SHIP'S LOG:
Things are progressing nicely, though I did have to reseal the main hatch again.This time, rather than sealing just the outer edge, I did the inside as well. I test with a hose indicated that all was seal and there were no leaks. Huzzah!
All of the ceiling panels are down and cut to more manageable sizes. I had to fill all the screw holes and glue all the places where the Masonite was broken. Today's project for the ceiling panels is to finish filling the holes as I ran out of wood paste and then to paint them, or at least get started on the project. I will also do all the measuring so that I can buy the wood stripes necessary to hang them in place. It will be a real joy to get them in place and off the cabin floors.
I am hoping that I will be able to paint the bottom this weekend and handle any tasks and projects that need to be done on the hard. They are all basically small, though there are some that can be done in the water. Then it will be launching time.
Monday, May 12, 2014
Saturday, May 3, 2014
A Good Day Of Work
SHIP'S LOG:
After three days of rain, I finally got up to ABISHAG and there is both good news and bad news. First the Good News: the hatches in aft cabin and the fore cabin, both newly reset, are working just fie to keep out the rain. The Bad News, it would appear that the main hatch in the Saloon did not. Right under the main hatch is the saloon table. The has two leaves that drop when not in use an a central central space between them sporting fiddles (raised edges). When I got there yesterday, this raised area was awash, filled to overflowing with water. Evidently, the water is still getting in but exactly how I can't figure. The same procedure was use to seal it and reset it as was used for the other two hatches, so it would seem that it should be as tight as they. There was also indications (more water) that water reached as far as the port-side settee as there was water in the toolkit and a locker box that rested there. Unfortunately there was no linger clues as to where the water was making its entrance as the main hatch itself was dry as was the area around it. There didn't appear to be any leakage around the ports so I am at a total loss to explain it. It appears that I am going to have to resort to "the hose" - soaking down the deck around the hatch and see if I can spot how it is gaining entrance. Some good news for this procedure is that the ceiling tiles are all down so this procedure should make clear who it the water is getting in.
At little more bad news came in the form of the death of my Shop-Vac. I had left it sitting on the table in the saloon right under the hatch and water evidently dripped on it big time. On the top cover of the Shop-Vac, there is a vent for the cooling of the electric motor and as a result, water dripped into the vent and onto the motor and when I attempted to start it it shorted out and died. So it is that I had to purchase a new one. O joy!
I spent the first part of the work day cleaning up the effects of the leaks. The tools had to be WD-40-ed to keep them from rusting and the interior deck had to be cleaned as I tracked wet muddy feet all over. I had to pump out the bilge and the sump. When all that was done, I could get down to work.
The prop had to be cleaned of barnacles and dried out marine growth, which took about an hour with a wire-brush on the drill. Boy, once those little bastards adhere themselves to something they really don't make it easy to get them off. And you have to get them off as they really, and I mean really, affect the boat speed. A fouled prop can really make the engine work hard. In addition, they attract new barnacles and marine growth as they provide the perfect medium for new growth, so they have to go. I have to stand at an uncomfortable angle and manipulate the drill with the wire brush and literally burnish the prop free of all growth. When it is over, the prop looks great, all bright and shiny, but with in a couple of hours the moisture in the air causes it to dull completely. Still, it is free of the growth and that's the main thing.
The old shaft zinc had to be removed as well.It is about half way gone and so it has to be replaced. It is weird to toss out what looks like a barely used zinc but once it has "melted" away more than half way, it really doesn't provide the protection one needs. So if it is a choice between a $13 zinc and a $850 prop or a $1,000 prop shaft, it is $13 well spent.
Last summer, during a storm that took place while I was in a slip at the club, ABISHAG rubbed a rail against a protruding dock piling. It partially ripped out a section of the toe rail and it had to be replaced. I tried to pop the bungs with the intention of removing the screws that help it in place but I did too good a job setting it in place. This was one of the sections I had replaced last year and over-kill came into play, for while, after a lot of effort, I was able to get the bungs out and the screws exposed, the screws simple would not move no matter how much force was applied. In the end, I had to finish the job the piling started and ripped the section of the toe rail off. This revealed why the screws would move as they were bent out of true and so would unscrew. It also revealed that the epoxy base that I set them in pulled out as well. Once the toe-rail was off then, I has to fill the gaps with some marine filler The next step will be to sand it down, re-drill the holes and put in new screws. Of course, now I need to find the new screws, sand off the repair, put down an adhesive and them reset the rail. Ah the fun of boat ownership!
After three days of rain, I finally got up to ABISHAG and there is both good news and bad news. First the Good News: the hatches in aft cabin and the fore cabin, both newly reset, are working just fie to keep out the rain. The Bad News, it would appear that the main hatch in the Saloon did not. Right under the main hatch is the saloon table. The has two leaves that drop when not in use an a central central space between them sporting fiddles (raised edges). When I got there yesterday, this raised area was awash, filled to overflowing with water. Evidently, the water is still getting in but exactly how I can't figure. The same procedure was use to seal it and reset it as was used for the other two hatches, so it would seem that it should be as tight as they. There was also indications (more water) that water reached as far as the port-side settee as there was water in the toolkit and a locker box that rested there. Unfortunately there was no linger clues as to where the water was making its entrance as the main hatch itself was dry as was the area around it. There didn't appear to be any leakage around the ports so I am at a total loss to explain it. It appears that I am going to have to resort to "the hose" - soaking down the deck around the hatch and see if I can spot how it is gaining entrance. Some good news for this procedure is that the ceiling tiles are all down so this procedure should make clear who it the water is getting in.
At little more bad news came in the form of the death of my Shop-Vac. I had left it sitting on the table in the saloon right under the hatch and water evidently dripped on it big time. On the top cover of the Shop-Vac, there is a vent for the cooling of the electric motor and as a result, water dripped into the vent and onto the motor and when I attempted to start it it shorted out and died. So it is that I had to purchase a new one. O joy!
I spent the first part of the work day cleaning up the effects of the leaks. The tools had to be WD-40-ed to keep them from rusting and the interior deck had to be cleaned as I tracked wet muddy feet all over. I had to pump out the bilge and the sump. When all that was done, I could get down to work.
The prop had to be cleaned of barnacles and dried out marine growth, which took about an hour with a wire-brush on the drill. Boy, once those little bastards adhere themselves to something they really don't make it easy to get them off. And you have to get them off as they really, and I mean really, affect the boat speed. A fouled prop can really make the engine work hard. In addition, they attract new barnacles and marine growth as they provide the perfect medium for new growth, so they have to go. I have to stand at an uncomfortable angle and manipulate the drill with the wire brush and literally burnish the prop free of all growth. When it is over, the prop looks great, all bright and shiny, but with in a couple of hours the moisture in the air causes it to dull completely. Still, it is free of the growth and that's the main thing.
The old shaft zinc had to be removed as well.It is about half way gone and so it has to be replaced. It is weird to toss out what looks like a barely used zinc but once it has "melted" away more than half way, it really doesn't provide the protection one needs. So if it is a choice between a $13 zinc and a $850 prop or a $1,000 prop shaft, it is $13 well spent.
Last summer, during a storm that took place while I was in a slip at the club, ABISHAG rubbed a rail against a protruding dock piling. It partially ripped out a section of the toe rail and it had to be replaced. I tried to pop the bungs with the intention of removing the screws that help it in place but I did too good a job setting it in place. This was one of the sections I had replaced last year and over-kill came into play, for while, after a lot of effort, I was able to get the bungs out and the screws exposed, the screws simple would not move no matter how much force was applied. In the end, I had to finish the job the piling started and ripped the section of the toe rail off. This revealed why the screws would move as they were bent out of true and so would unscrew. It also revealed that the epoxy base that I set them in pulled out as well. Once the toe-rail was off then, I has to fill the gaps with some marine filler The next step will be to sand it down, re-drill the holes and put in new screws. Of course, now I need to find the new screws, sand off the repair, put down an adhesive and them reset the rail. Ah the fun of boat ownership!
Tuesday, April 29, 2014
SHIP'S LOG:
Circumstances have conspired together to prevent me from getting up to ABISHAG for the last few days and so I have not had the chance to see if the hatches have leaked. Then again, it hasn't rained so that did not afford me the wetness to check it out. All things seem working for the good.
The house upon which I am sitting and on which I have been working is actually be cared for now by a pro. All of the effort to remove the kitchen floor proved only marginally helpful to the overall work. The care that was exercised in getting the linoleum and the mastic off without damaging the underfloor proved a lot of wasted effort in that the underfloor, unbeknownst to us had to be removed as well. It wasn't suitable for the cement that will be used for the tiles. The pro came in and stated that he would have just ripped it all up in one shot - linoleum, mastic & underfloor. Well, in any event it is all gone and he is currently laying in the cement board, actually screwing it in. Once it is in, he can begin to lay the tile and tomorrow, or after it is sufficiently dry, grout it. It should all be done by Thursday, indeed it has to be as he has another commitment beginning on Friday!
The rains have just started, though at this time it is really more spitting and sprinkles. By later in the day, it will be severe with a serious chance of flooding "in low lying areas - NOAA." Of course, most of the low-lying areas are already flooded and those that aren't are so wet, they can't take any more water. It should be over by Friday, so it will be back to the boat and the work then.
Circumstances have conspired together to prevent me from getting up to ABISHAG for the last few days and so I have not had the chance to see if the hatches have leaked. Then again, it hasn't rained so that did not afford me the wetness to check it out. All things seem working for the good.
The house upon which I am sitting and on which I have been working is actually be cared for now by a pro. All of the effort to remove the kitchen floor proved only marginally helpful to the overall work. The care that was exercised in getting the linoleum and the mastic off without damaging the underfloor proved a lot of wasted effort in that the underfloor, unbeknownst to us had to be removed as well. It wasn't suitable for the cement that will be used for the tiles. The pro came in and stated that he would have just ripped it all up in one shot - linoleum, mastic & underfloor. Well, in any event it is all gone and he is currently laying in the cement board, actually screwing it in. Once it is in, he can begin to lay the tile and tomorrow, or after it is sufficiently dry, grout it. It should all be done by Thursday, indeed it has to be as he has another commitment beginning on Friday!
The rains have just started, though at this time it is really more spitting and sprinkles. By later in the day, it will be severe with a serious chance of flooding "in low lying areas - NOAA." Of course, most of the low-lying areas are already flooded and those that aren't are so wet, they can't take any more water. It should be over by Friday, so it will be back to the boat and the work then.
Saturday, April 26, 2014
Hatches Are In!
SHIP'S LOG:
It took about 3 hours (1hr/hatch) to set the hatches in place. Not having done this before, I had only videos on YouTube to go on. It really seemed a rather simple process and really it was. You do it in a series of steps and it just goes. Not having worked with butyl caulking before, the first hatch was a real learning experience. It all seemed to go well, though the process disclosed that either the rear hatch is out of square or the aft deck where it is located is. I am not sure which but the butyl tape caulk should take care of the discrepancy. Of course the proof will come when next it rains, which it is doing right now. If the rain doesn't get in, all is well. If not, well I won't worry about it too much and simply re-do it.
It took about 3 hours (1hr/hatch) to set the hatches in place. Not having done this before, I had only videos on YouTube to go on. It really seemed a rather simple process and really it was. You do it in a series of steps and it just goes. Not having worked with butyl caulking before, the first hatch was a real learning experience. It all seemed to go well, though the process disclosed that either the rear hatch is out of square or the aft deck where it is located is. I am not sure which but the butyl tape caulk should take care of the discrepancy. Of course the proof will come when next it rains, which it is doing right now. If the rain doesn't get in, all is well. If not, well I won't worry about it too much and simply re-do it.
Friday, April 25, 2014
It's BBBBBAAAAAAAAAAACK!!!!!!!!
SHIP'S LOG:
Yes, my Ford P.O.S. is finally back and running. After changing all of the filters, one always checks the simplest things first, it became evident that the fuel filter, which after all is 25 years old, gave up the ghost. So now, I can get back to the boatyard and take up again all the work that needs doing.
If all goes well today (a big "IF") I will set all the hatches, caulking and screwed into place. This is a good thing too as we are supposed to get rain tomorrow(Saturday) and most of next week. It will be a good test for the work done. If they leak again, I shall be most distressed.
Once the hatches are set in place, I get to tackle the overhead, which is another reason I want them not to leak. That project is in several stages:
1.) Cut the ceiling panels to a proper, easy to handle size;
2.) Paint the ceiling panels;
3.) Install the needed wooden strips to which the panels will be affixed;
4.) Attach velcro to the panels and the wooden strips in the appropriate places;
5.) Put the ceiling panels back in place.
As you can see, it is rather a simple project, so what could possibly go wrong?
Yes, my Ford P.O.S. is finally back and running. After changing all of the filters, one always checks the simplest things first, it became evident that the fuel filter, which after all is 25 years old, gave up the ghost. So now, I can get back to the boatyard and take up again all the work that needs doing.
If all goes well today (a big "IF") I will set all the hatches, caulking and screwed into place. This is a good thing too as we are supposed to get rain tomorrow(Saturday) and most of next week. It will be a good test for the work done. If they leak again, I shall be most distressed.
Once the hatches are set in place, I get to tackle the overhead, which is another reason I want them not to leak. That project is in several stages:
1.) Cut the ceiling panels to a proper, easy to handle size;
2.) Paint the ceiling panels;
3.) Install the needed wooden strips to which the panels will be affixed;
4.) Attach velcro to the panels and the wooden strips in the appropriate places;
5.) Put the ceiling panels back in place.
As you can see, it is rather a simple project, so what could possibly go wrong?
Thursday, April 17, 2014
And On It Goes!
SHIP'S LOG:
Well, I was able to get a good friend to haul me from Griswold to New London yesterday in time for Red Cross Certification Class at TYC. It was rather unsettling to find that lots of the procedures for First Aid that I struggled so hard to learn as a Boy Scout so many years ago are no longer used. Some are no considered merely a waste of effort and others are now seen as doing actual damage to the person you are trying to help! It was the hope of all of us who were taking the class that we would never have cause to use any of the procedures we learned. Luckily for me, one of my classmates lives close enough to Griswold that it was terribly out of his way to take me home. It would have been one hell of a long walk!
AAA came this morning and picked up the P.O.S. and hauled it away to Stop'N'Go Transmission in Groton. It is not that i suspect that it is a transmission problem, rather that the owner, Joel, is a friend and years ago I performed his wedding. And since he is still happily married, he is still a good friend. He, or one of the guys in his shop, will be able to handle pretty much anything that needs doing and hopefully at a very friendly fee. Considering the money I have got to lay out to get the sails back from the sail-maker and ABISHAG out of the boatyard, I am going to be hard stretched to cover expenses. In a month or so, I will be bringing in a few ducats from running the launch and cleaning the club house at TYC, but that is still in the future. Hopefully, until that time, Publisher's Clearing House will finally find me with their Prize Patrol and help me out at least a little bit.
Well, I was able to get a good friend to haul me from Griswold to New London yesterday in time for Red Cross Certification Class at TYC. It was rather unsettling to find that lots of the procedures for First Aid that I struggled so hard to learn as a Boy Scout so many years ago are no longer used. Some are no considered merely a waste of effort and others are now seen as doing actual damage to the person you are trying to help! It was the hope of all of us who were taking the class that we would never have cause to use any of the procedures we learned. Luckily for me, one of my classmates lives close enough to Griswold that it was terribly out of his way to take me home. It would have been one hell of a long walk!
AAA came this morning and picked up the P.O.S. and hauled it away to Stop'N'Go Transmission in Groton. It is not that i suspect that it is a transmission problem, rather that the owner, Joel, is a friend and years ago I performed his wedding. And since he is still happily married, he is still a good friend. He, or one of the guys in his shop, will be able to handle pretty much anything that needs doing and hopefully at a very friendly fee. Considering the money I have got to lay out to get the sails back from the sail-maker and ABISHAG out of the boatyard, I am going to be hard stretched to cover expenses. In a month or so, I will be bringing in a few ducats from running the launch and cleaning the club house at TYC, but that is still in the future. Hopefully, until that time, Publisher's Clearing House will finally find me with their Prize Patrol and help me out at least a little bit.
Wednesday, April 16, 2014
My P.O.S. is D.O.A.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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