Forward Hatch

The forward hatch is getting there - lots of prep work required on this baby, going to look good though. I have had the bronze plates grit blasted and they look perfect; was very tempted to clear-coat them, but they would have turned into hotplates, so will powder-coat them white.

Upside down.

Update

Not a lot been going on lately. Have been chipping away at the front hatch (quite a bit of prep work required), got most of the main hatch varnish done on the weekend, have squared away a few minor electrical jobs that have been on my list for a while, and my dad and I pulled the lower leg of my outboard apart and overhauled it with new seals. Otherwise, I've actually been having a bit of a life, which is an unusual feeling, but I'll soon get over it and will get back into the boat full tilt.

I will be replacing the 12V battery charger some time this week. Since I got rid of the 12V battery system all it is used for is float charging of the genset batteries, so I'm replacing it with a lower capacity but more modern multi-stage charger that will do a better job of float charging and bulk charging, if needed. The new chargers are a LOT smaller and lighter...

Main Hatch Is All Sparkly Shiney

Main hatch finally finished.

(Actually, I lied - still one more coat to go on the inside face...)

Hopefully Won't Lose This One

Our new tender, clearly named. Now if we should lose this one it is obvious who owns it: Camel II.

Big Bertha. Still trying to work out where in the hell I am going to stow it on deck...

Mystery Solved

So when we were in California pouring over all the "bits" that came with Kamalii, I found myself pondering a couple of very large metallic rods with screw ends, that looked a lot like gigantic engine cooler anodes, but which were way too big and did not seem to be made of zinc. They were filed in the "No idea, but I had better keep hold of them" bin.

Cut to last week, when going through my file of documentation I stumbled upon the installation manual for the hot water cylinder, and discover it is fitted with a magnesium anode, which should be checked every year. I figure it had probably only been about 15 years since it was last checked...

Bingo. Looks to me like it was on it's last legs....

Old (left), and new (right),

Final Offensive On The Foredeck

As the blitzkrieg forces of the Varnish Army sweep across the foredeck, yet another target has fallen, and an all-out assault has commenced on another high-value target.

Forward gas locker all finished (sans winch handle holders). Note "low profile racing hatch" in the foreground, in place as we strip the "cruising" hatch.

New gas locker layout, with room for up to 6 x 4kg cylinders. Nice sandals, eh?

Pulling the hatch apart for stripping. The bronze (yes, bronze) top plates were over half the weight of the thing...
Take a good look, and wait for the grand reveal.

A Touch of Class

Back to the Brush

Just two more coats to go...

Cockpit companionway doors almost ready for priming.

A Moment of Reflection

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.

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!

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.