It was one of those days.

Saturday started like most Saturdays at the marina -- nicely. I was up about 6:30am so I had a nice leisurely breakfast and listened to the Chris Parker synopsis. Not too bad but there was something brewing in the lesser Antilles that Chris said we needed to keep an eye on but had low probability to develop.

I reviewed the tasks I wanted to accomplish today, install the re-sealed forward hatch with new Nicro vent installed, study the hot prop packing issue, change oil in Main Engine, Generator engine, transmission oil, and the secondary filter on the main engine, and begin the installation of the stern rail reinforcing braces. That's a FULL day..

Unfortunately it was all down hill from there.

I started with installing the forward hatch. I peeled off the plastic and duct tape used to seal the hole and cleaned up all the nasty duct tape adhesive. Then stopped till I could get a hand to position and screw it into place.

I went below and started on the prop shaft packing problem. I strung a floodlight in the engine compartment then looked for a small crescent wrench -- no where to be found. I spent 20 minutes looking. Aaack! I disassembled the packing nut and looked at the packing gland -- leaking better than before but still not much. I stopped the leak for awhile and moved on to another project.

I then removed the ceiling panels in preparation to install the stern pulpit reinforcements. That went okay. I then unwrapped the custom made stern pulpit reinforcements and ogled them. Beautiful job of stainless steel welding and forming. Almost like jewels. I took the port side one over and trial fit it. Holy Crap!! It wasn't even close!! How could they get is so wrong!! I grabbed a steel tape and measured that stanchion. Hmmm pretty close to the 33 1/2 inch I told them to make it. I measured for the floor to the stern pulpit --- whaaaaat 30 1/2 inch!! I double checked it. Yep 30 1/2 inch. How could I get it so wrong!? Last week I measured it using a borrowed yard stick. It was not pretty but looked okay. I borrowed it back and measured it against the steel tape. The 33 1/2 in mark on the yard stick measured 30 1/2 inch on the tape. Ohhh Great!!! This definitely took some wind out of my sails. What are you going to do -- just a one in a million incident. I've never had a yard stick that wasn't a full yard.



A closer examination of the stick showed at the low number end it was badly discolored and the numbers difficult to read. It became obvious that for some reason some one sawed off the first 3 inches!!! Well I put that project away for now. I'll revisit it Monday when I call Kato MArine o see if they can possible shorten these things. Ohhh I felt bad.

I was finally able to get Karen to help me and we installed the forward hatch -- that went okay and looks good. The Nicro vent works very well. A quick test with the hose and no leak. Now for a rain test.

I never did find that small crescent wrench so I borrowed one from Jim but first I assisted in charging his refrigeration unit. That went a bit puzzling at first but then finally took the charge and worked very well. Well that is 2 success to one failure today.

I then disassemble the prop shaft hub from the transmission hub. I rotated each to see why the shaft is so hard to rotate when all is assembled -- ahh the resistance is in the transmission. I guess that is okay because it is a large transmission. When the shaft end free I got Jim over and we examined the flex and ease of rotation and all looked fine. I checked the alignment of the 2 hubs and that was fine. No problem found. I reassembled all and ran it in the slip. It's okay but heated up to about 101 degrees at just idle. We will just have to see.

With the engine hot I then ran the generator and heated up that engine. Then I broke for lurch.

After lunch I used the built in oil change pump to suck the oil from the main engine. I collected it in an empty gallon oil container. Wow it works slick. That oil came out like gang busters. Hmmm about 3/4 full I notice black oil on the floor under the gallon. Eeeck it's leaking!! I cap it and throw into the wastebasket and get it off the boat. What a mess now!! I cleaned up and removed the rest of the oil. Changed the filter and refilled and ran. That finally looked okay.

I then removed the oil from the generators engine and that went better. Changed that filter and refilled. It looked good too but I got a little messy refilling it and had that to clean up.

Then on top the transmission. That was just messy since I had to use a portable electric pump but I got it done tooo. That dip stick it uses is very difficult to read. I ran everything then all was fine .. Ahh more successes but a bit messy.

I rested a bit then tackled the secondary diesel filter on the main engine. I had never done it so I was concerned about getting air in the system. I even filled the filter before installing.

The engine fired up, ran 30 seconds then died. Aaaack air in the system. This pump usually self bleeding so I tried it again. still died. Aaack. Went to visit the Thompson's awhile. Then came back and started the engine 2 more times and then it was fine. I let it run 20 minutes -- all okay now.

It was time to call it a day.

We fixed Cajun Bleu cheese burgers on the grill and had the Thompsons over for dinner. It was a nice dinner and great conversation into the wee hours -- about 9:15pm. That's cruisers midnight.


Boy I was going to sleep well this evening.

Oktoberfest!! September 13, 2008

Gosh just a week ago the boats were struggling for survival -- all anchored out from the marina -- from Hurricane Hanna -- she passed just to the NW over New Bern, NC. Fortunately just a tropical storm when it got here. There was just too much work to take any pictures -- I know poor excuse.

This weekend we put the boats back together having dodged Hurricane Ike which had the possibility of coming here but instead slammed into Texas near Galveston.

Any way -- enough of the dreary. Today we cleaned the boats, and dressed them again in canvas and sails ready to do some fall cruising. But first more work. The agenda was for installing a new impeller in the main engine which went well and to study that hot packing nut on the prop shaft -- such a mystery. When it was all corroded and nasty and just two curls of packing it worked fine and cool. Now it runs hot -- very hot. If you take the packing nut off -- hardly any water flows out -- just weeps!! I can't believe it. Jim looked at it with me and we ran the engine with the packing nut free and still the threaded portion warmed up!! We determined that the tube and packing assembly must be meeting within the rubber log so I moved the rubber log 1" further out insuring at least 1 inch of separation. More water flowed when the engine ran. I reduced the number of curls in the nut from 3 to 2 and reassembled using the fancy Synthol grease -- now to test under a cruise.

The day was hot and sticky so I shut down around 4pm and cleaned up -- we had a party to attend to tonight. It was an Oktoberfest organized by our intrepid dock master Al. Al even dressed up for it.

The format was a pot luck with brats and sausages -- tame and game -- supplied. Lots of great eating and everyone had a great time. This could become an annual event now.

Almost cruiz-N

Finally the big work is completed. All the tasks on a boat are never completed but at least the big ones can be called done-- for the foreseeable future -- which is about 24 hours in the marine world.

I slept in today -- waited for a high sun before getting up. I think it was 10 till seven. I had a nice leisurely breakfast then tackled the one remaining job left over from the haulout -- get that big ass window air conditioner off the boat. I took it and the drop cloths I had on the floors away. Unfortunately it aggravated my sore knee for awhile but that too passed in a few hours.

I decided not to take the boat out today but just "fuss" around on the boat. I finished cleaning the fogged port lenses with that miracle product "PRISM" polish. It really did make the lenses clear. Here are two side by side. One is processed and one isn't yet.




I decided after that to tackle the packing on the prop shaft. No surprises there. The nuts broke loose easily and the pack ling did not seem that tight. I loosened until it dripped profusely then tightened till it just stopped. I ran the engine in gear in the slip but it still runs very warm - about 100 degrees. I loosened again and still warm. Well we will just have to see what happens now.

I splashed the dinghy and toke it for a ride. Boy it runs nice. I saw some folks throwing a cast net for shrimp so I waned to try. I got my cast net and tried in the areas at the head of Clubfoot Creek -- no luck but the shrimp were playing with me. I would stop casting then 2 or 3 would jump -- Grrrr. I tried a few other areas and still no shrimp. Then I tried an area on the other side of the new dock -- and pay dirt. Ten shrimp in one throw!! I worked another 20 minutes and caught about 30 shrimp -- nice size ones. Back on the boat to immediately process them -- they don't get any fresher than this. I took a picture of the catch and it turned out spooky -- their eyes reflected the flash very strangely.



I had a nice salami sandwich for lunch then spent the afternoon playing in the water. Uhh swimming. After the Cape Lookout crowd came back I took the dinghy to visit them and they were all floating in the water -- with beers of course. I joined them. Now this is a fine afternoon.

Dinner was a shrimp cocktail, T-bone steak, and a salad. Ahh the good life.

Finished with Stinky -- Finally

Today was going to be a tough day. I knew it when I went to bed and I knew it when I got up this morning. I was going to replace the sanitation hoses in the Aft head..

How does one even begin such a distressing job?? Well you just dig in -- oops bad pun there.

I had a leisurely breakfast and read some maintenance stuff about my transmission -- need to change the oil there soon, and just fussed around delaying the inevitable. I listened to Chris Parker and he had good news for us -- Tropical storm Hanna-- soon to be a hurricane does not look like it will threaten us.

I got the tools out and prepared the work area. Loosened all hose clamps and now it was time to start pulling the old hoses off the fittings -- this is where it gets real messy and stinky. Ahh I need to take a walk first.

It was a little before 8am and I was walking the docks when I ran into Cory and Dale -- they were headed to Oriental for a flea market. Hmmm would you mind giving me a ride to Minnesott ? No problem but hurry so we can catch the Ferry.

Ahh this worked out great. I could get my truck back and not bother anyone else for a ride.

While over there I went to Oriental to visit Ralph who is on the hard. His boat is looking very nice. Everyone getting ready to head South!!

Well it was time to face the music and back to Temptation. I arrived and just started around 10am. The start was not too bad. Not too much liquids and I was much better and quicker and containing it. Still when I pulled the Holding tank hose of the diverter valve I got a partial drenching of the nasty stuff.

I had all the old hoses off and cut by noon. I had to have a beer then to quiet my stomach though -- that odor just knots my stomach up.

After lunch I proceeded to install the new hoses and diverter valve. It went smoothly but took a lot of hard pulling and pushing to route the new hoses and clamp everything. Ohh did I mention that6 the door entrance below the bathroom sink where all the connections are made is only 5 inches wide!!

Had it all connected by 3pm. Ohhh yeah to get better access I had to remove one cold water supply line and the sink drain hose and then reinstall.

Things didn't get interesting till I cleaned up. I hosed down the head floor pan and the shower floor pan and then turned on the shower sump pump to drain all the nasty water out. Uh Oh -- she no run!!! Damn and I have all this nasty water to get rid of. Ohh well settle down and troubleshoot the pump. Ahhh the switch is missing a ground wire.. Hooked it up -- still no pump Grrrrr. Troubleshoot again. Hmmm four wires go up towards the switch but only 3 attached. I fish in the wall again -- Ahh another ground wire -- now the pump sucks.

I'm on a roll now. I go to the forward head to clean that head floor pan. I scrub it with soft scrub then go to run the sump pump and hey where did it go?? Drained away without the pump!! I investigate. Ohhh the shower floor pan is connected to the sump pump. The head floor pan just drains to the bilge -- ohh yuck... Well learned something new.

Now it was time for a shower and relax.. Cooking a T-bone on the grill tonight and going to bed early!!

Here is a picture of the old and new sanitation hose:

Not a bad Splash once I fixed the leak

Today was splash day -- time to put Temptation back in the water.

Lots of work has been done over the last 3 weeks and most could affect the water integrity of the boat.

Last night when I got here I reinstalled the steering cables. That went better than expected -- the steering is so smooth now. It appears there were two problems affecting the steering. An interference problem at the extreme movements and the overall stiff wheel was due to poor adjustment of the cables -- like everything else I have found -- TOO TIGHT!!!

The marina boys were ready first thing to splash me. I let them take the boat around 9am and I settled up the costs before it went into the water. An archaic marine rule that when some one does work on your boat -- they own it till you pay the damages...

The launch went well. I fired it up and let it warm up while I revisited all the areas that could leak to check them.. All dry. When I came back on deck they7 turned the lift motors off and Don -- the foreman -- noticed my engine was not spitting water -- a necessity. I immediately shut it down and investigated. Damn an air lock in the water intake lines to the engine -- Ohhh yes Al did caution me to close the intake seacock before hauling --- I hadn't. I bled the lines and restarted the engine -- she was spit tin water now.

I went ahead and left and slowly cruised through Minnesott Beach Marina -- very close and tight. I made it out without bumping then checked for leaks again -- all okay.

I motored back to Matthews Point -- no wind and the Neuse was flat calm. It was hot humid and hazy for so early in the morning.

I visually checked the packing on the rudder and prop and both were dry -- that's good but the prop should be dripping about 3 drops a minute. I pressed on.

About a mile from Clubfoot number 3 I checked again. Every thing still dry. Hmmm I wonder if the packing is warm?? I touched it -- yooow it burnt me!! Damn it was hot!! I poured some water on it and it sizzled and evaporated immediately -- that is BAD. I cut the RPMs from 2200 to 1800. Poured more water on the assembly -- still HOT. I checked the temperature with an infrared thermometer -- damn 170 degrees -- not good. I slowed down to 1500 RPM and crept into the marina. I made the slip with no difficulty and tied up. Thank goodness for a calm day.

I shut the motor down and heard a pump running.. What the?? It was the fresh water pump. Lost its prime for some reason. I corrected it. Then sat down to have a celebratory beer at 11:10 am. Hmmm another pump just came on and stopped -- the bilge pump.. Ohh well. 10 minutes later the bilge runs again.. then again .. Ohh boy I got a leak somewhere!!

I check all the areas that had been addressed. When I looked at the packing assembly there was a stream of water coming out from the packing log to brass coupler interface. Damn that heat did something!! I tightened the clamps -- oh boy leak stopped -- but what happened???


I'll write this off to the Friday curse. I know better than to start something new on a Friday but I thought maybe it would be okay today -- always a bad assumption. I tried to launch yesterday but the remnants of Fay came over and dumped 5 inches of rain on the house and there was spotty flooding all the way to the coast. So I launched today and was burnt -- literally.

All seems okay but we won't push it for a Friday. Just clean the boat and relax.

There could be another cause for these problems besides the Friday curse -- hubris...
I was just so proud of how well that packing nut assembly had cleaned up I guess the gods wanted to punish that pride.

Well any way let me show how well it cleaned up:




I just can't help myself and I know I'm going to have to pay for this too.

Stinky ME

I was up early this morning -- 6:15am knowing the long day ahead. Today was HEAD day and I was planning to replace the sanitation hose in the 2 heads. I was up early but the enthusiasm wasn't there. I had a leisurely breakfast and a moderate walk before getting started. It was 7:15 am before I started.

The place to start was removing everything from the medicine cabinet to expose the "secret" panel that would expose the vent tube for the sanitation hoses. I then practiced removing the hoses from the diverter valve because I would need to preserve the holding tank hose -- I wasn't going to replace it.

I first pulled out the hose between the diverter valve and the toilet. I had a plastic bag over the end of the hose with the joker valve. Ohhh yuck it leaked and I had the mixture of CLR and baby oil all over the place. Half in a bucket and half out -- Ohh the smell!!! I got it out of the boat and breathed fresh air awhile.

I then cleaned up and tackled the hose from the vent tube to the diverter valve at the vent tube. Not too bad. I then pulled the vent tube out with the hose from it to the thru hull. It was hard work pulling these old houses out from behind the wall. Ohhh it's going to be a bear installing the new hoses!!

I then removed the holding tank hose from the diverter valve and cleaned up the end and installed a new diverter valve. I then labelled and cut to length the 3 sections of hose to replace. WOW this new hose -- Shieldsflex Poly X Sanitation hose is easy to work with. It is more flexible then most and pushed on the fittings with little difficulty.


I fought and pulled and tugged the hoses, vent tube, and diverter valve into position and double clamped everything. Whew -- all hoses installed by noon. Boy that took longer than expected!! I broke for some lunch then started again. Now I had to install the rebuilt Toilet pump and connect the hoses and test. This took me till about 2pm. the results are not impressive to look at but represented a lot of hard physical labor -- I used 16 feet of this $11 a foot hose:



I then had a beer and planned the next step -- this day is pretty much shot and I have another head to do!! Could I stay down another day?? Nope I need to be home for a conference call and test session tomorrow morning. I then looked over the aft head and tried to see what the minimum effort might be -- could I replace just one hose for now?? Hmmmm I moved the old hose to Thru hull around and found away to use the existing length to clamp on. Voila!!! 30 minutes later and all done, however I do need to replace all those hoses very soon.

Ohh the Stinky Me part... While manipulating the old thru hull hose around it looked empty but as I sat on the floor and contemplated a way to reuse it, I didn't notice a steady stream of that CLR/Oil mixture leaking out until I noticed the seat of my pants all wet!!! Yuuuuck!!

I took a long shower then packed up and left about 4pm -- a very long day but Temptation is nearly ready to splash. I left the steering cables off till they finish the work on the rudder. It should take less than 30 minutes to install and adjust.

Not a Bad Work Weekend after a TERRIBLE Start!!

I had a lot to do this weekend if I was going to make a Thursday Splash Down but ohh the fates were going to have some fun with me.

The drive down was okay. I made a stop at the Food Mart in Durham to gas up with just enough to get the cheap gas in Kinston -- about 20 cents a gallon cheaper than Durham, than again in Kinston, and again in New Bern for groceries. Each time I started the truck it cranked very slowly. I was a little worried. I stopped in Grantsboro -- just 8 miles from Minnesott for diner. When I left I got in the truck and turned the key and NOTHING!! Lights came on but no crank. Damn... I checked the battery with the lights and no dimming when cranking. Thus battery good -- power not getting to the starter, I thought stuck starter relay because I didn't hear it click. I jacked the truck up a bit and climbed under it -- very anxious moment since this is a Burger King parking lot -- worried about someone pulling in beside me and running me over!!

I smacked the starter a few times with a small hammer. Still nothing. Finally a couple of ladies pulled in and I talked one into cranking the ignition for me while I banged on the starter. Nothing except the AC condensation water dripping in my face. After 5 minutes I thanked her and let her go. I pulled the battery cables and cleaned and still nothing.. Damn I don't know anyone here!!

A gentlemen pulls up and I ask him to crank the ignition switch. This time I hit the starter hard a rapid. Finally it starts but the guy leaves the key in start position -- grinding gears!! I yell "release the key but don't turn it off!!" He does. Ohhh boy now dirty and sweaty I continue on to the boat. What a way to start the weekend.

I'm wondering if it will start again!! I call Craig because he is coming down tonight. He has just arrived in New Bern and was headed to BoJangles-- I asked if he could pickup a starter for me. He says -- "no problem -- there is an Advance Auto right across the street!! What a guy..

The boat looked good. They got a lot of work done on it this week. Partial repair on the rudder, new Thru hull/seacocks on both heads, painted the bottom.



I was going to do some work tonight but I didn't. Just relaxed and read.

Saturday morning I started putting the packing assembly back on the prop shaft. Uhh the shaft coupler did not want to go easy. It was going to have to be beat on. Not good because there is a delicate measurement on the shaft locking bolts. They need to line up with dimples in the shaft. It was no fun. I would tap on the prop shaft from outside, climb back into the boat, crawl into the engine compartment and check. It took 7 trips to align ... would have been so easy with an assistant!!

I got it all back together and repacked the packing nut. That went well.

I then assembled the Max Prop back on the shaft. I thought this would be a 40 minute job.. No way!! I had to put the spinner on twice because I missed the index gear the first time, then I tried to put the 3 blades of the prop into the spinner holding them and keeping them in a full feathered position -- that took more than 45 minutes. Things just kept slipping and once on of the blades fell and chaffed my leg -- Ouch!!. Then I put the back on and couldn't start the screws -- damn!!!I finally had to take it and the blades out to see what was wrong. The internal spider that hold all 3 blades need to be flipped. I did learn that if I put the blades in the back and then attached to spinner I had no problem aligning the blades.
Total time -- about 2 hours!!

It was then on to lunch -- 5 hours to put the packing on the prop shaft and install the prop!!

After lunch I cleaned the prop and paitned it with an anti barnacle paint. Kooks GOOD!!


Relaxed a bit then tackled the steering packing. I had asked them to do but they hadn't. So I cleaned it up and packed it myself then went on to install the quadrature. That took till 3:30pm. I called it day and relaxed till Craig came by to pick me up for dinner. He brought along Doc Hoffman and his granddaughter Mallory and my Starter Motor -- what a guy. We went to Gary's for a fine dinner.

Back on the boat around 8pm to crash and read. I was whipped.. Hit the sack about 9:30pm.