FREE BOAT, SCENE1, ACT II
hi again all. Got home alittle late. Had a good and bad day today. Started out early but had a pounding head ache, went back to bed. Might be the two gallons of bleach i was breathng all day?. Anyway, I took my sawzall-wait, back-up. I approached the boat cautiously, had to check bilge for water..........NONE. Spent all night closed up and no more water than when I left. Pokeing around today i found several places where water/rain can get in, cool huh!? Took sawzall and started cutting away old rotten/saturated floor. Slow going, first i used a wonderbar and removed the square wood tiles overlaying the 1 inch plywood floor, go ta mind infarct about what they are called-keep thinking terrazo, but thats not it, its chekerboard pattern. After i got most of the floor up i scruubed the bilge(actually the whole hull under the floor. It has a slime on it from being wet for a long time-remember the sump pump with float. He left it there so he wouldnt sink, butit never removed all the water. Don't know why he didn't hook up shore power to the battery charger onboard. Probably don't work. Anyway yhe bilge stinks bad, like raw sewage. I think i will have to remove everything inside to get rid of it. Or when it dries out maybe be ok. Then i built a temporary bulkhead and fastenned it to the existing fiberglass tabing, turned out ok, but i rushed it cuz was getting dark. Will fix it up tomorrow. Thanks for the advice guys. WOw, again so many replies. I am meeting the owner tomorrow after he finishes his twelve hour shift-see he is a nurse, too. He works for poison control 7pm-7am. He has a truckload of stuff to give me that goes with the boat. Don' know where he puts it though, there was so much stuff in the boat already. I hauled two half truckloads away already. I scraped some barnicles off today with a scraper duck taped to a pole. They come off pretty easy. Will venture into the water tomorrow-its cold, about 70 degress. Tous floridians 70 water is cold. but the air temp will be 82. The boat is sitting higher and higher after each day. Probably about six inches abouve previous level. Hey, maybe i will have a light nimble racer when I'm done???? Why is the grid system under the floor loose laid? Why not glassed in place like stringers. Why is it 2x4, why is the flooring 1-1/4 inch thick? I am 6'4", and love the headroom with the floor gone, I can actually stand straight up and stretch! Gonna think about using smaller/thinner mat'l and glassing over it for strength. Hey, when i remove both setees(one is already gone) its so wide you could have a dance with a dozen friends. Gonna rethink the whole interior layout, maybe go to the morgan rendevouis this year for ideas-remember its a clean chalkboard! Hey maybe even a pilot house/trawler thing. You never know? There is a rudder, its just that it don't move with the wheel, one reply had it right its hydraulic and needs to pump the tire pump to pressurize it. The owner is giving me an emergency tiller that fits into a place on the inside transom. I have experienced my first feelings of beeing overwhelmed today. But It will all go away when I sail it-got that "SAIL" it home. I am not a motor boater. Its not a sailboat until you hoist the sails. I long to turn off the motor. Thought about just sailing it out without motor, but I have to do a u turn around Tampa General hosp.and don;t know how well she tacks and it a bit narrow. Ross in Tampa, thanks I'll let you know. NOT SURE ABOUT THE POSTER THAT WANTS ME TO DRAG MY ASS AND TRY TO BLACKMAIL THE PO. mUST HAVE BEEN WEENED OFF THE TIT TO EARLY OR SOMETHING. Sure it is doing him a favor, and me as well. He is upstanding, responsible caring man, and his wife is just a peach, she can;t wait til all the boat stuff is out of the garage. He wanted to rebuild, but its too much for a liver transplant recipient to do. I will dicuss title tomorrow. sure its good. Trust is a thing that few remember or instill. I trust him, and if i get screwd then oh well. Can't fight my instincts. The time frame is mutual. I start a contract at work in January and work 4 twelves a week, gotta do it now, and the drive to the big city is too much, Although, being on bayshore working on the boat in 82degree weather with those joggers and rollerbladers in next to nothing is a site to see i will dearly miss. Just wish i and the boat were more presentable! Letterman, there is walpaper/burlap stuff on the inside hull walls, all gotta go. Peace, Patrick