can face: a complete deck re-core.
To preserve the original non-skid and gelcoat on the topsides, Adam made the bold executive decision to attack the rotten balsa core from the inside of the boat. This means working entirely overhead in a cramped cabin, fighting gravity every step of the way.
His current mission is to strip away the old, compromised balsa wood to prepare the top fiberglass skin for fresh core material. But as with all old boats, a surprise was waiting for him under the surface.
Instead of a clean transition from fiberglass to balsa, Adam uncovered a massive, half-inch layer of fairing compound sandwiched directly beneath the top skin. It was an unwelcome discovery that added hours of heavy grinding to an already strenuous job.
The Tool Saving His Sanity
When you're grinding fiberglass and old filler overhead, you need tools you can trust. On Mads’ recommendation, Adam went out and equipped his workshop with a fleet of Bosch tools. Right now, his trusty angle grinder is the absolute MVP of the yard, putting in serious overtime to clean up the underside of the deck.
As Adam puts it, he's "still figuring out how to work upside down safely," but the progress is real.
The Verdict & The Scale
Despite the itchy fiberglass dust and the surprise filler, Adam says his biggest win so far has simply been starting. Taking the leap from a YouTube viewer to a literal boat builder is a massive milestone.
On our project meter, Adam rates the current frustration level at a solid 3 out of 5 hammers. However, he notes that his wife has a slightly different perspective on the chaos: "She would definitely put me at a 5, haha!"
It is so awesome
that Adam is tackling such a high-stakes project right out of the gate. Adam, thank you so much for sharing your story and your project with us! Seeing long-time viewers take the leap into the boatyard is exactly why we love doing this. Lazy Loon is in great hands, and we can’t wait to see her back out on the water, solid as a rock.
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