Working on a boat - Observations

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Bob Poff

Bob Poff

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Dec 4, 2006
281
Hunter 34 Havre de Grace
I've been doing some rehab/remodeling on my H34. Here's a few of my observations.

1. When planning a schedule, add a little extra time.
2. Boats are designed to be sailed. Not to be worked on. Especially for a right-handed fat guy like me.
3. A right angle drive drill attachement is a blessing. Extentsions are nice too.
4. Multiply your time estimates by 2.
5. When mounting something (like a fuse block or buss bar) a dab of double sided foam tape on the back works well to hold it in place while you're dropping, errr.. driving the screws.
6. That portal to a parallel universe where dropped screws go to encompasses the entire boat. Numerous secondary wormholes go directly to the bilge.
7. Something that is important to the project will be lost by UPS or USPS.
8. Multiply time lines by 4.
9. The grass at home knows that you're working on the boat, and grows faster. This is on an exponential curve. I mowed the grass last Tuesday, by Sunday the gazelles were back and grazing.
10. No matter how well you think the project is planned, things change. Some for the good, others not so.
11. What came out of Pandora's Box was peanuts compared to what you find while tearing apart things on a 25+ year old boat.
12. Ouch! --- Dummy, that's why it's called a HEAT GUN!
13. The $50 I paid for that hydraulic crimper was darn worth it!
14. "Liquid Tape" and white tee shirts don't mix well.
15. Time is an illusion. Boat work time doubly so. Practice Zen time scheduling. Things will be completed as the universe is ready.
 
C

capejt

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May 17, 2004
276
Hunter 33_77-83 New London, CT
OMG!!! What a post!

Has to be the best posting I've ever seen here!
I've been through every one of those myself, so I too feel your pain.
Two I think you may have missed....
1) I used to use my boat-work as "therapy",,, now I think I'm in need of therapy to deal with my "therapy".
Hang in there. you're not alone!
2) Battery acid may not eat through your clothes immediately, but wait till you do the laundry!
 
kloudie1

kloudie1

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Nov 6, 2006
10,219
Hunter 34 Mandeville Louisiana
LOL.. Being a right handed fat guy myslf, I fully understand.. the battery dungeon deserves note on the 34.. a real challenge wriggling through that hole to get into there!..
 
Ross

Ross

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Jun 15, 2004
14,693
Islander/Wayfairer 30 sail number 25 Perryville,Md.
It would help to have an eyeball on the end of a finger so I could see into places where my head won't fit.
I need at least three extra hands that don't need to be told what needs holding, pushing, pulling, or lifting.
I need a rag soaked with just the right amount of the correct solvent to clean up what ever I have gotten where it shouldn't be.
 
sailaway78

sailaway78

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May 11, 2005
3,431
Seidelman S37 Slidell, La.
X 4

Mutiply the time line by 4 works, until you find something else that is broken. Then of course the process begins all over again. Seems like for me lately, the multiplier has been somewhere around 16 by the time everything is done. The eyeball on the end of a finger would be very good. Recently while working on the shaft log, I used a mechanics mirror in one hand and a spotlight in the other to see under it. Still never got a good look under there. Boats, don't ya just love em.
 
Ross

Ross

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Jun 15, 2004
14,693
Islander/Wayfairer 30 sail number 25 Perryville,Md.
Re: X 4

Digital cameras work pretty well for viewing places hidden deep in the bowels of the ship. Just keep a good hold on the lanyard.
 
Dan Johnson

Dan Johnson

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Oct 14, 2005
2,191
1983 Hunter H34 North East, MD
Bob...

You forgot one at the end...double your time estimate again!

Last thoughts...whoever you get to crawl down into the starboard cockpit seat locker, while they are in there, DO NOT feed them or let them have any kind of liquid (especially one that forms a head) or they may not be able to (or want to) get out. And, DO NOT encourage them to stretch out or they may become wedged in by the fuel tank and not be able to move (don't ask).

Otherwise, you've covered all the bases!!!
 
Ross

Ross

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Jun 15, 2004
14,693
Islander/Wayfairer 30 sail number 25 Perryville,Md.
Re: Bob...

Dan, Suzanne is able to crawl into places like that but she knows what it is worth.
 
Bob Poff

Bob Poff

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Dec 4, 2006
281
Hunter 34 Havre de Grace
As to time schedule, that's the point of #15. You're NOT going to complete things until the planets are in the right position, stars aligned, tide at the right phase, and the FORCE is agreeable. The events as stated by Nice & Easy, and mentioned in #11 conspire to enforce this.

Warning, seriousness follows.
Claude and Dan, one aspect of the project is to do away with that problem.
House batteries are now in the after dinette bench. Access to the new charger, distrubution, etc which are in "the H34 hole of death" is through the quarter (sixteenth?) berth bulkhead.
 
T

Tricia

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Jun 4, 2004
87
Freedom 30 Victoria, BC
It's not until you have crawled through a small hole and wedged yourself into an impossible position that you discover that the tool you need is at home in the garage --- somewhere.
 
Dan Johnson

Dan Johnson

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Oct 14, 2005
2,191
1983 Hunter H34 North East, MD
Ross...

She most certainly will fit, but I doubt if Dobbs will let us keep her locked up in there 'til we need her again! :dance:
 
Dan Johnson

Dan Johnson

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Oct 14, 2005
2,191
1983 Hunter H34 North East, MD
Bob...

be sure to share with us the pics of how you gained access through the aft cabin bulkhead. My Levi's are getting tight in the waist again...
 
Dan Johnson

Dan Johnson

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Oct 14, 2005
2,191
1983 Hunter H34 North East, MD
Tricia...

worse yet is the realization that you don't own the tool you need...
 
Ross

Ross

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Jun 15, 2004
14,693
Islander/Wayfairer 30 sail number 25 Perryville,Md.
Re: Tricia...

Dan, that would be a waste of resource. She is a fine cook.
 
Bob Poff

Bob Poff

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Dec 4, 2006
281
Hunter 34 Havre de Grace
Dan, I was going to start a thread in HunterOwners/Big Boats some year when I finish.
But here's a couple shots.

I cut a 18"x48" hole in the bulkhead. Once I'm finished the picture with the ovals shows how I want to have the bulkhead look. Two removable panels made from the removed piece will give access to the area.

There's a shot of what was there when I started.

Another shows the Work In Progress.

And there's another Work In Progress shot of the dienette bench.

We beat this subject to death last year. Search for 34 Bulkhead.
 

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