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#91
TSBB General Talk / Re: Washboards vs opening Comp...
Last post by Spot - Jul 29, 2026, 10:40 PMI have been working on a couple screen designs for the front hatch.
I am thinking that I can take advantage of the interior flange and trim and hang a smaller screen from inside the odd-shaped front hatch versus make a larger external one.
Netting is in hand, shock cord and stoppers are on their way for this weekend.
Photo is lying on v-berth looking up at inside of front hatch.
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I am thinking that I can take advantage of the interior flange and trim and hang a smaller screen from inside the odd-shaped front hatch versus make a larger external one.
Netting is in hand, shock cord and stoppers are on their way for this weekend.
Photo is lying on v-berth looking up at inside of front hatch.
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#92
TSBB General Talk / Re: Properties of butyl tape
Last post by Spot - Jul 29, 2026, 10:16 PMI just got a roll of Bed-It in a week or so ago.
I was also made aware of another type of sealant 'Mortite' page 2 of this thread:
https://forum.woodenboat.com/forum/building-repair/9559631-bedding-stuff-to-or-through-a-wood-boat
It's quite reasonable at the local farm and fleet store (midwest USA).
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I was also made aware of another type of sealant 'Mortite' page 2 of this thread:
https://forum.woodenboat.com/forum/building-repair/9559631-bedding-stuff-to-or-through-a-wood-boat
It's quite reasonable at the local farm and fleet store (midwest USA).
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#93
Precision / Re: Electric Bilge Pump Recomm...
Last post by Riggerdood - Jul 29, 2026, 09:53 PMMaybe in the meantime you could work out a way to connect just the pump to shore power, completely bypassing your yet to be improved electrical system? I would think a simple 120V AC to 12V DC converter would fit the bill for a temporary system. There are many things that could sink your boat while it's in a slip, and if I was an hour away, I'd want that peace of mind that at least I gave her a fighting chance. Hell, when my boat was in a slip 15 minutes away, and I was getting down there several times a week, I still worried!
Then again, let's be thankful we're not the guy on the Precision FB group who lost his boat because of his slip neighbor's negligence. The other guy had a houseboat with a propane tank improperly stored, and it exploded. The resulting fire totaled both boats, and the guy with the Precision ended up having no recourse but to part his out. Excrement occurs!
Then again, let's be thankful we're not the guy on the Precision FB group who lost his boat because of his slip neighbor's negligence. The other guy had a houseboat with a propane tank improperly stored, and it exploded. The resulting fire totaled both boats, and the guy with the Precision ended up having no recourse but to part his out. Excrement occurs!
#94
Precision / Re: Electric Bilge Pump Recomm...
Last post by JimInVA - Jul 29, 2026, 04:49 PMYep. Having it in auto mode all the time would be ideal. However, I live about an hour from the slip. I don't leave her plugged in to shore power, mostly because I am not sure (shore😀) if it's a good idea with my semi-suspect electrical system. Don't want to burn down the pier while I'm not there to monitor! I can get down and check on her (and charge her up) about once a week or so. I empty the bilge at the same time and check her lines. Every now and then I actually sail her! She doesn't take on a lot of water, but I want to have a couple of reliable systems. I'm about there.
I think maybe a solar panel and charger of some sort might be something to investigate. That will be added as I improve my electrical system.
Jim
I think maybe a solar panel and charger of some sort might be something to investigate. That will be added as I improve my electrical system.
Jim
#95
Precision / Re: Electric Bilge Pump Recomm...
Last post by Riggerdood - Jul 29, 2026, 12:03 PMNo prob, sounds like you are making some good progress. Having both auto and manual modes is good, but it seems to me that if you are in a slip, you'd want the auto mode to work even if the master is off? Or maybe I'm misunderstanding how your buddy is wiring it up?
#96
Tales and Trip Reports / Re: One less January . . . . ....
Last post by Captain Kidd - Jul 29, 2026, 11:28 AMThe things you "old guys" do amaze me! Hopefully I'll still be moving at 75 and 80.
I hiked over on Lookout Mountain again the other day. This time I hiked with my weighted vest. Went pretty well, but I did feel it a little bit more, especially in my knees the next day or two. Timing was about the same, maybe little bit slower. Planning to hike on Signal Mountain on Friday.
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EDIT: this is an out & back hike. I'm trying to figure out if I can handle (without killing myself) a hike with 2000' elevation gain in about 2.5 miles with a 25 lb pack on my back. This hike was 600' elevation gain in 1.5 miles with 13 lbs on my back. Hopefully I can "up my game" as the fall approaches. I'm intentionally going slow. In truth, I believe I can, but there's no doubt this body is not 16 years old!
I hiked over on Lookout Mountain again the other day. This time I hiked with my weighted vest. Went pretty well, but I did feel it a little bit more, especially in my knees the next day or two. Timing was about the same, maybe little bit slower. Planning to hike on Signal Mountain on Friday.
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You cannot view this attachment.
EDIT: this is an out & back hike. I'm trying to figure out if I can handle (without killing myself) a hike with 2000' elevation gain in about 2.5 miles with a 25 lb pack on my back. This hike was 600' elevation gain in 1.5 miles with 13 lbs on my back. Hopefully I can "up my game" as the fall approaches. I'm intentionally going slow. In truth, I believe I can, but there's no doubt this body is not 16 years old!
#97
Tales and Trip Reports / Re: One less January . . . . ....
Last post by Frank B. - Jul 29, 2026, 11:26 AMDoug, sounds like a great trip, and if that hernia is inguinal, probably not to worry about activity doing harm prior to repair. If you lay down if it goes back where it belongs on its own or with very gentle prodding, probably OK, particularly if fairly large. I learned that the large ones are not going to do that twist/block thing requiring emergency surgery.
I had one for ten years, trained for and ran two marathons, including Boston, hiked the 500 mile Camino de Santiago with a backpack and did a whole lot more during that time. When I finally decided to have it fixed, my Urologist convinced me to wait if I had plans for a radical prostatectomy because he would have to go through that repair to do his thing. So I did.
Mine was large, had to done open with mesh, recovery was a non issue but it did cause me to miss a ski trip.
I had one for ten years, trained for and ran two marathons, including Boston, hiked the 500 mile Camino de Santiago with a backpack and did a whole lot more during that time. When I finally decided to have it fixed, my Urologist convinced me to wait if I had plans for a radical prostatectomy because he would have to go through that repair to do his thing. So I did.
Mine was large, had to done open with mesh, recovery was a non issue but it did cause me to miss a ski trip.
#98
Tales and Trip Reports / Re: One less January . . . . ....
Last post by Doug SC - Jul 29, 2026, 12:56 AMReturning from a niece's wedding in Colorado. The wife and I are staying in a NM Best Western at the moment. A close friend from my time in Gainesville FL while working on my master is the father. He thanks me for introducing him to Carol's younger sister. Their daughter is the one that just got married. He is undergoing treatment for pancreatic cancer. I spent time with him reminiscing.
While out there I joined family members on several sight seeing trips like Pikes Peak. My plan and the reason we drove from SC was to spend several days fly fishing. The Sunday we were to leave I developed a hernia. I saw an emergency care doctor who said it would be alright to travel but no lifting or strenuous activity. He didn't think hiking and wading rocky streams was a good idea "dang it"! When I get back I'll schedule the repair. Which will put a damper on sailing for a while. At 75 with bad knees I am blessed to be able to do most everything I enjoy, but life has a way of reminding me of impending limitations. Even so I intend to give it what I have left in me until I can't.
Yes Family and Friends are important, but in my way of thinking so are the other things that bring meaning in my life. So I plan to take the time to Sail, Kayak, Canoe, Camp(I still sleep on the ground), Hunt, and Fish God willing. Doing it with Friends and Family is best. However doing it alone is also satisfying.
Today Carol and I along with our eldest daughter her husband and two young granddaughters hiked a half mile up to Zapata falls in the Sangri de Christos Mountains to see the rare black swift, they nest behind waterfall's. I also walked up the cold rocky creek into the cave with the waterfall. Don't tell the Doc. I'll post a few photos when I get home.
While out there I joined family members on several sight seeing trips like Pikes Peak. My plan and the reason we drove from SC was to spend several days fly fishing. The Sunday we were to leave I developed a hernia. I saw an emergency care doctor who said it would be alright to travel but no lifting or strenuous activity. He didn't think hiking and wading rocky streams was a good idea "dang it"! When I get back I'll schedule the repair. Which will put a damper on sailing for a while. At 75 with bad knees I am blessed to be able to do most everything I enjoy, but life has a way of reminding me of impending limitations. Even so I intend to give it what I have left in me until I can't.
Yes Family and Friends are important, but in my way of thinking so are the other things that bring meaning in my life. So I plan to take the time to Sail, Kayak, Canoe, Camp(I still sleep on the ground), Hunt, and Fish God willing. Doing it with Friends and Family is best. However doing it alone is also satisfying.
Today Carol and I along with our eldest daughter her husband and two young granddaughters hiked a half mile up to Zapata falls in the Sangri de Christos Mountains to see the rare black swift, they nest behind waterfall's. I also walked up the cold rocky creek into the cave with the waterfall. Don't tell the Doc. I'll post a few photos when I get home.
#99
Tales and Trip Reports / Re: One less January . . . . ....
Last post by Captain Kidd - Jul 28, 2026, 09:34 PMI didn't mention memories, but I'm with the rest of you: the "dramatic" outings are the ones that stick. What do they say? Sailing is 95% joy and 5% terror. It's the 5% you remember. Mine run from sailing into a nor'easter with only one year of experience, to outings that ended with tows, to "baptizing" my tow vehicle, to capsizing in December, to losing a trailer wheel on the interstate, to my "three seconds of terror", to... well, all I can say is don't talk to my wife!
There have been good sails. In fact, the last sail my wife and I took together before selling my Hunter was beautiful. I will remember that one because it may indeed be our last. (Norman advises me not to buy another pocket "kruzer" thinking we can sail together. He tried and apparently it didn't work).
I never seriously thought about becoming a sailor, but the day I saw that ad in a trading paper changed everything. It's been good. It became a big part of my life. I went from being a golfer to a sailor. Wouldn't change it!
There have been good sails. In fact, the last sail my wife and I took together before selling my Hunter was beautiful. I will remember that one because it may indeed be our last. (Norman advises me not to buy another pocket "kruzer" thinking we can sail together. He tried and apparently it didn't work).
I never seriously thought about becoming a sailor, but the day I saw that ad in a trading paper changed everything. It's been good. It became a big part of my life. I went from being a golfer to a sailor. Wouldn't change it!
#100
Precision / Re: Electric Bilge Pump Recomm...
Last post by JimInVA - Jul 28, 2026, 09:16 PMHi Tim,
Thanks for the reply. My buddy Dave who is an automotive technician and vo-tech teacher came over to help me troubleshoot today. He repeated some things I had tried, but with a more experienced eye (and better results😳).
We were able to get my pump to run manually and also cleared a blockage in the overboard hose. A previous owner had spliced a couple of sections of hose together and it seems that there was entirely too much length between the pump and the overboard through hull (starboard side, several inches above the waterline). Reaching the fitting required removing a shelf under the starboard locker and finally cutting off the spliced on section of hose (1"). Not sure why they had left this so long as the section connected to the pump appears to be long enough to make the distance.
Dave then connected a "manual" wire to power and my pump started emptying the bucket I was using as a temporary bilge. He recommended putting in a manual switch in addition to the "auto" mode and so we rolled over to the auto parts store (no boat stores nearby) to get supplies. We came back with some wire (10 gauge, not tinned unfortunately), a switch, a fuse holder and fuses and some shrink material. The afternoon thunderstorms put an end to our progress, so we will attack it tomorrow.
I plan to mount the switch on the starboard panel just inside the companionway. The wire can be routed easily behind it and to the power side of the bus. I will then have an automatic mode if I leave my power "ON". This will probably not be my usual choice as I don't leave the boat batteries continuously charging. The manual mode switch is what I will use mostly when I go to my slip to sail or just check on her.
I hope to get it assembled and operational tomorrow.
Jim
Thanks for the reply. My buddy Dave who is an automotive technician and vo-tech teacher came over to help me troubleshoot today. He repeated some things I had tried, but with a more experienced eye (and better results😳).
We were able to get my pump to run manually and also cleared a blockage in the overboard hose. A previous owner had spliced a couple of sections of hose together and it seems that there was entirely too much length between the pump and the overboard through hull (starboard side, several inches above the waterline). Reaching the fitting required removing a shelf under the starboard locker and finally cutting off the spliced on section of hose (1"). Not sure why they had left this so long as the section connected to the pump appears to be long enough to make the distance.
Dave then connected a "manual" wire to power and my pump started emptying the bucket I was using as a temporary bilge. He recommended putting in a manual switch in addition to the "auto" mode and so we rolled over to the auto parts store (no boat stores nearby) to get supplies. We came back with some wire (10 gauge, not tinned unfortunately), a switch, a fuse holder and fuses and some shrink material. The afternoon thunderstorms put an end to our progress, so we will attack it tomorrow.
I plan to mount the switch on the starboard panel just inside the companionway. The wire can be routed easily behind it and to the power side of the bus. I will then have an automatic mode if I leave my power "ON". This will probably not be my usual choice as I don't leave the boat batteries continuously charging. The manual mode switch is what I will use mostly when I go to my slip to sail or just check on her.
I hope to get it assembled and operational tomorrow.
Jim