Trip 65 - Sunday - March 15th

Got the car loaded last night, the alarm set for 7am, woke up and got hooked on an Eastwood movie til 8:30. Out the door at 9 tho.

Throughout this series, I have been amazed at what a difference the camera colors and contrast vs what folks see in person. Sometimes, like the inside of the hull, looks really ugly. But, it is not -that- bad. An interesting point.

My goal before Island Sunset goes into the water, is to have the engine and propulsion fully installed and running, all the new thru-hulls and sensors in place, old holes patched, and the compression post back in and screwed down. With this combination, I can go from the harbor back to my slip. If, I get the battery box and a modicum of electrics by then? Great. I can go sailing.

Any additional things, are a definite plus.

Today, just wore me out. Fibreglas is a series of woven glass fabric and a plastic resin. Now they use a vinylester resin. Once hardened, it is really hard and quite durable. To repair fibreglas, like a hole, you grind (yes, grind) away the layers from the hole outward. In my case, to fix a 1" hole, you have to grind outwards to about a 9" circle. Then, you taper the depth from the surface at the outward edge, down thru the layers to the hole in the middle. The two areas you see today, are about 3/8" thick, and I relieved that down to about 1/16" at the boundary of the holes.

-Safety- is paramount. These things are not technically hard, but you must be able to breathe and protect your eyes and ears. I used my CPAP machine to provide filtered fresh air, and ear muffs for noise. Much better than a fancy dust mask.

+++

A fellow behind me was bottom painting today. It was that nice.

I am seriously considering stripping my bottom and applying what is called a barrier coat. Then, bottom paint goes on top of that. A Barrier Coat, is just that. The gelcoat (the surface we see) is porous - at a microscopic level. Water can get in. A Barrier Coat almost eliminates that. It is most helpful for boats that are in the water year round.

It is also an excuse to strip away many layers of paint and start fresh.

I will think on that. It is -alot- of work.

The first batch of Instruments of Torture. A Sawzall we will use to split the Cutlass Bearing.

 

New, and old.

 

Out and ready to grease up the new one.

 

Let's pull it into the strut.

 

Almost ...

 

Now, for the Serious Instruments of Torture. When I am done, my back and knees will be way beyond hurt, they will be in pain.

 

To know if we have room for the two sensors and thru-hull, we need to know where to place the holding tank. That is determined by this 1/2" fitting for the fresh water tank.

 

Nice and cozy.

 

I made Marks placed where the back of the tank will be. And enough room to manipulate the new thru-hull and remove the depthmeter plug.

 

Measuring.

 

Placement of the sensors. Left and right.

 

I will drill a 2" hole for each.

 

From the outside.

 

Inside.

 

Some days, one has to be satisfied with "Good Enough". The dashed line, is the centerline of the hull from the inside. The plus sign, is the center of the bottom from the outside.

Nutz.

The little wall, is not square to the boat. One hole is about an 1/8", noticeable, forward of the other.

Nutz again ...

But, good enough.

 

The little clips are for springs that support curtains. Time for them to go too. An interesting note, trying to pop the leftovers into the wall and under the surface skin? 2-3 did not budge. Interesting. I will revisit these when I make the new curtains and such. Maybe just hide them under the wood rod holders top and bottom.

 

Torture, Pure Torture, coming up ... This is gonna hurt.

 

The above image is a CPAP device. A vacuum cleaner in reverse kind of. Since 1990, I have been diagnosed with Sleep Apnea, the common cold of sleep disorders.

A unit like this, has a mask that straps on over the nose and a fan inside provides air under pressure which keeps your soft tissues in your throat held open instead of collapsing with every breathe.

After pills did no good, I was fitted with one of these. This is my second unit. Both of which I have worn that doggon'ed mask for more than 22,000+ hours. I think this will cure the problem of dust sneaking past a dust mask.

Well, let's get this done!

 

Hard to see here, but both of those smaller holes were where thru-hulls went thru. They are layed up to about 3/8" higher than the hull for reinforcement for the valve. That has to come off first, followed by the recessed effect.

 

Almost two hours later, all ground down to where the entry hole is about 1/16" thick. The concentric rings, are the various layers of glass cloth set in resin. I will replace this with several layers of glass and 1-2 laid neatly over that. Done by the book, the new resin will react chemically with the old and is supposed to be as strong as when new.

In any case, I feel comfortable, the next wave will not pop thru the hole and rip off the patch.

 

After the dust storm, I left without cleaning anything up. I will return with a hose and soap and wash it all down good and proper.

Stem to stern.

 

A view forward. Kinda serene.

 

All the boats - still sleeping. Ready for spring. Waiting patiently for their families. Who some day, will return.

Some only race on weekends. Some use the craft like a Kozy Kamper and hobnob up and down the docks. Others make it a complete family activity and build countless memories. And a few each summer live on their vessels til the season is over.

And then, every now and then, some one, a couple, maybe a family, are planning and working towards a more Grand Adventure. Far down river and across Blue Water.

But all, all, dream ... ... ... Romanced of the day where they too, experience wind and wave again and being propelled by something they can not see in a craft with lines and curves as graceful as a very beautiful woman. And like a mother holding her baby safe from all harm, their vessel nestles them and protects them. No matter the rage about them.

As it has been done by so many for so long, ever since the first sailor on the Mediterranean hoisted a lateen sail above -his- pride and joy and drifted with the wind and waves. About 2500bc.

What a long legacy those of any age who sail all the rivers, ponds, lakes, seas and oceans enjoy. Dreams. Adventure. Pride. Creativity. Serene quiet. And occasionally, God's blazing paintbrush at sunset.

But all experience an aggregate love of the wind and waves and all that is good and beautiful.

Later ...