SNAP, CRACKLE, POP

13 MARCH 2012


WHILE WE ARE AT WORK WE HAVE THE LUXARY OF STAYING IN A SWEET RV.  THIS ALLOWS US THE BENEFITS OF HAVING SOME PRIVACY AND FRESH AIR.  LIVING IN A RV IS A LOT LIKE BOAT LIFE. 12 VOLT LIGHTS, 12 VOLT WATER PRESSURE AND PROPANE ARE JUST TO NAME A FEW OF THE SIMILARITIES.

SCENE UNO:

THE NIGHT BEFORE LAST THERE WAS A FREEZE WARNING FOR OUR AREA, SO JUST BEFORE WE TUCKED IN I TURNED THE HEATER KNOB ON HIGH.  THIS MOVE WAS MAINLY FOR US AND THE DOG BUT IT ALSO HELPED TO KEEP THE PIPES FROM FREEZING.

SCENE 2:


IT WAS AROUND 1:30AM WHEN A LOUD SNAP FOLLOWED BY THE SMELL OF BURNING PLASTIC WIRES WOKE ME UP.  HALF CONFUSED AND WITHOUT THE AID OF ELECTRIC LIGHTS, I STUMBLED MY WAY TO FIND THE FLASHLIGHT.  FEARING THE WORST I FIRST POPPED OPEN THE BREAKER PANEL TO CHECK THE  MASTER BREAKER AND THE GFI (GROUND FAULT INTERRUPTER).  THEY BOTH APPEARED OK.  STILL SMELLING THE DAMAGE, I RAN OUTSIDE AND KILLED THE BREAKER ON THE POWER BOX SUPPLING THE ELECTRIC FROM THE CAMPGROUND.

BACK INSIDE, STILL ARMED WITH ONLY A FLASHLIGHT AND A FIRE BOTTLE, I SEARCHED ALL OF THE NOOKS AND CRANNIES THAT I COULD FIND THAT WAS HIDING WIRES.  NOTHING!

WE STAYED AWAKE LOOKING FOR THE ROOT CAUSE UNTIL IT WAS TIME TO GO TO WORK AT 4:30AM.  DURING THE WHOLE DRIVE TO WORK AND FOR MOST OF THE MORNING I RAN THE SYSTEMS THROUGH MY HEAD.  ONE BY ONE I ELIMINATED  WHERE THE PROBLEM COULD BE.  ALL SIGNS POINTED TO THE BREAKER BOX.

SCENE 3:


BACK AT THE CAMPER AFTER WORK WITH THE ELECTRIC STILL TURNED OFF, I GRABBED MY TOOLS AND WENT TO WORK ON THE BOX.  AS I STARTED UNSCREWING COVERS IT BACAME OBVIOUS.  THE WIRES HAD OVER HEATED AND CAUGHT ON FIRE.  LUCKY FOR US THE FIRE WAS IN A METAL CASE AND SHORT LIVED DUE TO THE AMOUNT OF FUEL(PLASTIC COATING) THAT WAS CONTAINED.  AFTER AN HOUR OR SO I HAD THE PANEL REWIRED AND THE MESS CLEANED UP.

MY DIAGNOSIS  IS THAT BY TURNING THE HEATER ON HIGH FOR TOO LONG THE WIRES OVER HEATED, THE BREAKERS THAT SHOULD HAVE TRIPED DID NOT,  ALLOWING THE WIRES TO CARRY TO MUCH JUICE UNTIL COMBUSTION.

THIS IS WHAT WE LEARNED THAT NIGHT

• PUT THE FLASHLIGHTS WHERE THEY ARE EASY TO FIND AND GRAB
• WHY DOES IT ALWAYS HAPPEN AT NIGHT???
• JUST BECAUSE SAFETY MEASURES ARE PUT INTO PLACE DON'T BET YOUR LIFE ON THEM.
• TEST THE SMOKE ALARMS.
• TEST THE FLASHLIGHT BATTERIES.
• HAVE AN ESCAPE PLAN
• IF YOU HAVE NEVER USED A FIRE EXTINGUISHER GO AND BUY ONE TO SET OFF IN YOUR BACK YARD, THE EXPERIENCE IS PRICELESS.
• JUST LIKE ON A BOAT MAKE SURE EVERYONE KNOWS WHERE THE MAIN BREAKER IS AT,  AC AND DC.

EVERYTHING IS BACK TO NORMAL AT THE LAND-HAMMER. WE CHALKED THIS ONE UP AS A LEARNING EXPERIENCE.


- G

An Apple A Day

10 March 2012


How do we maintain our health with our crazy lifestyle?

Because we do not have health insurance, we are very motivated to maintain our health.  We take special care of our bodies and health in order to avoid hospitals, doctors, etc.  While we realize we take on a certain amount of risk by not having insurance, we believe that not having it makes us a lot more inclined to protect ourselves from poor health or accidents.  There are many contributing factors that we consider every day regarding our health, such as exercise, environment, habits, stress, carelessness, etc. but we are all familiar with the main contributer to health: DIET.


While there are several very important factors for staying healthy, I believe the most important factor is having a healthy diet.  I generally cook for us every day with fresh ingredients, and avoiding packaged foods like the plague.  Keeping a lot of variation in our diet ensures that we get all different kinds of nutrients and vitamins that we need throughout the week, while also keeping the toxic properties of certain foods to a minimum.  Did you know that naturally occurring toxins in fruits and vegetables that in very large doses can act like poison to humans?  Even vegetables, fruits, and vitamins that are VERY beneficial to your health can still have a negative effect if consumed too often.  Due to these reasons, a diet with variety is crucial.


A few years ago I thought that a strictly vegetarian diet was the best way to stay healthy.  I spent a lot of time fatigued and cold while on this vegetarian diet.  Allergies and headaches were common in our "boathold" for a while, so we went to a natural health specialist for some advice.  His first question for us was "Do you have O blood?"  We are, in fact, both O blood type.  He educated us on a diet called the Blood Type Diet, which we started immediately after our meeting.  This diet for us as O blood-typers includes red meat, fish, veggies, and lots of leafy greens, while avoiding foods such as pork, dairy, corn and gluten products (of course incorporating red meat into a healthy diet means being choosy, and lean, organic meat is obviously recommended).


I am very aware that many extremely healthy people are vegetarians.  It works for a lot of people (most likely those with different blood types than we have), but is clearly not for everyone.  A vegetarian diet does not work for us- we need the nutrients provided in meat to stay healthy.  I now center our meals around the blood type recommendations and fresh foods, and focus on having a lot of variation in our diet as well.


So, what have I learned through my quest to stay healthy?

• We are not all plumbed the same way, and depending on certain factors (i.e. blood type) your body will require different sources of nutrition.  
• Above any nutrition advice anyone can give you, you must LISTEN TO YOUR BODY.  If your body responds well to something, you may need more of it.  If your body rejects something (upset stomach, headaches, sinus allergies, rashes, etc.) then obviously regardless of what anyone says, you should avoid it.
• Pay attention to what you are putting in your body- know what is in your food!  The best thing you can do is prepare your own meals with fresh ingredients.
• Fresh food and water are key to any diet, regardless of what your diet includes.  Soft drinks and packaged food is definitely one of the worst things you can do for your body.

Check out these books if you are interested in learning more about the information I've provided in this post.  Both of these authors are very educated and provide excellent information regarding healthy and nutrition in these two books (my personal favorites), as well as many other books they have written.

~ C

101 Days Until . . .

7 March 2012

101 days until we tie the knot!


Let me start off by saying that I am the luckiest girl on the planet for having found such an awesome person to make my hubby this coming June; a man that it adventurous, smart, super handy, funny, and (of course) handsome!  I am truly so grateful to have such an amazing partner in life and adventure, and for the amazing life that we share.  I simply cannot think of a better match for me!

OK OK! Enough with the mushy stuff . . .  but since I have never posted the story of how he proposed to me, I figured I would share.


G proposed to me in Charleston, SC on a VERY rainy Friday last April.  We love geocaching... so on the Thursday before he snuck out for the entire day (he said he was "working") to plant clues and record coordinates all over downtown Charleston.  The following day he suggested that we go on a road trip "South" to relax a bit before the start of our final Spring contract the following Monday.  I excitedly agreed, as I love road trips.  Our first stop was Charleston. . .


We had breakfast at a little restaurant downtown.  Afterwards he informed me that he forgot his wallet in the truck and had to go get it.  He abruptly left, leaving me annoyed in the pouring rain with an umbrella and a heavy purse containing our GPS.  A couple of minutes later he called and told me that he had left a card in my purse that I needed to immediately open, and he quickly hung up on me.


So what would any normal girl think at this point?  Crap, he is breaking up with me and he just drove away and left me in the pouring rain in a heavy soaking wet dress with no straps...


So I opened the card, prepared for the worst, but all it contained was coordinates, a coded message, and instructions for a "Geo-cache" style scavenger hunt.  I was instructed to punch in the given coordinates into the GPS to get to the general area of the following clue.  Once I arrived in the general area I was to decipher the coded message, which gave me a more specific idea of where to find my next set of coordinates.

Through all six hidden clues and locations I was oblivious to the blue poncho-ed boyfriend following me from my starting point on Market Street, down through Water Front Park, and ending up at Battery Park.  My last clue led me right onto the gazebo in the middle of the park, where he met me and asked me for a dance.  Although the park was somewhat crowded for the rainy day that it was, we danced to "Are You Going to Kiss Me or Not" by Thompson Square right in front of everyone.  When the song ended he said "Happy Anniversary..."  My confused facial expression pulled the rest of it out of him.  "...of the day I asked you to marry me."  Then he got down on one knee, opened up a small box, and asked me to be his queen.


A little side note about the location of this proposal... When I was a little girl this gazebo was where my dream wedding was to take place when I became a grown-up.  I told G about this sometime in the first few months that we dated, and even though my desire to get married in that spot had changed he still remembered me telling him this, and chose this place to fulfill that little girl fantasy that I had told him about six years ago.


By the way... I did say yes, and immediately the rain stopped and the sun came out.  It is not an exaggeration when I say that we did not see another drop of rain the rest of the weekend!


~ C

Birthday Week

4 MARCH 2012

G LOVES TO MAKE SPOILING ME ON MY BIRTHDAY A HABIT, AND EVERY YEAR HE TRIES TO OUT-DO THE PAST YEAR'S SPOILING OF ME.  FOR MY 28th BIRTHDAY HE GAVE ME A NEW PAIR OF SPERRY TOPSIDERS (WHAT GIRL DOESN'T LOVE NEW SHOES??), A GIFT CARD FOR THE NEW KINDLE (OUR CHRISTMAS GIFT FROM MY BROTHER), AND A SURPRISE DATE TO THE JERSEY BOYS TRAVELING BROADWAY MUSICAL.








I LOVE THIS STUFF... BROADWAY SHOWS AND MUSICALS ARE SOMETHING I'VE ALWAYS REALLY ENJOYED, BUT JERSEY BOYS WAS ABOVE AND BEYOND ENTERTAINING.  IT TELLS THE STORY OF FOUR BLUE COLLAR  KIDS FROM NEW JERSEY MAKING IT BIG AS FRANKIE VALLI AND THE FOUR SEASONS.

SOME OF THE SONGS YOU PROBABLY KNOW FROM FRANKIE VALLI ARE...

• WALK LIKE A MAN
• BIG GIRLS DON'T CRY
• SHERRY
• WHO LOVES YOU
• CAN'T TAKE MY EYES OFF OF YOU

IT WAS REALLY FUNNY AND GAVE INSIGHT TO THE MEANING BEHIND THE SONGS.  THE SHOW HAD ME SO DRAWN IN THAT IN A MOMENT OF SURPRISE I JUMPED WHILE HOLDING MY VERY FULL PLASTIC CUP OF RED WINE, WHICH WENT FLYING UP AND SPLATTERING ALL OVER MY SWEET DATE'S WHITE DRESS SHIRT.  OOPS...!

LUCKILY HE QUICKLY FORGAVE ME, AND THE SHOW AND EVENING WERE BOTH GREATLY ENJOYED.

~ C

Our Current 5 Priorities

03 March 2012

TOP FIVE TO GET OFF THE DOCK

1. SWAP OUT THE FUEL TANK
2. CUT HELM BASE
3. MAST STEP RIVETS
4. STANDING RIGGING
5. MAST WIRING 

- OUR OLD TANK WAS BUILT OUT OF MILD STEEL WHICH IS FINE FOR DIESEL ON THE INSIDE.  THE SLOSHING OF THE DIESEL KEEPS A OILY SHEEN AND PREVENTS CORROSION FROM FORMING.  THE OUTSIDE OF THE TANK IS WHERE OUR PROBLEM WAS AT.  OVER THE YEARS SMALL DINGS AND SCRAPES IN THE PAINT HAD LEAD WAY TO RUST GETTING A FOOT HOLD.  OUR TEMPORARY FIX WAS TO REMOVE THE OLD TANK AND USE A DAY TANK UNTIL OUR NEW TANK WAS READY.  BEFORE LEAVING THE BOAT I DROPPED OFF THE DRAWING AND SPECS OF THE TANK WE WANTED AT A FRIENDS FAB SHOP.  IT'S BEING MADE OF ALUMINUM AND WILL BE READY FOR US TO PICK IT UP AS SOON AS WE GET HOME.

-OUR HELM COLUMN IS MADE ENTIRELY OUT OF STAINLESS STEEL PIPE AND PLATE.  THE BASE PLATE THAT CONNECTS THE HELM TO THE COCKPIT DECK IS WHERE I NOTICED TWO SIZES OF HOLES.  WHERE THE STEERING CABLES EXIT THE HELM WAS MUCH SMALLER THAN THE DECK ENTRANCE.  I DON'T LIKE THE IDEA THAT THE CABLE MAY RUB THE BASE PLATE AND LEAVE US WITHOUT STEERAGE.  WE HAVE DECIDED TO PULL OFF THE HELM AND CUT THE EXIT HOLE TO MATCH THE COCKPIT.

-WE HAVE ROUND MAST STEPS THAT WE LOVE.  THE ONLY PROBLEM IS THAT WHEN THEY WERE INSTALLED, AN INFERIOR QUALITY OF ALUMINUM RIVETS WERE USED TO ATTACH THEM TO THE MAST.  BEFORE WE CAN DO OTHER MAST WORK WE ARE GOING TO DRILL OUT AND REPLACE THE RIVETS ONE BY ONE AS WE MAKE OUR WAY UP.

-THE STANDING RIGGING IS SHOWING SOME STRESS AT THE FITTINGS.  THE CABLE ITSELF IT SOUND.  BEFORE LEAVING THE DOCK WE WILL BE REPLACING THE OUT DATED WITH NEW STA-LOK FITTINGS.

-WHEN WE WERE IN THE YARD THEY DIDN'T HAVE A CRANE OR FORK TRUCK BIG ENOUGH THAT COULD TAKE DOWN OUR MAST.  WE COULD HAVE HIRED A THIRD PARTY CRANE TO COME ON SITE BUT THE RATES FOR THAT WAS OUT OF OUR BUDGET.  INSTEAD, WE WILL BE REPLACING ALL OF OUR MAST WIRES WHILE IT IS VERTICAL.  THAT INCLUDES: VHF, NAVIGATION LIGHTS,  WIND INSTRUMENT, AND THE WI-FI WILL BE GOING UP.  IT IS EASIER TO DO ON THE GROUND BUT HEY, WHY START DOING THE EASY STUFF NOW!

THIS IS OUR TOP FIVE PRIORITIES BEFORE WE CAN GET OFF THE DOCK AND OUT TO ANCHOR OR A MOORING.

- G

Back to the Salt Mines

29 FEB 2012

 IT'S TIME TO SHIFT GEARS HERE AGAIN ON THE BLOG.  OUR THREE MONTHS OF "BOAT TIME" HAS COME AND GONE WAY TOO FAST.  AS ALWAYS, IT IS TOUGH TO BE AWAY FROM HOME, BUT BEING UP HERE WE LOOK AT THE GOOD SIDE OF THINGS.

OUR PIGGY BANK

WHERE IS HERE YOU MIGHT WONDER?  CURRENTLY WE ARE IN THE CAROLINAS.  EVERY TIME THAT WE MAKE IT BACK WE ARE GREETED WITH A WARM WELCOME.  HERE THEY ARE  POLITE IN TRAFFIC, HAVE GREAT FOOD, AND ENDORSE GOOD MANNERS.  MOST IMPORTANTLY THE CAROLINAS HAVE BIGGER- FURRIER- FASTER SQUIRRELS FOR JOHNNY TO TREE ON OUR WALKS.

NOTHING BUT CRICKETS

WE WILL BE BACK AND FORTH FROM WORK TO THE BOAT EVERY CHANCE WE GET.  AS FOR THE BLOG, THE NEXT THREE MONTHS WILL BE MORE OF A WINDOW TO OUR BOAT PLANNING, SCHEDULING AND RESEARCH.  AS A GREAT FRIEND OF MINE ALWAYS SAYS- "PLAN YOUR WORK, WORK YOUR PLAN".  SOME OF THE UPGRADES TO THE BOAT WILL INCLUDE RESEARCH ON:

• EXPANDING OUR ENERGY PRODUCTION WITH WIND POWER
• A NEW CUSTOM FUEL TANK
• INSTALLING OUR NEW GARMIN WIND INDICATOR ATOP THE MAST
• DINGHY DAVITS
• BUILDING A PRIVACY DOOR FOR THE HEAD
• REPLACING THE INTAKE RAW WATER PUMP SEALS
• HOOKING UP OUR KATADYN SURVIVER 40E  WATERMAKER THAT IS STILL IN THE SHIPPING BOX
• INSTALLING STA-LOK TERMINAL ENDS ON THE STANDING RIGGING
• REPLACING OUR OLD CRACKED VENTILATION COWLS
• BUYING THE BEST SINGLE SIDE BAND FOR OUR NEEDS

TOP FIVE PRIORITIES  OUR PRIORITIES CHANGE OFTEN, BUT I'LL BE POSTING OUR "TOP FIVE" LISTS WEEKLY.



-G

Show Me The Money!

25 FEBRUARY 2012

THE BOAT KITTY IS LOW, AND THE OFF SEASON IS OVER.  WE HAVE LEFT VERY WARM WEATHER FOR VERY COLD WEATHER.  YOU MAY BE THINKING "WOW, THIS IS DEPRESSING..." BUT THERE IS GOOD NEWS!  WE WILL SOON BE MAKING SOME JINGLE, AND THE WAY WE LOOK AT IT IS: WORK NOW = FREEDOM LATER.

WE SPENT A COUPLE OF DAYS GETTING TO WORK, AND WHILE THE ADVENTURE WE HAD IS A STORY TOO LONG TO GET TOO DEEP INTO, HERE ARE THE HI-LIGHTS...

• BEING TOLD BY A FIRST WAL-MART THAT WE COULD NOT STAY IN AN R.V. IN THEIR PARKING LOT FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS
• SLEEPING IN A SECOND WAL-MART PARKING LOT... AS VERY UN-WELCOMED GUESTS
• BEING CALLED BY A PARK RANGER TWO STATES AWAY THAT WE NEED TO MOVE THE TRUCK IMMEDIATELY.
• REALIZING THE RATES OF THE CAMPGROUND WE WERE PLANNING TO STAY AT SKYROCKETED FROM $15 A NIGHT TO $28- WITH NO LONG TERM DISCOUNTS
• JUGGLING TWO VEHICLES PLUS THE R.V. WITH ONLY THE TWO OF US- FROM PLACE, TO PLACE, TO PLACE...
• REALIZING WE NEEDED A NEW POWER CORD BECAUSE THE OLD ONE WAS BURNT UP
• BEING CHASED BY A PACK OF ANGRY SQUIRRELS

WE ENDED UP AT A DIFFERENT R.V. PARK, WHICH HAD MORE REASONABLE PRICES (AND PARK RANGERS).  LAST NIGHT AND TODAY WAS SPENT CATCHING UP ON SLEEP, GROCERY SHOPPING, AND GETTING SETTLED IN.

BEFORE WE HEADED TO WORK, WE HAD A NICE VISIT FROM NEW FRIEND, BRAD (AKA CAP'N REHAB).  HE LOVES BOATS AND CAME TO CHECK US OUT.  HE CAME PREPARED TO HELP OUT AROUND THE BOAT, EAGER TO JUMP RIGHT IN TO ANY PROJECT WE HAD FOR HIM TO WORK ON WITH US, WHICH WE WERE SUPER EXCITED ABOUT (WE LOVE HAVING HELPING HANDS AROUND).  UNFORTUNATELY WE HAD A LAST MINUTE APPOINTMENT THAT PREVENTED US FROM BEING ABLE TO SPEND AS MUCH TIME HANGING OUT WITH OUR NEW BUDDY.  WE HAD LUNCH AND SPENT A LITTLE TIME AROUND THE G.H.  CHIT-CHATTING AND SHOWING HIM AROUND.  HE'S A COOL GUY- CHECK OUT HIS BLOG HERE.

WRITTEN BY HER

WHEELS ON THE BUS GO...

20 FEB 2012

LAST NIGHT WE WERE INVITED TO RIDE ALONG AND CHECK OUT THE FOOD TRUCK BAZAAR OVER IN ORLANDO.  WE HAD NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A THING, HOW COULD WE SAY NO TO SOMETHING WITH A NAME LIKE THAT.  AS WE FOUND A PLACE TO PARK WE COULD SMELL A COLLAGE OF AROMAS COMING AT US FROM A PARADE OF TRUCKS PAUSED IN MID STRIDE.  SERIOUSLY,  THERE IN A PARKING LOT SAT DOZENS OF GORMET FOOD TRUCKS ARRANGED IN A HUGE CIRCLE.

SOON ENOUGH WE TUNED OUT THE HUMMING OF THE GAS POWERED GENERATORS AS WE TOTED OUR FOLDING CHAIRS AND STARTED READING THE MENUS AND ADMIRING THE ART WORK THAT WAS PAINTED ON THE TRUCKS.  TO CALL THESE TRAVELING VANS "ROACH COACHES" WOULD BE A TERRIBLE MISTAKE.  EACH ONE HAD IT'S OWN CHARACTER AND FLAVORS.

OUR GANG OF MERRY AMIGOS TOOK TURNS BUYING PLATES OF THEIR FAVORITE DISHES TO SHARE WITH EACH OTHER. WE CHOSE BBQ QUESADILLAS AND A SIDE OF FRIED PICKLES.  WE SAW FOR THE FISRT TIME EVER A BBQ SUNDAE, BUT IT WAS IN A NON-SHAREABLE CUP SO WE PASSED.

PLATES CAME AROUND ONE AFTER ANOTHER; FROM CHICKEN WAFFLES AND "SLAP MY SWINE" FLAT BREAD TO SMORES CREPES AND GOAT CHEESE BROWNIES.  WE ATE UNTIL WE WERE ABOUT TO POP.

-G

It's Alive!

19 FEB 2012

YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN 1974

SUCK, SQUEEZE, BANG, BLOW IS ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT A DIESEL ENGINE.  IF ANY ONE OF THESE FOUR ACTIONS DOESN'T HAPPEN, NOTHING WILL.  WHEN WE ACQUIRED OUR BOAT WE HAD MUCH MORE THINGS TO WORRY ABOUT THAN THE ENGINE.  THINGS LIKE KEEPING THE WATER OUT FROM ABOVE AND BELOW US.  OVER THE LAST 29 MONTHS OF THE REBUILD OUR PRIORITY LISTS HAVE SHIFTED ON A WEEKLY BASIS.  SLOWLY THE ENGINE WORKED IT'S WAY TO THE TOP AND A FEW WEEKS AGO ON THE TOP OF MY LIST SAT:  START ENGINE WORK.

NOW I ADMIT THAT I HAVE NEVER BEEN PROPERLY TRAINED ON A PERKINS, BUT........ I AM A ROTATION EQUIPMENT SPECIALIST.  IF IT SPINS I CAN FIX IT.  IF IT SPINS IS THE KEY PHRASE!  THIS ONE DID NOT AND THAT IS WHERE THIS POST BEGINS.  HERE IS MY LIST.

• REMOVE ALL WIRES
• REMOVE ALL HOSES, INCLUDING FUEL LINES
• REMOVE BELTS
• REMOVE ALTERNATOR
• REMOVE STARTER
• REMOVE PUMP IMPELLER
• REMOVE FLAME ARRESTOR
• DRAIN AND FLUSH TRANSMISSION FLUID
• DRAIN AND FLUSH ENGINE OIL
• REMOVE FUEL FILTERS; PRIMARY AND SECONDARY
• REMOVE CONTROL, SHIFT AND KILL CABLES
• DRAIN ANTI FREEZE
• REMOVE TEMPERATURE SENDER
• REMOVE PRESSURE SENDER
• REMOVE ATOMIZERS

WHILE THE ENGINE WAS IN PIECES I TOOK THE STARTER AND ALTERNATOR TO A LOCAL SHOP TO BE REBUILT.  I POURED MARVEL MYSTERY OIL DOWN INTO THE INJECTORS TO CREEP ITS WAY TO THE RINGS AND SEALS.  REPLACING THE FUEL TANK AND ASSOCIATED FUEL LINES WAS THE MOST TIME CONSUMING OUT OF ALL THE TASKS.  NEXT WAS THE WATER PUMP; COOLING AND EXHAUST HOSES.  AFTER ALL THE PARTS WERE INSTALLED BACK IN OR ON THE ENGINE IT WAS TIME TO:

• REPLACE THE FILTERS
• REPLACE THE FLUIDS
• REPLACE CONTROL, SHIFT AND KILL CABLES
• REWIRE
• HAND CRANK
• BLEED ALL THE AIR BUBBLES OUT OF THE FUEL LINES!!!

AS FOR THE HAND CRANKING, SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO USE A MECHANICAL ADVANTAGE (i.e. LEVERAGE).  THERE ARE TIMES WHEN MY REGULAR 1/2 INCH CRAFTSMEN RATCHET WONT CUT THE MUSTARD.  FOR THOSE TIMES I PULL OUT MY BREAKER BAR.  IT'S A SIMPLE 36 INCH LONG BAR WITH A 1/2 INCH SOCKET FITTING ON THE END.  I PUT IT ON APPLIED PRESSURE IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AND PRESTO-CHANGE-O WE HAD ROTATION.  IF THAT WOULD NOT HAVE WORKED I WOULD HAVE USED HEAT FOR THERMAL GROWTH OF THE PARTS, AND A LAST RESORT WOULD HAVE BEEN TAPPING THE BLOCK WITH A HAMMER WHILE PERFORMING ALL OF THE ABOVE.

AFTER THE ROTATION I WAS RIDDING ON EASY STREET.  THE LAST THING WAS TO BLEED THE FUEL.  THIS IS THE SIMPLE PROCESS OF LOOSENING TWO VENT BOLTS, ONE LIFT PUMP UNION, AND FOUR ATOMIZER UNIONS. THEN USING A BUILT IN HAND PUMP TO PUMP THE FUEL THROUGH THE SYSTEM OF LINES AND PUMPS UNTIL THE FUEL IS FREE OF LITTLE TINY AIR BUBBLES. THE LAST STEP IS TO TIGHTEN ALL THE LOOSE FITTING IN A PATTERN TO KEEP THE AIR OUT.  I HAD TO BLEED THE ENGINE TWICE BECAUSE I DID NOT GET ALL OF THE AIR OUT THE FIRST TIME.

ALL SAID AND DONE IT WAS TIME TO START THE ENGINE.  WITH FINGERS CROSSED    I POSITIONED MY SELF DOWN AT THE ENGINE WHILE SHE MANNED THE IGNITION SWITCH IN THE COCKPIT.  3........ 2....... 1.......

WE HAVE SELF-ROTATION!

- G

A Bet is A Bet

18 FEBRUARY 2012


DO YOU RECOGNIZE THIS HANDSOME MAN?

THE ENGINE CRANKED TODAY!  FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT DON'T KNOW WHAT A BIG DEAL THIS IS FOR US, LET ME ASSURE YOU- THIS IS A REALLY... BIG... DEAL FOR US.

THE BET WAS THAT ONCE THE ENGINE CRANKED THAT HE COULD SHAVE HIS BEARD (ALSO KNOWN AS THE WOLVERINE CHOPS) AND TODAY WAS THE DAY.

WE HAVE A PERKINS DEISEL THAT HASN'T RUN IN OVER THREE YEARS AND HE HAS BEEN SLAVING AWAY FOR THE PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS SWEET TALKING, COAXING, PLEADING, BEGGING THIS OLD ENGINE TO WORK.  HONESTLY I HAVE TO ADMIT THAT I DID NOT BELIEVE THIS ENGINE WOULD EVER BE CONVINCED TO SPARK BACK TO LIFE, BUT HE BATTLED WITH HER CONTINUOUSLY UNTIL FINALLY TODAY SHE DID INDEED, SPARK BACK TO LIFE.

 THE FULL STORY OF THE ENGINE ADVENTURE TO COME TOMORROW...

CELEBRATING THE ENGINE WITH SOME JACK DANIELS

~ C

Green Light GO

16 FEB 2012

OLD PANEL

NEW PANEL

THE SHIPS OLD INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS DEAD.  BEHIND IT WAS WIRES THAT LOOKED LIKE MULTI-COLORED SPAGHETTI, SOME CUT AT BOTH ENDS.  IT WAS DECIDED THAT THE OLD ONE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND I LIKED THE IDEA OF STARTING FROM SCRATCH.

I CUT ALL THE WIRES AND PULLED OUT THE OLD PANEL.  NEXT I TOOK THE DIMENSIONS OF THE HOLE.  WITH THE ENGINE MANUAL IN HAND I HEADED TO THE LOCAL NAPA STORE.  THE CLERK AND I FLIPPED THROUGH PARTS CATALOGUES UNTIL ALL THE GUAGES AND SENDERS WE NEEDED HAD BEEN ORDERED.  WHILE I WAS THERE I ALSO PICKED UP A FEW SPARE BELTS, OIL FILTERS, FUEL FILTERS AND LUBRICANTS.

THE NEXT MORNING AT 7:15AM THE STORE CALLED TO LET ME KNOW ALL OF THE PARTS WERE IN AND WAITING TO BE PICKED UP.  WITH PARTS IN HAND I SORTED THROUGH SOME SCRAP PIECES OF LEXAN THAT I HAD TUCKED AWAY.  AFTER SOME SIMPLE SUB-DITION AND ADD-TRACTION IT WAS CUT TIME.  I AM A FOND BELIEVER IN TEMPLATES AND DUMMY MODELS FIRST.  SOON THE RUBBER HIT THE ASPHALT AND I WAS BACK AT THE BOAT INSTALLING OUR NEW GO-GO INSTRUMENT PANEL.

-G