tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-42502520387316129432024-03-13T23:27:15.226-04:00Pearson Triton #680A spot to highlight my Triton sailboat, her sailing adventures and restoration challenges. For those of you smart enough to run from a total 'gut-job' restoration but like to follow the miseries of those less wise, I hope I can provide you with some entertainment.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger246125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4250252038731612943.post-53928013814436255862017-08-20T12:32:00.003-04:002017-08-20T12:32:53.396-04:00Summer 2017 UpdateJust a minor update as little has been done on the boat this year. The new (to me) house is demanding a lot of time and little is left over for <i>Jenny</i>.<br />
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Projects I am working on are the replacement of the Marelon seacocks with proper bronze seacocks. This job is nearly done but the replacement seacocks do not have the same dimensions which is requiring some rework to make them all fit. One of my cockpit drains just will not line up with the drain underneath and I am about halfway through moving the cockpit drain fitting about an inch over. It won't be perfectly symmetrical with the other drain but the alternative seems to be more work than it is worth. Particularly when it is so hard to get anything accomplished around the house repairs and I don't want to add anything I don't need to to the to-do list.<br />
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I am also routing the deck drains out of the cockpit well and into their own hull thru-hulls. I just wasn't happy with the decks draining into the cockpit and with the other rework going on it seemed a good time to rectify that.<br />
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Honestly, it isn't much fun to document a job that I have already done once so no new pictures at the moment.<br />
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Otherwise, I try to hit the odd nagging issue that doesn't require too much surgery but isn't really noteworthy enough for the blog.<br />
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Em tasol wantoksUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4250252038731612943.post-87114729343239394762016-10-23T12:07:00.000-04:002016-10-23T12:07:17.176-04:00Not DeadI am not dead and the <i>Jenny</i> did not sink.<br />
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This spring, my girlfriend and I bought an old house with enough land to bring <i>Jenny</i> home which is where all the tools and materials are. The logistics were becoming increasingly difficult as the project focus changed from basic fiberglass and rough structural work to the finish details. When I went to the boatyard to work on the hull all my tools fit in one bag. As the project progressed this was no longer the case.<br />
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The old house needs tons of work and will be a decade or two project. Come to think of it, the boat has become a decade project too hmmm... Anyway... The house had some priority work that needed to be done and then there is all the settling in and stuff and <i>Jenny</i> just had to wait. Now I have to schedule fixing the house, building a workshop and getting back to work on the boat. I really need to quit my day job...<br />
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I left off with the seacock replacement project. The head and sink are complete. The raw water intake for the engine will need some modifications because the replacement hardware is a bit larger than the original. The cockpit drains will need a lot of rework for the same problem. <br />
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Today, I started a list and spent some time remembering where I left off.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q8mKlyU2Frs/WAzgFzjD58I/AAAAAAAACr4/n4nQKpwdwkI5nCh_tVPwsHsd3l1CsokMgCK4B/s1600/Jenny%2BHome.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q8mKlyU2Frs/WAzgFzjD58I/AAAAAAAACr4/n4nQKpwdwkI5nCh_tVPwsHsd3l1CsokMgCK4B/s320/Jenny%2BHome.jpg" width="320" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4250252038731612943.post-13083881690021876522015-05-25T17:33:00.000-04:002015-05-25T17:33:47.442-04:00Remembering I have a boat on Memorial DayDid someone say I have a boat? I seem to have some distant memory of something like that. Only I don't remember owning a boat. I remember a boat owning me but maybe that is just semantics.<br />
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Well, it is Memorial Day and the weather has dried up and become warm. Two weeks ago I did some spring cleaning. If I leave the boat alone too long the mold comes back. I blame the bamboo flooring. In hindsight that was a bad idea. It looks nice but I haven't met anyone that has used it that didn't wind up with a mold problem. Something about mold in the bamboo fibers. I am putting a rug down for now but long term I will probably have to epoxy seal it and put a plywood veneer over the whole thing. I guess an inch and a half of cabin sole thickness wasn't enough.<br />
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About $850 worth of 'seacock' parts arrived this week.<br />
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Not a true seacock but I know people that have had good luck with these. The thru hull threads into a flange (middle) with normal threads and the top of the flange has pipe threads to accept a typical ball valve. Future maintenance should be much easier. The part that fails is the valve and it just threads off. I don't expect more maintenance however. I have gone with the traditional all bronze components - no more awful Marelon - so I expect to retire with these fittings. If the ball valves do seize up they should be easy to replace.<br />
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I ordered six of these - three in 3/4 inch size and 3 in 1.5 inch. My plan last year was to add two for the deck drains but that is going to take more planning and not a high priority so for now I am going to continue letting the deck drain into the cockpit. I am not terribly happy with my initial decision to go that route. I find on sloppy days the bow scoops up a lot of water and sends it aft where it winds up in the cockpit, soaking the feet of my unsuspecting friends. Its a little funny when they panic and think the boat is sinking but it also gets annoying after the first few times. Another solution might be to cut a slot in the toerail with something on the deck to direct the water through the slot. Those two inch toe rails definitely contribute to the volume of water sent aft and if I could redirect it before it gets to the drains I might be okay. A plan for another day.<br />
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Today, I measured the thru hulls for length but found I couldn't do a decent job of cutting them on the tailgate of the pickup. The old bolt holes have been cleaned and filled. I decided to continue with my original plywood backing blocks. I would never use plywood again but they are glued in solid and they are doing their job so I didn't feel like starting a fresh fight with them.<br />
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Next week I should be installing the assemblies and hopefully I won't have any significant problem lining up with the existing plumbing. Hopefully...Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4250252038731612943.post-14923797578230687202014-11-30T13:47:00.001-05:002014-11-30T13:47:40.155-05:00The summer that didn't happen...The season came and went but nothing much was accomplished on Jenny all year which is why there hasn't been a blog update in forever.<div>
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Between financial setbacks, family issues and health issues every weekend this year was either a wash or severely impaired.</div>
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I am not too happy about it but that is what happened. I can tell <i>Jenny</i> is not happy either.</div>
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So now I think the plan is to keep <i>Jenny </i>on the hard again next year and do next summer what I had planned on doing this summer. Getting a summer mooring rental agreement with a decent price increase helped me make that decision a few weeks ago. I like cruising more than day sails anyway and I don't have the ability to go on a cruise right now. Maybe in a few years.</div>
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<i>Jenny</i> is back snug under her standard winter cover. Nothing much to show there. This year I have even less room at the boatyard and there is even more mud on the ground than before. There is a good chance this is my last year at my current location. I know I was spoiled before but this place is not working out and it is time to move on.</div>
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Anyway, just a boring update but boring is better than dead I guess.</div>
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Happy Holidays everyone and here is hoping for a more productive season next year :)</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4250252038731612943.post-46510773441102104572014-06-28T12:13:00.000-04:002014-06-28T12:13:55.232-04:00Marelon Seacocks suck monkey balls and Spring Varnishing is boringNope, not forgotten but the work on <i>Jenny</i> has been pretty boring (lots of varnishing) which isn't very interesting to write (or read) about.<br />
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First of all, Forespar Marelon Seacocks... they suck.<br />
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I started this boat project as a wet behind the ears newbie-don't-know-nothing sort of person. At that time I was looking at the old corroded seacocks in the boat (though few and far between - straight tubes abounded) and saw the new, modern, can't corrode Forespar Marelon seacocks and thought that was my answer. As it was a safety issue, installing new seacocks in the under water holes in the hull was an early priority. I think I installed about $1,000 worth of Marelon seacocks in the boat. After the first season they started to feel stiff so I contacted Forespar technical support for recomendations for maintaining the seacocks. I was told, any lubricant other than aerosol (the propellent swells the material) and rinse them out every season. Fair enough. By the end of the second season I was getting worried. Towards the end of the third season my girlfriend shut off the head intake as we were going home and mentioned the seacock felt 'funny'. I checked it and found the handle had sheared off the ball. Luckily this was on an intake which was broken in the closed position so I was able to carry a bucket in the boat and draw from inside and continue with a semi-working toilet until haulout.<br />
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I am not interested in having more failures of seacocks so I have removed all my seacocks.<br />
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Luckily I chose not to install these with 5200 as others had suggested and the 4200, which was holding fine, gave up its hold without resorting to the nuclear option. I did have to hand chisel off the plastic mushroom heads which was a painful job but only took a few hours.<br />
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As you see, the balls were well lubricated at removal.<br />
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There were all rather stiff. Even though they were very greasy there was a lot of grit around the ball.<br />
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The balls were all heavily scored. If they were metal I could polish them. I am not sure what I am supposed to do with Marelon to make them smooth again.<br />
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In any case, when the ball gets stiff, the weak point in in the connection between the ball and handle. There is a square section that the handle is slotted on. The picture shows a 1.5" seacock. The 3/4" seacock is much smaller and that is what my girlfriend pealed off. I don't blame her, the plastic is rather soft and easy to distort. The handle itself is rather weak and I can severely distort the handle if I wanted to.<br />
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So in the end, a little grit gets into the ball cavity (dirty ocean?...) causing the ball to get stiff and then the connection snaps with hardly any effort. 3 years of summer use before failure. Bronze has been king for a few centuries and I should have stuck with the proven material. Next time I will let someone else try out the new fangled stuff. End of story, Marelon seacocks suck and I wasted a lot of time and money on them. Bronze is good.<br />
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So I have plans to replace the seacocks soon but I have a few other non boat expenses coming up and a full set of seacocks is going to set me back some so I have been procrastinating. Luckily it has been good varnishing weather, and that is cheap, so that is where I have been spending my time.<br />
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First of all, I upgraded my ladder to something more substantial. I was having fun going up and down on a ladder that was flush with the deck but I know that sooner or later I am going to dance my way off while having a toolbag in each hand so I purchased a 12 foot ladder.<br />
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Now I can climb up and down safely and I have a second ladder to use as a poor man's staging for work at deck level.<br />
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For the past month, every saturday and sunday morning I am varnishing. It is boring but with widespread failure starting it has to be done. If you want the varnish you need covered storage, preferably indoor and heated and really preferable would be to hire a varnishing crew every season to do it for you...<br />
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Not much to say there. Sand off, brush on... My winch blocks are near the end of their life. 50 years is about it I guess...<br />
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I managed to install the panels that go behind the galley which will allow some fun projects to move forward there.<br />
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As you can see the interior is sanded and ready for a final coat (or two) of the satin finish. That will probably happen this weekend or over the July 4th extended weekend.<br />
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Other minor projects included some electrical connectors which will allow me to remove the engine electrical box completely without having to disconnect every wire leading in to it. The box covers hardware that secures the starboard cockpit coaming so removal will always be something I need to do from time to time.<br />
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I am also ordering some deck navigation lights to be installed this summer and the propane tank and installation bits to finalize last year's stove project. There there is the big electrical project which is mostly just a project on paper at this point.<br />
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And that is where it stands.<br />
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Think of me slaving to the varnishing Gods while you are enjoying this fantastic last spring early summer sailing weather in New England...<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4250252038731612943.post-73370498822188213322014-05-18T18:28:00.001-04:002014-05-18T18:28:17.660-04:00Spring Cleaning.No. I am not dead and Jenny is not a rotting hulk in someone's backyard these days. It was a long winter.<br />
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There she is poking her bow out among a bunch of ugly ... things... I don't think Jenny is very happy with me at the moment.<br />
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Thankfully, the winter cover held up just fine and two weeks ago it looked just like I left it in October. I checked on it every week or two but with 3-4 foot snow drifts around the boat at all times I didn't get too close. The spring has been cold and wet and with Jenny not going in this year I have been spending time around the house. So far I have delivered five pickup loads to the dump. Most of that stuff is leftovers from boat projects and previous year's winter covers so I guess in a way I have been busy working on the boat...<br />
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Jenny is in the middle of a mash of boats and with the mud finally drying out and boat owners behind me anxious to launch I figured last week it was time to take down the winter cover. If you remember, I mentioned that the winter cover went up during a rainy weekend and the boat was absolutely filthy when the cover was complete. Well, the dirt was still there so last weekend was take down the cover and clean, clean, clean...<br />
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While washing the hull I could see many more indications that other boats have been rubbing up alongside Jenny. They left their wax and gelcoat smeared across the topsides. Some cleaning and rubbing took care of most of it. The rest will be fixed when I re-paint...<br />
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Because I was in such a rush to get the boat covered up last fall,the interior was never cleaned up and it was quite messy inside as well. This weekend I have been cleaning again trying to make amends for my lack of attention. Last fall on the trip home I became aware of a mold problem. Over the winter the problem didn't resolve itself so today I was crawling around inside all the storage areas spraying a bleach mix and hosing everything possible out. I took a big bite out of the mold but I have a feeling I will be fighting it for a while. There are a lot of nooks and crannies inside and I have jammed a lot into those nooks. When I built the interior bits I always had in mind that water will get in and it needs to flow out somehow. This was helpful when I decided to bring my hose inside and just open up inside some of the storage lockers. After that it was back to hands and knees and a squirt bottle with paper towels. Owning boats is SO much fun sometimes.<br />
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One of the first projects this year will be replacing all the seacocks with new bronze fittings. The new Marelon seacocks I put in a few seasons ago are failing already,(the head inlet broke and I could only flush my toilet by disconnecting the toilet supply hose and putting it into a bucket of water - not exactly convenient). I will have a blog post just for that but be assured I am not amused with Marelon right now. At last count I need 9 seacocks. Where so many holes in my boat came from I don't know but I don't want to wait for the next failure so out they come.<br />
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I have also been doodling plans for an electrical system. Hopefully, that will be the fun upgrade this year. Not sure if I will complete it but make good headway I hope at least. I have been daydreaming about all the things I want and at least allow for them at some point in the future. I might go with something simple to start but easily expandable over the next few years. I have been debating but I am going to put in a simple AC system. I have no intention of sitting at the dock with shore power (watch me eat my words...) but I want to wire in some outlets for working on the boat in the off season and it doesn't make sense to wire up the outlets and not put a simple panel and external connections. I definitely don't need AC power in the boat but it is one of those, might-be-nice-someday things and I want to be able to power up tools and heaters and such over the winter without dragging a cord through the boat. It is a luxury but then again, this whole project is a luxury so why stop now?<br />
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The basic plan is a housebank that will be charged through a battery combiner when the engine is running with the option of solar and possibly wind charging sometime in the future. The two electric bilge pumps on a hot battery bus and a switch panel with ... at the moment... about 12 circuit breakers. (That number keeps going up...) Things to wire up early would be some navigation lights both on the deck (for motoring) and a masthead (for sailing). I have diagram of a Triton and I keep scribbling all over it and looking at the best way of running the wires. It keeps me entertained at night.<br />
<br />
Perhaps more important that an electrical system (but definitely not as much fun) will be apply lots more varnish. The exterior has always been a game of catch up and I never get enough down. Getting more varnish down on the inside will allow work to proceed in there as well. The stove is one of those things just waiting for varnish before mounting the stove cabinet. Finding a way to secure propane tanks on the aft deck and plumbing the gas to the stove is another 'must do' project this year.<br />
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Rigging stuff includes lazy jacks. I can't go another season without them. Then there is the windvane lines that would have been done last year if I hadn't been stupid and decided to work on the tiller head on the mooring.<br />
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Over all, I think the plan is finish a bunch of half done projects and then start the electrical system.<br />
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Hopefully, I will find something to entertain you with this summer.<br />
<br />
Oh, and buy some land so I can stop paying ridiculous boat storage fees and I can build indoor heated storage for Jenny and varnish to my hearts content in February.<br />
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Spring is here and boatwork has begun. More interesting stuff ( and less 'hopeful dreaming') coming soon!<br />
<br />
Take care and keep the dirty side down ;)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4250252038731612943.post-23891625865806074142013-12-14T13:52:00.000-05:002013-12-14T13:52:54.665-05:00First Snow 2013Well, the first real snow of 2013 is falling and <em>Jenny</em> is safely under her winter cover. <br />
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Bringing her home so late caused some problems though as all my plans got backed up against the impending winter weather. While I enjoyed my September/October sailing I think next time I will haul out earlier and have more time and better weather for putting <em>Jenny</em> to bed.<br />
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Speaking of end of season sailing. I have some video clips from the trip home.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/s306eOF9tuo" width="560"></iframe><br />
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Attempting to get much done on <em>Jenny</em> over the winter in the new boatyard is not really an option so rather than fight it I am just going to have to accept that nothing will be happening until spring.<br />
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The plan at this point is to NOT launch <em>Jenny</em> next year and instead finish the projects that didn't get finished this year and get an electrical system started.<br />
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I realize that life is short and I should sail as much as possible but for the second season in a row I am finding that leaving <em>Jenny</em> on the mooring all summer is not all that satisfying. I thought this past season that I would have time for a little cruising but my real job didn't allow it so once again I was restricted to weekend sailing. <br />
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Day sailing on the weekends is okay but not really what I had in mind for the boat and I am finding the effort has not been worth the reward. <em>Jenny,</em> to me, is a vehicle to go places, not go around in a circle and having to make time every weekend to check on her even if the weather was not good for sailing became a chore by the end of the season. Plus, as I mentioned in the last post, <em>Jenny</em> seems to be absorbing a lot of damage simply resting on her mooring all summer. I think she chafes at the lack of cruising too.<br />
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So rather than experience another unsatisfying summer on the mooring I think I will keep <em>Jenny</em> in the boatyard where I can be so much more productive. And if I want to go away for a weekend to see friends I won't have to feel so guilty about it and worry about <em>Jenny</em> while I am away.<br />
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That is the plan for now at least. That could change by next spring.<br />
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I didn't get pictures of the winter cover this year for a few reasons. One reason is that it looks the same as the past few seasons. Another is that the weather was awful; cold and wet and hanging around taking pictures wasn't very fun. A third reason is that this year <em>Jenny</em> is sitting in a very muddy spot and the frequent ups and downs on the ladder in the wet cold weather left the decks absolutely filthy and I am embarrassed to show the condition of the boat. After the snow storm passes this weekend maybe I will get out to the boatyard for a check and take some pictures.<br />
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That's it. This blog has gone rather quiet for a few reasons. I can't say what the near future will bring. More updates come spring for sure but between now and then I am not so sure. I will be moving towards a real electrical system so I might put my ideas up here. Then again, I often promise more than I deliver so maybe I should just keep my mouth shut for now and hope.<br />
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Happy Holidays everyone :)<br />
<br />
-Britton<br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4250252038731612943.post-79494387708967778942013-11-10T16:44:00.000-05:002013-11-10T16:44:11.753-05:00End of season 2013<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-X9cgI2NV8C0/Un_0VP4vC5I/AAAAAAAACjk/gXwmp2u3Nqs/s1600/home+2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-X9cgI2NV8C0/Un_0VP4vC5I/AAAAAAAACjk/gXwmp2u3Nqs/s320/home+2013.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<em>Jenny</em>, is home.She arrived at the boatyard dock three weeks ago with the last nice sailing weekend fading fast. It was a three day trip bringing her home this time and there was some fabulous sailing which made up for a rather depressing second half to the sailing season.<br />
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It wasn't all bad. There was a sail party with three of my friends (who all have intimate knowledge of classic plastic rebuild projects) and the sail home was the best sail since my three month cruise.<br />
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It was that broken tiller head that did me in though. In hindsight, I have no idea why I chose to start fixing a highly critical part that was still working while the boat was on the mooring instead of waiting for the end of the season when I could have worked on it at my leisure.<br />
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The solution to the worn tiller head that I killed was a new tiller head. I will say it looks beautiful and works well.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RdEcpcvXSSs/Un_3lk4P9uI/AAAAAAAACj8/1QeRAmrsei8/s1600/new+tiller+head.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RdEcpcvXSSs/Un_3lk4P9uI/AAAAAAAACj8/1QeRAmrsei8/s320/new+tiller+head.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span id="goog_1053784997"></span><span id="goog_1053784998"></span><br />
The only issue I had was that the slot for the key was on the opposite side from the original. That mean I had to cut a new slot, on the mooring, by hand, flat on my belly, with the boat wakes making my boat and tiller shaft go back and forth, back and forth... Of course there was the fear of making the slot too big, or crooked, or lopsided, or... any one of a hundred ways I could really mess up and cause a lot of trouble (like having to tow my boat to a haulout facility and drop the rudder to replace the shaft...) so I had to go very slow and check often. <br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ubn4Cd5kIP8/Un_4mKoHq3I/AAAAAAAACkI/83PQuTfdPsU/s1600/new+keyway.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ubn4Cd5kIP8/Un_4mKoHq3I/AAAAAAAACkI/83PQuTfdPsU/s320/new+keyway.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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There was really no need for that nonsense and I should have left it alone until the end of the season. Lesson learned. For those of you that have to know, I put a rotary file on a drill motor and cut narrow slots smaller than the width of the keyway. I then used a handfile to slowing deepen and open the keyway up to the required dimensions. Thankfully the shaft is bronze and not stainless. It still took several hours of work over two weekends.<br />
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The month of September would normally be my haulout period but moving a family member, bad weather and 'other social obligations' meant I didn't bring Jenny home until the third weekend of October. Day one of the trip was beautiful with perfect sailing weather. Day two the winds were not as forecasted, quite strong,with a few hundred miles of fetch instead of the land breaze expected. The conditions just too rough and I had to wait out the day in Rockport harbor. Day three was a light wind day with the winds coming just as they were supposed to on day two. An easy sail to the mouth of the Merrimac river and motor at high tide up to the boatyard dock. That is where I left <em>Jenny</em> as the boatyard staff wasn't sure where they were going to put her for a few days.<br />
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Because I was out so late most of the boatyard was filled up by the time I got there and my location is less than ideal this year.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--XdHcEATv80/Un_6a2-ppvI/AAAAAAAACkU/UGU3Qn4Aey4/s1600/stands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--XdHcEATv80/Un_6a2-ppvI/AAAAAAAACkU/UGU3Qn4Aey4/s320/stands.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<em>Jenny</em> is buried in the midst of boats with no water or electricity close by. I am not terribly happy about the location but there isn't much I can do about it either.<br />
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One thing I noted in my first walkaround was how many dings and scratches <em>Jenny</em> picked up this year. The mooring ball did a lot of damage to the bow section as in the previous year in Salem but in addition, there are several scrapes from what looks like other boats getting too close and perhaps oarlocks from curious people in dinghies. Judging from what I saw when I spent some nights aboard I am not too surprised but that is even more to be unhappy about.<br />
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The weather is fast going bad and I am racing to get <em>Jenny</em> ready for the winter. Four pickup truck loads of stuff have come out of her so far and the systems are all winterized. At this point I just need to get a cover on and I can't do it soon enough. The weather in October was pretty nice for sailing over all but being this close to the winter and not having <em>Jenny</em> put away is worrying. Next time I will try harder to get her out earlier. The nice weather back then just isn't worth the worry now.<br />
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And that is where it is at. There are more details to talk about but the push is on and there is not enough time to make long blog posts. When the snow flies I will try to come back and cover some of the stories.<br />
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More blog posts coming soon.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4250252038731612943.post-66145115834043710082013-07-13T09:32:00.004-04:002013-07-13T09:32:39.422-04:00Interesting videoI will admit that I have a secret lusting for a Bristol Channel Cutter. If my sole aim was to cruise I would have to take a closer look at one. In fact, after considering the costs of Jenny to date, buying a used one doesn't seem so extravagant any more. Of course it wouldn't be customized to my liking and I would still wind up tossing all my money and more at it. All that space and still beautiful to look at... Be still my beating heart.<br />
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This video is a little dated and goes on far too long but there are some interesting contruction details in it that I thought made it worth re-posting.<br />
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Anyway, here it is.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4250252038731612943.post-81097578982403500402013-07-06T19:08:00.000-04:002013-07-06T19:08:38.911-04:00June 2013 updateSo far so good. To date, I have not missed a weekend overnight stay on <em>Jenny</em> this season.<br />
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Fine drinks in the harbor every evening...<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WEe9GcEZpfY/Udib10cmCkI/AAAAAAAACg8/F141Ir99pwU/s1600/rising+tide.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WEe9GcEZpfY/Udib10cmCkI/AAAAAAAACg8/F141Ir99pwU/s320/rising+tide.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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And scrumptious breakfasts every morning...<br />
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Not a bad life.<br />
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I have even managed to continue with some small projects. I have bits and pieces under the varnish brush at home when the weather permits and I got tired of prying open the access doors-that-don't-have-hinges-yet so I just drilled some finger holes. Crude but very effective. The latches are installed but I have held off on the hinges until I can get the final coats of satin varnish on the panels.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AWFBBgokK2g/Udicgn3PomI/AAAAAAAAChM/EM9y7qp4WEc/s1600/drawer+holes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AWFBBgokK2g/Udicgn3PomI/AAAAAAAAChM/EM9y7qp4WEc/s320/drawer+holes.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I have even managed to do some sailing...<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PIgrU6qPqb4/UdicnkZ31yI/AAAAAAAAChU/TSge5vRhN7w/s1600/spinnaker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PIgrU6qPqb4/UdicnkZ31yI/AAAAAAAAChU/TSge5vRhN7w/s320/spinnaker.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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Yes, that is in fact my assymetrical spinnaker finally in action. It took a bit of time to work out and I definitely need to ask some friends how to get it under control but when I do finally manage to get the sail up it is beautiful. Sailing under the assymetrical spinnaker has been a lot of fun.<br />
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Because I have been a little video crazy this year, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZv42qMnF68">I even have some video</a>.<br />
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I love my awning that I had made for me by Withum Sailmakers two years ago.<br />
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The only issue I have with it is that the stiffening poles are over six feet long which made stowing the awning on the boat rather challenging. This year I bought some stainless steel tubing, cut them into 4 inch lengths and put a little dent in the middle. Then I cut the stiffening poles into managable lengths and used the short sections of tubing to assemble them back to full length. Now the awning stows into a two foot length. Much more manageable I believe.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jveoaa8KLNI/UdifHCXNAtI/AAAAAAAAChs/yahxxY0u4Xc/s1600/005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jveoaa8KLNI/UdifHCXNAtI/AAAAAAAAChs/yahxxY0u4Xc/s320/005.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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And then, in preparation for final rigging of the wind vane, I took a good close look at my tiller head.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eCoXtYwDKzA/UdifTdS1LeI/AAAAAAAACh0/joG3lrLz8ec/s1600/old+tiller+head.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eCoXtYwDKzA/UdifTdS1LeI/AAAAAAAACh0/joG3lrLz8ec/s320/old+tiller+head.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ckj3Ayi5rEs/UdifXP_1n_I/AAAAAAAACh8/2hBOmoTeYLE/s1600/slop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ckj3Ayi5rEs/UdifXP_1n_I/AAAAAAAACh8/2hBOmoTeYLE/s320/slop.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I think I found where the slop was coming from...<br />
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A friend offered to sell me a very nice Triton bronze tiller head fitting but I thought I could save some money by simply drilling out and installing some lubricated bushings instead. The bushings only cost be $3. The drills and reams to make the holes cost me... about $120. <br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IrBK6ilKBTY/UdihCsn4bgI/AAAAAAAACiM/Ie9vqvpRpLg/s1600/new+tools.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IrBK6ilKBTY/UdihCsn4bgI/AAAAAAAACiM/Ie9vqvpRpLg/s320/new+tools.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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And then I found out the drill press I planned on using (owned by a kindly friend) had a bent shaft which sort of negated the idea of using those nice reams (the larger one cost about $55). A second drill press offer also fell through so in the end I decided to drill by hand.<br />
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That sort of worked, mostly, but not very well. It turns out the larger ream needed a 5/8 inch chuck which was bigger than the hand drill I had. I felt very manly gripping the ream with my bare hands and turning by hand - two hours and a bit of sweat later I had reamed out the holes - the fitting was aluminum after all, not something hard like steel.<br />
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I was felling very tough and masculine as I drilled out my final hole and then... the drill bit caught, twisted, and broke the tiller head fitting. <br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VQjBKZaAifw/UdihLGNVx-I/AAAAAAAACiU/yEI-L7Rsyc4/s1600/failure.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VQjBKZaAifw/UdihLGNVx-I/AAAAAAAACiU/yEI-L7Rsyc4/s320/failure.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />
So I have a desperate plea in to my friend for that nice bronze fitting. If that doesn't work out I know of a Triton I can raid for parts but I will have to admit, a bronze tiller head fitting would look mightly sharp.<br />
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So no sailng for the rest of this weekend.<br />
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Other than the little issue with the tiller head, the windvane is close to being operational and getting that going should be exciting. I have the blocks I need to route the tiller lines. Two of the blocks need to be mounted on the aft deck so I won't install them until the fall when I can drill and fill the mounting holes properly. The two forward blocks will mount low below the cockpit coamings. That should happen "soon-ish". For this summer using just the two blocks will cause the tiller lines to occupy a good amount of the cockpit but I think I can live with that for the rest of this season. <br />
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And that is that. Jenny is being used every weekend, as much as a place to have a picnic and hang out as opposed to regular sailing. She seems happy. I know I am happy. Life is good. Hopefully, I will have a working steering system soon and I can put down my drinks and hearty breakfasts and break in that spinnaker a bit more.<br />
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Look for another update around the end of July.<br />
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Keep the wet side down :)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4250252038731612943.post-67639164824879515522013-06-08T09:56:00.000-04:002013-06-08T09:56:13.873-04:00Post Launch 2013<em>Jenny</em>, is comfortably resting at her summer mooring in Salem MA. The launch went very smoothly and the delivery was... well, a bit wet and sloppy but whatever.<br />
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I went to the boatyard Monday night to get my mast set up only to find it buried behind some new arrivals which made working on it impossible. A phone call tuesday and the boatyard crew had the mast out in front the very next day. Of course I didn't get to it until Wednesday morning.<br />
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I was more than a little concerned when going over it to find the top of the forestay has been damaged by some rough handling.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AMGgAxeCv_8/UbMta05FSnI/AAAAAAAACf4/IaNzzWoBg4A/s1600/fwd+shroud.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AMGgAxeCv_8/UbMta05FSnI/AAAAAAAACf4/IaNzzWoBg4A/s320/fwd+shroud.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Naturally I was not happy about that. I don't remember the damage being there last fall but I really can't remember and the damage might have occured during the move from the last boatyard. I took a good long look at it and decided to use it but I think I will have it replaced in the Fall. There are no broken strands but it is kinked a bit and slightly unwound. This is only the second season the stay will have been used and I am not happy to have to replace it so soon. <br />
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On a more positive note, the two new foresail halyard blocks look very nice.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oU0xHTejxLQ/UbMuIlPYGOI/AAAAAAAACgE/n6TINH-oCCo/s1600/mast+blocks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oU0xHTejxLQ/UbMuIlPYGOI/AAAAAAAACgE/n6TINH-oCCo/s320/mast+blocks.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span id="goog_611573971"></span><span id="goog_611573972">I am very happy to have two workilng halyards to use this year. Now I can play with my assymetrical this summer which should be fun. The old block was really decrepid too and if the genoa was not on a roller furler and only raised once a season I would really worry about it. Now I will feel much free-er about switching out to my other 100% jib should the conditions arise.</span><br />
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Despite the damage to the forestay I am starting to like the crew at the new boatyard more. Knowing that I wanted to get out quickly and catch the outgoing tide (the Merrimac is notoriously rough under certain conditions and has been known to flip 30 foot boats) the yard set up my mast the day before. I forgot to install the windex and the yard crew insisted on sending a guy up on a very long forklift to install it later that evening. Wednesday was a long day of fussing and loading I was able to set up the rig and bend on the sails for an immediate departure after launch.<br />
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The morning of launch day I was up early for more packing and food shopping anxious to get to the boat and see her safely in the water on time. I am always a nervous hen during launch imagining all sorts of catatrophes. The worst catastrophe of all occured when I arrived and found <em>Jenny</em> missing completely.<br />
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Apparently, the boatyard anticipated a busy morning and decided to launch <em>Jenny</em> early and had her resting quietly at the end of the dock when I arrived.<br />
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It was a very odd feeling to suddenly have all the stress depart and see my girl resting comfortably where she belongs. Being at the end of the dock made for many long trips to load her up with groceries and last minute stuff but in the end it all got done and we were ready to go ahead of schedule.<br />
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On this trip I was playing around with video cameras and didn't use the still camera much. I have uploaded some clips of the trip on youtube. Unfortunately, I had an issue with some of the audio and rather than put in some pop music background I left most of the video without any sound at all. Anyway, here it is:<br />
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The trip out the Merrimac was a quiet stroll. The winter storms this past winter have changed the channel quite a bit but at the top of the tide it was a pretty easy motor out. Once outside of the entrance buoy we had enough wind for some light sailing across Ipswich Bay towards Cape Ann. Later in the afternoon the wind picked up and we were close hauled with some decent wind that put the rail down. Good sailing if a bit rough pounding into the 2 foot chop.<br />
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I am happy to report that the genoa is working much better this year now that it is rigged properly. It furls effortlessly and goes up and down at will. Much better than last time. A real joy to use.<br />
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We came around the northern tip of Cape Ann and anchored in front of the beach in Rockport that night.<br />
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Originally we were expecting some rainy weather and figured we might have to sit tight for a few days somewhere. The weather forecast however changed a bit and was predicting strong winds out of the east which is exactly where the Rockport harbor is open to the ocean. Early the next morning we were up and out looking for Salem or at least a better anchorage a few miles away. As it turned out, the seas were sloppy but the winds were light so after motoring out of Rockport harbor and around Thatcher's Island we found ourselves motoring with the wind in sloppy following seas for the next few hours into Salem harbor. We didn't escape the rains however and it was a rather messy trip. <br />
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For the second time in a row, when I arrived in Salem harbor, no one knew we were coming or which seasonal rental morring we were scheduled for. Two years ago I called ahead several times and let them know were were coming but when I arrived they were still unprepared and had no mooring pendant on our mooring. This time I called and emailed ahead of time letting them know when we were coming and again, no one knew what to do with us when we arrived. After circling for half an hour they sent someone out to find our mooring. It took another half an hour for them to actually find the mooring. It took another half an hour for them to find someone who could put a mooring pendant on our mooring. Clearly I am going to have to call them again and find out how I can make their lives easier and have the mooring ready when we arrive next year. Other than being totally unprepared every season Salem Water Taxi has been good to work with. Motoring around the mooring fields in the rain was not the most fun I could have been having.<br />
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With that little detail resolved, we spent a few hours, eating, cleaning up, watching the rain fall and generally relaxing and enjoying the fact that we had a arrived and all the prep work was done and now it would be fun all summer.<br />
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Oh, and I have to say, doing the dishes in the new working sink is an actual joy after having to wash them over the side for so many years. I could do dishes all day long now and never get tires. It really is that exciting.<br />
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And that is that. <em>Jenny</em> is home on the mooring and ready for the 2013 sailing season. I won't post blogs of every sail because I find that kind of reading to be rather dull. I have a few projects in mind that I will post - like taking care of a few new found leaks - but otherwise I expect I will only post once a month or so as some small projects get done.<br />
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Happy sailing season everyone :-)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4250252038731612943.post-81179298164959451772013-06-02T18:45:00.001-04:002013-06-02T18:45:20.362-04:00Buckets of sweatMother Nature has not been kind. I was really looking forward to the three day weekend over Memorial Day to get the boat up to snuff and ready for the upcoming launch. Instead I watched buckets of rain for two of those three days. Not exactlly the plan I had in mind.<br />
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Actually, to be fair, the heavy rain turned into a light rain on day two so I was able to install the exhaust line that I had recently built. The one nice day was spent on the engine, replacing the impellors, changing the oil, replacing the fuel filter, yada yada boring stuff. The good news is that at the end of all this the engine started.<br />
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Unfortunately I wasn't terribly impressed with my new exhaust. I am not really sure what the issue is but after wrenching hard on the tapered thread fittings to get everything lined up I was disturbed to find that after getting the wet exhaust hose installed one of the joints went all loose and floppy. I ran the engine anyway and the exhaust seemed to work okay but I wasn't sure if I had a little leakage or not. It was hard to tell under the wrapping. Not the most promising end to my much anticipated three day weekend.<br />
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The good news is that that the weather wasn't cold or wet this past weekend. The bad news is that the weather was brutally hot. Heat exhaustion was a real possibility in the direct sun with temperatures above the mid 90's according to the area reports and I strongly suspect much hotter on deck in the middle of the boat yard. I could not let my bare skin touch the deck without risking burns and touching metal bits sent me flying in the air several times. It was hot hot Africa hot this weekend and it was brutal. It is also four days before launch so waiting for better weather was not an option.<br />
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After mulling my exhaust over I decided to remove the exhaust and dope up the threads with an "exhaust paste" that is supposed to harden and seal after 24 hours. I wish I could say that made a big improvement. Unfortunately, I did notice some looseness in the piping this morning as I was finishing up the connections. A second run of the engine showed no issues or signs of leakage so I think I am good but I am not crazy about my black iron pipe exhaust. Black iron has never been known for great quality but I think it is probably getting worse and I suspect that the threads just deform too easily and don't stay tight very well. I am sure after a few hours corrosion will set in which will help with the sealing but I will say now that I am not terribly thrilled so far. It works. I just don't have that warm and fuzzy feeling about it.<br />
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The last weekend before launch also meant it was time to uncover the boat. I am glad I left the cover up late as we have been getting a ton of rain and the boatyard seems to attract lots of leaves and dirt. This weekend however it was time to open her up.<br />
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The decks were filthy and some scrubbing had to be done which was actually quite productive as it made being on deck tolerable for a little while.<br />
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Otherwise lots of small projects are being wrapped up. I had taken the coamings off expecting to do some major varnish rework on them this spring. Instead I stuck them back on in the same condition they came off a year and a half ago. I have no doubt I will be fighting a losing battle all summer trying to keep some varnish down. I fully expect the varnish work to look pretty hideous by haulout. I am not happy about this but there just hasn't been the weather to varnish the exterior yet. At all. All the more reason to find indoor heated storage next winter.<br />
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<em>Jenny </em>is ready for the move to the other side of the highway where the actual launch site is. That will happen in the next day or two. I am trying to get the mast raised ahead of the launch so I will have a chance to bend on the sails and get the rigging tighted down before splashing. I never liked being tossed out into the river, drop anchor, set the rig and get out with the tide race that was the norm from my last location.<br />
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At this point, I have to review my rigging and make sure it is ready. I need to install the running rigging. I need to load the boat with all the 'stuf' that needs to be onboard like anchors, lines, cushions, supplies, and all that ton of stuff that a boat seems to need. That will probably happen after work over the next two nights or on Wednesday which I took off from work just for the last minute stuff. Originally, I was planning on Wednesday being a relaxing easy day mopping up some details. Now I expect it to be a very long rush to the finish line. Oh well, you would think by now I would have learned that this is never the case. Maybe next year<em> </em>I<em> </em>should just take the whole launch <em>week</em> off from the day job. Or maybe a month...<br />
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That is it. My next blog post should be after my launch with <em>Jenny</em> comfortably on her mooring in Salem harbor. The schedule is tight but I am on schedule with less done that I had hoped for. On a positive note I will be sailing in a better boat than I hauled out a year a half ago. I guess that is something to be happy about.<br />
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A happy blog post coming soon :-)<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4250252038731612943.post-14075480272278432102013-05-19T19:50:00.000-04:002013-05-19T19:50:52.548-04:00D-DayJune 6th. D-Day. Also known as my tentative launch date.<br />
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I was initially planning on an earlier launch but with the weather everyone is behind so I don't feel terribly bad about the late start. I still have a couple of unopened quarts of varnish waiting for better weather.<br />
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Last weekend was a total bust due to the heavy rains. The time wasn't completely wasted as I was able to load up that splicing video again and finish up my running rigging. No matter how many times I make an eyesplice with the double braided line, I still need to go back to my reference video.<br />
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Not my most productive weekend but not a complete loss either.<br />
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My devious plans to abduct a partner to help me install my exhaust pipe didn't work out so well either. Clearly I am going to have to up my game. Next week I have been promised some help. I hope so or I will soon be getting desperate.<br />
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This weekend among a bunch of small wrap up items I spent some time reviewing the engine which is the only real obstacle before launching. I seem to be in pretty good shape. I had planned on buying a pair of new water impellors this morning but my local supplier wasn't open. I guess they don't open on the weekends until after Memorial day. What is the point in that?<br />
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Anyway, materials are all there or on the way so I feel reasonably comfortable about the engine. Rigging is basically done.<br />
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While not the most important thing I could be working on I spent some time on my interior again this weekend. I did some final sanding and oiling of the galley counter top. I was a little concerned when I bought the specialty butcher block oil because it is completely clear and I was afraid it would add no color to my very plain white maple counterop. Thankfully, the oil added just the right about of color and the oiled walnut looks really great.<br />
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After three trips to the hardware store for hardware (have I mentioned that I am dimensionally challenged?...) I was able to secure the sink firmly in place. And then I decided that I needed to leave the sink loose so that I could slide in the engine start battery. Plus, I realized it would be better to add a bit of sealant under the lip of the sink so that random bits of water doesn't find its way to the storage locker underneath.<br />
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I did quite a bit of varnishing this weekend actually. Today's weather was the first opportunity this year to lay it down. It is a stretch but I am hoping I can get enough build coats on the settee backs that after a coat of satin finish I will be able to permanently install the locker doors. Doors without hinges are annoying. Installing panels acrosse the back of the galley would be victory too. It won't hold me back from sailing but it looks so much more fnished with the panels in place. Plus, I might be able to play around with the shelving over the summer.<br />
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Stovetop structure and a few other bits and peices were worked on as well but no pictures were taken. <br />
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I felt some real momentum today until I realized that last week's rains meant I had a grass field in my front yard this weekend. My momentum died when I had to find and drag out my very neglected and unloved lawn mower. <br />
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So it looks like I have a three day weekend to wake up the engine, finalize the rig and uncover <em>Jenny</em>. Then one final weekend and then launch. The pressure is definitely there but I have some hopes that all will be well. It will be more of a case of what gets done and what waits until next year. Handrails for example; most likely next year sadly.<br />
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Fingers crossed.<br />
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Bunden er båtløs mann. Men det er ikke meg!!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4250252038731612943.post-21159205819883959162013-05-05T17:50:00.000-04:002013-05-05T17:50:19.714-04:00Tick tick tickThe countdown has definitely begun and I can hear the unrelenting tick tock of the launch day countdown timer. As usual, I feel like I have too much to do and too little time to do it all in. It doesn't help that my sickness last month has boomeranged and I am getting a second round of it now. Back then I had the luxury of resting and convalescing. Not so anymore. Tick tick tick...<br />
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I am really happy about having a water system this year. I feel so much more civilized. One thing I never did (five or six?) odd years ago when I put the tank in was actually open the access panels and look inside. With all the grinding and sanding that has occured since then I figured it was a good idea to clean out the tanks before drinking from them. I was mildly suprised at how clean they were inside. A minor amount of dust but nothing to worry about.<br />
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I brought some nuts this time and was able to bolt down the pumps into place. Then after rinsing and wiping down the inside of the bilge tank I pumped 5 gallons through the system. Have I mentioned I really like my new water system?... Then to complete the water system checkout I filled the tank through the deck fitting. A lot more dirt came through after that which means I will be doing some more cleaning in the near future.<br />
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While doing this I had a rare moment of memory recall and I remembered that when I spec'ed out the tank I had the welders put a fitting on the top section so that I could drop a rod down in to measure the quantity of fluid inside. Until now I had completely forgotten about that open hole buried under the cabin sole. That would have been a nasty surprise the day before launch.<br />
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Of course I couldn't remember exactly where the fitting was and I had to resort to a few exploritory drilling operations until I located the center of the hole. I will be adding a hinged cover apparently to cover this all up at some point.<br />
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Really it isn't so bad. Of course those shavings in the above photo dropped into my tank adding to the amount of cleaing I need to do.<br />
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My initial thoughts for this season was to leave the sink drain hose extra long and simply pull up the sink to gain access underneath just until I was happy with how it was all working. The problem was that the drain hose kept kinking so today I cut out a proper access to the under sink area. The eventual plan is to add a dropleaf to the countertop which will cover this access door.<br />
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I had intended to install the engine exhaust today but ran into a few snags. The first is that I had forgotten the gasket and it took a bit of searching to find it. The second is that it is really awkward to hold it in position and get the bolts started; expecially since the fittings all need to be 'tweaked' into their final position ( I will be sure to ask, cajole, bribe, kidnap a helper next weekend). Finally, the box of cloth wrap I bought from Moyer Marine was too short. I need to purchase another roll. I will do that locally and save some money.<br />
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I have compiled a list of "things that need to be done before launch". It is a long list. I haven't set up an offical launch date yet but I was thinking about the last weekend in May until I realized that was Memorial Day weekend - a weekend I usually stay far away from the water and inebriated boat skippers. Maybe the following weekend. Certainly not the weekend after next. I should probably quit my job so I have more time for the boat...<br />
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Tick tick tick...Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4250252038731612943.post-19191003693626517282013-04-30T18:57:00.001-04:002013-04-30T18:57:32.377-04:00More useless Internet videosJust another useless Internet video cluttering up the Interwebs.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4250252038731612943.post-59115142667181119242013-04-21T18:28:00.000-04:002013-04-21T18:28:09.926-04:00Exhaust(ive) LessonsThe titles suggests I might have worked on my exhaust recently but first I would like to talk about my water system.<br />
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Every week I think I will be "done". Every week I decide "next week I will be done". So it goes.<br />
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Last weekend I went out with fresh boxes of parts and started "finishing" the water system for the galley. The first issue I noted was one I vaguely remember pondering last fall.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TT2wLlQOgRo/UXRdrFViixI/AAAAAAAACbM/8mGO6MqJ1aM/s1600/pumpholes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TT2wLlQOgRo/UXRdrFViixI/AAAAAAAACbM/8mGO6MqJ1aM/s320/pumpholes.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I had drilled two neat holes to route the freshwater supply and pump output through an original partial bulkhead under the starboard settee. As you may notice, the pump outlets are right up against the bulkhead. I did this to get the pump handle as far aft as possible and "out of the way" of normal foot traffic. I figured, I could pull the pump forward, connect the lines and slide the pump aft into position. So much for figuring.<br />
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The pump can't slide straight aft because the shaft has to go through a small slot in the front face of the settee front. Making that hole bigger is out of the question as it would look horrible to have a gaping hole in the front face of the settee. So I made a larger cutout in the bulkhead where the lines go through. I will patch it up later with something removable. No I didn't take pictures. It is ugly so you can use your imagination. <br />
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Why cover the hole at all? That is probably a good question. Moving on.<br />
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With the pump hoses routed and connected I ran the freshwater hoses to the water filter. There is not enough room to replace the filter with the housing mounted where it sits now but my thinking is that the filter will be changed once a season and for that one time a year I can unmount the housing and position it where I can pull the bottom off the housing and change the filter. Trying to find room to change the filter without moving the filter housing was giving me headaches in my small Triton interior and I just decided on the quick install and not worry too much about it.<br />
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As per usual, I didn't bring the right sized drills for cutting the holes in the countertop for the faucets so I stopped short of installing the faucets. That black hose is my drain hose for the sink. I somehow managed to not have the clamps I needed for that one either. Then I realized I had completely forgotten about the water tank venting. Hose has been ordered for that. My original idea for the venting of the water tank in the bilge was to run the vent up high somewhere in the galley area. After thinking and thinking and thinking I decided there was no way to make it look good enough for me cosmetically. Plus, if the boat ever heeled way WAY over water was going to come out of the vent line and make a bad situation that much worse. I decided to run my vent line all the way forward to the anchor locker where my V-berth water tank vents. The lines will terminate higher than the fill point so I don't have to worry about overfilling the tanks and flooding my cabin. If the boat does heel a bit too far the vent will drain into the anchor locker which drains into the bilge. Maybe I will even put a valve up there someday so in bad weather I can completely seal off the water system. Probably not though.<br />
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So, a quick look at my "service area" in front of the engine.<br />
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I feel like with some more time and planning I could make a neater job of it all but in the interest of getting it working and ready for launch this is what it is going to be. There is another valve down there that switches the supply between the two water tanks. The hose at the bottom left is the salt water supply from the pump to the faucet. The hose higher up just on the other side of the water strainer is the freshwater supply line that makes a turn and goes to the foot pump.<br />
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The "must do" job of the season was replacing the engine exhaust since it broke off in my hand last fall.<br />
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My original idea that I have mentioned many times before was to replace the crappy looking and short lived black iron piping for a nice custom stainless exhaust. I ran into two issues with this plan however. One roadblock is finding someone around me that could actually do the work to the standards I wanted. Another issue would be the cost. The more I looked into it, the more expensive it was going to be. Since cost has never been a strong factor in my boat decision making this played a minor role in my thought process but it was there so I am mentioning it. The real turning point for me was while reseaching this option I started hearing opinions about how wrapping stainless piping is a bad idea as stainless likes to "breath" or be exposed to oxygen. In a non oxygen environment stainless will corrode. I really felt I needed to wrap the piping as it is routed quite close to a lot of flammable stuff like fiberglass structure. Without the wrap I was not comfortable with the amount of heat and close proximity to the boat structure that the piping would exhibit. So, I backtracked and decided that black iron had worked before and it would continue to work again.<br />
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I did some shopping at Moyer Marine and ordered some specialized fittings. I think I could have found cheaper sources but I have found Moyer has decent quality stuff that works. They know Atomic Fours better than anyone and if they say their product works on A4's then it works on A4's. I ordered a new flange fitting that bolts to the engine exhaust manifold and a special water injection fitting that utilizes a "T" fitting in the black iron piping.<br />
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I am not terribly happy with Moyer's water injection fitting being made of bronze for the disimilar metal issue but like I said above, if they say it works, it probably does. Or maybe I will be replacing this fitting in a few years.<br />
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So as for the "exhaustive lessons" part of the blog, I have learned that in fact the exhaust piping is not 1.5" but 1.25". That meant a second trip to Home Despot to return all the fittings. I also learned that no one sells sections of piping longer than 12 inches and my riser is 18 inches high. That meant having the piping cut to length. No problem except Lowe'(est quality every time) requires that you buy a full section of piping (10 feet). I was at Lowes after not finding everything I needed at Home Despot so now I have 8 and a half feet of 1.5 inch piping that I can't do much with. And then to rub in the salt it turns out Home Despot will cut and thread what you need and you don't need to buy a minimum length. So that was my "exhaustive lessons". Well, that and the fact that I needed to go back a third time because I forgot to buy enough union fittings. I guess my counting skills are a bit rusty.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-S95TMMGgdwU/UXRlTrWwErI/AAAAAAAACcE/hyuUI_fk3gc/s1600/newexhaust.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-S95TMMGgdwU/UXRlTrWwErI/AAAAAAAACcE/hyuUI_fk3gc/s320/newexhaust.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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I need to place an order with Hamilton Marine anyway so I will get the bronze fittings to connect my engine raw water to the water injection fitting. Next week, I hope to tweak the exhaust and then wrap and install it in <em>Jenny. </em>The piping has been unsupported in the past and I should probably look into some way of securing it better and taking the strain off the engine exhaust manifold.<br />
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And that is where I am right now. Still too cold for varnish. Water and Exhaust are "nearly" done. Rigging is "nearly" done. Time to revisit the windvane and see what I need to finish that "nearly done" project. I guess I am "nearly done" which means it will be a race to get the boat launched by the end of May as usual...<br />
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Em Tasol Wantoks.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4250252038731612943.post-64798516039091636682013-04-06T20:54:00.000-04:002013-04-06T20:54:20.338-04:00Milking the mouse<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WKnoPlnn4Es/UWC-0zuphWI/AAAAAAAACaY/-oB3E_FigX4/s1600/milk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WKnoPlnn4Es/UWC-0zuphWI/AAAAAAAACaY/-oB3E_FigX4/s320/milk.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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This stuff is great. I am really glad I remembered to soak the rusty old bolts holding my exhaust to the engine last fall. It would have been a real shame to start pulling the engine now so I could drill out some broken exhaust flange bolts. Access was a little challenging but with not too much effort I was able to remove the bolts holding the exhaust to the engine and pull out the exhaust for complete replacement.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lVbnrHmNKWM/UWC_m5jZ7VI/AAAAAAAACag/2NsmL5p-W2Y/s1600/exhaust.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lVbnrHmNKWM/UWC_m5jZ7VI/AAAAAAAACag/2NsmL5p-W2Y/s320/exhaust.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The pipe failed through the short coupler fitting at the top of the "loop". The whole exhaust piping is in pretty rough shape. The plan is to find someone to make a replacement with something more durable. I realize "black pipe" from the hardware store is acceptable for some boats but I think I can do better.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WBic-L9LruU/UWC_oz7NR2I/AAAAAAAACao/Wb3_ewWsVWg/s1600/exhaust_close.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WBic-L9LruU/UWC_oz7NR2I/AAAAAAAACao/Wb3_ewWsVWg/s320/exhaust_close.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I am actually just recovering from my illness now and about two hours at the boatyard was about all I could do before going prone again. <br />
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In addition to removing the exhaust and a quick evaluation of the boat's condition in general (just fine but maybe a tad dirty and stuffy inside) I spent a few minutes at the mast making sure my new hardware fits the mast and to see how long I need to make the halyards. Now that I have the lengths I can cut and whip to fit and use the ends to make up my genoa sheets. I can do that from my sick bed.<br />
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The Garhauer blocks are going to work well. <br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qGsYxEM4Smo/UWDBx210KRI/AAAAAAAACaw/H_ywP44px2Y/s1600/blocks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qGsYxEM4Smo/UWDBx210KRI/AAAAAAAACaw/H_ywP44px2Y/s320/blocks.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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If I had been smart I would have put one of those "D" shackles with the pins through the middle inside the eye splices I made last week - capturing the "D" shackles on the halyard lines forever. But I am not smart, I am learning, so I will have to worry about dropping and losing the shackle everytime I disconnect the sail from the halyard. Thankfully, that won't be too often but I know I will forever be thinking I could have done it better...<br />
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Oh well.<br />
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...and access to <em>Jenny</em> has greatly improved in the past week too. I can actually get to her now without requring any technical climbing gear.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sabZu9U1EbA/UWDCpV2FmeI/AAAAAAAACa4/qMoOPDfLpMc/s1600/access.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sabZu9U1EbA/UWDCpV2FmeI/AAAAAAAACa4/qMoOPDfLpMc/s320/access.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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That's the update :)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4250252038731612943.post-33092224864303091462013-03-31T17:48:00.000-04:002013-03-31T17:48:17.395-04:00Lines and SplicingLast week was a bust boatwise with other social obligations.<br />
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This week, I settled down with some new friends, a special type of virus that made standing up rather cumbersome.<br />
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But, since I am not the guy to complain or sit around and cry (yeah...) I used my downtime to figure out how to splice double braided line.<br />
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Somehow, when I was looking into replacing my running rigging I wasn't thinking it was going to be so expensive. Its just rope right?<br />
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Well, just rope and some handrails which hit me for something over $600. That and the mooring rental fee blew my boat budget for the next month or so. Good thing for me I don't pay attention to the money that goes towards <em>Jenny. </em>As the wise man says, "what the boat wants, the boat gets"...<br />
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All the lines are Sta Set from New England Ropes. Red for main halyard, (Whoohoo! The meathooks coming off the wire to rope halyard were really getting annoying) blue for main jib halyard on the roller furlter plus jib sheets, green for the secondary jib halyard - for the assymetrical spinnaker mostly. The halyards are all 7/16 line - for comfort on the hands not needed strength. There is also some 1/4 inch green for the assymetrical for those light air days. The old 7/16 sheets really pull the genoa down. I didn't replace the main sheet this year just because it looks fine (enough) and I figured I spent enough already.<br />
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Since I was lazy and procrasinated too long I had to learn to splice the eyes in the double braided line myself. It wasn't too hard. Then again, I left a bit of room for improvement, but overall I am happy with the results. I tried to read how to splice the eyes but reading just didn't make sense to me. After reviewing a couple of videos I found this one to work quite well.<br />
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<span style="color: blue;">Well, turns out Google wants me to link to one of their sponsored pages and is giving me a hard time linking to the video I want so here is the link if you are interested.</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UghIS9xdiDw">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UghIS9xdiDw</a><br />
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<span style="color: blue;">(I am really starting to hate Google frankly)</span><br />
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I made the left one first and was reasonably happy with it. The green was my second attempt and I was feeling pretty good about it. I made the red one last and... well I decided to stop for the day. It is plenty strong but looks a little fugly. Good thing it is so high up where no one can see it.<br />
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Of course I hadn't spent enough yet this month so this week I ordered two blocks (Garhauer) for the jib halyards as the one original was really really decrepid looking and now I am rigged for two jibs so I needed another one anyway. I ordered new shackles for all three halyards too. <em>Jenny</em> currently has a mismash of shackles none in particularly good condition.<br />
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At over $120 a piece I decided my old snap shackles for the jib sheets look pretty good so I will be re-using them. I need to cut the lines to length and splice the snap shackles to the jib sheets and the rigging will be al set.<br />
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Maybe next week I will even go to the boatyard...<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4250252038731612943.post-65738043527871532622013-03-17T10:49:00.002-04:002013-03-17T10:50:37.478-04:00Spring ThawNo posts in four months is despiccable and no excuses are good enough to justify the laziness.<br />
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Except maybe that nothing has happened with <em>Jenny</em> so there was nothing to blog about.<br />
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The week after the last blog post we had a storm come through and winter hasn't stopped since. <br />
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You are not missing much. As I have found I spend more days building a winter cover that I can work in than I actually spend using it I haven't found it productive to make a workable winter cover. <br />
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This new yard also has some added complications.<br />
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Just getting access to the boat is difficult enough. Add a little cold and snow and I find it is just better to concentrate on something else and not burn out trying to fight a losing battle. With no boat work in recent memory I am finding myself refreshed and very anxious to get back to it which is something good to say about a "one year boat project" that is going on eight years now...<br />
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So, I have decided to take a suggestion given to me by a friend which is to make my own running rigging instead of having it made. I am slightly scared of braided line but I think if I own a boat with braided line I should know how to do basic stuff like make a halyard and sheet.<br />
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When looking for braided lines I was surprised at how much the prices varied. I found 7/16 sta set x going anywhere from $1.15 a foot to 2.40 a foot. In case you can't guess Worst Marine sells it for $2.40... I could probably continue shopping around and maybe even get a better price but I like Hamilton Marine and find they are good to work with and have generally good pricing so rather than "waste" a week humming and hawing I ordered some line and fids. I also went on Youtube and found some videos on splicing braided line (and a few more about cats but that is another story). Funny, even after watching the videos I still can't quite picture how to splice braided line. I think I just have to do it. It can't be that difficult can it?<br />
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So, finalizing the rigging has always been part of this year's goals. That should be do-able. Standing rigging is almost new. Running rigging while functioning is old old old so that will be replaced. I will finish installing the wind vane maybe leaving the final details of rigging it up until after the boat launch. Varnish, as always will be a challenge. I have little hope of getting enough good weather and time to do all of it befoe launch which should happen around the end of May. I still need heated indoor storage so I can start varnishing in February.<br />
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And speaking of varnish, I am going to add to my list of stuff that needs varnish and I ordered some handrails. Having guests on <em>Jenny</em> really showed me that I need these basic things even though I have become used to not having them. I like sailing with friends, I do not like fishing friends out of the water.<br />
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Otherwise, I hope to finish the freshwater system that was <em>almost</em> finished last fall. Running water inside the boat is going to be SO much fun I can hardly wait. The stove is ready for install after some varnish on the stove cabinet so that might happen. Who are we kidding? That might get done on the mooring this summer. By the way, I will be back in Salem harbor on a rented mooring again.<br />
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And most important, I need to replace the engine exhaust. I think I mentioned that I found a weak spot and in my investigating managed to rip the iron piping in half so I plan on looking for someone this week that can make me a nice stainless steel replacement. Really, the exhaust is the only thing that can hold up my launch. The rest is just a bunch of nice-to-haves but after so many years I really want to see those nice-to-haves become what-took-me-so-longs. <br />
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Fingers crossed. Technically boat launch is eight days away which means one dasy of productivity a week over eight weeks. One week... I have one week. <br />
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Oh boy...<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4250252038731612943.post-17147716518492347122012-11-18T20:02:00.000-05:002012-11-18T20:02:21.532-05:00Plumbing the Depths...I really need to get a scrub brush into the bilge sometime. Or a pressure washer to get into all the crevices. I have cleaned a time or two down in the bilge but it never really gets completely 'clean'. I was thinking about that today as I was getting the plumbing hooked up.<br />
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Two foot pumps in position. <br />
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And just to see how close they are to the steps here is a picture looking straight down on the pump levers.<br />
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Yeah. Not perfectly aligned. Oh well. Maybe I set them slightly off center to compensate for the different standing angles that are created by the user using opposite feet for each pump. Or maybe I just goofed a bit.<br />
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My last order of plumbing supplies was delayed so I couldn't move forward on the freshwater system. I was able to bring the saltwater galley supply closer to be finished. Funnily enough, I ordered the hoses I thought I needed only to find out later that I already had the hoses in stock for the past two years or so. Now I have plenty of hose.<br />
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So, I repositioned the strainer last week and this week I installed new hoses to replace all the hose that I disturbed. I also added in the 'T' fitting to provide salt water to the foot pump on the port side. I fought with the half inch hose for about 20 minutes, first trying to stretch it to fit the barbed fitting, then heating it (with the utility light used to light up the cabin) and finally by making a quick run to the hardware store for some silicone spray. After all this I realized that in the catalog the hose fitting was described as fitting 1/2 inch or 5/8 inch hose. I figured they meant that it is a little tight for 1/2 inch and a little loose for 5/8. As it happens, the fitting is actually stepped so that the 1/2 inch hose connects on the outer end and a 5/8 inch hose slides up further on the fitting to the bigger section. That was a 'duh' kind of moment. <br />
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I am not terribly happy with this fitting because I have been attempting to follow the practice of putting two hose clamps on every hose connection below the waterline. In this particular case, there isn't enough room on the fitting for two clamps. I am not terribly worried. Those AWAB clamps are great and none of them have shown any signs of getting old or failing. As a matter of fact, the hose seems to weld itself to the fitting long before I notice any corrosion on the clamps so even without clamps I don't think the hose would leak. It still isn't how I wanted to do it however.<br />
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Turns out I was tricked and a lot of the hose clamps I have on the shelf are not the superior AWAB brand but common and questionable hose clamps from ... somewhere else so I didn't finalize all the connections. I did run the lines to the saltwater foot pump though.<br />
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It would have been nice of the Whale brand pumps to label the inlet and outlets of their pumps. I will have to bring some water next week so I can do a test pump and figure out which is which.<br />
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I will probably curse myself later for positioning the starboard freshwater pump so close to the aft edge of the storage locker.<br />
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The hose fittings reach into the bulkhead and I will have to attach the hoses and then slide the pump into position afterwards. That is why I had to make the holes in an oval shape.<br />
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I spent some time researching filtration systems for the freshwater supply. I was looking at a few boat/rv systems but I wasn't happy about how they hooked into the system. They all had special faucets and used a clamp fitting that clamped around the supply and cut into the supply hose to get to the supply. It got complicated figuring out the hardware I would need to set it up simply, plus they were rather pricey at around $100-$150 so in the end I went to Home Despot and picked up a GE brand filter with fittings for about $35. Buying from Home Despot also means getting replacement filters should be as easy as visiting my local hardware store rather than having to order from marine specialty houses. <br />
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Oh. I almost forgot. I found this bronze cowl on sale by a former Triton owner. I am going to install the cowl on the aft deck port side to ventilate under the cockpit. It won't match my low profile cowl on the starboard side but any cowl is better than no cowl and I will keep looking. The cowl is well used but in decent condition.<br />
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I think I am going to position the filter under the sink right about...<br />
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...there but I am not 100% sure yet.<br />
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It is about time I cut an access door in the front panel to gain access under the sink. <br />
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I just need my latest plumbing supply order to come in plus another box or two of AWAB clamps to get salt and freshwater to the sink. <br />
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As long as I don't eat too much at Thanksgiving this week I just might have a working water supply next weekend. No more leaning over the side of the boat to wash my dishes. <br />
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That will be nice...<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4250252038731612943.post-62854200849722297862012-11-11T18:41:00.000-05:002012-11-11T18:41:06.179-05:00Pump it upLast weekend was a bust but this weekend I managed to get to the boatyard for a few hours.<br />
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Firstly, I spent some time cleaning up leaves that had accumulated on deck over the past month or so. The last time I was working on the boat was all about getting her covered before the hurricane. I didn't take the time to clean her first. I fixed that.<br />
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Then on to more interesting thing; like water pumps for the galley.<br />
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The tools of the week that I forgot to bring were some nice sharp wood chisels. I had a rough chisel that I don't care about for bashing old fiberglass and whatever and that is all I had to make the slots for the pump arm. I used the dull chisel long enough to make sure the pump was going to work . The second pump will be mounted opposite the one here. I started making the slot but didn't finish it.<br />
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This is ugly I know, I didn't clean the locker before I started and it had some old... stuff... that needs to be cleaned and probably over painted. This is looking down through the settee locker lid. There is just enough room at the aft end (top of photo) to connect the supply and output hoses through the bulkhead/panel that separates the under areas between the galley and settee.<br />
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The sink drain was easy. I had a seacock underneath the sink area that I used for the engine raw water intake for my first sailing season. I picked up a lot of crud from that location (had to clean out the strainer every few hours) so I moved the engine raw water intake lower down and on the other side of the keel. This left an unused seacock right under the sink so I put it to good use. I just needed to change the tail fitting from an angled one to a straight one. Yeah, that little hole has accumulated a lot of grinding dust and gunk. Add it to my cleaning list...<br />
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I decided to try taking my raw water for the galley off of the engine raw water supply. Other people I know have done this with no regrets and it looked to be the easiest solution. I don't expect to need raw water in the galley any time I am running the engine so I think I am okay. If not I will make my 'service' area even more cluttered with another seacock later.<br />
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Here is how the area looked before I started. Yes. Messy. Anyone noticing a trend here?...<br />
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There is the engine raw water strainer on the left (red antifreeze liquid inside the clear strainer). The engine fuel filter is on the forward edge (bottom of photo) with the electric fuel pump right next to it. Coolant overflow tank is on the right side of the photo. The hoses... never mind.. it is getting crowded there...<br />
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So my first idea was to move the raw water strainer to the forward end of the area opening up that whole side (left on the photo).<br />
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Nope. Clearly that wasn't going to work. The strainer takes more space than I thought.<br />
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Instead I shifted the strainer forward leaving room for the 'T' fitting that splits the supply between the engine raw water pump and the raw water galley pump. Those hoses in the photo are just to help line things up. The original hoses were frozen on so I cut them off. New hose is always a good idea anyway. They are cheap enough. The input hose to the strainer was too short and will be replaced too.<br />
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Because I had to change plans on the raw water system I didn't have enough fittings to complete the fresh water supply. Truthfully, I had a bone head moment and ordered a normal 'T' fitting to combine the two fresh water tanks rather than a proper valve so I can select between the two. I ordered the valve and the extra fittings I need to finish the project. The hoses are standing by waiting for final cutting and fitting into position.<br />
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I didn't bring the right sized drill for the galley faucets so I didn't install them either. Just basic telescoping faucets for now.<br />
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Believe it or not I also did some general clean up inside and that is where I left off for today. Hopefully, a working water system next weekend. Oh... maybe not.... I just remembered that I want to put a filtration system into the freshwater side and I haven't even looked into that yet. Those nice new custom made water tanks have been sitting in the boat for ... maybe four years now(!?) and I am sure a lot of dust has managed to get inside them. I can use the access panels to clean them but I am willing to bet there will be a lot of gunk to filter out for the first few tank fills. I want the filtration system for that and for those dodgy water supplies one occasionally stumbles across while out cruising. <br />
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And that is it. I have a lot of loose ends on the galley at the moment and hopefully I will be tightening it all up soon.<br />
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Spring cruising season is coming soon. Realistically what?.. ten weekends maybe? What with holidays, bad weather, family plans, taking half the winter away from production.? I should hire myself a whip cracker...Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4250252038731612943.post-29177138577911172202012-10-31T10:02:00.000-04:002012-10-31T10:02:30.887-04:00'nick of timeHurricane Sandy just flew past and <em>Jenny</em> was put to bed just in the nick of time.<br />
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The tarp was tied down just as the rains started. We had some strong winds but the cover survived just fine. This new boatyard is a 'normal' yard where the boats are absolutely crammed in. I miss my old yard already.<br />
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Boats are buried three rows deep and they are still coming in. Good thing for me I am not looking for an early launch as I am back in the first row against the outer fence. Too many generic looking power boats around <em>Jenny</em> for my liking to. Oh well. It is only for this season.<br />
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This month has been mostly about working on other-peoples-boats. There was a natural convergence of my recent change of status to 'unemployed' and the needs of a few friends of mine hustling to get work done on their boats before they headed south for the winter. I guess it was a good thing but <em>Jenny </em>was neglected this month.<br />
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Now with my friends safely along their way I shouldn't have many distractions until I find other gainful employment again.<br />
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I did manage to get the stove cabinet finished and ready for varnish. Waiting for varnishing weather or a place to varnish in an indoor environment is holding that project up.The final panels that go behind the galley countertop are cut and ready for varnish as well.<br />
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The boat cover is pretty much the same as what I had last year. A pair of tripods to support a ridgepole. Two side braces at the front edge of the cockpit and slats every three feet to keep the tarp from sagging too much. I assembled the same frame around the bottom to tie the tarp down with. It is a little tight for working inside but it was quick and easy and works. It passed the hurricane Sandy test just fine.<br />
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I have a box full of plumbing fittings for the sink and fresh water systems so I think that will be my next focus. I also need to figure out how to mount my propane tanks. I am thinking of hanging them off of the windvane. I need to check out what sort of clamps and hardware I can find for that. <br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4250252038731612943.post-13842714423933349852012-10-02T19:05:00.001-04:002012-10-02T19:05:25.833-04:00If the first one is good...... then the second one will be even better.<br />
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Being admittedly dimensionally challenged. I didn't have a perfect plan in my head when I started building the stovetop 'cabinet'. I just figured it out as I was going along. In retrospect. I probably would have been better served if I had made a fully functional mockup because I ran into a snag just before completing the project.<br />
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The stovetop has a non moveable fitting for the propane line at the side of the unit.<br />
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When I built the tight fitting pieces that the stove rests upon I didn't take that little fitting into consideration.<br />
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My initial solution was to make a cut out to allow for the fiting.<br />
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The stopping point came when I realized I had no idea how to make the cabinet blend into the surrounding structure without this awkward hole and exposed propane line. It was just ugly.<br />
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So, the solution was to do it over again and this time shift the stove outboard an inch to accomodate the fitting. If I had used different joinery I might have been able to take the pieces apart and just replace the end but since I used a generous supply of waterproof glue on all the joints there was no way it was going to come apart easily. The easiest and best solution was to do it over again.<br />
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So now I have version two. One thought I had was to fill the gap on the left end with a capping piece that would also go over the edge of the stove and lock that end down. Then I realized the flame from the stove was going to run right past that cap and setting the cabinet on fire probably wouldn't result in anything good. Instead, I glued a filler piece into the space on the left hand side.<br />
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Other boat activities involved doing a thorough review of what was left before I could hook up the water tanks to the pumps and the pumps to the faucet and sink drain overboard. I have a bunch of bits and pieces to order for that but the actually installation <em>should</em> go easily enough. At first I was planning on putting salt and fresh water pumps on the starboard side which is the side with the sink. This puts the forward most foot pump lever in a great location for snagging an ankle so I have decided to move one of the pumps to the port side opposite the other. This way both pump levers are just forward of the first step and almost underneath the step where it is much less likely to cause harm. My only question is which side should pump which water source; salt or fresh. Minor details I know.<br />
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In order to install the foot pumps I made a template with some left over stock from my first failed attempt at an engine instrument panel. <br />
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The three mounting holes are non concentric (scattered around) and the template also allows me to cut the hole for the level acurately.<br />
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And that's it. As always, I had intentions of getting more done but with my new found lack of employment all my local friends have been asking me to help them with various projects. Looking for my next big career also takes a fair bit of time out of my schedule. The weather has also been iffy. On that note, I think a winter cover is moving up the priority list. I really want to finish the interior panels so I can spend the winter making storage bins around the galley area. That could happen over a weekend plus a few days of varnishing. <br />
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It is always good to have a plan.<br />
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Until next time, keep the dirty side down. ;-)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4250252038731612943.post-32924655905772999972012-09-16T15:11:00.000-04:002012-09-16T15:11:33.695-04:00Dimensionally challengedI think that is it. I am dimensionally challenged. <br />
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I am starting to settle into the new lack of work routine and carving out some time for the boat amidst my job searching. Most of my time has been spent fiddling with the stove top frame. It has proven more time consuming that I imagined. What a surprise...<br />
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Oops, that doesn't quite fit. Oops, that piece is going to interfere there, Oops, if I set that screw there I will have no room for that other screw there... You know the drill. Despite my incompetance, the project has been moving forward.<br />
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Just before I found out I had no job and no money I had ordered a pocket hole jig made by Kreg. It is really nice. I don't think the strength of the angled screw joints are as strong as the advertising suggests but they are adequate for the application and dead simple to do well.<br />
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To use the jig, you simply clamp one piece of wood into the blue jig thing in one quick motion. Then you drill down the alignment holes using the special step drill until the depth collar bottoms out. There is a little gauge on the side of the blue clampy thing that sets up the collar to the correct position. Then you screw the pieces together permamently.<br />
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I am a little proud of myself for inventing another jig that probably everyone else in the world already knows about.<br />
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My 'invention' is just a piece of scrap plywood with two pieces of wood screwed in at a precise 90 degree angle. To make nice square corner joints you simply butt the pieces together and against the wood guides, clamp then down if you want, and screw then together. Perfect 90 angle every time.<br />
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When you are done the joints look like this. Pegs or mortise in tenon would obviously be stronger but for quick and easy this method seems to work just fine. <br />
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At this point, the stove top frame looks like this in the boat.<br />
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The back edge will be bolted to the plywood panel behind. The inside face against the removable steps will have a recessed piece of cherry plywood to fill in the hole. There is a small gap on the outboard edge that I am going to leave for now and let the boat tell me how to fill it in. I am still building in storage and that little detail is up in the air. The front legs will be screwed in as well. <br />
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One issue I ran into was that the frame sits too far forward and interferes with the cabinet door on the settee back. It just can't be helped. I am either going to modify that door or secure it and leave it as a fake door with a top opening or something. To be determined... I can't make the frame any smaller because the stove top just barely fits in as it is. I guess I measured the stove top and figured it would fit forgetting that the frame takes up some space too. I did mention I was dimensionally challenged didn't I ?<br />
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At this point, the frame needs some sanding, maybe some finish work, the inside panel cut and be secured in place. The last detail will be the connection to the gas line. There is a notch on the back inside edge of the frame for the fitting, one of those 'oop's moments, and I am not 100% sure there will be room for a for a fitting to connect the gas line. One way or the other I will make it work but the final solution isn't quite there yet. <br />
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Other than that, I have been pretty much taking inventory of what needs to happen and setting up in my new surroundings. There are oak trees behind the boat and they have already started shedding leaves and plugging up my cockpit drain scuppers. I will have to cover the boat soon so that I can free myself from that annoyance. I have created a list that keeps growing but the details are boring and I never seem to do all that I intend anyway so there isn't much point in listing it all here. Its all subject to change.<br />
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And that is it. I have had a few curve balls thrown at me and the project has faltered a bit but progress keeps happening which is good. I am getting pretty close to a working stove and draining sink. Water pumps and faucets aren't far behind. The weather is good and I have more free time than I expected. Pretty good deal I would say.<br />
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Em tasol wantoks ;-)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4250252038731612943.post-54784324634449778182012-09-04T12:43:00.001-04:002012-09-04T12:43:24.973-04:00Lost and FoundSo I went to the boatyard last weekend and found...<br />
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...an empty spot where <em>Jenny</em> used to be.<br />
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A quick drive over the bridge into Salisbury ...<br />
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... and I found this familiar looking nose peeking out.<br />
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So two weeks ago Friday I got a letter telling me the boat yard had been sold and recomending a new boat yard nearby. If I chose that boatyard the move would be paid for by the current yard being sold.<br />
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I did some checking around again over the weekend and had some past offers recinded unfortunately so the best course of action seemed to be to take the offer of a free move and simply move over to the other side of the river; at least for this coming season.<br />
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I am glad it didn't take long to make my decision because the following Monday, I got a call asking if I had made a decision to move and could they move <em>Jenny </em><strong>TODAY.</strong> Seemed a little fast so I stalled them for a day while I cleaned and straightened the boat in preparation for the move and cleaned around under the keel. I hauled a lot of stuff out to be tossed in the back of my garage...<br />
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It is amazing how that stuff just piles up.<br />
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So the move is done. I have barely introduced myself at the new yard and haven't started any work there because they seemed quite eager to have full payment up front and I wasn't expecting to pay that bill for a few months. The old yard usually asked for a deposit with the remainder before Christmas. <br />
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And just to make life that much more interesting, my current employer decided they didn't need the help any more and so I found myself unemployed with no advance warning. That little disruption has messed up my routine a bit too. Last time I found myself in this situation I spent the spring and summer prepping <em>Jenny</em> for paint which worked out well except when I did start looking for new work I found a big economic depression in my way which meant I was under employed for much longer than expected. While I would like to sit back, collect unemployment checks and fit out the boat for the next few months, my past experience suggests I should get right to work getting right to work.<br />
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Now that I am in the routine of looking for regular employment and doing the self employed thing on and off I should be able to get back to the REAL work of taking care of the 'love of my life' as <em>Jenny</em> as sometimes been referred to as.<br />
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I attempted to continue with the stove cabinetry this past weekend only to realize I had forgotten some of my measurements so I am off to the yard later today to get that going again and kick the whole project into gear again.<br />
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Lately this blog has turned into a mess of non productivity and excuses. I am trying to change that. The new cherry stock I bought last week looks great. I should have it all cut up in no time :-)<br />
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Laters Taters, ;-)<br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0