If there's one thing the Internet teaches us, it's that we are not quite the unique individuals we think we are. I swear BobM and I must have some of the same genetic code. From our interest in old heaps - land-borne or floating - to our ever-growing pyramids of nautical products still MIB, the similarities are surprising. Of course, I must be the younger and better looking of the twins, since my boat pile has only been accumulating the last year or so AND I'm the only one brave enough to have his picture on his posts.
Anyhow, I too recently decided to try my best to not buy any new bits until at least a double-digit percentage of the current pile had been installed. I've not been as ambitious, but here's what I've done thus far:
Solved fuel and oil leaks on the 2GM20F.
Had the alternator modified for a tach take off, which is now connected to a big tach that replaced the dead inclinometer.
Replaced the fuel sender and now have a working fuel gauge.
Cleaned fuel system and replaced all filters.
Installed digital water temp and battery voltage gauges which actually function as intended.
Drilled a humongous hole in my pedestal guard to run the NMEA 2000 cable for the chartplotter.
Hard-wired the chartplotter to the battery, with intermittent success (still puzzling that out).
Shortened and then reshortened various legs on the bimini so that it is anchored down and not interfering with the boom.
Moved a bunch of rarely needed items - particularly cleansers and the like - into a dock box which is probably floating down the James River as we speak, after yesterday's storm.
Got a surfer watch for my birthday that shows local tides, so I'm increasingly unlikely to run aground.
Replaced and rerouted the bilge pump hose, which the PO had rubbing against the prop shaft, eventually making it non-op. Cleaned the pump saver screen. Put the pump on a pvc bracket after I broke the PO's aluminum one trying to use it to drag the hose out of the bilge. Like Bob, I have a second pump that I plan to install above the primary one. It is of greater capacity and will run larger hose to a new thru-hull.
Relocated the Harken outside-the-stanchion furler guides to the port side, so they don't interfere with climbing aboard at the dock. Installed a cleat for that system and generally cleaned up the lines and fittings on the Alado furler, so it's working without a hitch.
ACTUALLY SAILED FOR THREE HOURS down the river and back about a week ago. 6.5 knots down and 5 knots back! And NO groundings!
Tried cleaning the prop of 14 months worth of barnacles (was only making 3.5 knots under power, and the Yanmar wasn't happy over about 2400 rpm) and realized I was getting too old for that job. Got a local diver to do that, the shaft, the bottom and the zinc for $64. Well spent, that.
Generally cleaned up the interior so that I don't abruptly add 10 degress of heel as the load of uninstalled parts shifts.
Got an H2Out system for the fuel tank's vent line, along with a robust fuel-polishing system that should help my current filters last a bit longer, but those will have to wait until I puzzle out the intermittent power to the chartplotter.
Then I'd like to work on level gauges for the holding and water tanks, as well as an oil pressure gauge for the 2GM.
Has anyone installed a gauge for the freshwater tank? I'm not seeing any access that'd let me install one of those external tape units.
John, Clone o' Bob
Anyhow, I too recently decided to try my best to not buy any new bits until at least a double-digit percentage of the current pile had been installed. I've not been as ambitious, but here's what I've done thus far:
Solved fuel and oil leaks on the 2GM20F.
Had the alternator modified for a tach take off, which is now connected to a big tach that replaced the dead inclinometer.
Replaced the fuel sender and now have a working fuel gauge.
Cleaned fuel system and replaced all filters.
Installed digital water temp and battery voltage gauges which actually function as intended.
Drilled a humongous hole in my pedestal guard to run the NMEA 2000 cable for the chartplotter.
Hard-wired the chartplotter to the battery, with intermittent success (still puzzling that out).
Shortened and then reshortened various legs on the bimini so that it is anchored down and not interfering with the boom.
Moved a bunch of rarely needed items - particularly cleansers and the like - into a dock box which is probably floating down the James River as we speak, after yesterday's storm.
Got a surfer watch for my birthday that shows local tides, so I'm increasingly unlikely to run aground.
Replaced and rerouted the bilge pump hose, which the PO had rubbing against the prop shaft, eventually making it non-op. Cleaned the pump saver screen. Put the pump on a pvc bracket after I broke the PO's aluminum one trying to use it to drag the hose out of the bilge. Like Bob, I have a second pump that I plan to install above the primary one. It is of greater capacity and will run larger hose to a new thru-hull.
Relocated the Harken outside-the-stanchion furler guides to the port side, so they don't interfere with climbing aboard at the dock. Installed a cleat for that system and generally cleaned up the lines and fittings on the Alado furler, so it's working without a hitch.
ACTUALLY SAILED FOR THREE HOURS down the river and back about a week ago. 6.5 knots down and 5 knots back! And NO groundings!
Tried cleaning the prop of 14 months worth of barnacles (was only making 3.5 knots under power, and the Yanmar wasn't happy over about 2400 rpm) and realized I was getting too old for that job. Got a local diver to do that, the shaft, the bottom and the zinc for $64. Well spent, that.
Generally cleaned up the interior so that I don't abruptly add 10 degress of heel as the load of uninstalled parts shifts.
Got an H2Out system for the fuel tank's vent line, along with a robust fuel-polishing system that should help my current filters last a bit longer, but those will have to wait until I puzzle out the intermittent power to the chartplotter.
Then I'd like to work on level gauges for the holding and water tanks, as well as an oil pressure gauge for the 2GM.
Has anyone installed a gauge for the freshwater tank? I'm not seeing any access that'd let me install one of those external tape units.
John, Clone o' Bob
