Jim Gardner showed up on “B” dock today.  New zincs for Synthia.  Twice a year works pretty well for Velkommen, especially with a new galvanic isolator.

Jim’s little Porter-Cable compressor did a fine job as his hookah setup.  It made me think….I’ve got a compressor just like that in the garage.  All I need is the proper filter. Hmmmmm.  And when its time to swap props, change zincs, or maybe just harvest the lettuce off yer hull……give Jim a call. He does a great job and he’s always got a good story to tell.

It’s been far too long since I’ve posted on Velkommen’s lengthy water tank replacement project.  The project grew, like most boat projects, to be much larger than first imagined.  Better to get it right than do it twice.

We are looking forward at the port-side space between the hull and the aft deck, approx. 9′ x 9′ x 2′.  The third coat of primer is dry and ready to be painted over.  On the left is the muffler, temporarily supported by a 1″ x 4″.  The black hoses are for the hydraulic steering and coolant routed through the Hurricane Heater.  The lines coming out of the hole in the engine room bulkhead run to the remote Sea Freeze compressor mounted high and center on a shelf bent from 1/4″ aluminum plate.  It is partly visible on the right edge.  Adjacent to the compressor, also partly visible, is the one of the new SS exhaust elbows.  The replacement of this particular elbow began the renovations and alterations that you see.

All images enlarge with a click.

The second pic shows the first fitting of the Hurricane heater platform and the battery platform.  The starboard side is actually farther along; the painting is complete and the water tank platform and the battery platform have been installed.  Besides the battery cables, the water tank fill hoses are wrapped around the red bucket, and then there is the green bonding wire,  held up out of the paint by vise grip clamps.

Pic number three shows the first coat of Kirby’s #25 Light Gray gloss coat while it is still nice and fresh.  Three coats of primer and three coats of gloss.  That’s the treatment.  Thankfully, Kirby’s paint does not require special application proceedures. In this case a 4″ nappy-headed roller works pretty well.

No, I’m not going to paint the overhead.  Sure, it would be a nice touch, but enough is enough.  I’m looking toward ending this project not augmenting it.

BIG Thanks to Ray Robinson (Robinson Woodworking) and Mark Hanger (Mark’s Marine Repair) whose encouragement and advise have been invaluable.  And also to Travis Hanson (Hanson’s Marine Services) who matched the gelcoat around the locker doors.

I found some time for boat projects last weekend.  When I got out of the truck at the marina I was greeted by a nasty stench.  It wasn’t the usual beach smells that accompany a low tide and a warm day.  It was more powerful than that.  My first inclination was to look toward the nearby refinery, sometimes the source of unusual smells, lights, noises, flames, explosions.  I completely overlooked the little white boom on “C” dock. When I reached the dingy dock at the bottom of the ramp the visual helped my nostrils pinpoint the odor.  Diesel fuel and too much of it.

	I didn't press for details, but the instant diagnosis would be a leaky fuel tank and a functioning automatic bilge pump. Accidents happen in spite of our best efforts. Luckily this one dispersed quite quickly with detergent and a fresh breeze. Is there a moral to the story? Hmmmm....well.......keep on top of the details, and always remember: ALL BOATS LOVE MAINTENANCE.

All images enlarge with a click.

The platform for the port side just needs a few more coats of paint.  The floor of the lazarette is getting the same light gray treatment.  Three coats of primer and three coats of gloss.  Kirby’s Light Gray #25.  A web search pointed me to Kirby’s by way of the Woodenboat Forum and Rejuvenation Woodworks.  I called the Massachusetts facility to get their input on my project, since I’m applying it to both wood and fiberglass.   I like the non-technical application.  Thin the gray-tinted primer with a little mineral spirits and apply to a clean surface with a brush or a roller or whatever you have.  The same goes for the gloss coat except penetrol is used instead of mineral spirits.  I goes on easy and dries hard; just right for a 1st timer like me.  Easy is good.  Progress is good.