Question: What is the correct response when you disassemble a 56 year old plunger pump (from the tank level gauges) to service it and while you are out your young daughter for some bizarre and unknown reason takes it into her head to cut up the rubber plunger cap with a pair of scissors?
Chances of finding a replacement part: zero.
Chances of finding a replacement daughter: better than zero.
Sunday 23 February 2014
Window Woes
So those awesome wind-down windows of Kamalii's have finally had a not-so-awesome moment. As I mentioned in my previous post, the conclusion was clear: there is no way into the copper bins that house the window winding mechanisms without cutting stuff up. In my first ever "WTF?!" moment with Kamalii, it seems the window mechanisms were installed and then the caping was placed over the top before they then installed the verticals for the coachroof and built the cabin on top, i.e. no thought whatsoever to how you are supposed to service the units.
After much analysis and weighing the pros and cons of different ways of getting inside, the decision was to cut out the section of capping and go in from the top. It has all worked out well, and once everything is cleaned up and varnished again it should not be noticeable.
It turned out that the cap/bearing for the winder had somehow had all its fasteners unwind themselves and it fell off, jamming itself between the glass and the frame. Just lucky that we did not end up with another broken window (refer California posts...).
There was a time when I was terrified of joinery work. Nothing like owning a wooden boat to confront that fear!
After much analysis and weighing the pros and cons of different ways of getting inside, the decision was to cut out the section of capping and go in from the top. It has all worked out well, and once everything is cleaned up and varnished again it should not be noticeable.
It turned out that the cap/bearing for the winder had somehow had all its fasteners unwind themselves and it fell off, jamming itself between the glass and the frame. Just lucky that we did not end up with another broken window (refer California posts...).
There was a time when I was terrified of joinery work. Nothing like owning a wooden boat to confront that fear!
 |
| Section of capping cut out and removed. |
 |
| Top of the winder mechanism. The bearing cap fits over the bronze shaft on the right. |
 |
| The offending article. |
 |
| Mechanism fixed and capping replaced. Note the three teak plugs around the entry point of the crank. Had to drill these and then through the copper bin in order to be able to screw up the fasteners for the bearing cap. |
Saturday 22 February 2014
Kauwau
Spent last weekend out at Kauwau Island. Great weather, and I didn't do a single job on the boat - a first, I think.
I have been trying to do more brightwork this week, but weather seems to be great when I'm at work and lousy when on the boat. One of the saloon window winder mechanisms has fallen apart, and now I am scratching my head trying to work out how to get into the housing to fix it without demolishing a heap of woodwork or cutting the copper housings apart. I'm rapidly coming to the conclusion that there is no way. This should be fun...
I have been trying to do more brightwork this week, but weather seems to be great when I'm at work and lousy when on the boat. One of the saloon window winder mechanisms has fallen apart, and now I am scratching my head trying to work out how to get into the housing to fix it without demolishing a heap of woodwork or cutting the copper housings apart. I'm rapidly coming to the conclusion that there is no way. This should be fun...
Sunday 9 February 2014
Update
We went sailing for the day yesterday - had a great day, and had her humming along at 10 knots. My new running backstay retaining system works really well and has turned a 1 or 2 minute job into a 20 second job, with zero aggravation factor.
We've finished stripping the gas bottle lockers on the foredeck and now have the first coat of varnish on, and have also done the main hatch. Hopefully I'll have them finished within the fortnight, weather permitting, and then we will start work on the last of the cockpit varnish.
I made some more mods to the mainsail reefing line today with some retaining rings for the line down the boom, which should keep the line from flapping around when we're not reefed.
The washing machine is in full production; we have worked out that by the end of next week it will have paid for itself, based on what we have to pay for the laundry at the marina. The marina also finally installed the 32A 3-phase outlet last week, so now we can run the hot water cylinder, etc.
My dad and I had another run over the engine, doing the tappets, etc, and she is just purring along now - it's hard to believe it's the same engine we had in California!
Getting there...
We've finished stripping the gas bottle lockers on the foredeck and now have the first coat of varnish on, and have also done the main hatch. Hopefully I'll have them finished within the fortnight, weather permitting, and then we will start work on the last of the cockpit varnish.
I made some more mods to the mainsail reefing line today with some retaining rings for the line down the boom, which should keep the line from flapping around when we're not reefed.
The washing machine is in full production; we have worked out that by the end of next week it will have paid for itself, based on what we have to pay for the laundry at the marina. The marina also finally installed the 32A 3-phase outlet last week, so now we can run the hot water cylinder, etc.
My dad and I had another run over the engine, doing the tappets, etc, and she is just purring along now - it's hard to believe it's the same engine we had in California!
Getting there...
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