Trip 64 - Saturday - March 14th

Today is my birthday! Next year, on this day, I can start receiving Soc Sec if I so desire. Hmmmm ...

The thru-hull seacock for the engine water will be removed and not replaced. I am going to make a radiator and cool the tiny engine that way using captive water instead of lake water. One less hole thru the hull! The thru-hull seacock for the sink will be moved out of the way of the new drawers I will build. The seacock for the head (toidy - Loma Linde) will also be moved to a betterer location. The new depth and knot meter will not be located where the old ones were.

So, I have five holes to prep and seal. Then, drill for new ones.

To patch a hole in the hull, one method is to grind the fibreglas on the inside and make a depression centered on the hole, that leaves the glas about 1/16" thick where the hole is. Then, starting with a small patch and making more and more larger patches, rebuild the fibreglas until it is as thick, or slightly thicker than before.

Fibreglas has a unique patching/rebuilding ability few other materials can claim. Done properly, the patch is as strong, or stronger than the original.

 

Today's rations of caffeine.

 

Decided it was time for the car to revert back to boat restoration.

 

This panel and switch and engine hour meter will be relocated.

 

On both Port and Starboard sides of the companionway, will be a wood electrical panel. It will house all the switches etc, plus the AmFm/CD radio, and Vhf ship to shore radio.

In addition, there will be a horizontally hinged panel that will contain the displays for the knotmeter, depthmeter, windmeter and compass. Plus, the chartplotter I just picked up as well.

 

How do you get this eyelet thru that small hole?

Squash it a bit.

 

Time to carefully push the panel thru and out the engine compartment.

 

Done.

 

Thirty years and my, it this wire corroded. Time to replace it.

 

Just a snapshot to tell me where they go back to.

 

More corrosion from long ago.

 

I bring this little battery and can power the cabin lights as needed. They do help when they are on.

 

Here is the seacock for the engine water. Time to go ...

 

Another view.

 

To much goo and schluck to get this off with a wrench.

 

Let's make a hole and place a door there when we are done.

 

All marked, ready to cut.

 

Instruments of Torture

 

Done. Nice and roomy now so we can get in there. And later, when all cleaned up etc, we can store whatever makes sense to put there when we are done.

 

A Sawzall to the rescue. An instrument of -Real Torture-.

 

Done. I was careful not to cut into hull.

 

This has to come off. The water inlet.

 

Zebra Mussels are just nasty little pests. These were just a few of the hordes in the strainer.

 

Not much corrosion where the fitting goes thru the hull.

 

Winter Scenes

 

Duckies are still there. Wow.

 

After some serious 36grit grinding. There appears to be about 5-6 layers. The circular patterns are anothel layer of glas.

 

Took the Throttle/Shifter off.

Guess what? This will be relocated too.

 

The blower was located n the upper right corner. It is frozen solid. At over $100 for a new one? I will fix this one.

 

More Instruments of Torture. Time to clean up a couple of small compartments.

 

Before and after. Tomorrow, I will grind some of the other stains away and then wipe those areas down with Laquer Thinner.

 

Before and After. Will also grind these stained areas a bit.

 

The paint/whateveritis, leaves my hands white.

 

After I got home, I thought, why not try to press the two main bearings into the engine block? The manual states to heat the parts and cool the bearing. I did heat the parts, but gave up trying to keep the bearing cool.

 

Using a 5/8" threaded rod, I will draw the old one out, and the new one in.

 

Out.

 

Pulling the new one in.

 

Done.

 

And, the engine block is next.

Using the bbq was not a bad idea. I kept watching the thermometer, and moved when it had been a while.

The flywheel end, main bearing, is not as tight as I would like it. Maybe, I will have to bring the crankshaft to a machine shop and have it ground down to fit undersized bearings. Hmmm ... More issues.

Later ...