May
of 2018 we kept ourselves quite busy doing many boat projects. First
order of business was to replace our old badly rusting chain. First
we anchored on our spare anchor and rode. Then we pulled all of the
rusty chain out of the bow locker onto an old shower curtain to try
and collect some of the rust particles falling off.
300
feet of chain is a big pile on the foredeck.
You
can see by how the chain is chipping apart, that it is no longer good
enough to trust with our boat and our lives.
Another
photo of how bad the chain really was.
We
found these markings on the part that was not as rusted as the rest
to determine that it was high tensile 3/8's inch.
After
borrowing a test piece of 10mm chain from the chandlery, we tested it
in our gypsy (part that holds the chain on the windlass) to make sure
it would sit properly and not “jump” out of the sockets.
Happily, it seemed to work, so we bought 100 meters (330 ft) of new
Lofrans galvanized chain. Here Mike is measuring it and marking it
on the driveway in front of the shop.
We
also put on a new shackle and swivel behind the anchor. This photo
was taken before we put security “mouse” wire on the pin (red) to
keep it from ever coming untwisted from the shackle (connects swivel
to anchor). The shackle that connects the chain to the swivel was
also “moused”. This is done with tiny SS wire which bends (mouse
wire). We know of more than one boat who has not done this “mousing”
and found their anchor decided to depart from their chain. Safety
first!!
We
took our old chain and added it to the many piles behind the shop
where it all will eventually be recycled.
Here
you can see the new anchor chain fitting nicely on the gypsy and all
the ugly mess that the old chain was making of our deck.
Next
job was to try and clean off those rust stains. The best product we
have found for this is called Bar Keeper's Friend. Shake it on and
scrub with brush and water.
And
wha la! Pretty amazing stuff. Looks like we won't have to repaint
right away after all! Yipppie!
We
had not realized until we cleaned the anchor deck how the rust had
stained down the whole side deck as well. You can really see the
difference here!
Next
big project was removing our old generator. After Mike and Adrian
(our mechanic) had rebuilt the thing 3 times in 2017, including all
new crank shaft and bearings, the check book cried UNCLE and we
decided to invest in a new generator and quit throwing good money
after bad. Adrian got the sound shield box off and prepared it for
removal.
We
used a block and tackle from the boom to hoist it out of the cockpit
locker and set it down. It took all three of us!
From
a distance, I guess, it did not look too bad.
But
upon closer inspection, we found wear on the gear teeth inside the
block.
Bad
corrosion going on inside as well.
And
the main culprit, the crank shaft and bearing where each time after
rebuilds it would last about 10 hours and then blow all the oil out.
You can see some of the oil residue where it leaked.
And
luckily most of the oil was contained in the tray below it. Now the
real cleaning process begins!
These
parts were salvaged and recycled to the metal guy. The rest we sadly
threw next to the dumpster. But we did notice someone had taken it
by the next day. Hope someone can use it for something. Now we have
to prepare the space for our new one when it arrives by ship from
England. A Beta 4.5kw.
The
next project for Shelly was replacing the cockpit cushion covers. My
good friend Debra on Cosatal Drifter offered to teach me how to sew
and use her SailRite sewing machine. Here I am pinning up some
material I cut up on her salon dining table.
Measure
twice (or 3 times!) and then cut. Look at that concentration! Haha!
Using
the SailRite machine.
Testing
the thread and stitch size.
Getting
farther along.
And
bam, just like that the first cushion is ready. We used a non skid
breathable material on the bottoms.
The
last one finally done. I used some big old towels which matched the
canvas color of the boat. The terry cloth is harder to work with,
but it does feel nicer on the bum. Thanks for all the help Deb!!
Mike
smiles at my progress. The old darker blue is still on the forward
one.
We
had some left overs of the non skid material, so we cut and placed
them where we step on them all the time, which is what wore out the
old ones.
When
you want to sit and not have a non skid sticky butt, we just roll
them up and have a seat. Hope we get another 5 years out of these
like we did from the last ones!
