Wheelhouse Noise Level

The following was recorded in calm seas at 1800 rpm.

Electrical Outlets

Yesterday I noticed that the OEM Jimbo outlet, located under the saloon's middle, starboard side window was cracked.  After pulling off the wood faceplate all the broken pieces just fell out.  Apparently the 1987 electrical code didn't require the receptacle to be polarized--both upper apertures on the Jimbo ("Before" picture) are the same size.  It's nice that the shape of the outlets hasn't changed in 32 years and the wood faceplate fits the new outlet perfectly.  By the way, the teak faceplates were hand made by the Yard.

Makeup Table Light, Yamaha Carburetor, etc.

 I wasn't able to find a satisfactory replacement light for above the stateroom's makeup table, so I made one. 

  Don't laugh, it's made of three, Dollar Tree, battery powered, LED lights.  However, rather than being powered by individual AAA batteries, I connected them to the boat's 12V system.  Plugging a 4.5V device into a 12V supply is a sure way to let the magic smoke out.  The connection was made possible by the use of a 12V to 5V buck converter.  A buck converter is what's inside those ubiquitious, 12V, USB, phone chargers.

They're available everywhere, including at, drum roll please, Dollar Tree.  I removed the buck from it's cigarette lighter enclosure and soldered it into the light's switch.  Then I soldered the buck's 5V power to each of the three lights.  I used Dollar Tree doubled-sided tape to hold the lights firmly and closely together.  Then 1" round magnets, also from Dollar Tree, were affixed, using doubled-sided tape, to the back of each light and to corresponding points on the ceiling.  Yup, got the magnets at Dollar Tree too. Total material cost $6.36.  Total labor cost... hey, not everything is about money!

The dink has been running rough for several years.  Today I took the carb apart and found lots of sticky stuff inside it.  The low speed jet, which has very small holes, was badly blocked.  After a thorough cleaning the engine started and ran much better.  

Re-painted the windshield wiper arms black.  Also, sanded and and Cetoled the wiper wells where they finish was damaged during the new wiper installation.

Sanded and polyurethaned the leading edge on the nav station insert above the stateroom steps.

Sea Trials

We ran Nellie up to 2600 rpm without a hiccup.  I spent a lot of the time looking over the engine.  Other than a small oil leak near the base of the dipstick all was nominal.  Even the Cummins' water temperature didn't go up much.

Once back at the dock the we found transmission fluid in the bilge.  The smoking gun was a loose hose fitting at the hear exchanger.  I apparently forgot to fully tighten it after changing the transmission fluid.  The ATF level was topped up.

The heat exchanger's zinc was in good shape albeit covered in a hard, brown, mineral deposit.  It was scrapped clean and returned to service.

The rear engine mounting bolts were tightened.  Actually, I just confirmed they're tight as I couldn't budge them.

Things are looking good.

Splash!

The winds were under 20kts, the rain was intermittent, and the temperature was approaching 50°F.  No more excuses, we went feet wet at 8:30AM.  The engine started right up.  There was dramatically less exhaust smoke as compared to last year.  Thank you new injector pump and new injectors.

 The dinghy, which wintered on the O2 deck, was winched down and its engine attached.  The 15HP Yamaha started reluctantly but then ran well.  The dink is back on the davits.

The 35 lb CQR was traded out for the 80 lb Babeth.  More rock anchorages than mud anchorages are in Nellie's immediate future.

The water tanks were filled and the water lines pressurized.  No leaks.  The hotwater tank is working too.

Tomorrow, seas trials.

New Wheelhouse Cushions

The wheelhouse seat cushions were looking old and tired.  So, new foam and new micro-suede fabric was ordered ($889) from John at the Canvas Shop, Belleville, Ontario.  Bicki made the throw pillows.  Looking good now.

Today's splash was called on account of wind and rain.  We'll try to float Nellie again tomorrow morning.

Wipers and Rubrail Paint

The Schmitt & Ongaro two-speed, heavy duty wipers with 2.5" shaft ($102.79 on Amazon) can be set up to park on either the right side of the window or the left side of the window.  Picture below is how I want them.  However, they did exactly the opposite.  Well that's frustrating.

It was then that I realized that the wiper motors are installed upside down.  While that's not a problem, it does reverse the parking side.  Duh.

Replaced the 17" wipers with 21" ones.  

Touched up the rubrail's black paint with Rust-Oleum enamel.