Engine WORK!!

Well the end of another year. I pulled the starter and cooling equipment off the starboard engine, rebuilt the starter and cleaned out the cooling equipment. I pulled the head off the Yanmar 3 cylinder generator in order to give it a valve job. Running this low compression diesel without a load fouls the exhaust. It was clogged with carbon deposits but cleaned up nice. New rug in the spring and an autopilot and AIS. Just need some warmer weather!

 

 Discovered to my surprise that there was rotten wood in the aft shower. If you are going to put wood in a boat, why not the shower! Carver had used plywood panels coated with melamine. That is fine but they left the sides exposed. I found out that this is a common problem on my boat. I pulled the thing apart and rebuilt it. Lots of work but that weird earthy smell is gone now, very happy. 

 

  

I also replaced the leaky facets as well as the shower head.

 

We decided to pull the boat early to get a jump on this years projects, a dingy lift and major work on the engines, striping the raw water circuits and pumps for a rebuild and cleaning / inspection. Also new carpet in the salon.

  

The water level is really dropping this year. 

 

 

Here is a CAD drawing of my Dingy lift layout. 

  

Going to be a busy winter but we are quickly approaching retirement. Not sure if we will be done next summer or if we will go another 18 months. That is up to the Gods in HR I guess.   We are researching the Great Loop and joined the AGLCA.

  

 

Summer 2025

 August now. I have worked on the boat steady. New injectors, Rebuilt the entire black water system, rebuilt aft shower, bow thruster works great! Took a week long trip thru the lake Erie islands, ran great, Got caught in some 6 footer, boat is stable, we took it slow and did fine. I get .85 gallons per mile at 18 knots. Much better at 10 knots. The great thing was, at the end of the week, we were still comfortable on the boat. Counting down to retirement now and thinking about doing the great loop.

HAPPY 2025

 HAPPY NEW YEAR. I am held up on the bow thruster, It is on back order. I decided to rip the entire black water system out of the boat. Four pumps and two sewage tanks along with all the connecting hose. It all has "that smell" I have already cleaned and bleached the tanks, tore down the pumps. I ordered rebuild kits. What a sh!tty job, I'll spare you the photos!

Bow Thruster

 Cut the hole for the bow thruster after taking the bed and it's base in the front bedroom apart.

There was fiberglass webbing and a shelf meant to support the A/C unit under the bed. All had to trimmed to clear the 7 3/4" tube. Then the big cut through the hull...GULP!

 With that done I built a halo tube at the back because I couldn't reach back there once the actual tube was inserted. This was thickly coated with an epoxy mix when the tube was inserted. The remained was thickly tabbed using a total of 2 gallons of epoxy and many yards of fiberglass!

That will do until spring, I have to replace the webbing and shelf inside and of course install the new Vetus thruster.  Boat has been winterized and the cover goes on this week. MERRY CHRISTMAS!
 

End of summer

 All A/C Units working Genny was serviced, it now works great. Just another example of what happens on boats that just sit. This fall we are pulling early in order to start the bow thruster installation. Looking for LED lighting and new carpet or hardwood, I'll let the Admiral decide. Taking boat to a cove for the long weekend.

LOtsa work!

 The boat has been neglected. It has had light use, spent most of the last 5 years on a lift.

 The Engines are 5.9 Cummins with 700 hours. The AC didn't work, it was the raw water pump that feeds all three. FIXED!  The Genny is a 10kw Kohler with
 a 3 cylinder Yanmar. The center cylinder is not firing, Went through all the normal procedures, the head may have to come off. Other than that, the new top is on and she is coming along.