Lots of Project Ideas....

Last week, Shelley and I were in Cuba... What a great break!  The warm and sunny weather may just get us through the rest of the winter now...  While we were laying on the beach I managed to read a couple more idea books and now have 7 pages of "Boat Project Ideas" that may or may not get done over the next  few years...  Below is the list of "projects" and "tips": 

(Keep in mind none of these ideas have been run past the Admiral yet)

Projects:

Not in a book:

1) ***Finish installing new steering ram

2) Make "poor mans" Bimini

3) Make cover for Dinghy

4) Make covers for 2 diesel jerry cans , one gas can, and one water can

5) when we get south buy 80-100lb test line and switch it out on our salt 

water poles

Tips:

Not in a book:

***All guests must come with soft sided duffel bags ONLY

keep about 6 disposable coveralls on the boat. shrink package them.

Get 100-200 ' of 1" nylon webbing.. Makes lots of stuff....

Projects:

Why Didn't I Think of That?    (John & Susan Roberts)

pg: 5-6   Companionway seat

pg: 15   Mast Climbing system - low mast steps...

pg: 16     Winch Handle holder - PVC pipe...

pg: 17:     Ring to separate the flag halyard tied to the shroud...

pg: 21:       Companionway storm door***                                 

pg: 23:   Use Thompson's weather seal on canvas....  

We have a gallon already.. put it in a spray bottle...

pg 32:   Re-use liquor dispensing rack 

attach to a bulkhead or inside a cupboard

pg 33:     put a 1/4" plywood sheet under the mattress in aft cabin 

then hook it to the ceiling - it will hold up the mattress

pg 56: anchor buoy - use the yellow ball - see picture use 3/8" line so it 

can be use to pull out the anchor if it gets fouled

pg 58: In addition to mast head anchor light use a solar light at deck level.

pg 59: put clear tubing on anchor snubber for extra chafe protection

pg 60: 15" x 4" PVC attached to stern rail with lrg. SS hose clamps 

to hold stern danforth anchor.

pg 81: Move bolt cutters to seat in cockpit.

pg 83: put barrel bolt in hatch board that goes into sliding hatch

pg 84: Put shock cord behind both heads 

pg 87: Put a collar zinc on the shaft inside the hull.

pg 90: install jackline in cockpit  and at helm. (& pg5 Offshore Sailing)

pg102: install activated carbon filter in galley sink for drinking water

Projects:

100 Fast & Easy Boat Improvements  (Don Casey)

pg 11: Rim deadbolt for hatchboard

pg 22: Add warning light to bilge pumps at helm and nav station

pg 37: add compass to aft cabin

pg 48: add 2' length of 2" pvc to hold umbrella

Projects:

Offshore Sailing (Bill Seifert)

pg 28: Install preventer system (need 2 turning blocks)

pg 39:   Magnaflux test kit $49 - to check standing rigging

pg 48: add SS cringle rings to reefing points on main & mizzen

pg 62-63: ***Create locking mechanism for lazarette from aft cabin

Tips:

Why Didn't I Think of That?    (John & Susan Roberts)

pg 25:   find some boric acid.  it will kill cockroaches.

pg 26:  - buy a mouse trap and a rat trap and keep them on board 

(often not available in other countries)

pg29-30:  when off shore cover dinette cushions with towels...

pg 35:   put a few tablespoons of vegetable oil in 

the near empty toilet every few days once a month pour vinegar

into the toilet - let it sit in pump for about an hour - then rinse

pg 37: instructions for using the head - laminated  (for guests)

pg 43: put beach down every drain including the shower once a month...

keeps the smell down and kills germs

pg 44: bleach in bilge to get rid of bad smells - VINEGAR for diesel smells

pg 47: vacuum seal toilet paper

pg47: create inventory notebook - (see idea 238)

pg48: store towels and sheets in pillow shams and throw cushions.

pg 48: store cloths not being used in vacuum storage bags

pg 55: find a plastic recipe  card file box to keep alphabetic track of 

boats we meet.  if we get a boat card just glue it to the card.

pg 82: find a pre-departure checklist and make it work for us.

pg 82: make through haul diagram - and close as many as possible 

while underway

pg 87:   put a whistle in the cockpit.

pg 88: put 20' of line and a carabeiner on the ditch bag.

pg 96: wherever possible, use local currency.

pg 96: Lonely Planet Guide Books and Fielding's Caribbean Travel Book.

pg: 101: Liquid Joy - works for dishes in salt water

pg 105: keep micro tape recorder at nav station to record weather 

forecasts

pg 106: Caribbean weather forecast 4003 khz @ 0815 AST (ECT)

  and 8104 khz @ 0830 AST

pg 108: cook double batches of potatoes, rice, meat etc. use leftovers... 

saves energy

pg 108: use "flame tamer" to make toast.

pg 108: if you soak rice for 6-8 hours cut cooking time in half.

pg 109: use dutch oven on barbecue for baking

pg 110: make "solar tea" - 4 tea bags into black 2 litre plastic water 

bottle

pg 111: reduce pressure cooking time by 20% and let the cooker cool

down slowly instead of venting- saves propane

pg 118: use a mortar and pestle to grind/crush spices. (do we have one?)

pg 119: start collecting mayo, ketchup mustard relish packets (now)

pg 163: find a dozen or so plastic syringes - for epoxy or liquid sealant

Projects & Tips:

Best of Sail Magazine's THINGS THAT WORK

pg 3: use 27% hydrogen peroxide - 1/2 oz per 10 gal h20

instead of chlorine tablets chunked off and mixed with water

in a bleach bottle

pg4: get an 18" length of 3/8" to 1/2" soft copper tubing connected 

to a valve that fits the washdown hose. to clear blockages in the 

waste lines.

pg 5: never leave salt water standing in the water or waste system for 

any length of time.  if leaving the boat for any length of time run 

fresh water through the whole system...

pg 7: to clear clogs in drains or pipes use a scuba tank to blow them out

pg 8: emergency gasket - cut out a plastic lid.

pg 10: to cut a tube in half - wrap it in paper then fold the paper in half.

pg 17: Rigging tester: wd-40 mixed with red dye powder. apply with soft

brush, let stand for 20 min. wipe with lightly dampened rag with 

alcohol. then lightly brush on talcum power - cracks will appear.

pg 19: compress a new impeller with a hose clamp - lube with veg oil.

pg 24: take oil filter off with ziplock bag.

pg 25: flush raw water side of cooling system w/ fresh water from time 

to time

pg 27: use enema bag for transmission fluid and distilled water

pg 38: check to see if this idea might work for an extra solar panel?

pg 39: wire in warning light to indicate when the water pump is activated...

pg 44: flopper stopper - settles boat in rolly anchorage (see video too)

pg 45: old fire hose for chafing gear...

pg 55: add 2 small padeyes to each mast just above the spreaders for 

bird wires

pg 87: Put water pump grease on the prop... keeps barnacles off.

pg 90: use small clevis rings instead of cotter pins

pg 95-97: Some kind of rig to secure a floppy topping lift...

Tips & Projects

From Buy Outfit and Sail By Fatty Goodlander: (Kindle Edition)

 3703.   Glue a sunbrella umbrella over the ssb radio to keep it dry.

 2728.   Attach hatch boards to the boat.  Make sure they don't fall out

if the boat flips over

2760 important storm stuff.

3738.         Buy a toilet wax ring to fix leaks while underway

3815.          Get rid of all steel wool.

3893.         Make dry boxes for electronics 💻etc. find a dehumidifier 

and hygrometer and a large Dry container see picture.

4941 exercise all the equipment on the boat at least once a month.

5076 a list of stuff to take to trade... (a really good list!)

5255 how to re-build a dinghy motor that has been submerged.

5317 inventory and record all spare parts - not only the engine!

5443 when crossing the ocean, move anchor chain to the base of the 

mast post in the bilge.

5492 there are 2 free knot books on amazon for the kindle.

5501 Coconut husks on a fire keep mosquitoes away..

5560 How to careen your boat

6290 find some Kevlar thread - it can replace a SS fitting.

Tips & Projects:

Simply Sailing by Connie McBride:  (Kindle Edition)

197 medications for seasickness. Scopolomine - brand: Tran-Scope

1771              Replace napkins with cloth - 2 for each person.

2297           Store extra clothing in throw cushions

2374           Get a few 100' spools of starter cord - works great for may projects

2391             Use dry-deck from west marine for under cushion etc. keeps moisture at bay.

2685            Put a 1" hole in the top of the rudder for am emergency steering rope

3915              Best anchor seems to be a Bruce 

Diesel Polisher.... DONE!

Whoo-Hoo.... I have finally finished building the diesel polisher I set out to find almost 2 years ago...  Today I went to the mailbox and picked up the 12 volt diesel fuel pump...  This afternoon I picked up 5 gallons of diesel fuel and 2 new fuel containers (we will need them anyway) and the last few bits and pieces needed to complete this project...  It started a few weeks ago with my friend Brian, TIG welding the 1/8" aluminum that my father in law, Ed put together.

Tonight I put the last few pieces together and now have this AWESOME fuel polishing system that is designed to either polish fuel from my own tanks (with a special valve and connector permanently installed in my fuel system) or as a siphon pump from another source (e.g. a 45 gallon drum).  Additionally, this system is portable so I can use it on ANY boat...  (Maybe another way to make a few dollars or earn some karma points).

The picture below shows the gear in action, pumping and filtering fuel from one yellow container to the other.  Everything worked perfectly except the gas nozzle that came with the pump.  It seems to be missing the o-ring that should have been with it....  hopefully I can find one...  

Lastly, for storage, the suction and fill hoses can be easily attached and detached for really compact storage.

I also picked up all the running rigging that I had to replace after the mice got to the lines that were stored in the trailer...  and expensive little mouse attack!

Here is the stand that we plan to use to hold the iPad at the nav station that acts as a repeater for the Raymarine Chartplotter/Radar unit at the aft helm..

 We also have a bit of a security issue with the lazarette hatch covers.... At the moment there is no good locking mechanism on that hatch doors. So with a variation of an idea from one of the countless sailing books I have read over the last few years I will create a remote deadbolt system from the aft cabin that is will use these throttle cables to plunge deadbolts in the lazarette....  More on that in the spring...

Progress in the Mid Winter Freeze....

Over the last few weeks I have been building a diesel polishing unit. For Some reason, in Canada, this is something that no one ever uses... I got the plans from a fellow who has a unit on his boat... With his design as a guide I have now built a wonderful, compact unit that will not only polish the fuel in my own tanks, but will transfer and/or pump fuel from another container should the need arise...

From the pictures you can see that there are two filters. the first will either strain the fuel (if if is REALLY dirty) or flow through with a 10 micron filter. the second, is a spin-on filter that is also 10 microns... on the other side the 12 volt, 10 GPM pump will be located just below the valves.

The valves are designed to either pump the fuel or filter the fuel, depending on how they are set. The pump itself is ordered and is waiting at our mailbox. We will pick it up at the end of the month...

Thanks to all the people who helped this project come together. If you want a parts list and supplier sheet, just email me and I will send it along...

The other happy event this month was the Toronto Boat Show where Shelley and I picked up a few odds and ends needed for our spring launch... We got 3 blocks from Gaurhauser (really cheap!) and a solar vent for the fwd head and a Hella 2 speed fan for the aft cabin... And of course, a couple of new pairs of Topsiders... you can't ever have enough deck shoes....

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This REALLY Works!

Well folks, sometimes in the middle of the ton of junk mail I get every day a gem gets uncovered.... This quote is from a boat building newsgroup that I subscribe to:

Penetrating Oils
Machinist's Workshop magazine recently published some information on various penetrating oils that I found very interesting. Some of you might appreciate this. The magazine reports they tested penetrates for break out torque on rusted nuts.
They are below, as forwarded by an ex-student and professional machinist. They arranged a subjective test of all the popular penetrates with the control being the torque required to remove the nut from a "scientifically rusted" environment.
*Penetrating oils ........... Average torque load to loosen*
No Oil used ...................516 pounds
WD-40 ..................... ... 238 pounds
PB Blaster .................... 214 pounds
Liquid Wrench ...............127 pounds
Kano Kroil .................... 106 pounds
ATF*-Acetone mix........53 pounds
The ATF-Acetone mix is a "home brew" mix of 50 - 50 automatic transmission fluid and acetone. Note this "home brew" released bolts better than any commercial product in this one particular test.

Our local machinist group mixed up a batch and we all now use it with equally good results. Note also that "Liquid Wrench" is almost as good as "Kroil" for about 20% of the price.

Steve from Godwin-Singer says that ATF-Acetone mix is best, but you can also use ATF and lacquer thinner in a 50-50 mix.
*ATF=Automatic Transmission Fluid

I went out yesterday and bought the components and a couple of spray bottles.... WOW! it works better than I could have imagined... who knew?

Have an awesome day everyone...

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HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

HTTP://COUNTINGDOWNTO.COM

That's right folks, Shelley and I will be heading off in our adventure in just 18 months. Our plan this year is to get the boat back down to Lake Ontario as early as possible in April.  I have booked the week after Easter off of work so hopefully the weather and the crane company and the trucking company will all co-operate and we can get the boat to St. Catharines....


Once we are on the hard beside the lake, we need to get all the standing rigging put back together and get the new arch installed with all the bits that go with that. Then we need the lifelines re-installed and we should be ready to go. All that should take about a month or so to complete.

Our plan right now is to dock the boat at the Royal Hamilton Yacht Club.  This is where we were for a few years before we bought Blowin' Bubbles.

On January 15th Shelley and I will be heading to Toronto to attend the annual Toronto Boat Show.

While we don't need many more bits for our boat, we have made a short list of people we want to see while we are there.  We will begin by hopefully picking up our life-raft at Inland Life-Rafts.  They are the people who have had the raft for a little while now and are re-certifying it for us. We were lucky enough to be there when they unpacked it and they inflated it for us so we know exactly what it looks like and what is inside it.  We also sent the folks there some extra supplies that we want put into the raft before it gets packed away.

After picking up the raft we will see a few people at the show.  We need a couple of turning blocks, some rope (we lost some last winter to the mice in the trailer), a man overboard pole and some solar vents.

The two other places we need to talk to are some canvas people to look at the possibility of one of them making our dodger, and a mechanical company who might be able to help us with a noisy shaft coupler.  both of those may end up being too expensive...


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We Have Solved the Compressor Problem

I am happy to report that we are the proud owners of 2 newer scuba compressors. The fellow in Washington ended up selling us his and we bought the unit in Texas. Together we have invested another thousand dollars but these units have interchangeable parts and the newer one only has .7 hours on it.... we will get one working for sure and at the very least the other will have spare parts. We will try to sell the older units in the spring. While they may not work for scuba, they should work great for paintball, especially if they are used outside...



We are patiently waiting for our life-raft to get finished and after Christmas we should get the dodger done..


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Our NEW Solar/Wind Arch....

Last week we went to Niagara Falls to pick up our new hydraulic steering ram and the two scuba compressors we bought when I was sick.  On the way we picked up Shelley's dad's trailer and dropped it off at Klacco Marine in Grimsby.

The next morning on our way home we picked up the arch and delivered it to our home in Cambridge.

Unfortunately, while we were wrestling it into the back yard, the city came along and gave us a parking ticket...  gotta love those guys...

It Has Been Quite a Month....

Just after my last post I started to become a little unwell...  As most know my back has been giving me all kinds of grief over the last few years.  My solution has been to just take a few more pills and keep going.  It turns out that this was not the brightest solution....  A few weeks ago I started to bleed internally and ended up with a bunch of tubes sticking out of me in hospital...

They seem to have fixed that problem but now I am having to deal with my back problems in a little different way...  This has meant that NOTHING has been done to or for the boat in the last month...

Today however, I asked a bunch of family and friends to meet Shelley and I at the boat this morning and together we got the engine winterized and the boat covered for the winter.  We have decided that all work on the boat will stop until the spring when I am feeling better and we are ready to get her back to the water.

The only big job that did not get completed was the replacement of the steering ram.  We have the part and will try to get it installed as soon as things warm up in the spring.

I have made tentative arrangements with the transport company and the marina to get the boat back in the water in late April or early May (depending on weather).  We also have our name on a few waiting lists for a slip for next summer....  All we need now is a big pile of money!  we are guessing that the shipping and launch will cost around 5-6,000 and slip fees will be around another 3,000...  Wish us luck!

On a happy note, our arch for the back of the boat should be ready this month (November) and our re-certified life raft should be ready before the end of the year.  This winter, Shelley and I will try to make ourselves a new Dodger at home...  This should be an adventure...

More news later.... Cheers!

Compressor Woes

A month or so ago I tested our scuba compressor and discovered that there was some blow-by on the high pressure heads... Confused... Well basically that means that the scuba compressor will barely be able to fill a tank and worse, the boat will fill with an oily smoke that will make shelley really happy... NOT!

So what do we do?

The simple answer is to by a new compressor. But the truth is we can't afford the $3 to $6 thousand for a brand new one.

Which leaves places like eBay and Craig's List... This option has now officially driven me crazy.

I connected with a man in Washington DC who had EXACTLY what I needed but was very reluctant to ship it to me... So I haven't heard back from him so I assume that he sold it to someone local.... Rats...

I am now trying to get a friend of mine to look at another unit in Dallas Texas... This one is newer but also more expensive.... and heavier... and bigger... and more expensive to ship....

So What do we do?

I'll keep looking and hoping...

On a happier note we are now the proud owners of all the gizmo's that we need to make our own soda pop on board... Shelley found that many cruisers have gone to a product called Soda Stream because of the cost and lack of available and or affordable pop in some places.. The downside to the Soda Stream is the cost of the C02 cartridges required to make it work...

After some extensive internet research we found that for about $100 we bought an adaptor from a standard 20lb. CO2 cylinder to the Soda Stream cylinder.

We also found syrup in bulk for $15 per gallon which will make soda pop easy and crazy cheap!


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If It Weren't for Bad Luck....

Have you ever had a day when you decided afterwards that you would have been better off staying in bed..... After days of trying we have now discovered a couple of things with the steering on the boat... The $79 ram at Princess Auto is what they call an unbalanced ram, which like me, means it will not work to steer the boat... Not only that, when I installed it, I turned the wheel of the lower helm and oil just gushed everywhere from the rear seal...

So now it means that I had to find a balanced ram... After all kinds of mis-adventure I have finally found one at Redden Marine in Washington State....
with shipping it will cost just under $900.... That is a big expense we were not counting on... But like most people have said, better for it to go now than when we were 200 miles from shore in a storm....(I know the picture says $984, but they sold it to me for $850 plus shipping)




I really tried hard to buy one in Canada but even though this Teleflex steering ram is made in Richmond BC, it costs almost $1200 to buy in Canada... Crazy eh?

Hopefully, it will be at the mail box next week and we can get it installed before the weather gets too cold....

This week I had to work on Friday so nothing else got done.. Maybe I can spend some time tomorrow (Saturday)...



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