SHIP'S LOG: WEDNESDAY
Wednesday I ended up 110 feet from the water's edge. The boat yard crew never quite got the batteries out of the boat and so that they wouldn't invalidate the contract, the moved the whole boat lock, stock and batteries to the nearest 30amp out let and plugged her in. They did all the things to the batteries that they were obligated to do and ABISHAG hummed as her batteries filled.
Wednesday also saw the transfer of the anchors. Moved one of the plow anchors and replaced it with a danforth style anchor. It is not important that you necessarily know the difference between the two, suffice it to say that with two different anchors I have improved my hold capabilities over different bottoms . . . less chance that I will mess up again. So it is a good thing.
Finding a good place for the second plow anchor proved fruitless so now it rest, at least temporally atop the deck house aft of the mast, secured to the handrail. Not the best place, but the best I could come up with on the spot. Another may present itself later.
Aside from little things like whipping some lines, and cleaning and stowing, everything else awaits the splash awaits the splashing of the boat.
THURSDAY
Three o'clock in the morning comes awfully bloody early!Three O'clock? Yes! In order to be at the boatyard in Black Rock Harbor by 7 AM, I had to give myself a good 2 1/2 hours to make the 108 mile trip. Taking in to account the vagaries of traffic (and accidents) at that time of the morning, and giving myself time for my regular morning ablutions, four hours seemed about right. I ended up getting to Captains Cove Seaport at 6:30AM , which gave me sufficient time to unplug the boat . . the batteries were fine . . . .check the engine oil and take a short nap before paying the final yard bill . . .almost 2 marine units. ABISHAG splashed at 7:40Am and was nestled in her comfy transient slip by 8AM. The engine ran like a champ, the water stayed outside the boat, she went where she was steered and though extremely short, the first trip was a rousing success.
I spent a few hours checking all the systems. they all worked excepted for the GPS unit in the nav station. For some reason the antenna shorted and despite following the very detailed instructions from the tech people at Garmin, no fix could be found. The unit worked, it just didn't receive via the antenna and so a new one must be purchased (at a mere $43).
Bending on the sails was more of a project, something akin to herding cats. Thanks goodness there was little in the way of wind, but the little there was was enough to make it a frustrating pain in the butt. All the sails went on and furled like there were supposed to, though I did catch the main on something a put a small tear in it along a seam. The sail is old and had it been newer, it probably would not have torn. I am going to have to look into purchasing a new one ( Oh, will the expense never end! ! ! ) But everything that can be done, short of hauling down all the stuff I took off when the boat went on the hard, has been done. The trip to New London awaits only the rising of the sun on the morrow.
CAPTAIN'S PERSONAL LOG:
I couldn't believe how nervous I was an the ABISHAG went into the water. Paranoia reigned supreme. Would the engine start? Would she take on water from somewhere? Would all the wiring and plumbing that was done hold up? The quarter mile trip from the boat launch to the transient slip went like a breeze. It was as if I had only helmed the boat yesterday. The again, I hadn't done such a great job yesterday! ! ! !Still it was like the old saw about riding a bike. It was quite indescribable to express what it felt like making that short trip. At the marker in the channel, a left turn led to the slips and a right turn led to the Sound, and it was hard not to make the right turn . . . . though the boat yard crew guy who was with me might have raised an objection or two. Getting the sails on and the systems checked to longer than necessary as I enjoyed just being on the water again. I even took a short but well deserved nap to celebrate. Tomorrow should be great, come rain or come shine.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
JULY 16th, 2009 . . . .7AM ! ! ! ! !
SHIP'S LOG:
Well, finally, summer will begin . . . in July, no less. it is not the calender summer start date but the date when ABISHAG makes her entry into the water. Actually, her second entry. Last week, she got he bottom wet only to have a thru-hull hose give way and so was immediately pulled and store on land again. It is a lot easier to replace the hose that split ( after making sure it was the hose and not the thru-hull itself that let go) on land than in the water. Then it became a matter of scheduling . . when the yard had the time to splash her again. It turned out to be this Thursday at 7AM! ! ! !
The weather Thursday is not expected to lend itself to a cruise up the Sound to New London which isn't a bad thing as I need a day to get the boat ready. I need to bend on the sails and make sure all the furlers work. this is something you can't do when the boat is on the hard, especially when she is 10 feet in the air. It wouldn't take much of a breeze to topple her off the stand and onto her side on the ground. I also need to tune the rig, a necessary step in keeping it upright and on the boat. Again it is a task that needs to be done while the boat is in the water. It allows the hull to take the proper shape and the masts to sit plumb.
Thursday will also be the time to run the engine and make sure all of the systems are up and running - charger, radios, GPS, and the like. I do not anticipate any problems but then again . . .
on the way home from Bridgeport, I was running the gauntlet that is I-95 through New Haven, when the guy in front of me slammed on his brakes because the guy in front of him slammed on his brakes because the guy in front of him slammed on his brakes for some unknown reason and so I did the same. Unfortunately, we all slid together bumper-to-bumper-to-bumper-to-bumper . . . . at less than 5mph as no one's airbag deployed. Do to the fact that I was driving the P.O.S. Hundyai, I got the worst of it. I slid into a Volvo which is like hitting a brick wall. It was an exciting adventure in which no one was hurt though the first guy, the guy in the BMW did cry a lot. The state police were very efficient and the whole thing took about 1 1/2 hours to wrap up. It was just one of those things that happen and the insurance companies will sort it out. I just didn't need it . . . . .Then there was the lost filling but that's an entirely different story.
CAPTIAN'S PERSONAL LOG:
I am desperately trying to figure out the point that God is trying to get across. It has taken forever to get ABISHAG ready but the weather has been crappy. And what's with the car accident just as she's ready to go into the water. I am really looking forward to sailing as I need the time to think.
Well, finally, summer will begin . . . in July, no less. it is not the calender summer start date but the date when ABISHAG makes her entry into the water. Actually, her second entry. Last week, she got he bottom wet only to have a thru-hull hose give way and so was immediately pulled and store on land again. It is a lot easier to replace the hose that split ( after making sure it was the hose and not the thru-hull itself that let go) on land than in the water. Then it became a matter of scheduling . . when the yard had the time to splash her again. It turned out to be this Thursday at 7AM! ! ! !
The weather Thursday is not expected to lend itself to a cruise up the Sound to New London which isn't a bad thing as I need a day to get the boat ready. I need to bend on the sails and make sure all the furlers work. this is something you can't do when the boat is on the hard, especially when she is 10 feet in the air. It wouldn't take much of a breeze to topple her off the stand and onto her side on the ground. I also need to tune the rig, a necessary step in keeping it upright and on the boat. Again it is a task that needs to be done while the boat is in the water. It allows the hull to take the proper shape and the masts to sit plumb.
Thursday will also be the time to run the engine and make sure all of the systems are up and running - charger, radios, GPS, and the like. I do not anticipate any problems but then again . . .
on the way home from Bridgeport, I was running the gauntlet that is I-95 through New Haven, when the guy in front of me slammed on his brakes because the guy in front of him slammed on his brakes because the guy in front of him slammed on his brakes for some unknown reason and so I did the same. Unfortunately, we all slid together bumper-to-bumper-to-bumper-to-bumper . . . . at less than 5mph as no one's airbag deployed. Do to the fact that I was driving the P.O.S. Hundyai, I got the worst of it. I slid into a Volvo which is like hitting a brick wall. It was an exciting adventure in which no one was hurt though the first guy, the guy in the BMW did cry a lot. The state police were very efficient and the whole thing took about 1 1/2 hours to wrap up. It was just one of those things that happen and the insurance companies will sort it out. I just didn't need it . . . . .Then there was the lost filling but that's an entirely different story.
CAPTIAN'S PERSONAL LOG:
I am desperately trying to figure out the point that God is trying to get across. It has taken forever to get ABISHAG ready but the weather has been crappy. And what's with the car accident just as she's ready to go into the water. I am really looking forward to sailing as I need the time to think.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
For Want Of A Nail, A Shoe Was Lost . . . . .
SHIPS LOG:
And for want of a shoe, a horse was lost, and for want of a horse, the battle was lost . . . In my case, it was a little, little plastic piece that goes on the engine. It connects the cooling system from engine to cooler, allowing the engine to run cool and not burn up. Now it is a sturdy piece of plastic but it is still plastic and last year, it split. Of course, no replacement could be found as it is at least 10 years old and is from an English Ford diesel engine modified for use in a marine environment. Ford of America wants nothing to do with it as it is English, not American, and is 10 years old. And the English, well last summer it took weeks before they decided to acknowledge that the part was even theirs and they would have to get back to us if they could find one. So the yard just epoxied the bloody thing together and it has worked just fine.
When my adventure on the hard in Black Rock Harbor began, the yard crew didn't want to take responsibility for winterizing the engine the engine once they saw the epoxy patch job. For some reason, it was pick, a most unmanly color for an marine engine part repair. Eventually they did and the thing work just fine and spent the winter snoozing contentedly.
I had a friend of mine who is an automobile mechanic down at the boat to look at the engine and he saw the part, removed it, and vowed that he could get a replacement. That was some months(!) ago and he has had to admit defeat. He is hopeful that a friend can manufacture a copy of the part in aluminum and hopefully he will, but he has the part and I don't. I'll get it back sometime this week and either install the new or re-install the old. And then be off on the first nice day next week . . .that is any day that doesn't threaten thunderstorms in the Sound. It is bad enough sailing in the rain but thunder storms are down right dangerous! ! !
I have come up with a rather innovative storage idea for the tools. Currently, most of my tools are in a set of plastic draws in a plastic file cabinet. There really is no space where the cabinet is both out of the way and at the same time easily accessible. I came up with the idea of 2"PVC pipe. Affixed to the wall on the side of the engine housing, each pipe holds one type of tool - one for flat head screwdrivers, one for Philips head, one for metric wrenches, one for standard wrenches and the like. There will be some tools that won't fit, such as pipe wrenches, hammers, hack saws, and such large, oddly shaped tools, but these are already stored in a "tool box" so it really won't matter. the best thing is that the pipe storage arrangement will allow me to ditch the file draw cabinet and free up the passageway aft. It remains to be seen what the down side of such an arrangement will be but right now, it looks good, if just a little weird.
CAPTAIN'S PERSONAL LOG:
I paid off the Roxburgh's for the fiberglass work and I am all square with the yard. Now ABISHAG needs only to be splashed and a day for fitting out (bending on sails - which can't be done when your boat is 10 feet in the air. A puff of wind and over she goes . . . not a good thing when you don't have insurance yet - restocking the "stuff take off ", etc) and I will be off to New London. And then? ? ? ? well, I'll just have to see. But just to be afloat, even if just on the mooring will be a heck of an improvement. Boy, am I looking forward to that! ! ! ! ! !
And for want of a shoe, a horse was lost, and for want of a horse, the battle was lost . . . In my case, it was a little, little plastic piece that goes on the engine. It connects the cooling system from engine to cooler, allowing the engine to run cool and not burn up. Now it is a sturdy piece of plastic but it is still plastic and last year, it split. Of course, no replacement could be found as it is at least 10 years old and is from an English Ford diesel engine modified for use in a marine environment. Ford of America wants nothing to do with it as it is English, not American, and is 10 years old. And the English, well last summer it took weeks before they decided to acknowledge that the part was even theirs and they would have to get back to us if they could find one. So the yard just epoxied the bloody thing together and it has worked just fine.
When my adventure on the hard in Black Rock Harbor began, the yard crew didn't want to take responsibility for winterizing the engine the engine once they saw the epoxy patch job. For some reason, it was pick, a most unmanly color for an marine engine part repair. Eventually they did and the thing work just fine and spent the winter snoozing contentedly.
I had a friend of mine who is an automobile mechanic down at the boat to look at the engine and he saw the part, removed it, and vowed that he could get a replacement. That was some months(!) ago and he has had to admit defeat. He is hopeful that a friend can manufacture a copy of the part in aluminum and hopefully he will, but he has the part and I don't. I'll get it back sometime this week and either install the new or re-install the old. And then be off on the first nice day next week . . .that is any day that doesn't threaten thunderstorms in the Sound. It is bad enough sailing in the rain but thunder storms are down right dangerous! ! !
I have come up with a rather innovative storage idea for the tools. Currently, most of my tools are in a set of plastic draws in a plastic file cabinet. There really is no space where the cabinet is both out of the way and at the same time easily accessible. I came up with the idea of 2"PVC pipe. Affixed to the wall on the side of the engine housing, each pipe holds one type of tool - one for flat head screwdrivers, one for Philips head, one for metric wrenches, one for standard wrenches and the like. There will be some tools that won't fit, such as pipe wrenches, hammers, hack saws, and such large, oddly shaped tools, but these are already stored in a "tool box" so it really won't matter. the best thing is that the pipe storage arrangement will allow me to ditch the file draw cabinet and free up the passageway aft. It remains to be seen what the down side of such an arrangement will be but right now, it looks good, if just a little weird.
CAPTAIN'S PERSONAL LOG:
I paid off the Roxburgh's for the fiberglass work and I am all square with the yard. Now ABISHAG needs only to be splashed and a day for fitting out (bending on sails - which can't be done when your boat is 10 feet in the air. A puff of wind and over she goes . . . not a good thing when you don't have insurance yet - restocking the "stuff take off ", etc) and I will be off to New London. And then? ? ? ? well, I'll just have to see. But just to be afloat, even if just on the mooring will be a heck of an improvement. Boy, am I looking forward to that! ! ! ! ! !
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
. . . . And Then My Phone Blew UP ! ! ! ! !
SHIP'S LOG:
I have really taken quite a shine to how God is reminding me of who is in charge. The latest little reminder came on Father's Day when my cell phone rang and then the battery just fryed itself and blew up . . . sort of. I remember hearing that some of the batteries in lap tops and cell phones did such things but it is the first time I have ever had any personal experience with such a thing. It was exciting to say the least . . . .and strangely being "out of touch" was an uncomfortable feeling. It is amazing how quickly we can get used to these wonderful electronic leashes and how loathe we are to be without them. Now I have a new one. I wonder if this one has any tricks up its sleeve?????
Got a call from Shelia Roxburgh of Roxburgh Marine Repair. The work is DONE! ! ! ! and for a mere $1,361, I can have my boat back. The Good News is that it is actually less than the deductible which means that Zurich the Insurance company that used to insure the boat but dropped me actually paid more than it should have toward the repair ( I shed not a tear!). The Bad News is that I have to come up with the $1,361 (2.3 Marine Units)as they do not accept credit cards! (What's the current price for a pint of blood?)
Working on the boat last week, I found a thru-hull that seems frozen in place (Love those little reminders!). It was/is the thru-hull that brings water into the refrigeration system and the water maker system. It is more than stiff and I couldn't move it. I didn't want to force it for while it is made of bronze and rather sturdy, busting it is a 1 - 2 Marine Unit fix. So I am going to have the yard look at it. Missy, who runs the yard, speculates that it is locked up from lack of use and can be easily freed. From her lips to God's eye as the saying goes.
If all goes well, ABISHAG could splash on Monday and, after a day of outfitting, be home in New London on Tuesday! And then Summer can begin ! ! ! ! !
MASTER'S PERSONAL LOG:
Strangely, my first feeling when I got the call was "panic." I still don't have hull insurance and the last time I went sailing didn't turn out really all that well . . .at least for ABISHAG's keel. But now I am getting excited. I could be sailing within a week! HUZZAH! ! ! ! ! !
I have really taken quite a shine to how God is reminding me of who is in charge. The latest little reminder came on Father's Day when my cell phone rang and then the battery just fryed itself and blew up . . . sort of. I remember hearing that some of the batteries in lap tops and cell phones did such things but it is the first time I have ever had any personal experience with such a thing. It was exciting to say the least . . . .and strangely being "out of touch" was an uncomfortable feeling. It is amazing how quickly we can get used to these wonderful electronic leashes and how loathe we are to be without them. Now I have a new one. I wonder if this one has any tricks up its sleeve?????
Got a call from Shelia Roxburgh of Roxburgh Marine Repair. The work is DONE! ! ! ! and for a mere $1,361, I can have my boat back. The Good News is that it is actually less than the deductible which means that Zurich the Insurance company that used to insure the boat but dropped me actually paid more than it should have toward the repair ( I shed not a tear!). The Bad News is that I have to come up with the $1,361 (2.3 Marine Units)as they do not accept credit cards! (What's the current price for a pint of blood?)
Working on the boat last week, I found a thru-hull that seems frozen in place (Love those little reminders!). It was/is the thru-hull that brings water into the refrigeration system and the water maker system. It is more than stiff and I couldn't move it. I didn't want to force it for while it is made of bronze and rather sturdy, busting it is a 1 - 2 Marine Unit fix. So I am going to have the yard look at it. Missy, who runs the yard, speculates that it is locked up from lack of use and can be easily freed. From her lips to God's eye as the saying goes.
If all goes well, ABISHAG could splash on Monday and, after a day of outfitting, be home in New London on Tuesday! And then Summer can begin ! ! ! ! !
MASTER'S PERSONAL LOG:
Strangely, my first feeling when I got the call was "panic." I still don't have hull insurance and the last time I went sailing didn't turn out really all that well . . .at least for ABISHAG's keel. But now I am getting excited. I could be sailing within a week! HUZZAH! ! ! ! ! !
Thursday, June 18, 2009
So This Is What It IS Like To Live In Seatle! ! ! ! ! !
SHIP'S LOG:
Rain, Rain, Go away! Everything is green down at the boat yard . . . mostly it is mold! Ten days ago, the yard crew re-blocked the boat so that the fiberglass crew could get at the parts of the bottom they couldn't reach because of the old block locations. . . . and that was about as far as anyone got. Those of you up here in God's country know that it has been three days of rain followed by a day of partial sun followed by four days of rain, and still they weather people say we are deficient in our rain fall totals. Go figure.
The Head is all finished, the forepeak has been emptied and repacked, the Mizzen has been bent on the yard, and the clean up process has begun. I have even taken a whack at repairing the split wooden cap along the gunnel . . . . That is the holding tank and associated piping has been installed; all of the stuff stuffed into the front cabin of the boat has been taken out and the stuff that belongs there has been replaced; the Mizzen sail has been re attached to the boom on the Mizzen Mast (small mast at the back of the boat); I have attempted to repair a split in the wood in the toe rail along the side of the boat; and I have swept-out, washed down and disinfected the aft cabin, the aft head and the galley(kitchen). Love those nautical terms. The rain is falling again so today is a washout . . literally.
O, there is some good news! ! ! My insurance company has dropped me like the proverbial hot potato citing my "history of loss." This was expected I suppose as I paid in $1,200 and they paid out $20,000! Can't do business that way. The thing that burns me though is the fact that they didn't bother to really get a report except that the accidents had happen. Now I'll take full responsibility for the second accident as my brain vapor locked and I experienced a real senior moment. But the first one, man that was by the book and how could it have been my fault that the anchor pulled out and didn't reset? But no use arguing as it is a no win situation. I am looking for new insurance and will find it . .. .the real question is how much it will cost ! ! ! ! ! ! In the worst case scenario, I'll sail without insurance. Hell, you only need it should you screw up and I figure that I have done my share of that for this century.
CAPTAIN'S PERSONAL LOG:
Some day I am sure that I will get the ABISHAG in the water. When is anybody's guess, but at least I am working on her. The yard is filled with boats that are still under winter wraps and there are no signs that owners have been down at all. In this yard, there is a back section where the stow all the boat stands and other winter paraphernalia. It is also the "elephants' graveyard," the place where old boats go to die. More accurately, it is the place where the yard drops and breaks up boats that have been abandoned by their owners. When the yard bills clime to a certain level, the boat is considered abandoned, especially if the onwers refuse or are unable to pay, and the yard gets the court to award them the boat for non-payment of bill. The yard strips them of everything useful and/or of value, hauls them over to the graveyard, raises the boat to a great height with a crane and drops it, breaking up the boat. Then they leave them there until the pile is big enough to warrant haul it to a land fill. I watched that process today and it was unbelievably sad to see.
Rain, Rain, Go away! Everything is green down at the boat yard . . . mostly it is mold! Ten days ago, the yard crew re-blocked the boat so that the fiberglass crew could get at the parts of the bottom they couldn't reach because of the old block locations. . . . and that was about as far as anyone got. Those of you up here in God's country know that it has been three days of rain followed by a day of partial sun followed by four days of rain, and still they weather people say we are deficient in our rain fall totals. Go figure.
The Head is all finished, the forepeak has been emptied and repacked, the Mizzen has been bent on the yard, and the clean up process has begun. I have even taken a whack at repairing the split wooden cap along the gunnel . . . . That is the holding tank and associated piping has been installed; all of the stuff stuffed into the front cabin of the boat has been taken out and the stuff that belongs there has been replaced; the Mizzen sail has been re attached to the boom on the Mizzen Mast (small mast at the back of the boat); I have attempted to repair a split in the wood in the toe rail along the side of the boat; and I have swept-out, washed down and disinfected the aft cabin, the aft head and the galley(kitchen). Love those nautical terms. The rain is falling again so today is a washout . . literally.
O, there is some good news! ! ! My insurance company has dropped me like the proverbial hot potato citing my "history of loss." This was expected I suppose as I paid in $1,200 and they paid out $20,000! Can't do business that way. The thing that burns me though is the fact that they didn't bother to really get a report except that the accidents had happen. Now I'll take full responsibility for the second accident as my brain vapor locked and I experienced a real senior moment. But the first one, man that was by the book and how could it have been my fault that the anchor pulled out and didn't reset? But no use arguing as it is a no win situation. I am looking for new insurance and will find it . .. .the real question is how much it will cost ! ! ! ! ! ! In the worst case scenario, I'll sail without insurance. Hell, you only need it should you screw up and I figure that I have done my share of that for this century.
CAPTAIN'S PERSONAL LOG:
Some day I am sure that I will get the ABISHAG in the water. When is anybody's guess, but at least I am working on her. The yard is filled with boats that are still under winter wraps and there are no signs that owners have been down at all. In this yard, there is a back section where the stow all the boat stands and other winter paraphernalia. It is also the "elephants' graveyard," the place where old boats go to die. More accurately, it is the place where the yard drops and breaks up boats that have been abandoned by their owners. When the yard bills clime to a certain level, the boat is considered abandoned, especially if the onwers refuse or are unable to pay, and the yard gets the court to award them the boat for non-payment of bill. The yard strips them of everything useful and/or of value, hauls them over to the graveyard, raises the boat to a great height with a crane and drops it, breaking up the boat. Then they leave them there until the pile is big enough to warrant haul it to a land fill. I watched that process today and it was unbelievably sad to see.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Depending, Of Course, on the Weather ! ! ! !
SHIP'S LOG:
Down working on ABISHAG, Shelia of the Fiberglass crew was walking her dog. The gist of the conversation was that the boat would be ready in "a week . . .10 days . . . 2 weeks . . . depending on the weather, of course." O well, she will be ready when she is ready, though they did fiberglass the front edge of the keel, needing only to do the bottom of the keel and the rear edge, then fairing, epoxy painting and she will be ready to launch. Huzzah! ! ! !
I repositioned the holes in the holding tank for the new fixtures. It wasn't all that bad, smell wise, that is after I cleaned out the tank by hand. YUK! But hey, now it is is relative clean and sweet smelling. The local sewage treatment plant, cheek-by-jowl with the marina, out smells the tank now.
Fitted the hose to the aft head and the thru-hull. Fitting the hose was momentarily difficult until good friend Skip suggested using a hair drier to heat the hose and make it more flexible so that it would slide on the fittings. Didn't have a hair drier, but I had a paint stripper, which is sort of like a hair drier on steroids. It worked . . . the end justifies the means. Now at least I can use the aft head . . . .so long as I am far enough off the coast. Not good for emergencies but better than nothing.
CAPTAIN'S PERSONAL LOG:
I am getting there, slowly but surely. Tomorrow should see the forward head up and running, so to speak. After that, and Ray installing the old part or the new part if he can't find the new part for the engine, and painting the repairs, she will be launch ready. The mooring is in place and waiting, so it will be cleaning and small projects until the splash.
It is still surprisingly cool by the water even though we are just a month short of the longest day of the year and the start of summer. Go figure!
Down working on ABISHAG, Shelia of the Fiberglass crew was walking her dog. The gist of the conversation was that the boat would be ready in "a week . . .10 days . . . 2 weeks . . . depending on the weather, of course." O well, she will be ready when she is ready, though they did fiberglass the front edge of the keel, needing only to do the bottom of the keel and the rear edge, then fairing, epoxy painting and she will be ready to launch. Huzzah! ! ! !
I repositioned the holes in the holding tank for the new fixtures. It wasn't all that bad, smell wise, that is after I cleaned out the tank by hand. YUK! But hey, now it is is relative clean and sweet smelling. The local sewage treatment plant, cheek-by-jowl with the marina, out smells the tank now.
Fitted the hose to the aft head and the thru-hull. Fitting the hose was momentarily difficult until good friend Skip suggested using a hair drier to heat the hose and make it more flexible so that it would slide on the fittings. Didn't have a hair drier, but I had a paint stripper, which is sort of like a hair drier on steroids. It worked . . . the end justifies the means. Now at least I can use the aft head . . . .so long as I am far enough off the coast. Not good for emergencies but better than nothing.
CAPTAIN'S PERSONAL LOG:
I am getting there, slowly but surely. Tomorrow should see the forward head up and running, so to speak. After that, and Ray installing the old part or the new part if he can't find the new part for the engine, and painting the repairs, she will be launch ready. The mooring is in place and waiting, so it will be cleaning and small projects until the splash.
It is still surprisingly cool by the water even though we are just a month short of the longest day of the year and the start of summer. Go figure!
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
A Good Day!
SHIP'S LOG:
It was a day, nay a great day, on ABISHAG even though I didn't go anywhere. The weather was beautiful and all the tasks went according to plan and, hey, what more could one want.
I installed upper bow rollers (a piece of threaded rod inside some PVC pipe) which will keep the anchor rodes from jumping of the bow rollers lower, eliminating the risk of chafe and another grounding adventure. Made the cut-out for the holding tank in the forepeak locker. Created a new angle for the Mizzen boom so that it won't keep whacking the steering vane. Reinstalled the cockpit cushions. Sealing the lashings for the shroud rollers. Removed the unneeded items from the aft cabin and stored the "Linens 'n' Things" that actual belong there. Began the clean-up of the main cabin and actually found the deck and the settees under all the "stuff", necessary and unnecessary that had been flung all around the cabin. Re-led all the lines and sheets and generally cleaned up the deck. All in all, while many of the tasks were of not major importance, most could be done outside which, considering the day, was well worth it. AH!!!!!
MASTER'S PERSONAL LOG:
It really is a pain making the drive to Black Rock Harbor. It burns a lot of gas, but it is where the boat is. I am starting to get a bit excited as the fiberglass crew has got the trailing edge of the keel ground out and now needs only to take care of the central portion. Then it will be fill and fair and paint and launch. Huzzah!
It was a day, nay a great day, on ABISHAG even though I didn't go anywhere. The weather was beautiful and all the tasks went according to plan and, hey, what more could one want.
I installed upper bow rollers (a piece of threaded rod inside some PVC pipe) which will keep the anchor rodes from jumping of the bow rollers lower, eliminating the risk of chafe and another grounding adventure. Made the cut-out for the holding tank in the forepeak locker. Created a new angle for the Mizzen boom so that it won't keep whacking the steering vane. Reinstalled the cockpit cushions. Sealing the lashings for the shroud rollers. Removed the unneeded items from the aft cabin and stored the "Linens 'n' Things" that actual belong there. Began the clean-up of the main cabin and actually found the deck and the settees under all the "stuff", necessary and unnecessary that had been flung all around the cabin. Re-led all the lines and sheets and generally cleaned up the deck. All in all, while many of the tasks were of not major importance, most could be done outside which, considering the day, was well worth it. AH!!!!!
MASTER'S PERSONAL LOG:
It really is a pain making the drive to Black Rock Harbor. It burns a lot of gas, but it is where the boat is. I am starting to get a bit excited as the fiberglass crew has got the trailing edge of the keel ground out and now needs only to take care of the central portion. Then it will be fill and fair and paint and launch. Huzzah!
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