Trip 68 - Saturday - April 4th

Lots of exciting, complicated and worthwhile things to look at today.

I thought it best to rewire Island Sunset. It is thirty years old and quite oxidized. I spent quite some time placing components, bus bars, barrier strips, breakers, charger, isolator, shore power, receptacles, instruments, batteries, lites and lotsa wire. When I am done, it will be very useful, convenient and -safe-. Especially with 120v running about inside the cabin.

Btw, Marcia and I may change the name to something that lights us up a bit more. Island Sunset is good, but for us, lacks a bit of Sizzle. She likes something with Rainbow in it. I, like something with Sunset in it. Stay tuned. We both kinda like something with an Island Flavor (You know, warm weather, ocean, beach, exotic drinks, NO WINTER EVER!)

Then, part of my trip on Sunday was to make -certain-, the radiator I will make will fit in the lazarrette. After that was ensured, I made a diagram and calculated how much of what I will need. In the end, 90+ feet of 3/4" tubing will cool the 300cc motor. That, it will do.

"The Apple Does Not Fall Far From The Tree". My oldest son Tim has owned a 14' and now a 16' sailboat for his cabin. These past few months, he has gone through quite a bit of angst and indecision regarding something larger. He and his three children have a great time on what he has, but they are getting bigger and he wants to let them use it as a Secret Clubhouse and sleep over as well as, all of them staying out now and then. Not to mention actually sailing in something larger, which makes it a bit safer and more funner. He spotted one in Canada east of Toledo and he and his brother Tom left Thursday to fetch it and returned last night.

He called me when about fifteen minutes away. I finished what I was doing and left for his house. A couple blocks away, he turned a corner, and faced me, turning mine. A Hollywood Moment, for sure.

Ok, Brace Yourselves. What follows may be technical, instructive and probably and most certainly boring. As always.

 

Schematics are a kind of Roadmap showing where and what the wiring connects to. Once this is done, components are actually placed on The Boate and then, the work starts. Carefully running the wires here and there until finished. This schematic also indicates kind of where each block of stuff is.

The Full Size version is here.

 

The plans and calculations for the radiator. This is a length of copper tubing, coiled back onto itself, which will contain the warm water being circulated through the engine, cooling it as it returns to be heated up again.

An enclosed system will be far better than sucking in lake water. No Zebra Mussles to clog the water pump and the engine may actually get a bit warmed up.

A McDonalds Kiddie meal to who ever can explain this to me adequately. Serious.

 

Hallberg-Rassy came thru and shipped me the Latch Catches.

Thanks!

 

The Catch is adjustable. This keeps tension on the drawer/door and prevents rattles. The brass screw moves the actual Catch across the post.

 

Totally to one end.

Half way across.

 

Complicated! (You try and explain it!) The Post is fastened to the Drawer Frame. The Screw, moves the Catch back and forth. The Drawer Face contains the Latch with a Striker that catches the Catch.

 

I thought it necessary to have a decent Bilge Pump. This is 12v and will pump a modest seven gallons a minute. During the interior cleanup, it will be priceless. I no longer have to sit there and do the thing by hand. I will keep and mount the manual bilge pump, using it as a backup.

 

My, what was dropped off at our door today?

A Supplier had their Annual Spring Sale and saving 10-30%? Yes, I will.

 

New shore power cord and receptacles. This will be much safer than what was there before and will not leave black rubber marks on the deck. WHere the cord connects to the boat receptacles is waterproof. Much Safer. Engine Tachometer, Oil Pressure and Water Temperature gauges. A Head Rebuild Kit (YEAH!) and new bronze seacocks.

 

Tim, unloading a sail.

 

Looks like my car!

 

A nice 21' Precision.

This actual vessel is featured on their website! It is the first image in sepia.

 

After two days of driving and 1700+ miles.

 

Tom's new (used) car.

 

I found this cutey cooktop. Glass top, electronic ignition, propane. For hot chocolate, coffee, maybe an egg sandwich.

 

Back in the fall of 1998, Marcia and I went looking for a new car for her. After a couple months, one Thursday night, we returned home and she was upset. "Quit showing me these things if all we are going to do is look". All day Friday I thought of it and Saturday I got up at 5:30, got on the Internet (Thanks Al) and found a new Expedition at Tousely Ford. Just what she wanted. I went for breakfast with her, dropped her off somewhere, zipped on over, signed the deal, called my banker, returned, dropped her off somewhere else, grabbed my nephew and sisterinlaw and fetched the check and went back to fetch the car.

Backed it in the driveway into the garage. Huge red bow on top (Like 3' around), left the interior and parking lights on, shut off all the others, and we all waited for her friend to drop her off. She buzzed the garage and there it was. Waiting for her.

Just turned 200,000 miles yesterday. And the car has performed admirably indeed.

 

Lake Pepin is up about 5-6 feet or more.

 

The new Bilge Pump will be located in the upper right area under the berth, where the box is. The tubing will go from there to the bilge. I extended a wire under the sole to find a way to go from "A" to "B".

 

I will mount the pump on the side of the motor mount. And the tubing will go the direction of the arrow out the back.

Btw, I, having no sewing machine, but will take an older t-shirt, staple the arms and bottom shut. Then, stick one end of a garden hose in the neck and take a hose clamp and secure it there. Connect the other end to the bilge pump inside the boat and the t-shirt will serve as a filter for all the gunk that spews out of the boat as I clean it (The Boate).

Bright! Eeeeh?

 

The very technical and complicated sketches for the radiator. Very accurate measurements and tolerances were held for the planning of this device. The Bilge Blower has a hose that comes out where the red dot is and I have to accomodate that.

 

The expected size of the mangle and tangle of tubing.

 

Based on that, I cut out a cardboard frame with the back and side fleshed in. Need to know if it will fit before all the work of actually making it.

The notch is for the bilge blower exhaust air

The dimensions worked out just fine.

So. Howzzatt Folks?

 

Later ...