Spent the last two days (half day each) doing my favorite thing, sanding fiberglass! 😉 Yesterday I got a start on the transom and back end of the keel.Prepping the transom for glassIt’s readyThat took me till ’bout noon and I went inside to see what …
Port sides aft
Kind of a lazy start this morning. Didn’t make it to the shed till after 09:00 and then did a wee bit of pondering. Wasn’t exactly sure I would have enough of the 12 oz fiberglass to do the side.Just ’nuff! Whew!Made it! With about 5′ left on the roll …
From Korcula south
Sept. 11 we left Korcula. We picked an anchorage just north of Sipan. We made our first stop in Sipan after we left Srebrino (Dubrovnik) were we visited with Christie and Andy on our way north 5 weeks ago.
This bay, Uvala Veliki Jakljan, was…
From Korcula south
Sept. 11 we left Korcula. We picked an anchorage just north of Sipan. We made our first stop in Sipan after we left Srebrino (Dubrovnik) were we visited with Christie and Andy on our way north 5 weeks ago. This bay, Uvala Veliki Jakljan, was a re…
Port Side Forward Second Layer
After a bit of sanding the fabric edges from yesterday’s glassification I wiped the forward section down and laid out the fabric.Port Side Forward second layerMixing a quart of epoxy at a time I started rolling it out. This section is fussy fussy fussy…
INTERESTING INFORMATION FROM TECHNICAL TRAINING SEMINAR ABOARD NORDHAVN 68 – PART TWO
Envoy is currently in Lefkas marina, Greece and we’re home in New Zealand. But we arrive back in Lefkas late next week and soon after that will give an update on how Envoy’s faring having been left for 11 months.
Our last posting introduced the technical seminar held aboard Nordhavn 68, Karajas, in Akuna Bay Marina north of Sydney.
View of Karaja’s engine room with single John Deere main plus Northern Lights wing engine
Steve d’Antonio talks to course attendees in engine room
So what are a few key points others can learn from? Here is a flavour of some specifics.
– Always install equipment according to the manufacturer’s guidelines and insist that contractors do so,
as well as supplying a schematic diagram where needed.
– No AC power connections should be exposed or able to be accidentally touched.
– When working on AC power systems always totally isolate the inverter and remove the shore power
cable.
– Stainless steel bolts, nuts and washers should not be used in demanding applications like prop shaft couplings, steering couplings or engine mounts. Nor should they be used in electrical situations due to
the low conductivity of stainless steel.
– Although two hose clamps are supposed to be used for all raw water plumbing applications it is better
to use one properly than two improperly. Ensure hose clamps are marine grade stainless steel and have
solid not perforated bands. To avoid cuts and injuries use “Clamp-Aid” silicone covers on the sharp
exposed tail of the clamp.
– Only use correctly rated and marked hose for raw water plumbing and exhaust systems.
– Operate seacocks regularly to avoid them seizing up.
– Hydraulic steering rams and tiller arms should be regularly checked both at rest and under way while steering lock-to-lock to check for significant leaks and movement in fastenings.
– Test your emergency steering tiller before you need to use it.
– To reduce corrosion on aluminium masts, paravanes, booms, door frames etc bed fittings and hardware
in a PU bedding compound. This can be done retrospectively.
– In the event of engine room fire stop all engines and blowers (to maximise the effect of the extinguishing agent) and isolate the batteries (in case the fire is caused by a short circuit or overload).
– The prop shaft stuffing box temperature should not exceed about 30dF above the ambient sea water temperature.
– There is no need to change primary fuel filter cartridges too often, but as dictated by your vacuum gauge
(at about 5 inches of vacuum). Use 10 or 30 micron cartridges – finer is not better in the primaries.
– Bleeding of the fuel system should not be necessary if the primary and secondary filters are bled
correctly when changed. To ensure any air remaining in the system is passed through run the engine for
about 5 mins at 1200-1440 rpm, not at idle. This rpm range will reduce the chance of the engine stalling while passing air.
– Dry exhaust thermal insulation should be regularly checked using the pyrometer and for potential fire
and safety reasons no section should exceed 200dF. Wet exhaust system hoses should not exceed about 160dF.
– To maximise AGM battery life normally discharge to about 50% of its capacity and don’t routinely start charging much above that level.
I would certainly recommend any serious cruiser to attend a course run by Steve or a similarly qualified industry expert both to learn specifics and to stimulate thought.
Port side bottom second layer
Done!Day started out with a bit of sanding ’cause I played hookie from the boat shed yesterday and hung out with the ole’ Lady and a couple friends. Then we all skipped over the bridge for Mexican food. :-)Port side (left) all sanded & preppedWen…
North We Go (Part 3)
After two nights at Parkside Marina we untied the dock lines and made our way out to the channel. The wind was still blowing out of the northwest around 20 with gusts to 30mph but minus the rain.
We slid past the National Eagle Center (www.nationaleaglecenter.org) located right on the Wabasha waterfront and within minutes we were out of town. We passed by many sand dunes and in no time we were transiting Lock 4 at Alma, Wi.
National Eagle Center.
Sand dunes below Wabasha.
Power plant below Lock 4.
The channel winds from Wisconsin over to the Minnesota side through a sheltered course. And then a few miles above Lock 5 it opened up to feel the full effect of the wind. Kim did a great job of getting Vagabond into the chamber with the wind howling up her skirt. It was blowing hard enough to create white caps inside the chamber until the gates were closed!
Northbound tow fighting wind and current above Lock 5.
Once through the lock the channel narrowed and the wind was less of a problem. Lock 5A was ready for us and through it we went. A short while later we pulled along the Winona, Mn. sea wall and ventured into town to find a liquor store.
Fountain City, Wis.
Former sand pit above Winona that we used to stop at.
Vagabond at Winona.
Neat old building downtown.
We found the liquor store.
We new we were in trouble when the highest priced bottle of wine was only $5.95!
Lets just say that the liquor store isn’t in the best part of town so once we made our purchase it was back to the boat for us.
Just downstream we pulled into The Winona Marina, formerly the Winona Yacht Club. The wind was pushing us into the dock and there was no one around to catch a line. Once secured we saw the sign with a phone number on it. Kim called and found out the attendant was at lunch. Wait we did. Finally he slowly comes down the dock. A pumpout is what we needed so once he got the antiquated system primed the job was completed. Cost…$20.00! When the attendant was paid he went back into the hut never to be seen again. No help with lines. No help pushing us off the dock. Nothing! Must have been time for his nap!
We got off and worked our way south through Lock 6 and Lock 7 and on to our anchorage just off the channel across from downtown La Crosse.
Our anchorage in downtown LaCrosse.
It wasn’t long before Kim switched from captain to cook.
I did my part and held the plate!
The shoreline blocking the wind and anchored in a no wake area made for a very peaceful night.
Our travel the next day took us all of 1 mile to Pettibone Boat Club where we docked for the evening so we could check out a restaurant in downtown La Crosse.
Vagabond at Pettibone.
View of the channel from Pettibone.
Waiting for our meal at the Waterfront. It was worth the wait.
Fat and Happy we pulled out of Pettibone the next morning and made our way South. Destination…Garnet Lake.
Fleeting area below La Crosse.
Lonely day mark.
We met another river boat below La Crosse. The American Eagle. A new passenger vessel that none of us had seen before. (www.americancruiselines.com)
Headed towards the Minnesota bluffs near Brownsville.
Closing in on Brownsville, Mn.
Meeting a Northbound tow on a tight corner.
Exiting Lock 8 at Genoa, Wis.
Indians?
Blackhawk Bridge at Lansing, Iowa.
Once again we made a pit stop in Lansing for fuel, ice, and more Cow Pie.
Wide river below Lansing.
Mid channel dredging. Where do we go??
Our destination. Garnet Lake.
Once again it’s time to eat!
We spent two nights anchored in Garnet and on the lay day took the dinghy for a ride through the backwaters on the Wisconsin side of the river. Just below Garnet the Wisconsin River dumps into the Mississippi. A great place to explore with it’s sand bars and multiple channels. This time however we went towards Prairie Du Chien. Through shallow water that required tilting the motor up, and down dead end sloughs that had been dammed by the beavers. It reminded me of my childhood exploring the backwaters in my 14′ jon boat and trusty Evinrude 3hp motor. We were all Huck Finn’s for a few hours.
Looking towards Iowa as the morning mist raises off the water.
A lonely fisherman along the bank.
Slough that was dammed by the beavers.
The back way into Prairie Du Chien Marina.
A couple of cold campers who had just gotten splashed by a wave.
One of the things that I don’t think I’ve ever mentioned about Garnet Lake is the large number of Bald Eagles that seem to reside there. Every time you look up or at the trees you can usually spot one or more scanning their territory. It’s a sight that you never get tired of. Unfortunately my camera doesn’t zoom in close enough to get a good picture. You’ll just have to go there to see for yourself.
Our last night was a peaceful one on the hook and all too soon we were back underway trying to get home before the forecasted thunderstorms moved in.
A river all to ourselves.
Once again we were lucky at the locks with very little wait at either 10 or 11. The weather cooperated and only gave us brief showers for our final 50 miles luckily waiting until we were under cover of the dock, safe and sound at Mid-Town Marina. A great trip come to a close. We traveled 504 total statute miles. 464 on the Mississippi and 40 on the St. Croix.
Many thanks to Kim & Lu as well as Vagabond for their hospitality!
Catching Up: June and July with Lesley & Amelia
Readers may have noticed that my blog has been silent since early May (except for the recent article “Beast the Car Dealer with AlphaCBA). No excuse. We’ve been living the good life here in Hingham and I’ve been a bit lazy. So, now it…
Keel port side second layer
Had to do a wee bit more sanding in the box keel this morning. That took an hour or so then started to lay up the 12 oz fabric for the keel.12 oz fabric for keelI had a roll end in the shed so I dragged that out. It had about 11′ left on it. I think I’…
