Splashdown in sight...
 

Hi, y'all,

The countdown continues. Tonight will be the penultimate "real" shower
before we splash (launch) on Friday evening, courtesy of our friend Mark,
where Lydia Fell's mother Louise DeVitalis Fell has been living for 18
months, waiting for us to leave. Originally it was going to be her going
with us in July of 2011. A large refit, and some medical, as well as general
aging, issues, made that seem impossible. So...

Whether or not she comes with us, even for sea trials, is currently under
consideration, we having assumed that she would not, due to her advancing
age. However, a visit to the boat on Saturday has us reexamining that, as
you'd not know that it was the same person...

We haven't decided whether we're more excited or nervous, having been nearly
2 years since we used our sailing skills in our 40,000 pound home.

But essentially all the projects (more than 20 each major and last-minute
ones, some of them incorporating several major or minor sub-projects) are
complete, and the pictures of all the gory details are up on our gallery,
linked below.

L8R

Skip

--

Morgan 461 #2
SV Flying Pig KI4MPC
See our galleries at www.justpickone.org/skip/gallery !
Follow us at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TheFlyingPigLog
and/or http://groups.google.com/group/flyingpiglog

When a man comes to like a sea life, he is not fit to live on land.
- Dr. Samuel Johnson

Splashdown in sight...
 

On Mon, 21 Jan 2013 08:11:18 -0500, "Flying Pig"
wrote:

The countdown continues. Tonight will be the penultimate "real" shower
before we splash (launch) on Friday evening

====

Good news and bon voyage. We'll keep a sharp look out for you and
the FP in our own travels.

Splashdown in sight...
 

"Flying Pig" wrote in message
...

...

We haven't decided whether we're more excited or nervous, having been nearly
2 years since we used our sailing skills in our 40,000 pound home.

...

40,000 pounds!!!! OMG. She IS a pig. LOL! My fine yacht,
fully loaded, only weighs in at 8,200 pounds as measured by
the last travel lift haul out.

Better lay in a supply of Dramamine. After being a lubber for
two years you might find yourself seasick for the first couple
of days.

Good luck and please don't scrape off any bottom paint on
the way out.

--
Sir Gregory

Splashdown in sight...
 

The new Walker Bay Genesis inflatable, now endowed with nearly
indestructible chaps has arrived. We're putting on the lifting pennants,
loading the deluxe seats, adding towing and anchoring gear, oars and
throttle extender, and we'll soon have it on the arch...

The new Porta-Bote is collapsed and secured to the rail, a new bag from
Sunbrella holds the seats and transom, and the sculling oars are lashed to
the handholds forward.

Verified both 6 and 15 HP engines (Porta-Bote and inflatable), filled both
dinghy tanks, covered and secured them.

Getting closer! Very darn little left on the chores list other than last
minute provisioning and vacuuming the water tanks (inevitably there's always
grit on the bottom courtesy of the municipal water supplies) and shocking
them, topping up the battery water (they hydro'd very good a couple of
months ago) and restrapping the box cover, and remounting the wind
instrument, not yet arrived (tomorrow) from the rebuild.

L8R

Skip and crew

--

Morgan 461 #2
SV Flying Pig KI4MPC
See our galleries at www.justpickone.org/skip/gallery !
Follow us at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TheFlyingPigLog
and/or http://groups.google.com/group/flyingpiglog

When a man comes to like a sea life, he is not fit to live on land.
- Dr. Samuel Johnson

Splashdown in sight...
 

More than in sight, behind us.

We're in the slip, doing recommissioning stuff, with no surprises other than
a couple of places where new clamps are seeping.

Engine runs very sweetly, and spews massivly more water than before, a
product of my reaming the heat exchanger (and picking out the impeller
pieces before hand), the new thermostat registers properly, the rudder
doesn't even seep at rest, and the new shaft gland isn't running at all
either - though that one will require some running in before I'm totally
happy with it.

The new dinghy and chaps looks great hanging under the arch, the boat shines
in and out, my seat at the nav is ultra-comfy with its new very firm foam
and cover, and on and on.

It sure feels good to be back on the water!

More later as we fuel and water and get under way. We'll be here in the
launch slip tomorrow for visitors, and then out on the high tide on Monday.

First non-house shower in a great while coming up, and then the first
motion-aided sleep in even longer...

L8R, y'all

Skip

--

Morgan 461 #2
SV Flying Pig KI4MPC
See our galleries at www.justpickone.org/skip/gallery !
Follow us at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TheFlyingPigLog
and/or http://groups.google.com/group/flyingpiglog

When a man comes to like a sea life, he is not fit to live on land.
- Dr. Samuel Johnson

Splashdown in sight...
 

On Sat, 26 Jan 2013 20:22:43 -0500, "Flying Pig"
wrote:

More than in sight, behind us.

We're in the slip, doing recommissioning stuff, with no surprises other than
a couple of places where new clamps are seeping.

Engine runs very sweetly, and spews massivly more water than before, a
product of my reaming the heat exchanger (and picking out the impeller
pieces before hand), the new thermostat registers properly, the rudder
doesn't even seep at rest, and the new shaft gland isn't running at all
either - though that one will require some running in before I'm totally
happy with it.

The new dinghy and chaps looks great hanging under the arch, the boat shines
in and out, my seat at the nav is ultra-comfy with its new very firm foam
and cover, and on and on.

It sure feels good to be back on the water!

More later as we fuel and water and get under way. We'll be here in the
launch slip tomorrow for visitors, and then out on the high tide on Monday.

First non-house shower in a great while coming up, and then the first
motion-aided sleep in even longer...


===============

Congratulations! I think you'll like it better on the water, I know
I do.

Splashdown in sight...
 

" Sir Gregory Hall, Esq·" åke wrote in message
...
"Flying Pig" wrote in message
...

...

We haven't decided whether we're more excited or nervous, having been
nearly 2 years since we used our sailing skills in our 40,000 pound home.

...

40,000 pounds!!!! OMG. She IS a pig. LOL! My fine yacht,
fully loaded, only weighs in at 8,200 pounds as measured by
the last travel lift haul out.

Better lay in a supply of Dramamine. After being a lubber for
two years you might find yourself seasick for the first couple
of days.

Good luck and please don't scrape off any bottom paint on
the way out.

--
Sir Gregory


Oops. In the slings this time, it's more like 44k, without any water and a
light fuel load...

No problems about the collywobbles so far :{))

Lydia's mom and housemate here for lunch...

L8R

Skip

--

Morgan 461 #2
SV Flying Pig KI4MPC
See our galleries at www.justpickone.org/skip/gallery !
Follow us at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TheFlyingPigLog
and/or http://groups.google.com/group/flyingpiglog

When a man comes to like a sea life, he is not fit to live on land.
- Dr. Samuel Johnson

Splashdown in sight...
 

"Flying Pig" wrote in message
...
" Sir Gregory Hall, Esq·" åke wrote in message
...
"Flying Pig" wrote in message
...

...

We haven't decided whether we're more excited or nervous, having been
nearly 2 years since we used our sailing skills in our 40,000 pound home.

...

40,000 pounds!!!! OMG. She IS a pig. LOL! My fine yacht,
fully loaded, only weighs in at 8,200 pounds as measured by
the last travel lift haul out.

Better lay in a supply of Dramamine. After being a lubber for
two years you might find yourself seasick for the first couple
of days.

Good luck and please don't scrape off any bottom paint on
the way out.

--
Sir Gregory


Oops. In the slings this time, it's more like 44k, without any water and a
light fuel load...

That's a helluva lot of bottom work!!!! But, maybe you didn't
get her as dry as you thought. I bet you'll be pulling your hair
out the first time you dive down to examine the bottom after
about six months and you see new blisters pooching out.

--
Sir Gregory

Splashdown in sight...
 

First anchor splash recently, now, too.

Addressing some more seeps on new clamps, which is about the worst we can
talk about in our shakedown, if you ignore the last-minute start battery
replacement this morning :{))

Otherwise, everything is ultra sweet.

L8R

Skip

--

Morgan 461 #2
SV Flying Pig KI4MPC
See our galleries at www.justpickone.org/skip/gallery !
Follow us at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TheFlyingPigLog
and/or http://groups.google.com/group/flyingpiglog

When a man comes to like a sea life, he is not fit to live on land.
- Dr. Samuel Johnson

Splashdown in sight...
 

"Flying Pig" wrote in message
...
First anchor splash recently, now, too.

Addressing some more seeps on new clamps, which is about the worst we can
talk about in our
shakedown, if you ignore the last-minute start battery
replacement this morning :{))

What do you use 'clamps' for?

Splashdown in sight...
 

On Mon, 28 Jan 2013 14:43:46 -0500, " Sir Gregory Hall, Esq·"
åke wrote:

"Flying Pig" wrote in message
...
First anchor splash recently, now, too.

Addressing some more seeps on new clamps, which is about the worst we can
talk about in our
shakedown, if you ignore the last-minute start battery
replacement this morning :{))

What do you use 'clamps' for?


Why, to stops the seeps, of course.....

--
Cheers,

Bruce

Splashdown in sight...
 

" Sir Gregory Hall, Esq·" åke wrote in message
...
"Flying Pig" wrote in message
...
First anchor splash recently, now, too.

Addressing some more seeps on new clamps, which is about the worst we can
talk about in our
shakedown, if you ignore the last-minute start battery
replacement this morning :{))

What do you use 'clamps' for?




Unlike some we know, we have an inboard diesel auxiliary power plant. The
hose which connects to the bottom of the raw water pump seeps a bit, now
(never has before, but that was then). Normally the clamp would do the job,
but I broke a couple of them before I decided I'm going to pull it and have
a looksee.

The Y valve to the toilet and holding tank (I hear you have installed one of
those, yourself, even), forward, developed a crack in one of the legs. I
have spares, but at the moment, I have a drip on a different leg. All will
be addressed in the AM.

Lovely dinner on our new cockpit table, for the first time, and our Rocna
bit like a shark. Reading their website they discourage oversizing - and
ours is two levels bigger than their recommendations. I think it will
probably hold :{))

Engine runs WONDERFULLY, no issues whatsoever at the fuel dock (Lydia HANDED
him the bow line, and I sidled up to the dock sideways so that the stern
line could get the same treatment.),

So, I'm about to retire with a good book, and go back at it in the AM. Wind
promises to be in the right direction for moving south soon, so I want to
get it all back in shape.

L8R

Skip
--

Morgan 461 #2
SV Flying Pig KI4MPC
See our galleries at www.justpickone.org/skip/gallery !
Follow us at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TheFlyingPigLog
and/or http://groups.google.com/group/flyingpiglog

When a man comes to like a sea life, he is not fit to live on land.
- Dr. Samuel Johnson

Splashdown in sight...
 

"Flying Pig" wrote in
message ...
" Sir Gregory Hall, Esq·" åke wrote in message
...
"Flying Pig" wrote in message
...
First anchor splash recently, now, too.

Addressing some more seeps on new clamps, which is about the worst we can
talk about in our
shakedown, if you ignore the last-minute start battery
replacement this morning :{))

What do you use 'clamps' for?

Unlike some we know, we have an inboard diesel auxiliary power plant. The
hose which connects to the bottom of the raw water pump seeps a bit, now
(never has before, but that was then). Normally the clamp would do the job,
but I broke a couple of them before I decided I'm going to pull it and have
a looksee.

So it's hose clamps. Why not say that as there are many different
types of clamps.

The Y valve to the toilet and holding tank (I hear you have installed one
of those, yourself, even),

I don't have a Y-valve. All I have is a 1 1/2"ball valve at the thru-hull
fitting and an in-line, 1 1/2", ball valve on the holding tank side of
the T from the discharge side of my ElectroScan, US Coast Guard
approved Type I MSD. One side of the T goes to the thru-hull while
the other side goes to the 1 1/2" plastic ball valve on the holding
tank side. IOW, in a no-discharge zone I have the option of directing
the flush to the holding tank which will then contain *treated* sewage
which I can legally discharge outside of the no-discharge zone. No
need for pump-out costs and hassles.

I have no leaky hose clamps in the system. My system must be air
tight as to empty the holding tank overboard I use air pressure from
a tire pump on a vent hose Shrader valve fitting to pressurize the
holding tank. Then when I open the hull discharge valve, the treated
tank contents get pushed out of the thru-hull fitting/valve.

forward, developed a crack in one of the legs. I have spares, but at the
moment, I have a drip on a different leg. All will be addressed in the AM.

Stuff gets old and breaks. They don't make it like they used to...

Lovely dinner on our new cockpit table, for the first time, and our Rocna
bit like a shark. Reading their website they discourage oversizing - and
ours is two levels bigger than their recommendations. I think it will
probably hold :{))

Engine runs WONDERFULLY, no issues whatsoever at the fuel dock (Lydia HANDED
him the bow line, and I sidled up to the dock sideways so that the stern
line could get the same treatment.),

So, I'm about to retire with a good book, and go back at it in the AM. Wind
promises to be in the right direction for moving south soon, so I want to
get it all back in shape.

I bet you're happy to be back on the water. I don't care what anybody
says the life of a lubber is very demeaning.

--
Sir Gregory

Splashdown in sight...
 

" Sir Gregory Hall, Esq·" åke wrote in message
...

The Y valve to the toilet and holding tank (I hear you have installed
one of those, yourself, even),

Heh. I was referring to a toilet and holding tank, WRT your opening
comment.


I don't have a Y-valve. All I have is a 1 1/2"ball valve at the thru-hull
fitting and an in-line, 1 1/2", ball valve on the holding tank side of
the T from the discharge side of my ElectroScan, US Coast Guard
approved Type I MSD. One side of the T goes to the thru-hull while
the other side goes to the 1 1/2" plastic ball valve on the holding
tank side. IOW, in a no-discharge zone I have the option of directing
the flush to the holding tank which will then contain *treated* sewage
which I can legally discharge outside of the no-discharge zone. No
need for pump-out costs and hassles.


I have no leaky hose clamps in the system. My system must be air
tight as to empty the holding tank overboard I use air pressure from
a tire pump on a vent hose Shrader valve fitting to pressurize the
holding tank. Then when I open the hull discharge valve, the treated
tank contents get pushed out of the thru-hull fitting/valve.

That's pretty cool - but, having now gone to that extent, how do you prove,
if boarded, that you have an exclusion from dumping, if it's a regular ball
valve? Our holding tank is a bladder so wouldn't do well with your setup, I
don't think. However, it DOES address the ability to dump when your tank is
under the water line. Do you have a valve in your vent line, as well, to
allow for incoming volume (wouldn't want to be pumping the head against a
pressure already there)? And, ditto that about the ES. Do you have a
large-volume pump you pressurize with (a holding tank holds a lot of volume
of air, too!)?


forward, developed a crack in one of the legs. I have spares, but at the
moment, I have a drip on a different leg. All will be addressed in the
AM.

Stuff gets old and breaks. They don't make it like they used to...

And, therein the problem. I didn't have any leaky clamps, either :{/)

Turns out, before I was finished, that I broke the spare I'd installed (also
with a leak, on a different leg), and in trying to rebuild from the two
OTHERS I had in spares, one of them broke the insides. I gave it up and
ordered a new one of the same general style, but different dimension, which
may help, or may make more difficult, the bend between my PVC in and hose
out to the thru hull, depending on where they aim when I turn the 120 degree
elbow(s). These don't have nipples on the ends, which will make removal of
hose later, if needed, less likely to break something - and, by popping the
lid, can be lifted out of their slots separately, an additional aid to
manipulation...


Engine runs WONDERFULLY, no issues whatsoever at the fuel dock (Lydia
HANDED him the bow line, and I sidled up to the dock sideways so that the
stern line could get the same treatment.),

Shakedowns are to display problems before they become crucial - and the
engine, too, is on the disabled list while I sort out the raw water pump -
so while it's vexing, it's better done here than in the middle of the
Bahamas or worse. After three clamps, and a new hose, along with a new
routing, I gave up and pulled it for rebuild. Back on today after
breakfast, I presume that will have to solve it, because there's nothing
else left.

While I was at it, of course, I changed the impeller. On initial inspection
(it's almost 400 hours old), it appeared perfect. But aggressive flexing of
each vane revealed that one of them had started the splitting process. As I
have literally a half dozen of these, replacing was not a pain. I also have
a couple of spare pumps, and had made a note when I installed this one 4
years ago (that's how much we use the engine, BTW - under 400 hours in 4
years) to rebuild one of them. It turned out to need a total overhaul.
Fortunately, I have all the parts other than a single seal (which I assume
can be found somewhere) to make an entirely new pump, so I'll do that while
I wait for other parts (barbeque regulator being the only other item we're
waiting for).

And, as long as we're stuck here, across from the city marina (see the
tinyurl.com/FlyingPigSpot), we'll enjoy some time with some friends who are
driving through from their boat in Charleston at the FFFF (first friday in
february festival) here in Ft. Pierce.

I bet you're happy to be back on the water. I don't care what anybody
says the life of a lubber is very demeaning.

I didn't find it demeaning, but I certainly agree that it's nicer on the
water.

L8R, y'all

Skip


--
Morgan 461 #2
SV Flying Pig KI4MPC
See our galleries at www.justpickone.org/skip/gallery !
Follow us at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TheFlyingPigLog
and/or http://groups.google.com/group/flyingpiglog

"Believe me, my young friend, there is *nothing*-absolutely nothing-half so
much worth doing as simply messing, messing-about-in-boats; messing about in
boats-or *with* boats.

In or out of 'em, it doesn't matter. Nothing seems really to matter, that's
the charm of it.

Whether you get away, or whether you don't; whether you arrive at your
destination or whether you reach somewhere else, or whether you never get
anywhere at all, you're always busy, and you never do anything in
particular; and when you've done it there's always something else to do, and
you can do it if you like, but you'd much better not."

Splashdown in sight...
 

"Flying Pig" wrote in
message ...
" Sir Gregory Hall, Esq·" åke wrote in message
...

The Y valve to the toilet and holding tank (I hear you have installed one
of those, yourself, even),

Heh. I was referring to a toilet and holding tank, WRT your opening
comment.

Got it!

I don't have a Y-valve. All I have is a 1 1/2"ball valve at the thru-hull
fitting and an in-line, 1 1/2", ball valve on the holding tank side of
the T from the discharge side of my ElectroScan, US Coast Guard
approved Type I MSD. One side of the T goes to the thru-hull while
the other side goes to the 1 1/2" plastic ball valve on the holding
tank side. IOW, in a no-discharge zone I have the option of directing
the flush to the holding tank which will then contain *treated* sewage
which I can legally discharge outside of the no-discharge zone. No
need for pump-out costs and hassles.


I have no leaky hose clamps in the system. My system must be air
tight as to empty the holding tank overboard I use air pressure from
a tire pump on a vent hose Shrader valve fitting to pressurize the
holding tank. Then when I open the hull discharge valve, the treated
tank contents get pushed out of the thru-hull fitting/valve.

That's pretty cool - but, having now gone to that extent, how do you prove,
if boarded, that you have an exclusion from dumping, if it's a regular ball
valve?

The state statutes require the overboard discharge valve (ball valve in
my case) to be closed and secured with a lock, tie-wrap or some other
method to keep somebody from casually opening it.

My ball valve has been fitted with a padlock and is locked to a nearby
bulkhead into which an eyebolt is fitted. Since I have a Type I MSD the
only place where it must remain closed and locked is in do-discharge
zones. Anywhere else the discharge ball valve may be legally left open
as treated sewage from the Type I MSD is allowed to be pumped
overboard.

My holding tank is an adjunct and not required by law as it is a Type
III device. One has one's legal choice of a Type I, II, or III or a
combination.

If one combines a Type I or II with a Type III one is still required to secure
the overboard discharge valve in no-discharge zones. But unlike having
ONLY a Type III device one may keep the overboard discharge valve
open legally in other than a no-discharge zone because it is legal to
discharge treated sewage.

Our holding tank is a bladder so wouldn't do well with your setup, I don't
think.

It would not.

However, it DOES address the ability to dump when your tank is under the
water line.

How can you do that without somehow pressurizing it? My ridgid
holding tank is under the waterline so I have to pressurize it above
what occurs at the depth of the discharge thru-hull which is about
two feet below the surface.

Do you have a valve in your vent line, as well, to allow for incoming volume
(wouldn't want to be pumping the head against a pressure already there)?

You're right. At this time, I've embraced the simple solution. No valve.

The vent fitting in the hull is in the side of the vessel in the heads.
It is right out in plain sight just above a fiddled shelf. The vent hose
is slid on the hose barb without a hose clamp. To pressurize the
holding tank I simply slide the hose off the hose barb and insert a
Shrader valve/hose barb fitting to the hose.

Then I screw my little Taylor Made fender pump to the Schrader
valve using the included Schrader valve hose and pump to about
fifteen pounds which is sufficient to push the tank contents out the
discharge thru-hull.

There is only one 1 1/2 vacuum hose fitted to the holding tank. It fits
to a n 1 1/2 hose barb on the side of the tank at the top. There is
another vac hose fitted to the inside of the hosebarb. This vac
hose is of sufficent length to lie in the bottom corner of the holding
tank. Sewage goes in and out the same hose. The air space on top
of the treated sewage, when pressurized, expands and pushes out the
liquid - all but about an inch or so.

And, ditto that about the ES. Do you have a large-volume pump you
pressurize with (a holding tank holds a lot of volume of air, too!)?

It's only a ten-gallon tank. The little fender pump only takes about fifty
strokes to pressurize an almost full tank adequately. The holding tank
is also fitted using another plastic tee with a pumpout fitting on the
hull. The tee is between the toilet and the ElectroScan. I've not tried
a pumpout station yet but I suspect I need a rubber ball to place in
the toilet so it doesn't suck air through the toilet instead of sucking
the contents of the holding tank. But, my needs for a pumpout are
about nill as it's only about a quarter mile from the boundary of the
no-discharge zone so I can simply sail or motor out on a fine day
and discharge the treated sewage legally overboard. There is no
requirement to go out three miles into international waters.

--
Sir Gregory