Water Filter Steps TV

I decided to fit a water filter.  This casing can have a variety of filters including a 5 micron carbon filter.  I will start with 5 micron standard filters.This required the water supply from the tank to be re-routed but this was pretty straight forward.The large hole is for access to the air bleed valveServing will be by a removable middle...

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The Launch Timeline

     I have a recurring dream where I finally make it out to the boat shop after weeks of neglect only to find the place blanketed in Texas dust and the keel looking like Swiss cheese due to termite damage. A few of the frames are but piles of sawdust. Rather than feeling horrified, I feel relieved. I walk back to the house and order plans for a smaller boat and start packing my things. ...

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12DC Generator

I am sick and tired of my current 230v genset causing all sorts of problems with unstable voltage, poor quality sine wave and noise, (engine not electrical) although I suppose there is plenty of that too. My Victron doesnt like it and I have killed so many switch mode power supplies for mobile phones, iPads, even the power supplies in a Sky...

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Painting

A very kind break in the weather all be it a few days late enabled me to get some painting done.  The first area tackled was the fore deck.  The original painting had gone beyond saving so it was a back to metal rubdown. The edges had previously been prepped when the blue spray was done.Then a coat of primer.This will do until I put...

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Stuff Is Arriving

Sam the canvas man arrived today for the second fitting of the pram cover.  The design of the cover will permit the screen to remain in place with the cover completely down but can also be lowered or fully removed if required. There will be more side windows on the finished coverand a dodger around the base  The front screenI also collected...

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Skeg Day

Ive been putting it off for a while now but I decided I would attach the skeg today.  The reason for putting it off is because it involved laying on my back in a tight hole under the boat doing inverted welding.  Not the most appealing of jobs you will agree.Setting the job up simply involved using a plumb bob from the center of the top bearing...

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A Squirt is Born

The arrangements were made to gather a bunch of dudes to get the boat out of the basement into the garage and on the trailer. When the prescribed time arrived our main dude, 66" Danny, former star member of the U of M rowing team, was still in transit from Ann Arbor. We decided to wait for his arrival. When "Big Danny" made the scene, we gathered in...

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Construction philosophy

The more I read about fine boat building the more I realized it really wasnt for me. I just dont have the skills. Like the mother of an ugly kid, Im still going to think my boats beautiful--even if it doesnt have a lot of fancy joinery or bright work. I would be deliriously happy with a strong, stout boat that appears clean and neat, so Im aiming for...

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The Beginning

Saturday 3rd November 2007I have 2 days off in a mad time at work. 8 am sees me outside trying to sift trough the piles to sort it out,The first thing I did was to get the fuel tanks inside and coated with WD40 as I wont need them till March-08. I got as much done but having nobody else or the Frontloader I needed but couldnt get, I have to get more...

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Gas Fire Flue Odd Jobs

I have welded up the deck drain I had to cut to get the generator in, welded the generator flexible feet to the uxtor plate (base of the boat in that area), welded the bracket for the raw water strainer on, soldered the T junction for the raw water strainer to share the input with the engine and the generator.The parts for the rudder have been ordered...

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Fuled Up

I have been getting a bit fed up with getting 40L of Diesel from my friend to run the central heating boiler (Mikuni) so I ordered a full tank full 600L.I need to fuel it up at some point and while its on dry land its better just in case there is a leak.I was confident it was going to be fine because of the pressure tests and it was. So once full I...

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Got Gas

No, not that kind...If you are a regular user of Cyano Acrylate glues, otherwise known CA as Super Glue, its likely that you do. "Gassing" is the white residue that appears around your glue joints, especially on dark surfaces, clear surfaces, or on shiny metal. It makes an otherwise perfect joint, look, not so perfect. Sometimes its an indication that...

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Varnish Varnish Varnish

Its been 2 days varnishing the window trims. Well not solid as there is drying time but as I have used a 2pac varnish the cure time is only a few hours. The finish is a 30% gloss finish.Its not moder art, but these days probably could beHeres one fitted, nine more to fit!Glued in place with a 4 small blobs of SikaflexIf you look at the first photo...

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A Blast From The Past

It is 30 years since I last adjusted tappets and that was on a motorcycle.  So I had to buy a set of feeler gauges, something I never thought Id be buying again.Look proper tappetsThe inlet ones needed closing up a bit and the exhaust ones opening a bit, but in all cases it was only fractional.  However its amazing how much quieter it is...

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