Boat Projects - 5 weeks and counting

Location:  Sidney, BC, Canada

We are well into our boat projects, repairs and upgrades.  The work started on February 20th and we are hoping to cross the finish line sometime over the next few weeks.  Our project list is quite long, so for this post, we'll walk thru the list, provide some pictures and let you know what's been done so far.

Seabiscuit hauled out on a rail system for bottom painting
and stabilizer maintenance.

Our biggest project is installing a diesel hydronic heating system along with a new water heater.  We chose the Kabola Blue Flame system which is billed as "the only blue flame, zero soot and low-carbon emission marine boiler on the market."  The theory is that because the flame burns hotter, blue instead of yellow, it is more efficient and produces less soot.  An interesting article on hydronic heating systems, specifically the Blue Flame system was written by Steve D'Antonio for Professional Boat Builder Magazine Blue Flame Afloat.  (Steve D' is a marine technical consultant.  We read his articles and newsletters on a regular basis.  Learn more at Steve's website:  Steve D Marine Consulting).  So far the boatyard have completed: 

• Installation of the fan coils in all the spaces to be heated (8 total - 2 in the saloon, 1 each in each stateroom (3), 1 in each head (2) and 1 combo heat/defrost unit in the pilot house)
• Installation of the PEX plumbing and insulation.
• Installation of air intakes and vents for the fan coils.
• The cable runs for the thermostats and switches are done but not connected.  
• In the engine room, installation of the boiler, the hot water heater, the five-zone manifold, the fluid conditioning tank and the fluid filter.

The components installed in the engine room:  the boiler, new water heater, fluid conditioning tank and manifold.

Fan coils waiting to be installed in the starboard stateroom and head.

Fan coil installed in the starboard stateroom.

Fan coil installed in the saloon under the starboard settee.

Main switch for the heating system.

Burner side of the boiler.

What's left:

• Installation of the boiler's exhaust system.
• Electrical connections to the fan coils, thermostats and switches.
• Pulling in primary power from the 24V battery bank to the 24V/230V inverter and then the inverter 230VAC power to the Kabola boiler. 
• Installing the fuel line and fuel filter.
• Hook-up, commissioning and testing.

Our second biggest project is replacing the teak on the main deck.  The teak on the main deck was worn down so that it was below the level of the caulking.  The deck on the Portuguese bridge is still in good shape so we opted not to replace that.  The removal of the old deck has been very labor intensive and included taking the deck down to bare metal.  Now that they have the old deck removed, they are in the process of painting and fairing the steel to ready it for the new deck installation.  The teak installers have been to the boat and created the pattern for the new deck.  The boat yard should finish the deck prep this week and the installation of the new deck is scheduled to begin next week on Monday.

Starting to remove the old deck, port side.

Old deck removal, port side

Removal in progress, stern.

Pattern making for the new deck, stern.

Preparing to paint with epoxy primer.

Starboard deck painted with some long battens to allow more efficient application of final "level" of fairing compound. 2-3mm tolerance is target for teak installation via vacuum bagging over thin layer of epoxy.

Seabiscuit at the service dock with the main deck enclosed with plastic to protect
it from the weather while they work on the deck.

Our other projects are relatively small compared to the heating system and the deck, but they are numerous.  We had the boat hauled out of the water to repaint the bottom, apply prop speed and do maintenance on the Wesmar stabilizer system.

Preparing to haul-out on the small rail.

Lined up to haul-out on the small rail.  The boatyard noticed that the rails weren't lining up on the small rail.  They inspected, found some subsidence and needed to make repairs before they hauled any more boats on that rail.
Our haul-out was delayed by one week when they were able to haul us on the large rail.

We got hauled on the large rail.

Up out of the water, ready to be prepped for bottom paint.

Stabilizer fin removed so that shaft seals could be replaced.

Stabilizer fin shaft.

Installing Speedi-Sleeve on stabilizer shaft where some minor pitting was found.

Stabilizer fin re-installed.

While the boat was out of the water, we flaked out our anchor chain and repainted our markings.  We have soft line marks every ten feet, yellow spray paint every fifty feet and yellow-orange-yellow spray paint at the bitter end.

Dave painting the bitter end marks on our anchor chain.

We're doing some carpentry work including removing our entertainment cabinet to make more space in the saloon, building a new entertainment/DVD cabinet under the port side dining bench, modifying the wine cabinet so that it will hold wine bottles and glasses, building a storage unit where the washer/dryer used to be and adding louvers to the chart cabinet where our sat system is installed.  We are also replacing the carpet in the saloon and state rooms.

The carpenter removing the entertainment cabinet while the
electrician runs cable for the propane solenoid valve.

The entertainment cabinet is gone and the carpet is removed.
The wine cabinet is on the table waiting to go to the shop for modifications.

The electrician wiring for the new DVD cabinet under the port dining bench.

We are installing a propane shut-off solenoid valve and have taken our tanks to be re-certified.  One passed and one didn't so we have a new tank on order.  Our propane storage box is old and the base of it is rotted so it will be replaced.

Propane shut-off control

The bottom of our existing propane storage box.

Our electrical repairs and upgrades include: adding a 110V outlet just above the wine cabinet at the aft end of the starboard settee, repairing the LEDs in the galley, and installing a breaker and outlet/switch for our hookah compressor.

The circuit breaker box opened up for the electrical upgrades.

 

The new outlet for the hookah compressor.

We're replacing our seawater cooled refrigerator and freezer compressors with fan cooled units.  We think they'll be just as efficient but will require less maintenance (no anodes and no seawater lines) and will allow us to close the sea chests while leaving the frig/freezer running if we leave the boat for short periods of time.

Refrigerator and freezer compressors being replaced.

We are replacing our black and gray water tank level gauges and are adding a tank level gauge for our fresh water tank.  We noticed some rust in our fresh water tank so we have cleaned it up and are repainting the inside.

New tank level gauges (to the right of the coffee cup)
ready to be installed.

A collar added to the top of the fresh water tank so that tank level sensor can be installed.

Localized 2mm pitting in our fresh water tank. Repaired with epoxy.

Heater in the fresh water tank to dry it out before painting.

 

Of course, it hasn't been all work and no play.  During the first week of March, while Dave managed the boat projects, I headed south to join my friend Jennie for part of her cross-country drive.  I met her in Las Vegas on March 1st.  We toured the strip and did some gambling on the 2nd and then hit the road on Friday, March 3.  We drove from Las Vegas to Bakersfield on Friday and parked at a small casino.  Saturday we drove from Bakersfield to Merced, CA where we parked at a local winery Vista Cellars Winery.  Sunday we drove from Merced to Williams, CA where we met my mom, Louise and brother, Kevin, for lunch before continuing on to Orland where Jennie set-up for her work week.  I spent two days visiting with my mom in Colusa and then flew back to Victoria.

Jennie at the Bellagio Gardens, Las Vegas.
The theme was Chinese New Year - Year of the Rooster.

Parking in the dark in a vacant lot behind the casino in Bakersfield.

Parked at a local winery in Merced, CA.

Watching a crop duster fly over the orchards behind the winery.

Lunch in Williams, CA at Granzella's Deli with Jennie, Kevin and Louise.

Flood water residue covering an RV park, Sacramento River near Colusa, CA.

We are watching winter turn to spring here in Sidney, BC.

Snow, February 27th, Sidney, BC.

Crocuses in bloom, mid-March, Sidney, BC.

Anna's hummingbird, mid-March, Sidney, BC waterfront.
This hummingbird species is a year-round resident. 

We hope to have our project finished and to be out cruising soon.  Until next time...

Holidays in Victoria and Trip to TX and AL

We really enjoyed our time in Victoria, BC over the holiday season.

Butchart Gardens' Holiday Lights.

B and Louise at Butchart Gardens.

My mom, Louise, came to visit for Christmas and we kept her busy.  We went out to Butchart Gardens to see their holiday light display. We toured the Royal BC Museum - Mammoths was their main exhibit; they have a very good First Nations exhibit and were highlighting First Nations languages.  We did some shopping, went to the gym, went to the casino, played cards and dined out on the town. Mom and I went and toured Craigdarroch Castle.  The castle was originally the home of coal baron Robert Dunsmuir and his family.  Through the years it has served as a military hospital, a music conservatory and as Victoria College.  At one point in its history, the castle was a prize in a local lottery.   As always, we did a few boat projects and mom "volunteered" to help with some of those.

Louise chipping glue off a cabinet door in order to re-install the center panel.

 The time went by quickly and before we knew it, Mom headed home.

Louise going through security at Victoria Airport (YYJ).

We enjoyed the New Year's Eve celebration in the Victoria Inner Harbor.  Canada is celebrating its 150 year anniversary in 2017 and timed the New Year's Eve fireworks to go off at the same time all across the country.

Victoria Harbor ferries practicing their "ballet" moves.

New Year's Eve, Victoria Harbor Ferry Ballet.

New Year's Eve fireworks over the harbor (we watched from Monkey Island).

Early January we winterized the boat and headed south to visit family and friends.  Our first stop was Austin, TX to visit with the kids and the grandkids.  We helped with house projects, enjoyed playing with the grandkids and had a nice family dinner.

Maggie's turn at Pie Face.

Splat!  Maggie gets hit.

Splat!  Benjamin's turn.

 

We stopped in Houston to take care of our annual physicals, stopped at the casinos in Louisiana and Mississippi and finally arrived at Sweet Pea Farm in Alabama.

Driving into Sweet Pea Farm.

The weather when we arrived at the farm was warm and sunny, a nice change from the wintery weather in BC.  We had lots of friends and family visit us this year.  Pete and Cathy came down from New Hampshire.  Dave and Pete spent most of their time working on the tractor electrical system.  Cathy and I did chores around the cabin and barn and walked everyday.

Dave and Pete working on the tractor.

Cathy enjoying the warm weather on the porch swing.

Ben and his friends, Rocky and Graham, came over from Austin.  They spent their days in the woods tracking and hunting deer and also did projects around the farm.

Rocky, Ben and Graham.

Jennie stopped by to stay for a couple of weeks.  She is moving across the country from Washington, DC to Spokane, WA, travelling in her 5th wheel trailer with her two cats.  She worked at her paid job during the week; we walked in the afternoons and did projects on the weekends.

Jennie lining up her rig to back under the barn.

 

Success!  Jennie and Dave do a high five.

It was a tight squeeze but Jennie fit her rig in between our 5th wheel and
 the flat bed with enough room to open the slides on both trailers.

My mom flew in to visit for a week before continuing on to Florida to visit my Uncle Max and Aunt Darlene.  Of course, we had projects for her to do.  We sorted through boxes and took stuff to Goodwill and installed cabinet hardware in the kitchen and bathrooms.  Ben and his friends installed a brick walkway at the bottom of the back porch stairs, so we framed that and added sand.  We burned our scrap wood and worked on some plumbing repairs.  Dave tried to do some bush-hogging but didn't have much luck.  First the PTO (power take-off) shaft broke, then, after he got that repaired, the castle nut that holds the blade in place came off.

The tractor and bush hog loaded onto the flat bed.

Sunrise at Sweet Pea Farm.

My Uncle Max, his friend Bud and my cousin Morgan all came in to do some deer hunting.  They went out in the mornings and afternoons and we played cards when they weren't in the woods.

Louise, Morgan, Bud, Jennie, Max and Dave having lunch at a local cafe.

We left the farm on February 11th and started our journey back to the boat.  We stopped in Mississippi, Louisiana and Austin, then flew back to Victoria on Valentine's Day.  We de-winterized the boat and set off on our first cruise of 2017, from Victoria, BC to Friday Harbor, WA.

View of Friday Harbor.  A Washington State Ferry is leaving.
Seabiscuit is at the dock in the center of the photo.

Today, we started work at the boatyard in Sidney, BC. Our main project is to install a diesel-fired hydronic heating system so that we can extend our cruising season.  Until next time...