Water-maker

Was here about 5 times yesterday

Just starting the project.  What a puzzle!

The punch list got a little smaller yesterday.  Got the water-maker installed.  Few minor things to tidy up and we can take the water-maker off the list.  One of the fittings on the high pressure side cracked while we ran the pressure up so I couldn't test it thoroughly but Matt from Aqua-Marine feels like after I replace the fitting, she'll be making 24 gallons of water per hour with no trouble.  I also have to clean up the wiring mess that the old owner left.
We started the job at 0930 and finished at 1800 (6 pm to you non-nautical types).  In between those hours I did:

1. 5 runs to Fisheries
2. 3 runs to Seaview boatyard
3. one run to Paseo for cuban pork sandwiches
4. one run to look for water-maker part at our house
5. one run to Ben's school when I accidentally took the wife's car keys and she couldn't go get him. Grrrrrrr.
6. one run to Tacoma Screw
7. one run to 7-11 for beer

 We were going to run the water-maker off the engine intake hose.  That idea fizzled as the engine intake hose comes out of the bottom of the boat and directly into the engine room via a hole made in the engine cradle.  Not enough room there for a T connector.  See picture below.

All done

The engine intake through hull is on the lower left side of the above picture.  Not nearly enough room for the T connector.  We toyed with the idea of running the water-maker intake hose from the aft head intake hose but I did not feel like punching 1 1/2" holes through the bulkheads.  I then made the executive decision to run the water-maker intake off of the galley's sink drain.  The problem with the galley sink drain is the brine solution (the concentrated salt that the water-maker takes out of the sea water thus making in into fresh drinkable water) drains into the galley sink drain.  Meaning the water-maker intake would be getting ever increasing levels of salt.  I solved this by having the brine go through the small through hull located on the bottom right of the above photo.  This through hull is used for the salt water foot pump at the galley.  It was going to be capped off.  It use to be the intake for the water-maker.  Matt thought that the salt water pump intake was too small for the water-maker hence all the problems that the old owner had with it.  1/2" fitting and the water-maker needs 3/4" intake at least.   The white hose coming off the middle through hull is now the water-maker intake.  1 1/4" of intake that water-maker.  Am I tired of typing water-maker!  I'm going to shorten it to WM.

Used a mess of these

New intake pump for the WM

Control panel

Broke nipple off of through hull

 While replacing the fitting on the galley sink through hull, I was attempting to turn it off and it completely cracked and came off in pieces.  Second one that has happened to.  Think I should change all my fittings or what?

High pressure pump

Finally get to use this switch!

If you think this is looking shoddy, you should have seen it before.  Looked like a snakes wedding!

That RED valve in the photo above is the "easy" way to close the sink so when we are sailing and heeling the water does not go up the drain and on the counter and then into the fridge and freezer.  Don't ask me how I know!  Problem is that valve needs a Herculean effort to turn.  The old setup had that valve and this T connector that the brine would go into.  All of this was hanging on the grey plastic pipe you see in the photo. It was bending and eventually would crack and leak.  Now the hose is lighter and is somewhat holding the sink pieces up.  Not optimal but better.  That whole area needs to be redone but it can wait till after the cover goes on the boat for the winter.
So I need four fittings and 2 large zip ties and we can make water.

My favorite tool

Just saw this video on one of the sailing sites I haunt.  Love the background music.  I think the guy might have been stabbed.  The nose on the fish looks red after he runs into the guy.  Other guy gets hit on the head with a freaking ladder.  Unreal.

Had a couple nice days and decided to see about the teak pads that the helmsman uses in the aft part of the cockpit.  Wasn't sure if I would have to reef all the caulking out of them or not.  Used the handy dandy Fein with the knife attachment and shaved the caulk down.  All three areas needed touching up with fresh caulk.  Did that and replaced some bungs.  Sanded the hell out of the teak to get it uniform and all the mold and fungus out of it.  Cleaned it with TeakGuard cleaner and then did the first coat of TeakGuard protectant.  I think it turned out great.  Needs 8 more coats.  High traffic area back there.

Still working on the lazerette covers.  What a pain in the ass.  The previous owner never did anything with them and their age is showing.  I'll use Teakguard with these also.

Freshly showered.  I just love combing her hair after a bath.  She stands in front of me and just talks and talks.  She said "You are doing a good job daddy."  I melted.

Walking around the lake on Sunday.

Shopping at Fred Meyer with her shopping cart.

Carving pumpkins at Oma and Opa's

Ah the Bear.  Heavy old martini shaker.  Lived on my first boat and was a present from Kathy S.
Broke it out Sunday night for martinis

I found a couple photos on my camera from this years Swiftsure.

Finally got the new faucet installed.  The old one was a 1990's vintage and was leaking.  Not only that but it was apparently installed by a monkey with rudimentary plumbing skill.  No less than 3 different sizes of hose running from the water pump to the faucet.  And all of them were the wrong sizes.  Monkey just forced too small of hose onto too big of a connector.  Had to cut it all away.  Instead of finding a connector for the old sink, they just cut the ends off and then put too small of a hose the copper fitting and used three hose clamps.  Grrr.
I will eventually gut the whole water system this winter but for now I resized everything and it works with no leaks.

Freeman Island

Ben caught so many little crabs.  You could tell that he is a boat kid.  Other boys?  Scared to handle the crabs.  

Last weekend went to Camp Orkila on Orcas Island in the San Juans.  It's a YMCA camp that has been around since 1908.  The dads in Ben's school all get together and do a dad/son or dad/daughter weekend.  Archery, BB guns, row boats, beach cookouts, giant swing (and I mean giant!), largest zipline in the state (have to be in 3rd grade), pottery, swimming, enormous plays of tag and dodgeball (called wreckage).  Lots of fun and great bonding time.  Getting to know the other dads is a bonus also.  

Ben's school is private and while not the most exclusive, it is up there.  I always feel a bit of an outsider when I'm there.  I think ALL kids should have access to the education that Ben is getting.  Small classroom size, new equipment, etc.  <sigh>  After the kids go to bed in the cabin, the dads hang out and bullshit.  Most of the dads feel the same way.  Guilty I guess you could call it.  Glad my son has an opportunity like this and I really hope he understands that he is lucky to have it.

Giant swing time!  Ben got to go twice!

Best buddy Clare.  Getting ready to explore Freeman Island

Making an ashtray?

Stuck that arrow right in the wood.  Good shot!

Girls have separate cabins but they were pretty interested in what the boys were doing.  Last year they could have cared less.

That is Freeman island directly out there.  Waldorn beyond that.  Canada beyond that

Getting some food ready

Our bunks.  Cabin with no doors or windows

Ferry ride there

Ari and Ben

Back at work for a stretch so not much going on at the boat.  Couple of photos.