New keel fuel tanks arrived....

Well actually they have been finished for a week, while I was away.



The piece on top is one the coosa board pieces (generously supplied by Rob) on which the tanks will sit.

The next decision is "To paint or not to paint?"

This document makes interesting reading CLICK HERE.

Live and learn - Alcohol stoves....

During the delivery I had a chance to use the Origo 6000 "non-pressurized" alcohol stove. I had always accepted the general view that these were a bad idea on a number of levels. Well I must say I was impressed.



Not saying I am going that route, but.......

Great sailboat delivery...

Just finished moving a Hunter 30 sailboat from Sarasota, Fl. to Miami, Fl. The initial plan was to sail via the keys but Hurricane/TS Ida put spanner in the works.

No problem, the Okeechobee waterway provided an alternative route. Mast height limitations on fixed bridges is 55 ft. The hunter 30 has a mast height of 50ft 6ins (+ all the expensive bits owners bolt on the top). All good.... except the Port Mayaca Railroad Bridge, vertical clearance is 49ft.

Time to call Billy Owens (tel:561 262 5200), the mast tipper. That's him and his buddy, along with 2,400 lbs of water ballast and a nervous owner (I was driving).



All in all a fun activity. Nice overnight sail from Stuart, Fl. to Miami. Job done.

Off on a sailboat delivery .......

from Sarasota, Fl. to Miami, Fl. just in time to bump into TS Ida. You have to love boating!!!!!!!!

Good companies and knowledge gained....

Went to WEMA USA if Fort Lauderdale yesterday to pick up two of their excellent senders. (Don't forget to use code 551 when you checkout to get 30% off).



While I was there I had a chat with Alan the Operations Manager and the subject of Biodiesel came up. He pointed out that the only gasket material to deal with this was 'Viton". These gaskets cost $6 more that the standard cork/nitrile (Buna-N) gasket.

A quick internet search for "Viton" and gaskets pulled up "Quick Cut Gasket & Rubber Corporation, NY". After a conversation with Pete, a 12" x 12" sheet of 1/8" "Viton" is on its way to me.

BioDiesel info here

Another call to NMA provided a source of "Haysite" which is recommended as a support for the tanks (5200 onto the aluminum - read the David Pascoe article here). They can machine any shape you want. Contact Vick.

Sometime it almost looks like I know what I'm doing.

More Bilge Pump stuff.....

Main bilge pump, Rule 3700, with Rule Superswitch. The pipe on the bottom right is the "snorkel" from the lower sump pump which only has to pump the 6" from the bottom of the sump to the upper chamber. Tests will be carried out to see if the Rule 3700 is powerfull enough to totally evaluate the hose, or if the back flow of water will cause the switch to continuously cycle. I will not, under any circumstances be installing a one way valve in the bilge line.




The Whale Supersub Smart 650 is the sump pump which is activated by its own electric field sensor. The black box on the left is the high water alarm (Johnson ultima electronic bilge switch) which will be connected to the mother of all bilge alarm bells.




When that thing goes off at 3am, if you haven't died of a heart attack, you are wide awake and ready to deal with any problem.

Bilge pump system....

Lower sump pump feeds into the upper tank, which activates the float switch on a 3700 Rule pump.