Winter projects...

alexander38 · Post by **alexander38** » Mon Dec 24, 2012 5:25 am

Allen, are you puttin' in wood or foam ? and how are you going to hold it up in place while the epoxy sets ? shoring ?

P-Dogg · Post by **P-Dogg** » Mon Dec 24, 2012 8:21 am

anyone else gotta list ?

1). Finish installing fresh water tank level sensor, right after I.....

2). Remove, sandblast, and recoat the interior of the fresh water tank with a product called Brewcoat. The sending unit screws into a female pipe thread. To get said thread where I needed it, I rolled a piece of 1/8" aluminum to fit the curve of the tank, then welded a half-nipple in the middle of the plate. When I cut the 8"x 8" hole (might as well make it big enough for a proper inspection port) in the top of the tank for the sending unit mounting plate, I discovered pitting inside of the water tank. The baffle was also broken-off of it's mount and flailing about the tank. I'll bolt that back in place with some bracing internal to the tank. Since the heat-affected zones of the aluminum weld showed an inordinate amount of pitting compared with the rest of the tank, I do not want to re-weld it. For those of you that have never seen inside of your water tank (you know who you are!), there is a square piece of aluminum that serves as a baffle that is welded vertically in the middle of the tank. The corners of the baffle are bent such that a hypotenuse about 2" long is created when the corners of the baffle are folded 90 degrees. These folded corners are then welded to the inside of the tank in a lap joint fashion. The corners are bent sharply. Over time, the sloshing water fatigued the metal where it was bent and liberated the baffle from the tank.

3). Fabricate a new bow pulipt with integral spotlight, bollard, and winch mount.

4). Buy a new anchor rode.

5). Install a new winch.

6). Fabricate an auxiliary console at the helm station that will incorporate the controls for my new spotlight, winch, two-station bilge sniffer, high-water alarm sensor, generator-on indicator light, and future goodies.

7). Buy and mount a dinghy.

eight). (FREAKING SMILEY!) Address security in a matter I won't discuss publicly.

That should do it for this winter. In the near future, I have plans to fabricate a composite hard-top, with a bunch of integral components like fishing rod holders, lights, and an anchor light that actually meets the regs. My boat was 27 years old when I bought it last summer, and it did not have a compliant anchor light!

Oh, and this winter, I eventually need to winterize the boat....

P-Dogg · Post by **P-Dogg** » Mon Dec 24, 2012 8:24 am

Well, since I didn't update my info BEFORE I posted, I'll add here that the water tank I discussed is for my '85 Tricab....

Allen Sr · Post by **Allen Sr** » Mon Dec 24, 2012 8:33 am

Will be using wood coring and shore it up when epoxy is in place.

prowlersfish · Post by **prowlersfish** » Mon Dec 24, 2012 9:43 am

P-dogg why not just replace the water tank ?

ready123 · Post by **ready123** » Mon Dec 24, 2012 10:54 am

only one item on my list

Get a suntan while lying on a beach in the Exumas....

am on my way down FL west coast now, in Steinhatchee, next stop cross Florida barge canal (never completed), then Tarpon Springs for New Year's. Anyone want to come for Greek food

prowlersfish · Post by **prowlersfish** » Mon Dec 24, 2012 11:29 am

Michael , I think I am starting to hate you

Allen Sr · Post by **Allen Sr** » Mon Dec 24, 2012 11:49 am

prowlersfish wrote:Michael , I think I am starting to hate you

+++++++1

P-Dogg · Post by **P-Dogg** » Mon Dec 24, 2012 12:18 pm

why not just replace the water tank ?

I did look briefly at replacement tanks. One vendor is:

http://www.plastic-mart.com/product/631 ... nk-w2070-1 This is bigger than my current tank, but is the largest that will fit through the door. They also appear to have no internal baffling. They were on the order of $400, plus shipping. A new tank would also require fabricating a new mount.

Back to the old tank.... Sandblasting might be $100, since I'll farm it out. The Brewcoat is around $60. Baffle re-install might be $20 in parts and an hour in labor. The tank is basically sound, doesn't require a new mount, and, unlike a replacement tank, has a level sensor installed already. For about half the cost of a new tank or less, I'll have a tank that I know I will never be fixing again in my lifetime. I figured that between schlepping the tank out of the boat and refurbing it, and buying and installing a new tank and maybe having to buy a different sending unit, labor would be a wash. Then I'd have an extra $200+ to spend on dink mounts

.

Commissionpoint · Post by **Commissionpoint** » Mon Dec 24, 2012 2:23 pm

prowlersfish wrote:Michael , I think I am starting to hate you

No need to be a hater. Just buy some diesel. You could be waiting in the Exumas. I think it would take about 2 weeks in that boat of yours from where you are at. Better pick your day crossing out of Miami though. Some days that 36 would be kinda squirrely.

alexander38 · Post by **alexander38** » Mon Dec 24, 2012 3:15 pm

[quote="ready123"]only one item on my list

Get a suntan while lying on a beach in the Exumas....
[img]http://www.myoutislands.com/assets/imag ... -beach.jpg[/img]

am on my way down FL west coast now, in Steinhatchee, next stop cross Florida barge canal (never completed), then Tarpon Springs for New Year's. Anyone want to come for Greek food

[/quote]

Now Ready I'm 4 1/2 yrs....behind you..

alexander38 · Post by **alexander38** » Tue Jan 01, 2013 7:26 am

well removed old tabs today, orded seal kits for rams and got the 4 struts off for the platform, figured out I need to add 14" to it for the changes we want..

Cmount · Post by **Cmount** » Mon Jan 07, 2013 10:00 pm

Very long list this year

1. new mid ship fuel tanks one is out and they are ordered
2. new 4 blade props ordered
3. replacing all thru hull fittings and valves all out but now have to put new ones in
4. repacking all stuffing boxes one rudder is leaking and that make me nervous
5. new windless to be installed profish1000
6. new audio system Fusion integrated into the Garmin via network
7. All exterior teak getting 5 coats of Silkens all removed already
8. new courtesy lighting on the bridge, cockpit and interior LED
9. New canvas on bridge and new mooring cover is in the plans
10. Rebuild carburetors--or at least buy rebuilt units
11. new vent hoses
12. painting bilge gray and white
13. all new h channel and replacement of port side windows oh yea and painting of the window frames both in and out

there is more but that is the bigger stuff Will be a very busy winter for me for sure and thanks for this site! It has helped me with a number of things already...

Mike Kulp · Post by **Mike Kulp** » Thu Jan 10, 2013 1:10 pm

I was planning on only doing maintence this winter and some small projects but the list has grown and worst is I have had the boat that long that a few of these items I am replacing for the second time.

1. All new camper canvas ( Second time )

2. Replacing sea water pumps ( Rebuilt multiple times )

3. Elbows and risers on both motors ( Third time )

4. Reseal engine water through hulls ( Second time )

5. Replacing all zincs and adding them on tabs ( Multiple times )

6. Replace tune up parts both motors ( Multiple times )

alexander38 · Post by **alexander38** » Thu Jan 10, 2013 5:12 pm

started making the pull-on davits today. 60 degree temps couldn't waste a nice day. Have to say that PVC lumber is great stuff to work with. It cuts like wood and the router cuts it just fine. Glues together just like PVC pipe, and unlike Starboard 3m 4200 sticks to it. Needed that to install Alum. flat bar between the sections to stiffen them. I'll have some photo's up when they're done.