SHIP'S LOG:
Did you ever have one of those days? Or weeks? well, this week could be one of those. First of all, it is Holy Week and there is lots of spiritual, church-oriented stuff going on. It is the busiest week of the year for Catholics.
This week also is loaded with meetings for me. Last night I had to attend the initial meeting of the regatta committee for TYC. It is not a favorite committee as it is lots of work and you have to deal with a lot of complaining from racers no matter how much effort you put into the races and no matter how well things go. It is at best a thankless job which is why so few people want to be on the committee. Still it is necessary for the club and so I signed on. In addition to that, there is a Red Cross Certification Meeting/Class that I have to attend tonight and pay $50 for the privilege. It is a necessary part of the Launch Operator's requirements that I need to fulfill. And tomorrow, I have an appointment with the Department of Transportation of the Federal Government to get my TWIC (Transportation Worker's Identification Card), another necessary items for the Launch Operator's Certificate.
And my car died! What exactly the problem is, I don't know. Could be fuel pump, could be distributor, could be ghosts in the machine. In any event, it is not functioning to the point where it is drivable. To make matters worse, I don't have the money to get it towed to a garage where someone can over-charge me for more than the necessary work, let alone pay for the work in the first place.
Right now, I am hunting around for someone to put the arm on to get me a ride down to New London and TYC where the Red Cross Certification Class is being held today.
And I haven't even discussed the work that still needs doing on ABISHAG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wednesday, April 16, 2014
Friday, April 11, 2014
Work! Work! Work! Work!
SHIP'S LOG:
It can be such fun to destroy stuff! And this week, there was plenty of that. But all this "destruction" was actually the necessary first step to doing the needed work and projects. The three hatches original to the construction of ABISHAG got popped out and I was disappointed. Without an inward flange, they were simply flush fitted and even more distressing was the fact that they were secured simply with machine screws and the mastic. The machine screws kept them from shifting horizontally and the mastic kept them from moving vertically. And while they did technically "stay in place" over the years, they did move at least a little and so began to leak. They had been set on a reinforced lip of wood covered with fiberglass, but the movement compromised the mastic and water got in and the wood below the fiberglass and it began to rot. Obviously this problem was discovered prior to my acquiring ABISAHG because sections of the rotted wood had been remove and the void filled with epoxy. Strangely, all the wet wood was not removed at the time of the previous repair and so the wood that remain eventually began to rot and I pulled out the remaining sections for the main hatch lip. I will filled and fair it with epoxy . . . after I buy the epoxy and after I check out the lips on the other two hatches. There is no reason to expect that they have escaped the rot as both also leak.
The interior overhead in the saloon and galley has been removed. The four (4) panels will become eight (8) when they are reinstalled. While they were installed with screws originally, they will be reinstalled with Velcro so that the panels can more easily be removed. That will be a good things as there are somewhere close to 100 screws holding the panels in place and that is not even counting those that held the aft cabin panels in place. They are down too. And it is a good thing too. It is amazing, as I took the panels down, how much condensation coated the underside of the deck. It was soaking wet, with huge drops of water everywhere. Of course, a boat which spends so much of its time on the water in the hot summer, collects a lot of humidity which eventually has to condense sometime. Having the boat overhead panels so easy to remove will make it possible to take them down in the fall when the boat goes up for storage, making the condensation easier to prevent, or at least as much as possible. I also had to hit a lot of spots with bleach to kill off the black mold, another downside from all the condensation. I'll have to acquire 100 feet or so of 2" x 1/2 " of wood to set in the ceiling to which the panels will be "Velcro-ed" in place. It is not a particularly difficult job, it will be labor intensive though.
I am taking the day off today. The weather is "iffy," plus i "hurt" in places I didn't know I had. Perhaps I am getting old.
It can be such fun to destroy stuff! And this week, there was plenty of that. But all this "destruction" was actually the necessary first step to doing the needed work and projects. The three hatches original to the construction of ABISHAG got popped out and I was disappointed. Without an inward flange, they were simply flush fitted and even more distressing was the fact that they were secured simply with machine screws and the mastic. The machine screws kept them from shifting horizontally and the mastic kept them from moving vertically. And while they did technically "stay in place" over the years, they did move at least a little and so began to leak. They had been set on a reinforced lip of wood covered with fiberglass, but the movement compromised the mastic and water got in and the wood below the fiberglass and it began to rot. Obviously this problem was discovered prior to my acquiring ABISAHG because sections of the rotted wood had been remove and the void filled with epoxy. Strangely, all the wet wood was not removed at the time of the previous repair and so the wood that remain eventually began to rot and I pulled out the remaining sections for the main hatch lip. I will filled and fair it with epoxy . . . after I buy the epoxy and after I check out the lips on the other two hatches. There is no reason to expect that they have escaped the rot as both also leak.
The interior overhead in the saloon and galley has been removed. The four (4) panels will become eight (8) when they are reinstalled. While they were installed with screws originally, they will be reinstalled with Velcro so that the panels can more easily be removed. That will be a good things as there are somewhere close to 100 screws holding the panels in place and that is not even counting those that held the aft cabin panels in place. They are down too. And it is a good thing too. It is amazing, as I took the panels down, how much condensation coated the underside of the deck. It was soaking wet, with huge drops of water everywhere. Of course, a boat which spends so much of its time on the water in the hot summer, collects a lot of humidity which eventually has to condense sometime. Having the boat overhead panels so easy to remove will make it possible to take them down in the fall when the boat goes up for storage, making the condensation easier to prevent, or at least as much as possible. I also had to hit a lot of spots with bleach to kill off the black mold, another downside from all the condensation. I'll have to acquire 100 feet or so of 2" x 1/2 " of wood to set in the ceiling to which the panels will be "Velcro-ed" in place. It is not a particularly difficult job, it will be labor intensive though.
I am taking the day off today. The weather is "iffy," plus i "hurt" in places I didn't know I had. Perhaps I am getting old.
Tuesday, April 8, 2014
Hatching
SHIP'S LOG:
I pulled the two of the three hatches that have been leaking. I figured that after years of trying to find the leaks and plug them in what could best be called a "half-assed manner," I decided to pull the hatches and completely repair whatever needed to be repaired and then caulk the hell out of them before I put them back. The problem was that I couldn't figure out how to remove the interior trim so that I could get at the nuts on the bottom of the hatch bolts. The trim looked as though it was glassed in place, so I took a chance to see if I could unscrew the bolts without securing the nuts. Imagine my surprise when the bolts all came out with minimum effort. It turns out that the hatches were secured simply by screwing the bolts into the fiberglass lip beneath the hatches.There were no securing nuts at all! In addition, the was no "L"-shaped flange extending into the hatch opening. Evidently, the hatch was placed on the hatch opening after it had been caulked and then simply screwed into placed. No wonder the bloody thing leaked after 34 years of deck flexing. I can't add the "l" shaped flange so it will have to be set back in place pretty much as it was originally.
The couple from Maine called at the last minute to cancel the visit, They were going skiing one last time. I can't tell if that is true or they were using it as an excuse not to come and look at ABISHAG. It could be that they decided that they don't want her but they felt uncomfortable saying so. It happens all the time. I know they didn't find a better deal on "a sister ship" as the only other CN 39 (there's only three in the the US) for sale in down in the Chesapeake and they want $62,000. They probably found an other deal and weren't all that committed to stay in the Camper Nicholson Family as they originally claimed. O well, such is life.
I pulled the two of the three hatches that have been leaking. I figured that after years of trying to find the leaks and plug them in what could best be called a "half-assed manner," I decided to pull the hatches and completely repair whatever needed to be repaired and then caulk the hell out of them before I put them back. The problem was that I couldn't figure out how to remove the interior trim so that I could get at the nuts on the bottom of the hatch bolts. The trim looked as though it was glassed in place, so I took a chance to see if I could unscrew the bolts without securing the nuts. Imagine my surprise when the bolts all came out with minimum effort. It turns out that the hatches were secured simply by screwing the bolts into the fiberglass lip beneath the hatches.There were no securing nuts at all! In addition, the was no "L"-shaped flange extending into the hatch opening. Evidently, the hatch was placed on the hatch opening after it had been caulked and then simply screwed into placed. No wonder the bloody thing leaked after 34 years of deck flexing. I can't add the "l" shaped flange so it will have to be set back in place pretty much as it was originally.
The couple from Maine called at the last minute to cancel the visit, They were going skiing one last time. I can't tell if that is true or they were using it as an excuse not to come and look at ABISHAG. It could be that they decided that they don't want her but they felt uncomfortable saying so. It happens all the time. I know they didn't find a better deal on "a sister ship" as the only other CN 39 (there's only three in the the US) for sale in down in the Chesapeake and they want $62,000. They probably found an other deal and weren't all that committed to stay in the Camper Nicholson Family as they originally claimed. O well, such is life.
Friday, April 4, 2014
Almost There!
SHIP'S LOG:
I finished up my classwork for the Launch Operator's Class and took the test Wednesday. I got a 90%. Since they don't pass the test back, I have no idea what I got wrong, but I passed and that is the important thing. Now it is onto the completing the Application Process.
I got through the TWIC (Transportation Workers Identity Card) process. It took 10 minutes and $129. The Launch Operator's Class was $199 and the required Red Cross Class is $50 and $60 for the Drug Screening. I am not quite sure what the cost will be for the filing and processing of the application itself, but you just have to know that it won't either free or cheap. So much for the easy way to make a few bucks.
On the "potentially good news front," I got a call earlier this week from a guy up in Maine who is interested in ABISHAG. Actually, I would say "very" interested as he contacted the broker and emailed me back to find out if he could come down from Maine on Sunday and look her over. He owns a CN 32 and is looking to go larger and wants to, as he said, "stay in the family." There is another CN 39 down in the Chesapeake that is for sail but that quite a drive from Maine and he wants more money as we;ll. So it is that if this guy is really interested in staying in the Camper Nicholson family, ABISHAG may have a new home in a couple of weeks. However, I just can't shake the idea that the whole thing will come to naught, so the serious spring work gets underway this weekend. I'll have to scoot up to Russ' to get the tools and head to the boat. The weather will be sunny and warm and the boatyard should be hopping. . . . "and the sound of the sander will be heard throughout the land!"
I finished up my classwork for the Launch Operator's Class and took the test Wednesday. I got a 90%. Since they don't pass the test back, I have no idea what I got wrong, but I passed and that is the important thing. Now it is onto the completing the Application Process.
I got through the TWIC (Transportation Workers Identity Card) process. It took 10 minutes and $129. The Launch Operator's Class was $199 and the required Red Cross Class is $50 and $60 for the Drug Screening. I am not quite sure what the cost will be for the filing and processing of the application itself, but you just have to know that it won't either free or cheap. So much for the easy way to make a few bucks.
On the "potentially good news front," I got a call earlier this week from a guy up in Maine who is interested in ABISHAG. Actually, I would say "very" interested as he contacted the broker and emailed me back to find out if he could come down from Maine on Sunday and look her over. He owns a CN 32 and is looking to go larger and wants to, as he said, "stay in the family." There is another CN 39 down in the Chesapeake that is for sail but that quite a drive from Maine and he wants more money as we;ll. So it is that if this guy is really interested in staying in the Camper Nicholson family, ABISHAG may have a new home in a couple of weeks. However, I just can't shake the idea that the whole thing will come to naught, so the serious spring work gets underway this weekend. I'll have to scoot up to Russ' to get the tools and head to the boat. The weather will be sunny and warm and the boatyard should be hopping. . . . "and the sound of the sander will be heard throughout the land!"
Sunday, March 23, 2014
Oye!
SHIP'S LOG:
It has been about a week since the last post so I figured it was about time. I have spent the last few days getting together the necessary items and paperwork to get a Master's Limited License and the bureaucratic hoops for such a trivial item are rather involved. Basically the item is one step about the "6 Pack" license, perhaps the most common which lots of boat owners get so that they can call themselves "Captain" and have it mean something. Actually, from what I understand, the term "CAPTAIN" is nowhere on the license which actually uses the official term of "Master." Get the license and you become "Master" of your vessel. What it does for you is allow you to carry 6 paying Passengers on your vessel, hence the nickname "6 pack." It also allows your insurance company to be more rigorous in determining your liability in the event of some type of marine accident. Since you are now an expert, they afford you less wiggle room should you pull a "Titanic!"
The "Limited Master's License" once obtained allows you to pilot a launch for a yacht club or similar organization. TYC is looking for a couple of people to help with the launch duties and I figured that since I live down there during the summer, I might as well sign up. To that end, I have been running around getting a certified copy of my birth certificate and a new Social Security card. I also have to get a TWIC ( Transportation Worker's Identification Card) which is a photo DI that proves I am not a terrorist and can safely be let loose around boats, trains, planes and automotive vehicles. That requires finger printing, photo taking, form filling and providing the appropriate documentation, ie: certified birth certificate and Social Security Card. The birth certificate was $20 and instantly available once I got to the Town Clerk in Norwich. The Social Security Card was free, but it has a 3 week delivery time frame. They call when it shows up at the SS Office in Willimantic. Next I have to take a boating course ($190) and pass a Coast Guard test. I have to take a drug test, medical test, eye test, prove I have a sufficient number of days (190 in the last 3 years) aboard an appropriately sized vessel, as well as to supply 3 character references. Of course, none of this is available all in the same place or at the same time and I have been logging, and will continue to log, mucho miles getting it all done. Oh fun, fun, fun!
The weather seems to be warming though once again this week they are looking at the possibility of snow. It makes one want to scream. It doesn't help I suppose that next weekend I am heading up to New Hampshire for a bacchanal with some old college friends. There's sure to be snow up there.
TYC had a "after-the-fact" st. Patrick's Day party last night. Though it was Irish-themed, it was actually more of a chance to judge where people were in their spring boat preparation. Mid-80's Jim Avery is the furthest along, all be set to drop his boat in on his traditional Date of April 1st. I hate him! Well, not really, 'cause I race with him on Wednesdays and Sundays, but the fact that I have only uncovered ABISHAG as of yet, well he can be a bit irritating. There is still ankle-deep mud in Portland! as well as piles of snow! I had winter.
It has been about a week since the last post so I figured it was about time. I have spent the last few days getting together the necessary items and paperwork to get a Master's Limited License and the bureaucratic hoops for such a trivial item are rather involved. Basically the item is one step about the "6 Pack" license, perhaps the most common which lots of boat owners get so that they can call themselves "Captain" and have it mean something. Actually, from what I understand, the term "CAPTAIN" is nowhere on the license which actually uses the official term of "Master." Get the license and you become "Master" of your vessel. What it does for you is allow you to carry 6 paying Passengers on your vessel, hence the nickname "6 pack." It also allows your insurance company to be more rigorous in determining your liability in the event of some type of marine accident. Since you are now an expert, they afford you less wiggle room should you pull a "Titanic!"
The "Limited Master's License" once obtained allows you to pilot a launch for a yacht club or similar organization. TYC is looking for a couple of people to help with the launch duties and I figured that since I live down there during the summer, I might as well sign up. To that end, I have been running around getting a certified copy of my birth certificate and a new Social Security card. I also have to get a TWIC ( Transportation Worker's Identification Card) which is a photo DI that proves I am not a terrorist and can safely be let loose around boats, trains, planes and automotive vehicles. That requires finger printing, photo taking, form filling and providing the appropriate documentation, ie: certified birth certificate and Social Security Card. The birth certificate was $20 and instantly available once I got to the Town Clerk in Norwich. The Social Security Card was free, but it has a 3 week delivery time frame. They call when it shows up at the SS Office in Willimantic. Next I have to take a boating course ($190) and pass a Coast Guard test. I have to take a drug test, medical test, eye test, prove I have a sufficient number of days (190 in the last 3 years) aboard an appropriately sized vessel, as well as to supply 3 character references. Of course, none of this is available all in the same place or at the same time and I have been logging, and will continue to log, mucho miles getting it all done. Oh fun, fun, fun!
The weather seems to be warming though once again this week they are looking at the possibility of snow. It makes one want to scream. It doesn't help I suppose that next weekend I am heading up to New Hampshire for a bacchanal with some old college friends. There's sure to be snow up there.
TYC had a "after-the-fact" st. Patrick's Day party last night. Though it was Irish-themed, it was actually more of a chance to judge where people were in their spring boat preparation. Mid-80's Jim Avery is the furthest along, all be set to drop his boat in on his traditional Date of April 1st. I hate him! Well, not really, 'cause I race with him on Wednesdays and Sundays, but the fact that I have only uncovered ABISHAG as of yet, well he can be a bit irritating. There is still ankle-deep mud in Portland! as well as piles of snow! I had winter.
Sunday, March 16, 2014
It's Spring!!!!!!
SHIP'S LOG:
When the temperature hit 51 yesterday, I decided that it was time to uncover ABISHAG. While the temp had been pretty much assured, it was suppose to rain so I didn't think that I would get up to Portland. But, of course, it turned out to be a bright and sunny day with light puffy clouds everywhere. AH, NOAA!
Even though Portland might be say six miles further inland than Griswold, the amount of snow on the ground was considerably more, really more than I expected otherwise I would have worn boots. Still enough had melts around the boats in the yard so that I could get to ABISHAG without have to trek through snowdrifts like Admiral Byrd! But I did forget about the mud!Where the snow had melted and the ground was bare there was mud! Big Time! Nice, oozy, soft, clingy mud! So instead of my sneakers get wet, they got wet and muddy!
I unchained the ladder and put it up and climbed aboard. Did I mention the wind? The gentle breeze of Griswold was a honking blow in Portland. I forgot that the Connecticut River valley funnels more than just water! It was probably gusting 35 - 40, a not inconsiderable blow when one is trying to remove traps 12 feet in the air! It surprised me that they were all intact, that with all the severe weather we had over the winter that at least some parts were not torn. All the grommets were in place and there were no rips or tears. I was very happy that I had secured them with slipknots as it made the taking down a whole lot simpler. It took maybe 10 minutes and the first job of the Spring was done. One project down, 47,513 more to go before launching!
When the temperature hit 51 yesterday, I decided that it was time to uncover ABISHAG. While the temp had been pretty much assured, it was suppose to rain so I didn't think that I would get up to Portland. But, of course, it turned out to be a bright and sunny day with light puffy clouds everywhere. AH, NOAA!
Even though Portland might be say six miles further inland than Griswold, the amount of snow on the ground was considerably more, really more than I expected otherwise I would have worn boots. Still enough had melts around the boats in the yard so that I could get to ABISHAG without have to trek through snowdrifts like Admiral Byrd! But I did forget about the mud!Where the snow had melted and the ground was bare there was mud! Big Time! Nice, oozy, soft, clingy mud! So instead of my sneakers get wet, they got wet and muddy!
I unchained the ladder and put it up and climbed aboard. Did I mention the wind? The gentle breeze of Griswold was a honking blow in Portland. I forgot that the Connecticut River valley funnels more than just water! It was probably gusting 35 - 40, a not inconsiderable blow when one is trying to remove traps 12 feet in the air! It surprised me that they were all intact, that with all the severe weather we had over the winter that at least some parts were not torn. All the grommets were in place and there were no rips or tears. I was very happy that I had secured them with slipknots as it made the taking down a whole lot simpler. It took maybe 10 minutes and the first job of the Spring was done. One project down, 47,513 more to go before launching!
Friday, March 14, 2014
And To Make Matters Worse
SHIP'S LOG:
And to make matters worse, the 2014, 7lbs West Marine Catalog came in the mail today. Almost 1,000 glossy pages of all sorts of marine items, useful, needed, and totally useless and ridiculous. It is almost as bad as going to the store itself. I can always find lots of thing that I could "use," but it is more in line with that verse from that Jimmy Buffett song which goes, "Need is a relative thing these days/ it borders on desire/ the world is filled with lots of bright shiny thing/ we think that we really require." It is why I don't go to boat shows anymore, I always leave sort of dissatisfied. It seems that the more you have, the more you want. O well, this too will pass.
I guess I should not have publicly said that I would be going to unwrap ABISHAG on Saturday. The weather is forecasting "rain." Sigh! I might as well go anyway and do it as it has to be done sometime.
And to make matters worse, the 2014, 7lbs West Marine Catalog came in the mail today. Almost 1,000 glossy pages of all sorts of marine items, useful, needed, and totally useless and ridiculous. It is almost as bad as going to the store itself. I can always find lots of thing that I could "use," but it is more in line with that verse from that Jimmy Buffett song which goes, "Need is a relative thing these days/ it borders on desire/ the world is filled with lots of bright shiny thing/ we think that we really require." It is why I don't go to boat shows anymore, I always leave sort of dissatisfied. It seems that the more you have, the more you want. O well, this too will pass.
I guess I should not have publicly said that I would be going to unwrap ABISHAG on Saturday. The weather is forecasting "rain." Sigh! I might as well go anyway and do it as it has to be done sometime.
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