The boat is home!
After changing the spark plugs and getting the engine started on Saturday, I motored home on Sunday without any problems.
Today I went sailing for the first time. Not the smoothest docking, but otherwise the day was perfect. Allison sailed for the first time - she loved it and was a good hand.
Still a lot of projects to do. The past two days I got a lot done: installled new stern chocks; fixed the stern light (spotty service); 50% varnish on the new toerail and 100% on the stern rail and the dorade box (the vent above the head); Jack hauled me aloft in the bosun's chair and I taped the spreaders, adjusted the windex, fixed a wrap of the jib halyard, and installed the burgee halyard (too short!); new Nav lights on the bow (bling!); and mostly installed the roller furling gear. I also bought a changing line and a new roller furling line (old one MIA).
26 June 2007
22 June 2007
Guess what I found...
I got the Main Passage Bolt from Kevin's old carburetor and put it on my carb. Tried the engine and while it didn't start yet, I remain hopeful that it's close. At least now I can start fiddling with it.
Yesterday, while I was fiddling with it I dropped a tiny screw into the bilge area under the engine. I expected to be able to find this little screw because just before launch I scrubbed this area carefully with soapy water and rags. The previous owner left the engine compartment an absolute mess - oil, dirt, sludge, dirt, and oil were all over. As I poked around under the engine I stuck my screwdriver in between a frame for the hull and a foundation frame for the platform the engine sits on and what do I turn up but my original Main Passage Bolt.
I nearly fainted from frustration.
And I did find the tiny screw, too.
Yesterday, while I was fiddling with it I dropped a tiny screw into the bilge area under the engine. I expected to be able to find this little screw because just before launch I scrubbed this area carefully with soapy water and rags. The previous owner left the engine compartment an absolute mess - oil, dirt, sludge, dirt, and oil were all over. As I poked around under the engine I stuck my screwdriver in between a frame for the hull and a foundation frame for the platform the engine sits on and what do I turn up but my original Main Passage Bolt.
I nearly fainted from frustration.
And I did find the tiny screw, too.
21 June 2007
yard/slip update
I called Moyer Marine on Monday and there was a misunderstanding about the part. Seems I thought they were going to send it out right away, and they thought they were going to "process the order right away." That's not the same thing because, "the part is not shipping from the warehouse it's shipping from Don Moyer's desk." Either way, they sent it out on Monday and I got the package on Wednesday.
I didn't get the part though, because UPS was so careless with the package that it arrived pretty much destroyed. There was a hole in the padded envelope and a hole in the zip lock that held the bolt I need.
Frustrating.
SO at Uncle Jack's suggestion I called up Kevin P who had an Atomic Four in his old boat, Ericsean, and who we thought might have some parts I could scrounge to make my engine go. Kevin said I could go by his house and pick up the bolt off an old carburetor. Nice!
So I am going to do that after work today and then head over to the boatyard.
Got the cover for the main sail. And put in the battens (with an assist from the ever-faithful Jack who had spare batten material for the missing ones).
The starboard side toe rail is bunged and mostly sanded. A few of the bungs came out while we were sanding them. Today I am going to sand the replacements, tape off, and put some 50% varnish down.
The head works great.
Very much looking forward to getting out of the boatyard.
I didn't get the part though, because UPS was so careless with the package that it arrived pretty much destroyed. There was a hole in the padded envelope and a hole in the zip lock that held the bolt I need.
Frustrating.
SO at Uncle Jack's suggestion I called up Kevin P who had an Atomic Four in his old boat, Ericsean, and who we thought might have some parts I could scrounge to make my engine go. Kevin said I could go by his house and pick up the bolt off an old carburetor. Nice!
So I am going to do that after work today and then head over to the boatyard.
Got the cover for the main sail. And put in the battens (with an assist from the ever-faithful Jack who had spare batten material for the missing ones).
The starboard side toe rail is bunged and mostly sanded. A few of the bungs came out while we were sanding them. Today I am going to sand the replacements, tape off, and put some 50% varnish down.
The head works great.
Very much looking forward to getting out of the boatyard.
11 June 2007
Moyer Marine, old school!
I tried to start the engine last week and because the "main passage bolt" is missing I dumped about $1.60 worth of gas in the bilge.
So I tried to find out a little bit more about this bolt, include some forums for Atomic 4s, and some old sailboat forums, and I eventually went to the website for the company that makes the repair manual for the engine, where I posted the following message:
Just put the boat in the water and found that the main passage bolt is missing from the carburetor. (Found out because I dumped about half a gallon of gas into the bilge.)
What size is this bolt and do I have to worry about material, or some kind of washer?
Thanks!
And I got a reply from the owner of the company himself:
You are clearly talking about the main passage plug which is a fine machine-threaded 1/2" hex-headed plug with a hard fiber washer to seal under the hex-head.
We do not currently offer this item for sale in our online catalog; however, I happen to have a used main passage plug and washer on my desk gathering dust so if you call Ken and place an order, I'll drop it off at UPS or the Post office on my trip in to town today.
In any case, do not under any circumstances try to install a bolt in this location or you will almost surely ruin your carburetor.
Don
How cool is that! Old school, baby. I find boat people will be just like that, or they will be exactly not just like that.
So I tried to find out a little bit more about this bolt, include some forums for Atomic 4s, and some old sailboat forums, and I eventually went to the website for the company that makes the repair manual for the engine, where I posted the following message:
Just put the boat in the water and found that the main passage bolt is missing from the carburetor. (Found out because I dumped about half a gallon of gas into the bilge.)
What size is this bolt and do I have to worry about material, or some kind of washer?
Thanks!
And I got a reply from the owner of the company himself:
You are clearly talking about the main passage plug which is a fine machine-threaded 1/2" hex-headed plug with a hard fiber washer to seal under the hex-head.
We do not currently offer this item for sale in our online catalog; however, I happen to have a used main passage plug and washer on my desk gathering dust so if you call Ken and place an order, I'll drop it off at UPS or the Post office on my trip in to town today.
In any case, do not under any circumstances try to install a bolt in this location or you will almost surely ruin your carburetor.
Don
How cool is that! Old school, baby. I find boat people will be just like that, or they will be exactly not just like that.
06 June 2007
Splashed!
The Redwing is in the water!
Rigging is up, the boom is on, and the main sail is on the boom. The main halyard's shackle is busted, but is getting replaced today. The sailmaker is going to make a cover for the main (for when it's furled).
The head works, the engine does not.
I put 5 gallons of gas in the tank and tried to start the engine, but got nothing. A screw on the bottom of the carburetor was out, so I poured about a half a gallon of gas into the bilge. Beauty. That was fun, sponging that out.
The plan: pay the remainder of the slip rental on Friday; get the engine started Saturday morning; pay the bills (yard and sailmaker); remove the platform that is in the slip early Sunday morning; sail/motor back on Sunday.
Rigging is up, the boom is on, and the main sail is on the boom. The main halyard's shackle is busted, but is getting replaced today. The sailmaker is going to make a cover for the main (for when it's furled).
The head works, the engine does not.
I put 5 gallons of gas in the tank and tried to start the engine, but got nothing. A screw on the bottom of the carburetor was out, so I poured about a half a gallon of gas into the bilge. Beauty. That was fun, sponging that out.
The plan: pay the remainder of the slip rental on Friday; get the engine started Saturday morning; pay the bills (yard and sailmaker); remove the platform that is in the slip early Sunday morning; sail/motor back on Sunday.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
