tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2463950553558558052024-03-19T03:56:55.901-07:00A Fork in the Roadmichaelgchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13425336290105511786noreply@blogger.comBlogger378125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246395055355855805.post-85842070736264525182022-01-30T10:11:00.000-08:002022-01-30T10:11:25.904-08:00New LaptopMy new Dell Inpirion 5015 with an i7 quad processor and a 1T SSD and 16 inch screen has arrived and I am writing this entry using it. It has a back lit keyboard which is a real plus since I struggle with seeing the keyboard. It also has a USB and HDMI connector and SD card slot.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhtZ37sHStROORO4aFxyohUnTCf3Zo5tnfPrHibm19ivNWj-S6BQdbIQrBMNlfte9J939P0YsPHahTUNStgeWl-PWWCzAXGpRnsKclL-PKWnRWODXsrVhhGjEE7hnS7E8IOKg1FmsvCaMguQxvDWwLCUKeezWccI9-anQ2fch8cNNbtb0TJfgxFsijStg=s1280" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="400" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhtZ37sHStROORO4aFxyohUnTCf3Zo5tnfPrHibm19ivNWj-S6BQdbIQrBMNlfte9J939P0YsPHahTUNStgeWl-PWWCzAXGpRnsKclL-PKWnRWODXsrVhhGjEE7hnS7E8IOKg1FmsvCaMguQxvDWwLCUKeezWccI9-anQ2fch8cNNbtb0TJfgxFsijStg=s400"/></a></div> I did purchase a seperate Optical Drive for playing DVDs and loading some software I have that is still on disc. The weight and thickness of this machine amazes me. It weighs only 2-3 pounds and can't be more thsn an inch and half thick. My old laptop, which died several years ago, was significantly heavier and thicker. One other interesting feature which I highly recommend others look into when shopping for new electronics...look into refurbished devices. I saved at $200 buying this refurbished and it looks brand new and has the same warranty as a none refurbished device.
As I do a lot with MS Publisher creating the Power Squadron newsletter monthly, getting MS Office Suite was critical. I am now looking for a deal on Abobe Photoshop to help process my photos. This device will enable me to work remotely on my Squadron responsibilities and to attend Zoom meetings from wherever we may be.
I've already loaded Adobe Acrobat for PDF use and the software for for our printer which is wireless.
I've also added Pandora and Netflix for purposes that are obvious I think. More to come I'm sure. For now though I am a very proud owner of a really nice devicemichaelgchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13425336290105511786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246395055355855805.post-84611395135264394842021-08-14T12:13:00.003-07:002021-08-14T12:13:57.891-07:00Tragedy in AfghanistanSo, I am again frustrated by the tragedy unfoldingn in another country which America spent billions of dollars and thousands of American lives in an attempt to make over tht country in our image, that is a democratic republic with a free people. Finally, our country decided that our job was done there and it is time to bring our military home letting the Afgan people run the country and defend themselves.
It doesn't appear to be working as the "militant/terrorist" group known as the Taliban is retaking the country one region after another with what appears to be little effort. So much for the Afgan military. I guess all that training and state of the art equipment and the billions spent proping up the government has been for nougt.
Now who will be the next wealthy and well armed country be who will come in and prop up the next government? Will the Russians return or did the learn their lesson? Perhaps. We spent billions arming the "other side" to help defeat the Russians. I wonder who was arming the Taliban that continued to be the thorn in our country's side for so many years and finally sent us off licking our wounds?
Will the Chinese now step in with similar promises to rebuild and modernize their country or, will the world finally just leave them alone and let them live out their wretched lives. Can the countries of the world stop selling arms to them or arming them with the caveat of allowing some sort of political infuence? Not likely but who knows.
michaelgchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13425336290105511786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246395055355855805.post-43115058855043163492020-11-20T12:49:00.000-08:002020-11-20T12:49:01.431-08:00Pandemic PanicWhat am I supposed to do? I mean, under the current circumstances, I dare not venture out the front door to the mall or out to a restaurant or grocery shopping. Certainly not without the possible consequences. Yes, I take precautions when I do go out. 1. I wear a mask when anywhere near others. 2. I shop only to buy groceries during the posted times for seniors and those at highest risk for the virus. 3. I do not go to any food establishment that does not offer me take out, pick up, curbside pick up or drive through and even then it is only an occasional treat. 4. I shop for almost all other needs online. That means going through Amazon. It excludes going into hardware stores, notorious for, yes, having COVID protocols to "keep customers safe", but have you ever ventured into these "men's clubs"? Guys are noted, and it has been shown that they are the worst at wearing their masks and or wearing them properly. Give them an opportunity and they'll wear them under their noses, or chin and with little concern for others around them to keep an appropriate distance.
My experience in Lowes has been that I spend my time being wary of guys who sidle up next to me looking for a similar item and with their masks worn inappropriately. It's their right you know. All we can do is ask them to do the right thing but if they believe the right thing for them is not to follow the rules, then to hell with you.
A few months back, early in the pandemic I was in the local hardware store, Hardware Sales. I needed a few nuts and bolts for a boat project. I wandered into the nuts and bolts aisle which is low ceilinged and with ultra narrow aisles and it was crammed with guys shoulder to shoulder doing the same thing I was there to do. I escaped without incident, as I remained well weeks after the incident. But I just can't bring myself to go back in there.
I want to shop local. I want to support our struggling restaurants. My wife and I love nothing better than to go out for breakfast in one of our many favorite local breakfast shops. But how can we? The best we have come up with is the local Home Skillet restaurant where we can call ahead to order our favorite Big Green Mess or their Pork Tater Tot Hash. Oh man. Incredible but not to die for. Thankfully, the folks there have taken dramatic steps to make the experience safe. Sadly, in order to keep their establishment open, the have had to take drastic steps where their employees are concerned.
So, my solution of choice has been to order groceries to be delivered. When they arrive we have a bottle of diluted bleach in a spray bottle at the ready and we wipe down everything before we bring it into the house. Then we wash our hands well and put the delivered items away.
For other needed items, we have spent a lot of money ordering through Amazon. Packages are delivered to our front door and, once wiped down, they too can be opened and enjoyed.
My pharmacy is online so all my meds come to my mailbox. Again, the package is wiped down and then opened.
Thanksfully, Amazon is great about returns and, though we have seldom done it, we have found it easy to return items at our local Kohl's store. We go in on Wednesday morning when they first open for seniors and drop off the item. Never anyone there and we only come in contact with the person who accepts our package. Both the clerk and I are wearing masks and the transaction is momentary and I head right back out the door to my car.
I haven't been in any other stores at our mall for probably a year. I didn't much care for the mall before the pandemic. I don't know what shops may even still exist. I imagine there are probably more empty store fronts than there was the last time I did venture through the mall doors. Personally, I don't much care. I know these shops employee a lot people who are now either unemployed or had to find new jobs, but not much can be done about that situation until the pandemic is ended.
Since businesses and our current government have seen fit to put business before the health of our citizens, well, we are just going to be stuck in a never ending spiral of death and an economy that continues to limp along. Of course, a vaccine could help end the situation but can't work until enough people see the benefits of taking the vaccine. If millions don't see the benefit or are convinced that it will somehow endanger their lives. . .well, then, the virus will continue to infect, cause misery to many and kill thousands of others.
As for me, I'm ready to roll up my arm just as I have for all the other vaccines I have been given during my lifetime. Vaccines that kept me from getting so many killer diseases that, before the vaccine was created, killed or maimed so many around the world and continue to in many poor nations.
So, what do we do? Millions of Americans are at risk of being evicted from their homes, they have lost their livelyhood and simply can't afford to live. Meanwhile, the current government plays their violins while the country burns to the ground.
I believe our way of life is at risk. More and more homeless out on the streets can only build to a boiling point. People with nothing left to loose at some point won't care if they break laws. If it puts food in their family's mouths or gives them shelter, then, they will do it. I don't know where that tippng point lies but it is out there. And don't we have enough folks out on the street now that we mostly ignore? Are we going to ask our law enforcement to continue evicting families at a rate way above the normal numbers? Are we going to ask them to arrest or confront the growing homeless numbers with possible dire consequences?
I believe we need to look at how our economy operates. As it current operates, it doesn't see a need to reach out to those who are being evicted, nor does it address the needs of those who own the property from which those folks are being evicted. The landlords can't afford to loose rent from tenants or they risk losing their property and income. It is a domino effect. This is true of so many other situations in our economy, which indicates to me that our economy is not responsive to the current needs of our citizens.
I'm fine. At least for now. I'm retired, have an excellent retirement income that will take care of me for the rest of my life. Investments, Social Security and pensions will all make me comfortable the rest of my life. So, the economy works for me, so far. But, of course, there is always the possibilty of some event down the road that causes the economy to collapse (I know, let's try to be positive). And, of course, if that happened it would mean the whole country would be in trouble.
I am not at all an economist and have no clue what would happen if any of my suggestions were used, but, if we don't start looking down the road soon, it will be full of even more pot holes.
Let's pass a bill to offer higher unemployment salaries to folks who are unemployeed through no fault of their own...but, let's put those folks to work. Remember the WPA and programs like back in the 1930's. Don't just give folks money and let them sit on their butts. Give them a task to earn it. I heard from friends who were angry after the last bailout that they couldn't get people to come to work for them because they made more being unemployeed. Bad idea. Put 'em to work.
Homelessness? Let's have some of those unemployed folks go to work building basic housing for those who are homeless. Sort along the lines of the Habitat for Humanity program. Or, perhaps go the route of the Tiny House movement. We long ago started building homes WAY to large for the needs of the average American. I grew up in a lower middle class neighborhood and a home that was a 3 bedroom, one bath home. No family room. It was plenty of room for our family of 6. The boys shared a bedroom and the girls did too. It all worked out and, though we knew people who lived in what we thought of as "mansions" it never occured to us that we were missing out on anything.
Landlords and business owners who are also struggling. Here I must say I am not sure how to address their specific issues. Perhaps the goverment could offer money to keep these businesses going. How that might look, I am sure small business owners would probably have some great suggestions.
Anyhow, for me, the near future will continue to be to support local business as I can knowing that my front porch is going to be a stop for FedEx and UPS for some time. michaelgchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13425336290105511786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246395055355855805.post-63872254604306408652020-11-04T11:02:00.001-08:002020-11-04T11:02:35.796-08:00Election 2020 Venting!November 3, 2020 has come and gone and, as projected, we still don't know who our next president will be. It is as they say "too close to call" in several so called 'battleground states'--Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Michigan, Arizona and others depending on how you look at it. The tally in several of those states is within a few thousand of vote and some votes, due to how ballots are counted, could swing the decision wildly in one direction or the other.
Either way, it is obvious from the way things are going that our country is deeply, deeply divided. Half the country thinks the way our country has been led the past four years is just fine and the other half wants, even demands a change. What is odd to me is that generally speaking every other person in this country believes Trump is on the right track OR that Biden would be too evil to vote for OR, well, for any number of other reasons they can't vote for him. On the other side of the ledger, Biden's fans feel the same way, roughly speaking, about Trump.
So, where does that leave us (our country), our position in the world, with our allies and our enemies? Trump has 'governed' the last four years without concern for whether he is making any attempt to pull the country together. He 'rules' using an antiquated style of running a company. It's my way or the highway, or using his Apprentice line--"your fired" if he doesn't like what he hears coming out of those he has hired to work for him. He just dumps them and gets someone else who will agree with him. The idea of working to build a consensus (the modern accepted business model, which allows everyone to feel they have a voice and are heard regardless of the fact that the president has to make the final decision alone never enters his head. He doesn't bother with that. I guess it takes too much time. Consequently, he pisses off half the country and goes through employees like Carter has pills. And what about the lengthy list of his appointees that have wound up getting jail time for illegal activities on behalf of their boss, who protects himself by pretending to be astonished that that could happen while happily throwing them under the bus. Plausible deniability!
For me, I can understand he is a fiscal conservative and that attracts a lot of voters who are in business. I get that. What astounds me is that these people are willing to sell their souls to defend their business interests. Its okay that Trump is creepy, that he tacitly gives support to extremist groups that hate people of color or non-Christians or the LGBTQ community by never coming out and condeming them. He treats women like toys, has no use for the LGBTQ community, and while he claims to be a Christian, he in no way reflects the true Christian spirit (unless you count the old testament). I could go on but of course, you've heard all the complaints a million times over the years and none of it seems to make any difference to half the poulation of the country.
Then there is the matter of how he treats our traditional allies in the world. How he has buddied up to tyrants around the globe. He has ignored climate change advocates, crippled environmental laws that undermine our water and air qualiites. Recently he even opened up mining in a pristine area of Alaska that had been protected for many years and opened an area of old growth forest for use.
I have never been more ashamed of being an American in all my 67 years. I thought I'd seen some teerrible presidents along the way--Tricky Dick Nixon, Bill Clinton, George W., but trump takes the cake.
As for me, I will continue to vote in every election as I have since i was first eligible. I still have that right. But other than that, I hearby resign as a citizen of this once great country. Until people wake up from whatever delusion they are so enjoying and move back into the column of nations trying to make the word a better place, I am going to just hide out in my little progressive bubble here in Bellingham and enjoy whatever positives life has in store for me for however many more years I have to enjoy them. I wish you all well. Good night and good luck.
michaelgchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13425336290105511786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246395055355855805.post-38216189515360332262020-10-22T14:22:00.002-07:002020-10-22T14:22:44.786-07:00COVID Kept Us At HomeSo, the Covid virus that has plagued us since March 2020 continues to do so. We have been pretty much house bound since mid-March going out initially only to buy needed groceries. We didn't even do that for a couple of months until there was a bit more solid knowledge as to how to behave when out in public. Wear a mask, don't wear a mask? How far to stand away from anyone? Best hand washing techniques? And on and on...When recommendations finally began to get settled we felt better about going out--a little. Plus, by then stores began to have better methods of keeping us apart and to have times of the day specifically for older shoppers.
So, we ventured out wearily and very cautiously. One problem initially was also that there were shortages of certain products. Hand sanitizer was almost none existant on store shelves. Toilet paper was hard to come by. We were fortunate in that we had made purchases of extra non-perishables, bottled water, toilet paper, etc. for emergencies such as earthquakes, tsunamis, etc. before this ever happened. Never thought we'd need to use those items but suddently they came in very handy at an uncertain time. Our emergency supplies kept us from needing to go shopping for almost 2 months and even then it was only for milk and fresh vegetables.
So this pandemic has proven our preparations are a good idea and when this finally calms down and life can return to some sort of normal, we will get our supply storage back up again in preparation for the next time it is needed.
We've also begun to set up the boat as a secondary location should we need to evacuate from our home. Forest fires have become a bigger deal and so many people have lost homes, even entire communities have burned to the ground. So our boat water supply if topped off, the fuel tanks are full and we have a full pantry that would take care of our needs for several days. We have an evacuation plan from our house should we need to head for the boat, taking cetain key items including more food, emergency gallons of fresh water, clothing, etc. so we caould extend our stay abord should it be necessary.
As of right now, we are still mostly at home but we have had some work done at the house. In fact we have tree guys here today who have cut down several trees that we've needed to have done for quite some time, some of which were even threatening the house should they fall in a storm. We bought new beds which we have needed for some time. These required us to be cautious while around those who did the work. We required masks of all who worked on our property or entered our house and when we needed to, we left the house for a few hours while work was done.
The boat has been handy on alternate Wednesdays when our housekeeper cleans our home. We go to the boat and stay there overnight returning home the next day.
Our biggest problem with all this has been not being able to see our family in Seattle--Daughter, Kate, Son-in-Laww, Nick and grand daughter, Evie. We'd always been able to see them on average every couple of weeks. Suddenly they were cut off from us. Thankfully, a modern solution came about when we started using ZOOM, an online meeting platform. While Evie was stuck at home and not able to be in school we were on ZOOM with her every couple of days. We'd spend hours talking and playing with her--usually until her parent's phone ran out of battery life.
Now that she is in school (she started Kindergarten online) and she spends afternoons at her old pre-school with a select group of kids who all know each other and whose parents are all quarantining as our kids are, so the chances of COVID infection are very low. But she is so tired at the end of the school day that she really doesn't feel much like visiting with us. But we still manage a good visit on the weekend. And when she gets extended periods of time off (10 days or so) we can then arrange to meet them for a face to face visit.
We just have to be very careful. We are both in the senior citizen catgory which makes us more suseptible to the virus and its effects. My chronic issues make it all the more important.
We are, nevertheless, bearing up well under the circumstances and count our blessings--hey, we have a warm home with a roof over our head, plenty of food and fresh water and, most important, we have each other. Stay safe out there.michaelgchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13425336290105511786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246395055355855805.post-81993021423769289812020-09-08T13:58:00.001-07:002020-09-08T13:58:35.018-07:00So, project wrap up! It has been a long summer of pricey projects, some of which
were unexpected. What did we get accomplished? Here is the list—
1. New Achilles dinghy with Honda 20 hp power start and tilt outboard, two person seat and St.
Criox Euro helm.
2. SeaWise davit system installed
3. SCAD waste/fresh water tank monitor installed.
4. Victron Bluetooth battery monitor installed.
5. New house and start batteries installed.
6. New Maxwell HRC 10-8 windlass installed.
7. New below deck anchor locker created.
8. New anchor rode of 150’ of 5/16 chain and 100’ of 5/8 8 plait line installed in the anchor locker.
9. New raw water wash down system installed. Included pressure sensitive pump and 10’ of
water hose and sprayer in old anchor locker.
10. We will shortly purchase a trailer for the dinghy to haul it to and from the marina. It will winter over at
home. This will offer security and keep it out of the salt air.
Not a bad list! Much more than we ever intended but nothing we shouldn’t have expected
considering it is a boat! Next year the big expense (hopefully) will be to
repaint the bottom and reseat any through hulls that need attention.
michaelgchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13425336290105511786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246395055355855805.post-12895912898121221692020-08-28T15:26:00.000-07:002020-08-28T15:26:26.515-07:00Windlass Issues<p> It seems like one thing or another has kept us near our home port this summer. Our big expense, aside from the usual annual maintenance--fluid and filter changes, etc. was to be our new dinghy which I have already written about in an earlier post. And it has turned out to be a nice purchase.</p><p>Then, we noticed the batteries were starting to not a hold a charge so those had to be replaced. At about $80-90 a piece (times 5) that too was a financial hit. I saved some money by purchasing them myself, hauling them to the boat and hauling the old ones in for the core rebate. Hauling those suckers about killed me but it saved us a couple hundred dollars. </p><p>Then, on the shakedown cruise to see how the new batteries were doing (they are great), the windlass went belly up. I wound up pulling 200' of line and 36' of chain and anchor up by hand. Yikes! That too about killed me. </p><p>So, instead of heading off to another spot to anchor for a few more days, we headed back to port and I started looking at new windlasses. I contacted Pacific Marine Yacht Services, my go to electricians, and got in line to have them do the work. A couple of weeks later they called to say they weren't willing to do the job. Back to square one. I got in line for the guy that does most of the work on our boat and he was willing to take it on. So, I started looking for a windlass that would work on our boat. That turned out to be a bigger job that I thought as there were no windlasses out there that would work the way the old one had. </p><p>I spoke with a boat buddy who owns an identical boat and asked him to walk me through what he'd done when he replaced his windlass. I recalled he had modified a bow locker into an anchor locker by himself so he knew what he was talking about. After chatting with Steve I was pretty sure of the windlass I wanted.</p><p>It is a Maxwell HRC 10-8. Its a beauty! After my windlass arrived from Fisheries Supply in Seattle, my go to chandlery, my technician arrived and we began the project. </p><p>First the old windlass and the pedestal it was mounted to were removed. Then a new Starboard pedestal was built up and the new windlass mounted to it. A hole had to be drilled through the deck so the howse pipe the anchor rode went through could be fitted. With that complete we went below deck to prepare the new space for the rode.</p><p>At the very bow of our boat is a little teak door about a foot tall and nearly the same in width. Opening that door you gain access to an unused empty space. This was to be the new anchor locker, replacing the one on deck adjacent to the windlass. </p><p>New heavier duty wiring was run to the locker as well as the wiring for the new foot switches (up and down). With the wiring in place and windlass powered up we next needed to seal up the locker and ensure it was waterproof. My buddy had inserted a 1/4" panel of plexiglass which he both bolted and sealed in place with silicone. My guy opted for 5200 instead. </p><p>Lastly he cut a hole in the plexiglass and fitted a 5" deck plate giving access to the locker if needed. He attached the bitter end of the anchor rode to the backside of the tow eye by bolting a metal strip to the backside of the tow eye and cinching it down. </p><p>Finally we were ready to start feeding the rode into the locker. Sadly, the windlass didn't want to easily take in the rode. The 2-strand 1/2" line kept jamming and had to be forced down the pipe. By the time we got to the 36' of chain there wasn't enough space left in the locker for it to fit and it too fought back. </p><p>Something had to give which became obvious when we took the Key of Sea out for a shakedown. The windlass didn't like paying out or retreiving the rode so, once again, I was forced to pull it up by hand. </p><p>I just piled it all into the old anchor locker and we headed home. Much more research needed doing.</p><p>I contacted my buddy Steve who came over to our boat and looked over what we had done so far. His conclusions were:</p><p>1) We should have put in a 4" deck plate as he suggested originally instead of in the face of the plexiglass. The one in the plexiglass won't hurt but it really needed to be cut into the deck. This would allow the person on deck to reach down and move the rode to one side or the other so more can fit in.</p><p>2) We need to get new rode. He recommended 150' of 5/16' G4 chain and 100' of 5/8" 8 plait anchor line. 8 plait because it lays down more like chain rather than spreading out all over the locker as the current line was doing. The two elements of the rode will be spliced together with an appropriate anchor splice.</p><p>After calling the Maxwell dealer rep in Seattle, exchanging several emails and phone calls, he agreed with my buddy Steve's thoughts.</p><p>So, new rode was ordered today from Fisheries Supply. </p><p>The old anchor rode will go into the old locker as a back up and or secondary anchor if needed. Along with that a new raw water wash down system is being installed there to hose the mud and debris off as the rode is brought aboard. And the 4' deck plate will be installed at the same time. </p><p>I am beginning to see light at the end of this very long tunnel. It has been both a fascinating and frustrating experience. Hopefully it will be the final project for the season. We'll see.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoLEA_lOcdBS7lNFsmBpf_cTOc_Lg_v07sYtf67oMP8MTIQj2mjA4deqRhagqpb_2kVhWT_xOiS8YJ0uUe9Z1QMNzkKsKLXSgjn_TSM-NwIgfstbFwBytv-3QJXwun3M5rJlXRt8j4pciI/s960/Old+Atlas+Windlass+Removed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoLEA_lOcdBS7lNFsmBpf_cTOc_Lg_v07sYtf67oMP8MTIQj2mjA4deqRhagqpb_2kVhWT_xOiS8YJ0uUe9Z1QMNzkKsKLXSgjn_TSM-NwIgfstbFwBytv-3QJXwun3M5rJlXRt8j4pciI/w240-h320/Old+Atlas+Windlass+Removed.jpg" title="Old Atlas windlass" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Old Atlas Windlass<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhql9LCGuTiXFhXfWkVatCYQzVSZR6wj0q603CipDpa9smMumAuz3i6PWXck56YAPQZynboL_1Ge2OgxkfFypyJNrzBubgHSiCJr_yzhYNAlKtPQHUIvuzHKWJ8MEM_wW0-IsSsP_Oy6SnM/s2016/IMG_8753.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhql9LCGuTiXFhXfWkVatCYQzVSZR6wj0q603CipDpa9smMumAuz3i6PWXck56YAPQZynboL_1Ge2OgxkfFypyJNrzBubgHSiCJr_yzhYNAlKtPQHUIvuzHKWJ8MEM_wW0-IsSsP_Oy6SnM/w513-h384/IMG_8753.jpg" width="513" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inside the new anchor locker loooking up to the pipe<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2aY5wxWlNOt5Ni3W2tODLRaCtU2MkxuDrCYITH0LxW7AH1mFw_ow6ywlm0MZdonNm_BcCxR9lmAYskrRJE2EhlMJ2Gm3E-TWaAAJZGtqMAvYD-kmbcnwABR8fqbpvz5NALAB1uKoGAF6i/s2016/IMG_8752.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2aY5wxWlNOt5Ni3W2tODLRaCtU2MkxuDrCYITH0LxW7AH1mFw_ow6ywlm0MZdonNm_BcCxR9lmAYskrRJE2EhlMJ2Gm3E-TWaAAJZGtqMAvYD-kmbcnwABR8fqbpvz5NALAB1uKoGAF6i/w307-h410/IMG_8752.jpg" width="307" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Attachment point of the rode bitter end.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh_bTkIKwrsPEyzQUNdtLeV1-j1sWBUlXAgKM3CaE5nvpsTgpUKHyhdggD8ReYXBSkE95P21vcoYvfkEV56VhEtWP9dJD48iG_esb3s4cW-RIY8k6kLZMBvqqRFQUgu0zvuvT4pkh5uxK3/s2016/IMG_8736.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh_bTkIKwrsPEyzQUNdtLeV1-j1sWBUlXAgKM3CaE5nvpsTgpUKHyhdggD8ReYXBSkE95P21vcoYvfkEV56VhEtWP9dJD48iG_esb3s4cW-RIY8k6kLZMBvqqRFQUgu0zvuvT4pkh5uxK3/w307-h410/IMG_8736.jpg" width="307" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Old rode line piled into new locker seen through the plexiglass.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjubFt2-pxmnG7ncXcKxye_wZREXZLZ3FhXAIZUSM6YrhB10fJhytIyciBvhccBaE2LXpFz2gY2mqVF7zIfOBcMyqF7p-BseQTgU8HQoMxtRnf3weVKQOn_peYmP8ZzGwXLszejAM4G8I9y/s1213/Maxwell+Windlass+foot+switches+072020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1213" data-original-width="750" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjubFt2-pxmnG7ncXcKxye_wZREXZLZ3FhXAIZUSM6YrhB10fJhytIyciBvhccBaE2LXpFz2gY2mqVF7zIfOBcMyqF7p-BseQTgU8HQoMxtRnf3weVKQOn_peYmP8ZzGwXLszejAM4G8I9y/w317-h512/Maxwell+Windlass+foot+switches+072020.jpg" width="317" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Foot switches--I picked black<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF29sRztT7gtAwQ0KYUjuK4omCmPm1lBFZXxjE4pVkAXaVXgs-jQZYd0l0mgQArTGoHzKoXO5FmqVRi4Y8r_8rjsvwisVCmV2KF3amXhGk8JOvLQRIcrM9xHsEq3ek7ioNUWYR0APUYXVZ/s750/Maxwell+HRC10-8+windlass+072020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="631" data-original-width="750" height="344" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF29sRztT7gtAwQ0KYUjuK4omCmPm1lBFZXxjE4pVkAXaVXgs-jQZYd0l0mgQArTGoHzKoXO5FmqVRi4Y8r_8rjsvwisVCmV2KF3amXhGk8JOvLQRIcrM9xHsEq3ek7ioNUWYR0APUYXVZ/w410-h344/Maxwell+HRC10-8+windlass+072020.jpg" width="410" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New Maxwell HRC 10-8 windlass. Beauitful and very capable.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /> <p></p>michaelgchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13425336290105511786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246395055355855805.post-89514235005758271762020-08-28T14:06:00.000-07:002020-08-28T14:06:24.395-07:00Life Issues<div class="separator"><p style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;">Its been a while since my last post but everything has been going along smoothly snf it just didn't seem all that important. Then a couple of major life issues came alog,he igst, of course, being the Corona Virus COVID pandemic which is still marching through the world. Currently some 900 Americans a day are dying from this scourge. In my humble and non-scientific opinion it has much to do with the poor way our country prepared itself for it and has since handled it. olitics and the I believe we have been hit hard because we didn't handle it properly from the start and because politics and the economy have driven the decisions to reopen the country<img border="0" data-original-height="612" data-original-width="611" height="129" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiOD48qqqqQv1wVSl0ODFSWcqIfujk32Ec9N0F-4jZzxt3Dev0KTyj3p9n_YFGKb4c0CzhjteWqcAK6Hp9_8IUCQORny_Iiq_vP2IVTVe4bI72dZ-PO4cbDGcDhXLhVlrvajNmaV8H5lIK/w128-h129/istockphoto-165599259-612x612.jpg" width="128" /> and our schools rather than our helth experts. Believe me, I get it. Businesses were hurting and parents , stuck at home, can't take care of their kids and go to work, if they even have a job. So what to do? Open our schools so parents have a babysitter. Open our businesses so they don't go under and so folks have a job to go to. The result? The rate of COVID infections and the death rate have increased or remained the same. Add to that the folks in our land who believe they are somehow immune to the virus , don't believe it is as bad as they've been told by health experts, or who just don't think anyone has the right to tell them what to do, and you have a perfect storm for this virus to continue to sicken and kill people. Especially the old, infirm, those with less than perfect immune systems, the first responders, the teachers, the children going back into classrooms unprepared for protecting them from the virus. You get the picture. </p></div><p>So, I am staying pretty much at home. Have been since March of this year with only rare exceptions and only then when I am well protected--wearing a mask, staying well away from others who I am unsure about how they have protected themselves, and going to stores or the barbershop only at times when places are least crowded and have taken the best possible measures to protect their customers and washing my hands until they are raw.</p><p>Locally, I have always shopped at Fred Meyer for much of my grocery shopping. But of the local grocery stores they have by far done the worst job to protect customers. So we pay a bit more and go to the Haggen store nearer us that has done an outstanding job of setting up protections. </p><p>My barber has let me come in by myself for an early morning appointment (only been twice) when no one else is in the shop. She takes extra precautions to keep her shop sanitized, wears a mask, insists I do too the entire time she is cutting my hair and we each sanitize our hands before and after the haircut.</p><p>I don't know when or if this is ever going to come to an end. Perhaps only when a medication is developed that can end it or at least bring it under control. But I do hope it is soon as I am sure everyone else does. I don't like the way it has isolated people. I am saddened by so many folks that rather than keeping in better touch through email or Facetime or ZOOM, instead seem to have circled their wagons and isolated themselves. When this virus first started up we made an effort to contact people by the methods above. We must have contacted 25-30 people we know including some we hadn't been in touch with for many years except by Christmas card. To date we have been contacted back by only a couple of people. What we call reciprocals. Many people we have thought were close friends we simply haven't heard from at all in less we have made the effort to recontact them. Now I understand, folks are quite possibly feeling depressed or isolated or just frozen, not knowing what to do or willing to do anything to reach out to others. But, am I wrong? Isn't this the best of times to do just that? </p><p>Our summertime activities usually center around boating and usually with boating friends. But what with social distancing requirements and staying out of other marinas where social distancing is difficult at best, much of those activities have been taken away from us. It hasn't helped that we have had boat problems (see next post) that have even kept us from anchoring out somewhere. And with Canada closed to American boaters this summer (the place love most to go), the most popular local boating anchorages are much more crowded than usual.</p><p>No, I know my problems don't amount to a hill of beans compared to folks who have lost their jobs, are worried they could lose their homes, that have jobs that expose them daily to stress and to this deadly virus. I get it! Buck up, Michael! Quit your whining and get on with it! And I will. I'm made of pretty tough stuff. Just thought I'd vent a little. </p><p>What is the answer? I just don't know but it is very depressing to see that people you thought you could depend on, at the very least keep in touch, seem to have forgotten to do just that. Ah, well, this too as they say, shall pass.</p><p> </p>michaelgchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13425336290105511786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246395055355855805.post-36538133973626965912020-04-24T12:30:00.000-07:002020-04-24T12:30:02.025-07:00Introducing Key of Sea #Let this be the birth announcment of our new little one who arrived on Monday, April 20, 2020 at 12:30 PM. She is a cute little thing, as they say in the boat world...yar!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGj61rW696pEPzANQmbws20fnFX7Jvq2UH2rw7Kbg4eh75k3ScbNDVK0OMHhJGPZflwF1HXViMuAXG-R-LLm0L2rAA3aGFGaW-PWoYKvYl3E15EKR8_0xmM2oVIYtu9A1LxQ6TtnC5BWFE/s1600/Achilles+tender+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="960" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGj61rW696pEPzANQmbws20fnFX7Jvq2UH2rw7Kbg4eh75k3ScbNDVK0OMHhJGPZflwF1HXViMuAXG-R-LLm0L2rAA3aGFGaW-PWoYKvYl3E15EKR8_0xmM2oVIYtu9A1LxQ6TtnC5BWFE/s320/Achilles+tender+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Our Achilles HB-315 DX dinghy came with a brand new Weaver helm and a 20 hp Honda outboard. She sits up on her side on our swimstep held in place and raised a d lowered by our new SeaWise davit lift system.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
It took a while from conception to birth for her to arrive to our mother boat but it was well worth the wait. I've been working with Steve Guyer, owner of Guyer Boatworks for the past few months to find the right boat. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwG0cB9zmPJPXlINSLTQkyhyX5T9hCCbZsXAkBV7AE18NsNHpZLyXxqlMnzqqQLVQTwgcJSVeg1Yl9KpZzIuQi1VqcvufVtUW8AFnKpN0yJ2HFPLpZICTvQqIx8ncSOBko7DYqP-rltzJX/s1600/Achilles+tender+5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwG0cB9zmPJPXlINSLTQkyhyX5T9hCCbZsXAkBV7AE18NsNHpZLyXxqlMnzqqQLVQTwgcJSVeg1Yl9KpZzIuQi1VqcvufVtUW8AFnKpN0yJ2HFPLpZICTvQqIx8ncSOBko7DYqP-rltzJX/s320/Achilles+tender+5.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOoAcF-1hHemVl7dD-c6YbX9Qr6-kF0CGjLY6IX5NbGURWsfTctt0Hn_zldq7CqvveZgkl2YBTka1HheR0Dgpk-h3KYAC7FWYTI6y3VRicgfaGCJUjYadQQq2xiRE66P9KbbfhSCbXm9lL/s1600/Honda+20+hp+port+view.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOoAcF-1hHemVl7dD-c6YbX9Qr6-kF0CGjLY6IX5NbGURWsfTctt0Hn_zldq7CqvveZgkl2YBTka1HheR0Dgpk-h3KYAC7FWYTI6y3VRicgfaGCJUjYadQQq2xiRE66P9KbbfhSCbXm9lL/s320/Honda+20+hp+port+view.jpg" width="180" /></a>I took her out on a seatrial Monday after her arrival. We slowly drove her across the marina to the breakwater where I put the pedal to the metal and gave her a bit of a test run almost but not quite getting her up oon plane, then back to the slip where we connected to the davits and raised her up into place.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I can't wait to take her out again and really give her the gas. I'll need to take down some fuel to tank her up before heading out too far. She has a 3 gallon fuel tank which should give her a range of a couple of hours at top speed so an extra fuel can aboard would be useful.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
We added a bilge pump to the package at the last minute--just in case. I also purchased a boat cover for her for the off season. My intent is to also purchase a trailer for her so we can pull her out of the water in the off season and bring her home to sit in the back yard. I'll look into that next fall.</div>
<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8XTSSBGvqIVRfM8ZdNQ2ZTksSDdnS9b7MH2g94bp2Zz7qhShBHrKf8TnlTaZvce0i9iSrOvMOQaPaXXICZ8jKsDu6maoCTTqIUsr89BjIjvw9u1UhYd_etbHkC_kiWlGExMGHbwu6ZMwJ/s1600/Achilles+tender+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="960" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8XTSSBGvqIVRfM8ZdNQ2ZTksSDdnS9b7MH2g94bp2Zz7qhShBHrKf8TnlTaZvce0i9iSrOvMOQaPaXXICZ8jKsDu6maoCTTqIUsr89BjIjvw9u1UhYd_etbHkC_kiWlGExMGHbwu6ZMwJ/s320/Achilles+tender+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgasqzJvRnBkdySbXGJER6vhpJxVl6WdQ_6u6vUVeoINKC6KxvAv54hy2i9sSLFrH15CCrn4KxIlzvWiKDnh1Ky0A0suQQpoZE8sdkjMqhxp11trBbCelvR4qky0U1IRKboer_EjnRctX9A/s1600/Seawise+System+in+place1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgasqzJvRnBkdySbXGJER6vhpJxVl6WdQ_6u6vUVeoINKC6KxvAv54hy2i9sSLFrH15CCrn4KxIlzvWiKDnh1Ky0A0suQQpoZE8sdkjMqhxp11trBbCelvR4qky0U1IRKboer_EjnRctX9A/s320/Seawise+System+in+place1.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">SeaWise Davit Lift System</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
In the meantime, enjoy some photos of this project!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
michaelgchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13425336290105511786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246395055355855805.post-85821244966709298832019-08-28T13:23:00.001-07:002019-08-28T13:23:29.587-07:00Heater Project Finished! Fresh Water Issue Fixed? I Hope!I had a new to me technician aboard for the better part of three days last week installing a diesel forced air heater on the Key of Sea. The heater kit has been sitting on my bench in the garage for nearly a year while I figured out how to get it installed.<br />
<br />
Originally it was to be installed with the heavy help of a buddy from the Power Squadron. But then he got very ill and was unable to help. It would have been done free! So, after months of waiting, hoping he would get healthy enough to help me, it became obvious his days of helping others was probably over. I started looking around for someone else to do the job but it was tough because all the reputable places in town wouldn't touch the project because they were all representatives of Espar or Wabasto or one of the other few well known outfits, all of which cost an arm and two legs!<br />
<br />
My Planar unit is Russian made and costs far less than those other company's products which cost in the thousands of dollars. My Planar kit was a little over a grand and with the extrta parts I had to buy to make it right for our particular boat, it was still less than $1,500.<br />
<br />
I finally found a young fellow through a boat buddy who works very inexpensively and had experience intalling heaters. So we got started on the project and into the first day we discovered I didn't have all the parts I needed. So, I made a quick drive up to the Planar showroom in Surrey, B.C. only about a 40 minute drive from our house. I picked up the parts and drove right back to the boat where my guy was still doing what he could do without those parts.<br />
<br />
Day 2--He was cutting holes here and there including enlarging the old 3 inch ducting holes to fit the 4 inch ducts we wanted. Plus there was the new exhaust through hull which meaant a new hole through the hull. Anytime holes get cut in my boat I get a little nervous because well, just because. If you own a boat you know what I mean.<br />
<br />
Day 3--Finishing the ducting, attaching the exhaust hose to the through hull and powering up the unit. It all went together very easily except for the customization that was often necessary due to the characteristics of our boat.In the end though, all went well and the unit running very well. It is so efficient and quiet and heats up the boat quickly.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, my tech also installed the correct water hose to the fresh water pump, removing the old garden hose which should never have been used. He also made sure each connection was tight and no air was leaking into the system. It seems that we now have a solid working water system. However, he advised me that our hot water heater does have a small drip that will eventually become worse and we'll have to replace the unit. We'll cross our fingers that it keeps working for another year or two as we have exhausted a couple of year's worth of our budget.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifGQBlaHUbCnRGCHTQA0dhKLVRnHsIF-HS5tE2HV6adwnriE_zY1g_4VfQxNhkn3xaSaNVDs5Y9ln7jWWWYxvbkquBXjB8ZZ59uH4T9zIJPtav1YFmDNQbBzusqjB5MmoQvB_cXs_VqXHp/s1600/68647198_2617958518257064_589936160655015936_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="958" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifGQBlaHUbCnRGCHTQA0dhKLVRnHsIF-HS5tE2HV6adwnriE_zY1g_4VfQxNhkn3xaSaNVDs5Y9ln7jWWWYxvbkquBXjB8ZZ59uH4T9zIJPtav1YFmDNQbBzusqjB5MmoQvB_cXs_VqXHp/s320/68647198_2617958518257064_589936160655015936_n.jpg" width="319" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">4" ducting connected to the heater output end.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheQ8GX7y-gTUEi9gMI73-58CPJiGBaiY7K-mFlE6JbzzwbG00f5WtZyzZEBsJbj8YyKAJ1S-AiY9az6HeccUXNv9h6u4aVV_n69u1zK8dPljKaoeUE25VLwDqgNHOWYIupNI3-zXT502pI/s1600/68905702_2616674245052158_3038138515184418816_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheQ8GX7y-gTUEi9gMI73-58CPJiGBaiY7K-mFlE6JbzzwbG00f5WtZyzZEBsJbj8YyKAJ1S-AiY9az6HeccUXNv9h6u4aVV_n69u1zK8dPljKaoeUE25VLwDqgNHOWYIupNI3-zXT502pI/s320/68905702_2616674245052158_3038138515184418816_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fuel filter about to be installed. One of the parts we needed to get in Canada</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie8cPNr7Wqq3eCAWspexgI3reRMZgYhaNvoAm_0wLhaxidSe9G_N8Sni3zJvtpsN0KKKjfHR8MKa6ISXWMk_7z62tk7w1R6awxISDnWgcn0fjmhoeMwbTw5FkP-dCxWPtSHq6vsmlgIyxM/s1600/69028900_2613897135329869_4850089783193501696_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie8cPNr7Wqq3eCAWspexgI3reRMZgYhaNvoAm_0wLhaxidSe9G_N8Sni3zJvtpsN0KKKjfHR8MKa6ISXWMk_7z62tk7w1R6awxISDnWgcn0fjmhoeMwbTw5FkP-dCxWPtSHq6vsmlgIyxM/s320/69028900_2613897135329869_4850089783193501696_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The heater unit in its cabinet.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjO8B5STAucdNWvsVtxMu7IHWKbA1gbord5JC7xks4qfzsuBWkp76Q8Pu8PAAfE98mk_2mNe4Ms62zZd_LjKcAgMaHMnvVhSwA5ynn5XwM8UxjtCbmz6zbJQl5svowhHUU4btq04_xbrAE/s1600/69090902_2616674231718826_3161569394165809152_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjO8B5STAucdNWvsVtxMu7IHWKbA1gbord5JC7xks4qfzsuBWkp76Q8Pu8PAAfE98mk_2mNe4Ms62zZd_LjKcAgMaHMnvVhSwA5ynn5XwM8UxjtCbmz6zbJQl5svowhHUU4btq04_xbrAE/s320/69090902_2616674231718826_3161569394165809152_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The muffler ducted into the space to the right where the exhaust thru hull is located.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsZH-vDXdgNS_f5qpmQHuDXtP97AsYfC1OR70oWy-EgklENHnxgs9u5bt-s2R54hSrCpTl61LjxZFBwLj9oTvu_d9Oir9BAxh9an3OU9OR2_RVn-g3L_TlIGBvS1T1SJv0gZWBPk8vD3gd/s1600/69218138_2617958578257058_2284377578712072192_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsZH-vDXdgNS_f5qpmQHuDXtP97AsYfC1OR70oWy-EgklENHnxgs9u5bt-s2R54hSrCpTl61LjxZFBwLj9oTvu_d9Oir9BAxh9an3OU9OR2_RVn-g3L_TlIGBvS1T1SJv0gZWBPk8vD3gd/s320/69218138_2617958578257058_2284377578712072192_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Digital display</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM0lGuC_IGr9hBIb3VqkXRd9GdMt6_CdbCxcZFXnYHvdmBUhwYnmz-3uzNAKka4iwy4eQnl12aaZ7-KHxW1FPLPAd06z7QHy_wjbypn8sm5WPQgc8zhGVnThq_aBiB0wL-dMvJQXeTNfTw/s1600/69227055_2616370368415879_8062226400020529152_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="952" data-original-width="960" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM0lGuC_IGr9hBIb3VqkXRd9GdMt6_CdbCxcZFXnYHvdmBUhwYnmz-3uzNAKka4iwy4eQnl12aaZ7-KHxW1FPLPAd06z7QHy_wjbypn8sm5WPQgc8zhGVnThq_aBiB0wL-dMvJQXeTNfTw/s320/69227055_2616370368415879_8062226400020529152_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thru hull exhaust.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5scTP4q6s0uMP7ltm9Bhb8YKkBleAux0i6jJbbrkSm_vRRSFdTJgAkn1slVljp3rAkuYz43UYjgekh673dNsICutzXY0tAxahqVh5esWM668dZnfHb8BLF1O9kAHd6lavQtJECHGm3XlQ/s1600/69232782_2616674195052163_3138635016129478656_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5scTP4q6s0uMP7ltm9Bhb8YKkBleAux0i6jJbbrkSm_vRRSFdTJgAkn1slVljp3rAkuYz43UYjgekh673dNsICutzXY0tAxahqVh5esWM668dZnfHb8BLF1O9kAHd6lavQtJECHGm3XlQ/s320/69232782_2616674195052163_3138635016129478656_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixce4kx5IhbaNekqYqP5D1cQisp8KEd7m03syxt9eQ6H2TYO6s3wblIW1Cl4Zi4ge7yUc88B3YCTqz4efDNSBpCOIKkMalnwWB8oRn4-n0RzNmiTKDWXBp3BNeKKdAaZ85ExJuk5kuL7QP/s1600/69464416_2617958491590400_6018041555917471744_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="862" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixce4kx5IhbaNekqYqP5D1cQisp8KEd7m03syxt9eQ6H2TYO6s3wblIW1Cl4Zi4ge7yUc88B3YCTqz4efDNSBpCOIKkMalnwWB8oRn4-n0RzNmiTKDWXBp3BNeKKdAaZ85ExJuk5kuL7QP/s320/69464416_2617958491590400_6018041555917471744_n.jpg" width="287" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Forward duct in the stairwell leading to the galley</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6uzY9b1u_2ChImdjsAuJEsRGH-nmZRxLZfNLRfioyu7M1E_e6bFqe_9RXHNF0fEJmSI333yG0n-0pl7qv1mITfR_um58ZKRvy_NP-IDR7shpAGYbhuplYJgNOFbyBkiSrRh8ihGWnJDFz/s1600/69609088_2612164338836482_5949708063597395968_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6uzY9b1u_2ChImdjsAuJEsRGH-nmZRxLZfNLRfioyu7M1E_e6bFqe_9RXHNF0fEJmSI333yG0n-0pl7qv1mITfR_um58ZKRvy_NP-IDR7shpAGYbhuplYJgNOFbyBkiSrRh8ihGWnJDFz/s320/69609088_2612164338836482_5949708063597395968_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh5GszqnK59PZNI4qtHVzIyLYQaXfI5Gid3eusfACgf84pNFadJmm3jnm28dQo7isFLzFc6zFZdBPEeINSA8lzoefOnz3nKh01IwWJmX_qKuzBEXHl-0BTM4Wj0muEWcFc70XNzlwlmdy4/s1600/69709881_2616370378415878_4744503393815363584_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="764" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh5GszqnK59PZNI4qtHVzIyLYQaXfI5Gid3eusfACgf84pNFadJmm3jnm28dQo7isFLzFc6zFZdBPEeINSA8lzoefOnz3nKh01IwWJmX_qKuzBEXHl-0BTM4Wj0muEWcFc70XNzlwlmdy4/s320/69709881_2616370378415878_4744503393815363584_n.jpg" width="254" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New thru hull hole.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZZIZKBuM1Ki0NmiOPm1dbRtY7vJ_l6FkhM4iI0bs7SFTX5_nizvQoPGpWBCuM5hqQtoXo5oNLIDma2Kq0VCfbF9aCTb51ujxeo9GS3KS35jb1PJ4ChMYBOcH_rkJkN0MB1mip_-sdLG9X/s1600/New+Fresh+Water+Hoses+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZZIZKBuM1Ki0NmiOPm1dbRtY7vJ_l6FkhM4iI0bs7SFTX5_nizvQoPGpWBCuM5hqQtoXo5oNLIDma2Kq0VCfbF9aCTb51ujxeo9GS3KS35jb1PJ4ChMYBOcH_rkJkN0MB1mip_-sdLG9X/s320/New+Fresh+Water+Hoses+2.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My tech installing new water hoses replacing the old garden hose. Poor choice by previous owner. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNGuOo15ZVd1JCx_5iAP7vnqWI7Atz3Kth0TwsaZPC0yEjYg9jCW3TwLBsA2prp0XohsmvhfR0F2v2_q3-s56bzHOwhcuaw_BaDx_vCFQ2Ka6I9mpH7DWTfivATgWHowSKu4Q-l5HvwvGI/s1600/New+fresh+water+hoses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNGuOo15ZVd1JCx_5iAP7vnqWI7Atz3Kth0TwsaZPC0yEjYg9jCW3TwLBsA2prp0XohsmvhfR0F2v2_q3-s56bzHOwhcuaw_BaDx_vCFQ2Ka6I9mpH7DWTfivATgWHowSKu4Q-l5HvwvGI/s320/New+fresh+water+hoses.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCY3e29yegfo_KaZ2fgfh7qTzZ50Qs65iipK3dupAExcD6QlVo5dncgydOqb82soiYypzBeXT9dweqnn8f2wikI7w44VXfo1W6csd-u8PbVQFusSKlxR9WVYA6pve9OwLPZNJ6pVAkHl_j/s1600/New+Planar+Heater+Install+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCY3e29yegfo_KaZ2fgfh7qTzZ50Qs65iipK3dupAExcD6QlVo5dncgydOqb82soiYypzBeXT9dweqnn8f2wikI7w44VXfo1W6csd-u8PbVQFusSKlxR9WVYA6pve9OwLPZNJ6pVAkHl_j/s320/New+Planar+Heater+Install+1.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-XC2QIFNCKznRsJfl-SjxFzsYp1xFJOrQ1jhqP1Khk2UngkM_OBLCMBKImUh1V9wTjY2CrGeJJiSQycYyxOyVcqEIITwwPxHXj_sPxTg3h0YaotPGiTbCvNwqOC43bnrRAgANNBBrY2XX/s1600/New+Planar+Heater+Install+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1298" data-original-width="1600" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-XC2QIFNCKznRsJfl-SjxFzsYp1xFJOrQ1jhqP1Khk2UngkM_OBLCMBKImUh1V9wTjY2CrGeJJiSQycYyxOyVcqEIITwwPxHXj_sPxTg3h0YaotPGiTbCvNwqOC43bnrRAgANNBBrY2XX/s320/New+Planar+Heater+Install+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9c2DWqFGxslgfAS9qeyvqS03jrlxTDXsD9fe4vmsoqPTc3CcgNCqSKI0-DXraf8i7YxD_mhkqZlE8eQUp-r1mWr-q2l2HYlfJiRNnCL7TfK9BxwUT97ZO3BE99h3q7O-5YK8IILNUCDkg/s1600/New+Planar+Heater+Install+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1296" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9c2DWqFGxslgfAS9qeyvqS03jrlxTDXsD9fe4vmsoqPTc3CcgNCqSKI0-DXraf8i7YxD_mhkqZlE8eQUp-r1mWr-q2l2HYlfJiRNnCL7TfK9BxwUT97ZO3BE99h3q7O-5YK8IILNUCDkg/s320/New+Planar+Heater+Install+3.jpg" width="259" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh_qTKwIJZMrFKVgsKkxzucZJB3dNBbZ0d3M017vIXv_N60hZLN1kCJpIdPrjEETY0gcyLLbj_SEKQACwn9ZOQI4gGUDtZSlDCTqb8JU1v6Iy8cvmcRoQlZ12q1pFJB9muLexEv-ZkPCCQ/s1600/New+Planar+Heater+Install.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh_qTKwIJZMrFKVgsKkxzucZJB3dNBbZ0d3M017vIXv_N60hZLN1kCJpIdPrjEETY0gcyLLbj_SEKQACwn9ZOQI4gGUDtZSlDCTqb8JU1v6Iy8cvmcRoQlZ12q1pFJB9muLexEv-ZkPCCQ/s320/New+Planar+Heater+Install.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />michaelgchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13425336290105511786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246395055355855805.post-9913407519430473302019-08-15T15:42:00.000-07:002019-08-15T15:42:23.758-07:00Fresh Water Pump Follow UpA couple of entries ago I mentioned that our fresh water pump had died while we were in Canada. I replaced it on returning home and thought all was well again. Unfortunately our troubles continued when we attempted to run water for washing dishes one night.<br />
<br />
We had turned on the AC water heater circuit breaker to heat up some water. When it came time to use the system it ran fine for a few minutes but then suddenly the water from the tap stopped coming out. Odd!<br />
<br />
I returned to the boat a day or so later and checked the water again and it ran and ran just fine. What I didn't do was try and use the hot water system again. So I figured problem solved.<br />
<br />
We left on a week-long cruise to La Conner and a squadron rendezvous. But the first time we attempted to use the hot water heater, a horredous clank emminated from the utility tunnel, then a series of smaller clank, clank, clanks. Then....nothing. We immediately turned off the hot water heater.<br />
<br />
We had fresh cold water after that but didn't attempt to make or run hot water. One day I decided to try and heat some water in the tank again just to see if it might work. After a while I went into the shower to bathe only to find---no water!<br />
<br />
I suggested Leslie turn off the hot water breaker. She did. Still no water. She then turned off the fresh water pump breaker, then flipped it back on. Water came out of the shower just fine including hot water.<br />
<br />
So, apparently we have to recycle the fresh water switch to make water come out. But why is this happening?<br />
<br />
Next week we have a technician coming out to try and answer that question.<br />
<br />
He will also be installing our new diesel heater that has been sitting in its box in the garage for nearly a year. michaelgchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13425336290105511786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246395055355855805.post-53816947924553533742019-08-15T15:25:00.001-07:002019-08-15T15:25:16.472-07:00Family History<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> I have long had an interest in my family’s history, our genealogy. I’ve done a far amount of research and documentation of family members and found quite a bit over the years. My interest stemmed from my association with the LDS, Mormon church while growing up. The religion emphasizes the importance of genealogy for reasons I won’t bother with here. For me, those reasons are of no importance. My interest lies simply in my love of history and interest in the stories that I believe everyone has given the opportunity to tell it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> So, here I just want to deposit the facts of my family; their birth, death and any other facts and recollections I have about them.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #757575;"> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia8QrqFmxA9RIUfP_ZmcG3a76uSjMDgo9vBgTx6gq-qscox7gyx2cys724P8QFULfxn4Umf6PUKugRZNKo2P0m8C_5Bm5g6_B7-j6zP_zeOz1B_aNpFgTou6cfXN88qaUbLlVZHKDbgOcG/s1600/IMG_1336+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="221" data-original-width="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia8QrqFmxA9RIUfP_ZmcG3a76uSjMDgo9vBgTx6gq-qscox7gyx2cys724P8QFULfxn4Umf6PUKugRZNKo2P0m8C_5Bm5g6_B7-j6zP_zeOz1B_aNpFgTou6cfXN88qaUbLlVZHKDbgOcG/s1600/IMG_1336+%25281%2529.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Arthur L. and Madeline Cone</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
My paternal grandfather was Arthur Lee Cone. He was</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #757575;"> born September 21, 1898 and died November 12, 1977, in Taft, CA. He was married twice. His first wife was Madeline Elizabeth </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #757575;">Cone (Cottey). She was</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #757575;"> born July 1, 1903 to parents </span><a href="https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Cottey-11" style="border: 0px; color: #25422d; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;" title="">John Malcolm Marion Cottey</a> <span style="background-color: white;">and </span><a href="https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Gaupp-6" style="border: 0px; color: #25422d; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;" title="">Agnes Irene (Gaupp) Cottey</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #757575;"> She died January 10, 1957 in Taft, CA. Sadly, she passed away of cancer when I was only four so I have no real memory of her. She was the mother of two children, Arthur Jr. who passed away early in his life as a result of appendicitis, and my father,</span><a href="https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Cone-1546" style="border: 0px; color: #25422d; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;" title="">Alfred Russel Cone</a>, born 28 March 1925 in Fresno, California, though I was always told he was born in Coalinga, California. He died 16 January 1975 in Merced, California. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Grandpa remarried the widow of a good family friend whose husband had passed away around the same time as grandpa's wife. Her name was Zola Myrtle Johnson (Nee Cone, Nee <span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #757575;">Johnson, Nee ???). She was born</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #757575;"> October 25, 1903, and passed away November 2, 1983 in Bakersfield, CA. She was the grandmother I remember. Grandpa and Grandma lived in a very modest home at 915 Wood Street in Taft, California, a small oil town in the desert south west of Bakersfield. The home was Zolas and grandpa moved into her home after they married. He sold off his home which was a few blocks away on Eastern Avenue. Hers was by far the nicer of the two homes. I've looked at the home using Google Maps recently and it is only a shadow of its former self. Though it was a very modest home it was well kept. Today it is a ramshakle dump of a place as is the entire neighborhood. It is in a part of town now where it isn't advisable to venture.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #757575;"> Grandpa worked as a machinist for the Shaffer Tool Works in Taft. I visited him many times in the hot and dirty building where he turned out tools and parts for the oil field operations. I remember him <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRSGDqt-4_7TPareihS_ULV7yJ_JI5IlizzrWrL4W3Rl1Cycdep0z8tZJVTlEsHRmvakPESWYCFFebcRunagbAbIs_-CXuof9Xd56DjllVHbhfM7oWJwPNUfdIW7qMt57g5wOP_9qDZJn6/s1600/shaffer+tool+works.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="367" data-original-width="640" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRSGDqt-4_7TPareihS_ULV7yJ_JI5IlizzrWrL4W3Rl1Cycdep0z8tZJVTlEsHRmvakPESWYCFFebcRunagbAbIs_-CXuof9Xd56DjllVHbhfM7oWJwPNUfdIW7qMt57g5wOP_9qDZJn6/s320/shaffer+tool+works.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grandpa Cone in the middle</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
washing his hands in the sink against the back wall with Borax Soap, a gritty, white substance that rubbed into his forearms and hands would, after much scrubbing, render his hands clean enough for him to head home for lunch or at day's end. Lunch was signaled by a siren which sounded every weekday at noon. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #757575;">He regularly came home for lunch which grandma always had waiting on the table when he walked in. It was, at least whenever our family was visiting, always a plate stacked with bread, another with sliced tomato and lettuce. A bowl of potato chips. A jar of pickles and always, ALWAYS, grandpa's favorite German-style mustard. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #757575;">If it was a weekend or possibly a weekday early evening (if there was enough light) we enevitably <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhFJRdNnc35U8Ej8o5fqRIdQd_r32Sgu_bRnkCVHyDw7uqoEQPZJx4wS4RD86uN37x0Sf0BetJUzIbwmmbTWToeW91F2d18cwc5uSapbqnS03ZC-4lRNpNQpmY_8L_5TbNm-O7RFLw38t7/s1600/download.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhFJRdNnc35U8Ej8o5fqRIdQd_r32Sgu_bRnkCVHyDw7uqoEQPZJx4wS4RD86uN37x0Sf0BetJUzIbwmmbTWToeW91F2d18cwc5uSapbqnS03ZC-4lRNpNQpmY_8L_5TbNm-O7RFLw38t7/s1600/download.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taft gun range</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
visited the Taft Gun Club site out on the edge of town. The range was a very rough set of benches and metal roofed spots where you could set up your guns out of the sun. Aside from that, it wasn't much. But we would almost always head there at least once whenever we were in town visiting. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #757575;">Grandpa would load up in his tan VW beetle, whatever weaponry he had in mind for us to shoot that day and off we drove. Grandpa was a life member of the NRA and an excellent marksman, having won scores of competitions. However, he never shoot at anything other than the paper targets he lined his garage workshop with. His trophies and medals lined the walls and shelves in his bedroom. When grandpa died, all his guns, and there were many, were my inheritance. I took them home with me and promptly gave them to my brother. I wanted nothing to do with guns in my home. </span></span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdQACGgAacSz_jMqbblzQaJBHIcMKTLkgTU7RnPujCqhZtje7LT2ByXJRzbB5uej8TVR0-ea3hMDU3HgqBlyRCVNV8s2wmHSskgCqxbQV0pH444yVRCE_ZdAKaaHA0M34dC9xUY_OQ54tL/s1600/59c7a32921db1a5f44c41a85e7d9073a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="597" data-original-width="421" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdQACGgAacSz_jMqbblzQaJBHIcMKTLkgTU7RnPujCqhZtje7LT2ByXJRzbB5uej8TVR0-ea3hMDU3HgqBlyRCVNV8s2wmHSskgCqxbQV0pH444yVRCE_ZdAKaaHA0M34dC9xUY_OQ54tL/s320/59c7a32921db1a5f44c41a85e7d9073a.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cookie Jar. I own one too.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #757575;">Grandpa was one of the smartest people I've ever known, despite his only made it to 6th grade. He was largely self taught. He loved to read, especially about the wide world. He had stacks of National Geographic magazines around his bedroom as well as Time Magazine which he read from cover to cover. He was alo a music lover, especially Opera and brass band music. He loved Souza marches and also enjoyed Russian Army Chorus recordings. He listened to the Texaco Metropolitan Opera performances on the radio. He was a fascinating man who did not suffer fools. He swore like a trooper sometimes, god damning this or that whenever the spirit moved him. But I loved him. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Grandma Zola worked for the Taft Driller, the local newspaper, in their bindery. She also smoked like a train which didn't thrill me but it was the way things were in those days.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I loved visiting their house. There were always cookies in the cookie jar, a rotund ceramic jar with various cookies displayed on the outside and a lid with a walnut for a handle. It sat on a counter just to the left as you entered the kitchen. Also, always of interest to me was what grandpa kept on the shelf in the cabinet right above the cookie jar. A box of boxes of Clorets gum sat ready for grandpa to grab whenever the box in his breast pocket became empty. Each box was opened on one corner with an opening large enough to allow only one of the small green rectangular pieces of gum to fall out in your hand at a time. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY7g2MKYBffH6pk7GvPLF0ey1OCk06Sv8GwQjWoxem0skmpy8LfgoKxLtpbRFON9eKA4Hnzfi4pYhSvecYXQFMEjsBKTXvFtSHtqDFHjyJ5NecVVKYZipgoIGpCTFMVVNWdR_kOlE3G7Pj/s1600/12-Full-Packs-Vintage-Clorets-Chewing-Gum-in.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="400" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY7g2MKYBffH6pk7GvPLF0ey1OCk06Sv8GwQjWoxem0skmpy8LfgoKxLtpbRFON9eKA4Hnzfi4pYhSvecYXQFMEjsBKTXvFtSHtqDFHjyJ5NecVVKYZipgoIGpCTFMVVNWdR_kOlE3G7Pj/s320/12-Full-Packs-Vintage-Clorets-Chewing-Gum-in.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Grandpa would always make sure my pocket had a box in it when I came to visit.<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I worshiped my grandpa. I learned a lot from him. A few things my mother wished I hadn't. One family story has it that one evening at the dinner table, a bowl of spinach was being passed. When it arrived under my nose, I made it clear I didn't want any. My mother kept insisting that I had to have some. Finally, exasperated, I declared I didn't want any god damn spinach! My mother blanched and began to cry. Grandpa nearly turned himself inside out trying to keep from laughing. Mother jumped up and ran off to her room my father right behind. The point here is that I learned my inappropriate language skills from my grandpa who quite regularly sprinkled his language with such words. If it was good enough for him, surely it was for me. I soon found out otherwise.</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil6QedH_S8zX-toj3QlxnUwa8wgH4HIs8ANIgjhe0A-KSZ6jaVsvdvxWeIPBsA0nDDMp2Rq-JfO2paaTB0sQYApo7rXR1B6bvCzctZ5GfcmF9NqtKAcy-IXNB70v9vnG_J58HtgwQP2qHG/s1600/X7yC8QPkVMOEMUnqMRvvWw-small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="350" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil6QedH_S8zX-toj3QlxnUwa8wgH4HIs8ANIgjhe0A-KSZ6jaVsvdvxWeIPBsA0nDDMp2Rq-JfO2paaTB0sQYApo7rXR1B6bvCzctZ5GfcmF9NqtKAcy-IXNB70v9vnG_J58HtgwQP2qHG/s200/X7yC8QPkVMOEMUnqMRvvWw-small.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Grandpa and Grandma Zola had seperate bedrooms with grandpa's room in the back of the house. They shared the ony bathroom in the house which was a walk-through type with doors into each of their bedrooms. Grandpa's bedroom held a writing desk, bookshelves, his double bed, a chest of drawers and an armoire which stood in one corner. Covering the entire wall facing the foot of his bed was his collection of rifles, some dating back to his own grandfather who was a gunsmith. There were muzzle loaders, flintlocks and caplocks, all kept in firing order by grandpa's meticulous care. In one drawer of the chest of drawers were the hand guns he owned. Ammunition was all stored out in the garage/workshop. It had long ago stopped being a garage. It was where grandma did her laundry and where grandpa had his shop that included a metal lathe, equipment for making his own ammunition, a well-lit bench just inside the door and up on the top shelf, was an old cathedral style table top radio. When he turned on the lights in the shop, the radio always came on. I was always fascinated by that radio. After grandpa passed away, grandma, who knew how i felt about the radio, made sure I received it. It sits on a shelf in our family room and still works.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">When visiting grandma and grandpa, us kids were often sent outside whenever it wasn't too hot. We wandered around observing the strange pepper trees and oleander shrubs. We were warned not to mess with the sap from the oleander as it was poisonous. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Probably the strangest thing we spent time gazing at were the little cone-shaped pits in the sand. Ants would occasionally tumble into one of these and try as they might, the slippery slopes would only cause them to slide to the bottom of the pit where Ant Lions lurked under the pit. When an ant came close, the ant lion would stick it's madibles out and grabbing the ant, drag it under and devour it. Eek! We would watch these creatures for what seemed like forever waiting for the next macabre event. We never dared stick our fingers into the pit for fear of what might happen to us.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Another activity we enjoyed was going to the public pool at the high school and to the youth center downtown. The youth center was really cool. It had a bowling alley, ping pong, roller skating, even an ice cream shop complete with early rock and roll blasting from the juke box and black and white photos of the hearththrobs of the era.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #757575; font-family: "roboto condensed" , sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-style: italic;"><br /></span>michaelgchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13425336290105511786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246395055355855805.post-62702842303730381432019-07-11T19:20:00.002-07:002019-07-11T19:20:30.498-07:00Fresh Water Pump Issues<div style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
So, my 5 year old fresh water pump went out during our recent cruise in Canada. 5 years old! The one </div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Pb2RgYMb-Pl8Krkal2hMwV4wpThTEo7LJ3wgK3S-KaxdTJ3Kv46Ye12wTxSfcDFba6K_lhpsfzDZmcJXb3EmMZtA77vEmuaxNAjZ9fOWh6omtFCXzI_IOWERJiUk65XOalxmVaYXgQic/s1600/old+water+pump+label.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Pb2RgYMb-Pl8Krkal2hMwV4wpThTEo7LJ3wgK3S-KaxdTJ3Kv46Ye12wTxSfcDFba6K_lhpsfzDZmcJXb3EmMZtA77vEmuaxNAjZ9fOWh6omtFCXzI_IOWERJiUk65XOalxmVaYXgQic/s200/old+water+pump+label.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Old 12 volt pump</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
before that lasted over 20 years! No fresh water out of the taps or shower for the last two days of the trip. As we were in marinas that didn’t cause much hardship. I figured I’d install the replacement pump I had aboard when we got home.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqvHpEjFBHGFtUS4SdPRWkVaGcDl1nW4VcMWh51qmMkLEFRruSvkRxha8zr-Ud_8fnB0FM1iCCk9kd-u7P0mRbdLt3z76JcnL8qadVX0XJ6Wg2f4atqA6xpdVYCTH9nHUlHw_uJYR3nkSr/s1600/new+water+pump+label.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqvHpEjFBHGFtUS4SdPRWkVaGcDl1nW4VcMWh51qmMkLEFRruSvkRxha8zr-Ud_8fnB0FM1iCCk9kd-u7P0mRbdLt3z76JcnL8qadVX0XJ6Wg2f4atqA6xpdVYCTH9nHUlHw_uJYR3nkSr/s200/new+water+pump+label.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">24 volt pump I can't use</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
Today I am down at the boat doing just that. I get the old one out of the tight spot it lives in down in the utility tunnel squeezed betwee<span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; font-family: inherit;">n the waste tank, hot water heater and isolation transformer. I’m balancing on my head with my glasses slipping up so I can’t focus on the job. I finally get the new pump ready to go in, wire it up, flip on the switch to make sure it worked before connecting the water supply and....nothing. I rewired it to make sure I connected it correctly and...nothing. Upon closer inspection I spotted the problem. The new unit operates on 24 volts, not 12 which is what I need. A quick call to Fisheries Supply and the correct model is on its way and I am on my way to the post office to mail the other one back to them.</span></div>
<div class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 6px;">
So, for a few days, there will be a hole in the floor of the salon waiting for the new pump. Geeez!</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHxHer0mj9B47VOnAxE5CdY8An5TdcXBX9naRgWMtJz7-zIZ2nIh1fUoxnXKhSkVjY-czJi0yQCUTQ8Bz6YtZnVswfnR3nhDxndEGBvHNDNtKOqRA_2t3uG1jXMKukzhPq6dByNylHk9lT/s1600/utility+tunnel+closeup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHxHer0mj9B47VOnAxE5CdY8An5TdcXBX9naRgWMtJz7-zIZ2nIh1fUoxnXKhSkVjY-czJi0yQCUTQ8Bz6YtZnVswfnR3nhDxndEGBvHNDNtKOqRA_2t3uG1jXMKukzhPq6dByNylHk9lT/s200/utility+tunnel+closeup.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The pump's location</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 6px;">
Now you would think when you call and order a new water pump for a boat that the sales rep, who works for a boating store, would have the sense to ask if you need a pump for a 12 or 24 volt system. In fact, the pump I removed was labeled that it worked on a 12-24 volt system. Of course, the person doing the ordering, me, might also have the good sense to ask that they send me a 12 volt version. Ah, well, live and learn.</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl8N3ZoANpvxaHZO6KROmmObQJZ1VL5et_ta2ikF8_hb3LdFvL0OYaUlT5FsMjg0RiuMnkZwDFfjg9py59qsMpvNR1BEoyCTP0njdbYyqtGH0Pu_FTnTJ3rU02-jV-oMJ8trKLyHu7sG9c/s1600/utility+tunnel+opening.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="540" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl8N3ZoANpvxaHZO6KROmmObQJZ1VL5et_ta2ikF8_hb3LdFvL0OYaUlT5FsMjg0RiuMnkZwDFfjg9py59qsMpvNR1BEoyCTP0njdbYyqtGH0Pu_FTnTJ3rU02-jV-oMJ8trKLyHu7sG9c/s200/utility+tunnel+opening.jpg" width="112" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hatch to get at the pump</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
Follow up to my earlier posting regarding the fresh water pump. I’m driving to Seattle tomorrow to pick up the new one and drop off the other one.</div>
<div style="display: inline; margin-top: 6px;">
Hopefully, by Saturday the new pump will be up and running! Then, on to the </div>
next project.<br />
<br />
The photo to the left shows a close up of the utility tunnel below the main helm. The black spots are roughly where the old pump lived. The photo to the right shows the hatch below the main helm that I had to reach down into to get at the pump and wire up and plumb the new one.<br />
<br />
I called Fisheries Supply this afternoon and asked for the new pump to be set aside at Will Call. I will make a quick trip down to their store tomorrow, drop off the 24 volt model I can't use and pick up the 12 volt model I will install on Saturday. </div>
michaelgchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13425336290105511786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246395055355855805.post-71474824559134900752019-06-27T16:32:00.000-07:002019-06-27T16:32:12.562-07:00Dining Out in the Ham!Bellingham has always, in my humble opinion, struggled with great places to eat. Admittedly, it is no Seattle or Portland, but you'd think something of really high quality could make a go of it here in the City of Subdued Excitement! And there have been some notable and gallant tries in the past. What seems to generally happen though is that someone opens a place, there is lots of enthusiastic support for it and then, suddenly, something happens and they are closed.<br />
<br />
Sometimes, I think it is just poor management. Running a successful restaurant is a labor of love requiring many hours of work outside operating hours and just as hard work during operating hours. Along with that must be a chef who doesn't scrimp on quality or standards and brings innovative ideas to the dining room. Too, often I have seen restaurants go down as a result of the original chef being let go after a few months or a couple of years and a cook allowed to take over, running the place into the ground because they didn't know what the hell they're doing and or don't care.<br />
<br />
There are some amazing venues in town that are currently empty but would make great restaurant locations if someone with a dream and some funding could get it off the ground.<br />
<br />
Take the top of the Bellingham Tower, the tallest building in town, where at least a couple of restauants have opened in the past but closed after only a couple of years. They were very nice places and hugely popular but for what ever reason folded.<br />
<br />
Another spot that has never been a restaurant but is a perfect spot for a diner is the old stationary store on the corner of Champion and Unity Streets behind the Mount Baker Theater. Its the right shape, has windows across the front, is long and narrow just as a traditional diner should be.<br />
<br />
So, where does one go for an outstanding dinner experience in B'ham? Well, sorry to say I can't really recommend a place right now. Oh, there are good pizza places galore. Lots of very good breweries. Sandwich shops and we do have some outstanding breakfast places. But an outstanding white table cloth dinner place. Can't think of one.<br />
<br />
We have an Anthony's, a surf and turf chain based here in the northwest. Nope. Sadly, with all the waterfront space we have, and with the amount of fresh seafood, salmon, halibut, prawns and crab coming into our harbor, there just isn't a top flight seafood restaurant.<br />
<br />
So here are my top choices right now in no particular order and what they do best.<br />
<br />
1. <a href="http://homeskilletinsunnyland.com/">Home Skillet</a>--the best breakfast place in town, period. Amazing food. Their only downside is their size and because of it the management have elected to be kind of pushy when it comes to lingering over your meal. That is off putting to us. BUT, the food! OMG! Try the Tater Tot Hash or the Big Green Mess and well, anything on the menu. You can't go wromg.<br />
<br />
2. <a href="https://fatpiepizza.com/">Fat Pie Pizza</a>--in Fairhaven (south side of town) has amazing views up on the top floor on a nice day and their pizza is pretty darn good.<br />
<br />
3.<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Our-Diner-530277970369351/?utm_source=tripadvisor&utm_medium=referral"> Our Diner</a>--Another great breakfast joint out north of town on the Guide Meridian road. Try the Hashbrown sandwich. Amazing and you probably only need the half order.<br />
<br />
4. <a href="https://www.nickisbellamarina.com/?utm_source=tripadvisor&utm_medium=referral">Nikki's Bella Marina</a>--Okay, so alot of folks don't care for this place. It has nice views down onto Squalicum Marina, but I truly believe they make THEE best fish and chips in town. You get two huge fish portions and all the steak fries you can eat and the fish is battered and fried perfectly.<br />
<br />
5.<a href="https://www.bellinghamcider.com/"> Bellingham Cider Company</a>--This hard to find place may, just may be my current favorite place for dinner. Very good food including the vegan selections and the cider is getting better all the time.<br />
<br />
6. <a href="https://cambercoffee.com/">Camber</a>--This coffe shop in the heart of downtown B'ham, was recently named to have the best coffee in Washington. That is saying something around this part of the country. But they also serve up some nice food as well.<br />
<br />
7. <a href="https://www.twinsistersbrewing.com/">Twin Sisters Brewing Company</a>--They've only been open about a year but this is alreay a hot spot for beer lovers and they make some good offerings for lunch and dinner as well. It's just a fun place to go and hangout.<br />
<br />
8. <a href="http://lagloriamarket.com/category/restaurante">La Gloria Mexican Food</a>--It isn't the best Mexican food I have ever had, hey, I'm from California, I know from Mexican food. BUT, it comes the closest to my California roots as anyplace in town. It even has a decent market attached to it where you can get fresh tortillas and some anazing carnitas (also available in the restaurant).<br />
<br />
Well, that about does it for now. I'll do some more thinking and will certainly continue looking for and trying new places as they open or I discover them.<br />
<br />
Cheers!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />michaelgchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13425336290105511786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246395055355855805.post-10568649572007885492019-06-20T10:47:00.002-07:002019-06-20T10:47:39.483-07:00Windy Days Road TripOur cruise into the San Juans set for earlier this week had to be cancelled due to windy conditions on the water. 10-20 knot winds make leaving our slip or entering another problematic. Rather than risk it, we decided to cancel the trip and stay on dry land, not an easy or attractive alternative considering the work involved in planning the cruise.<br />
<br />
Nevertheless, yesterday we got out of the house early and headed south down Chuckanut Drive, a scenic two-lane drive tucked into the cliffs overlooking our coastline. This drive includes narrow turns, deep second growth forests and stunning overlooks out onto the bays and coves below.<br />
<br />
Eventually, the twists and turns popped us out onto the Skagit Flats and we pulled over at the little crossroads seetlement at Chuckanut Drive and Bow Hill Road. This is the turn off to head into the tiny settlement of Edison, Washington, but before making the turn there was a lot to check out at the crossroads.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/Rhododendron+Cafe/@48.5652897,-122.4222955,16.63z/data=!4m8!1m2!2m1!1sEdison+WA+crossroads!3m4!1s0x54857486b438e9a3:0x8429517d14747142!8m2!3d48.5656212!4d-122.4218331">Rhododendren Cafe</a>, a long established eatery is well known in the area for its always changing menu reflecting cultures all over the world. Nearby is the <a href="http://www.farmtomarketbakery.net/">Farm To Market Bakery</a>, owned by the<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwqbhx8vNP3vPgbrTOzuujx8QFrRZbWrrMQEi052oIQn4FcP1R-52d1uDBSP0rA7Rba4lUheqOAB2LsW68x0JUxJC7ffNMBa_pk0u98JZ2zWFXSwY5X-zvjBhuMY64k9fiM2wl69d-YcJH/s1600/0080-logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;">folks at the Rhododendren Cafe. We stoped by and found a delicious Lime-Soaked Polenta Cake <span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #5b5b5b;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #5b5b5b;">It’s a combination of pound cake and polenta soaked with their sweet lime sauce. It was very light, had a bit of crunch and delicious.</span></span></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV4YAmIfe_iux2VFs_r6ve1auZ77j_Qk0TpfkWuAG4c2Q45JVhS1-B3ZX4Thh5Lk7Iax-tP1mThrZXbxonbstpNiuhVFA6LXbB6Bd1a0xF8gLa7jbeUWIu-D8ef9vFwochJTpNenZiW1CF/s1600/Limesoaked800-200x200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV4YAmIfe_iux2VFs_r6ve1auZ77j_Qk0TpfkWuAG4c2Q45JVhS1-B3ZX4Thh5Lk7Iax-tP1mThrZXbxonbstpNiuhVFA6LXbB6Bd1a0xF8gLa7jbeUWIu-D8ef9vFwochJTpNenZiW1CF/s200/Limesoaked800-200x200.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
<br />
Also near this corner of deliciousness is the Samish Bay Cheese Company, well known at locaal farmer's markets. They make a variety of fresh and aged cheeses and many other products. Its worth a stop in to taste a few of their offerings. Buy a chunk of cheese and hold onto it for when you get to our next stop.<br />
<br />
Heading down the road into the little settlement of Edison is quite an odd experince. How did its contents wind up here? An art gallery and several great places to eat! The town has been here since the Civil War, sitting on the edge of the sloughs leading out into Padilla Bay. <br />
We had breakfast at the old<a href="https://www.facebook.com/The-Edison-Cafe-125285294154558/"> Edison Cafe </a> where we enjoyed an omelet, crispy browns and rye bread and a bowl of vanilla yogurt and house made granola. Two cups of Fidalgo Bay coffee served up by a very friendly staff made the experience very pleasant.<br />
<br />
A bit further into the town we stoped in to the don't miss <a href="https://www.breadfarm.com/">Breadfarm </a>bakery for some of their delicious baked goods. Their bread and sweet and savory items are well known at farmers markets all over the sound. We picked out a loaf of their multi-grain and a cinnamon snails.<br />
<br />
Sadly, two of our favorite spots wer closed and didn't open until later in the morning. We had hoped to breakfast at <a href="http://tweetscafe.com/">Tweets</a> and stop in to <a href="https://www.sloughfood.com/">Slough Foods</a> and pick up some of the famous <a href="https://salumicuredmeats.com/">Salumi</a> sausage made by Mario Batali's father in Seattle. Slough Foods is one of the few places where you can buy Salumi other than at the restaurant in Seattle. It is pricey stuff but worth the treat and isn't so bad when sliced very thin and squeezed between slices of fresh Breadfarm bread. Alas, Slough Foods was not open and so we had to move on to our next stop for the day--<a href="https://lovelaconner.com/">La Conner</a>.<br />
<br />
This quaint community sits along the Swinomish Channel, a salt water channel cut near Anacrotes at the north end and leading out into Skagit Bay and either towards the stunning Deception Pass or south down the inside of of Whidbey Island.<br />
<br />
La Conner is a sweet town of onnly a few hundred residents but contains plenty to do and see. Museums, a brewery, plenty of shops, galleries and great restaurants.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr7CIwqYktxBziI5EDxyJRHPFY3qbr0IdxdjYuAt_ZrJMVABRhHwsjsPb6Rtgy6zSKLk_9o_r4q2sDR9Os_LPr-l6pQ0q4fLkFKK7nWlJBhsoIVVBVBbKd6moLOaKiO-Z8vmJZWhc07aPw/s1600/2017-03-09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr7CIwqYktxBziI5EDxyJRHPFY3qbr0IdxdjYuAt_ZrJMVABRhHwsjsPb6Rtgy6zSKLk_9o_r4q2sDR9Os_LPr-l6pQ0q4fLkFKK7nWlJBhsoIVVBVBbKd6moLOaKiO-Z8vmJZWhc07aPw/s200/2017-03-09.jpg" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtP4G216LXZ2oNMR3KcZrLu0RwV8FQX8qg8CESKM5k4xxT_8x-rYEL7xQlvc3cT9FjC_ZYNi7qtF65ZSrieg-b6WoYqvscNBRfYQrk-fbLDZTdg4mxPXH5zlyGE2HevEqV1NxyyDsGTqY9/s1600/33b9e088e7155d1820c8b2b2e8575dd0.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="158" data-original-width="249" height="126" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtP4G216LXZ2oNMR3KcZrLu0RwV8FQX8qg8CESKM5k4xxT_8x-rYEL7xQlvc3cT9FjC_ZYNi7qtF65ZSrieg-b6WoYqvscNBRfYQrk-fbLDZTdg4mxPXH5zlyGE2HevEqV1NxyyDsGTqY9/s200/33b9e088e7155d1820c8b2b2e8575dd0.png" width="200" /></a>Our favorite place on our most recent trips has been the discovery of <a href="http://www.aneliaskitchenandstage.com/">Anelia's Kitchen and Stage</a>. The name hides that fact that it is actually an amazing Polish restaurant. Run by a young couple the options are just head on the table delicious. On our recent visit we shared the Polish Platter, an assortment of the fabulous options on the menu.<br />
<br />
Take a walk down the main street of La Conner andtry to pick the place you want to dine. Several places are righ along the waterfront and offer al fresco dining. Stroll along the waterfront walk for stunning views of the channel, boats tied up along the docks and plenty of wild life watching.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />michaelgchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13425336290105511786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246395055355855805.post-80256900867745544882019-01-31T09:48:00.001-08:002019-01-31T09:48:37.543-08:00Generator Working, BIG Engine Project Almost DoneIt has been an unexpectedly expensive off season so far. The Honda generator went into the shop and came out ready to go for another season. Both engines are receiving expensive makeovers with some of their cooling parts.<br />
<br />
Project #1--The Honda generator went into the shop as described in the previous entry. Hardware Sales turned it around quickly and it is home in the garage ready to go. I purchased a gallon of that expensive synthetic fuel to run through it in the off season.<br />
<br />
What was the generator's problem? The same one that seems to afflict all small engines. The tiny injector that sends fuel to the cylinder (as I understand it) gets gummed up with impurities in the fuel and makes it difficult or impossible to start. My Honda 2 hp outboard has this same issue from time to time. I switched to better fuel but the problem remains. So, Hardware Sales says to drain the gas out of the device and run some of the synthetic fuel through the lines. It is a more stable fuel during long down times. So, hopefully, problem solved.<br />
<br />
Project #2--As described previously, my twin Hino diesels turned out to be in need of some repairs and replacement parts.<br />
<br />
My mechanic asked me if my manicoolers and exhaust risers had ever been inspected? I had to admit that as far as I knew, they never had. He suggested he open them up and take a look. I readily agreed. When he opened up the risers he discovered they were so corroded that the intakes were in seriously bad shape. He declared them DOA so we began looking into where and how to go about replacing them.<br />
<br />
New ones were just not to be had which meant having new ones fabricated. Yikes! That's gonna cost ya'! We found a firm down in Texas, formerly from Tacoma, that knew exactly what we needed and they agreed to make them. I'd heard ceramic coating them would also add to their lifetime so I had that done, too. Once the finished new stainless steel risers were built, they were shipped to a firm in Auburn, Washington to receive their coating of ceramic. They arrived on my doorstep a couple of weeks ago ready to install.<br />
<br />
However, my mechanic also found the manicoolers to be in questionable condition and recommended they be boiled out and pressure tested. That was done by Whatcom Radiator. The test came back that they had some leakage that needed to be repaired. They explained that if they were not repaired the engines would probably suffer a catastrophic failure within the coming year. Double Yikes! Yes, please fix it!<br />
<br />
Those repairs were made and a couple of days ago, they called to say they were ready. About $400 was much better news than the tens of thousands I would have paid had I ignored my mechanic's advice.<br />
<br />
So, this weekend, my mechanic will dive into the engine room and put things back together. Approximately $4, 000 later my cooling system will be like new. I am told I should see increased speed as a result and engines running at cooler temps. This I look forward to.<br />
<br />
In the meantime, several other, more cosmetic projects will haveto be postponed until next season since so much had to unexpectedly be spent on the engine project. So, no new furniture for the flybridge this summer. My water and waste system monitors will have to wait too. Oh, well!<br />
<br />
<br />michaelgchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13425336290105511786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246395055355855805.post-43782601595302491442019-01-05T10:34:00.001-08:002019-01-05T10:34:33.296-08:00<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="b73b0" data-offset-key="drqnt-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfp2N8TgkbzlzgRLp_z3dhLuWz8ollxgfkOdaPdSYEEgOAx-77ydRF92tjvqcrjF8paxjHjU9tO2m9NoqH4LhBAs7TRZuVEwe7zmdczGmJAH8fQMvH9kWAsuJc_TLJ0MThthcJnCPIohSX/s1600/honda+generator.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfp2N8TgkbzlzgRLp_z3dhLuWz8ollxgfkOdaPdSYEEgOAx-77ydRF92tjvqcrjF8paxjHjU9tO2m9NoqH4LhBAs7TRZuVEwe7zmdczGmJAH8fQMvH9kWAsuJc_TLJ0MThthcJnCPIohSX/s200/honda+generator.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="drqnt-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;">
<span data-offset-key="drqnt-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;">Took my Honda generator down to Hardware Sales small engine repair shop yesterday. They advertised a tune-up special and since I have not been able to get the generator to start I thought maybe they could clean up the carb and do any other maintenance it might need. It has VERY low hours on it so I really wantto keep it ingood shape. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">I use it aboard the boat as a way to top off the batterieswhen we are not on shore power for more than a few days. Itis a marine model meaning it hasa shore power cable plug built into it. So I simply plug in the sore power cable into the generator and the other endinto the side of the boat and crank up the generator. I keep the generator up on the cockpit roof so it is out in the open. No exhaust issues that way. The Honda is often described as the option most boaters go towhen they have no genset, don't want to spend the thousands ir would take to install one and and want the capablity of a generator. Many complain that a portabe generator is a CO hazard but claim the Honda, when properly vented, is less of a hazard. I don't know. I just know our Honda has been great without any sign of a hazardous situation. We do have CO detectors aboard. The Honda is also much quieter than most portable generators on the market so it is less likely to set off complaint from neighbor boaters. </span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="drqnt-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="drqnt-0-0" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; position: relative;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Back to my story. Hardwares Sales saidthey would also fill the generator with synthetic fuel because it was more stable when the generator was not used for long periods of time like over the winter. The issue is that regular gas sittingin the unit tends to gum up those tiny injectors that inject the fuel into the cylinder making it difficult or impossible to start the engine when you need it. That forces you to take apart the carberator and clean it before the unit can be used again.The cost is usually arounf $80-100 for this service. I have been having to do this with my Honda dinghy outboard nearly every year and now my generator. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Hardware Sales solution is to use synthetic fuel except whenever you are actually going to use the units. Then run regular fuel sans ethanol. Then as the use comes to an end each season, dump the fuel and run synthetic fuel through the system ridding it of regular fuel and leaving synthetic fuel in the lines. That way the engine is ready for non-use during the winter months. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieodaeCPra0xeRWKWEv9emweXP8dqTlSjDs0xqqAuGlFDzlCy8ZrnqzAZSqICzKVI-gNcssUQgD_aTaiOORaDSf0pli100CPy1KcsuYRTrW6SAWyNRlzRdwb8rV60Zwv0pRFTh1fhO9UiW/s1600/synth+fuel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="456" data-original-width="456" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieodaeCPra0xeRWKWEv9emweXP8dqTlSjDs0xqqAuGlFDzlCy8ZrnqzAZSqICzKVI-gNcssUQgD_aTaiOORaDSf0pli100CPy1KcsuYRTrW6SAWyNRlzRdwb8rV60Zwv0pRFTh1fhO9UiW/s200/synth+fuel.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> I don't know if this is a good idea but I am willling to give it a shot. The downside? A galllon of the sunthetic fuel runs $20 and I haven't found a less expensive source. So it is pricey but, as the Hardware Sales guy put it, you can pay $20 for the fuel or pay him $80-100 every year to fix the resulting problem. Well, when you put it that way.... </span></span></div>
</div>
michaelgchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13425336290105511786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246395055355855805.post-43970742679222579132018-04-18T16:41:00.003-07:002018-04-18T16:41:47.125-07:00Repair, Clean Up and Hold the LineWe’ve been considering the purchase of a new dinghy now for a few years and keep putting it off for reasons of the cost or because we were able to extend the old dinghy’s life with a stop gap repair. The problem has been that ever since a Canada cruise several years ago when I went fishing in the dinghy, little pin holes from fish flopping around on the inflatable deck developed. Repairs at the time seemed to work but in the last couple of years either the repaired leaks and or new ones have developed so that the floor doesn’t stay inflated for more than a week or so. That’s not good if you suddenly need to abandon ship.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR2pPGCQ8NEP_dOyokVMpe2hEiXgmXKQvTVasmmZ4zLWZr6TwdxWxzJKU1y7U-Mks_QxieFiMNLyGzC5Iyw-1vESSCzzBYLqSTe60Rzajk3reOjSJSBxqGuqfciMzu3QqvCoLoj6DJ-oou/s1600/EH310-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR2pPGCQ8NEP_dOyokVMpe2hEiXgmXKQvTVasmmZ4zLWZr6TwdxWxzJKU1y7U-Mks_QxieFiMNLyGzC5Iyw-1vESSCzzBYLqSTe60Rzajk3reOjSJSBxqGuqfciMzu3QqvCoLoj6DJ-oou/s200/EH310-6.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
It was my wife who thought up the idea to just replace the floor. The outer tubes are rock solid so maybe that was a possibility. Contacting <a href="https://www.mercurymarine.com/en/us/inflatables/soft-bottom/dinghy/">Mercury HQ</a> I found out that there is a replacement floor available for about $450, a far cry from the cost of a new dinghy. And as every penny counts I decided to go ahead and order the part through the local Mercury dealer—<a href="http://www.capsante.com/">Cap Santa Marine</a> in Anacortes. More about this in a future blog as it will be about a week before the part arrives. So, the hope is that this, though another stop gap remedy, will hold off the need for a new dinghy another few years. Cross your fingers!<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfQ8CrzF-6Ajn8UnBFV3Yto8T4mFU6vb_VFNWgazb8OoKaakyUTSkGUJBTQJ1_FyOc9zaWUVUiS9mLjMJztbRjFO0c6gnG4o0I9DV4yoZszCwpxLRMep3dOp9EIGuHSBPV2vU6897CKpkQ/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="205" data-original-width="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfQ8CrzF-6Ajn8UnBFV3Yto8T4mFU6vb_VFNWgazb8OoKaakyUTSkGUJBTQJ1_FyOc9zaWUVUiS9mLjMJztbRjFO0c6gnG4o0I9DV4yoZszCwpxLRMep3dOp9EIGuHSBPV2vU6897CKpkQ/s1600/images.jpg" /></a>I have been frustrated for a long time with having to haul our heavy gas powered pressure washer down to the boat every time I need to do a heavy cleaning. In an ad the other day <a href="https://www.harborfreight.com/1750-psi-13-gpm-electric-pressure-washer-63254.html">Harbor Freight</a> listed their 1750 psi electric pressure washer on sale for 20% off, only $80. I took advantage <br />
of that and the new washer is assembled and fits perfectly in our dock locker between uses. It’ll get pulled <br />
out for its first use very soon.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl1YyewYqidZC0ry214emAvs8zciWQ6PaIYRa-7P8v0vxrBrIyec0S7y2O8-0ZbVTUQv1I_Rst8XRDRIlv8oyx1dPaN2BKCIh9ecIEE5ag-5E8dROllmCse20L_9ene7yOXp9_Z-fIIaXV/s1600/il_570xN.1269444814_8qdi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="498" data-original-width="570" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl1YyewYqidZC0ry214emAvs8zciWQ6PaIYRa-7P8v0vxrBrIyec0S7y2O8-0ZbVTUQv1I_Rst8XRDRIlv8oyx1dPaN2BKCIh9ecIEE5ag-5E8dROllmCse20L_9ene7yOXp9_Z-fIIaXV/s200/il_570xN.1269444814_8qdi.jpg" width="200" /></a>Finally, we have had a problem with a canvas repair done by a local canvas shop for some time. When they replaced the windows a few years ago after sun and time had cracked them, the repair worked fine for a season or so, then suddenly the canvas shrunk so that it no longer stretched far enough to allow the snaps to meet between the boat and canvas. This allowed the canvas to flap around bouncing off the cap rail rubbing it raw in places. My fix was to purchase snap extenders which add an inch or so to the canvas allowing it to be secured to the boat. It’s quieter in windy conditions and causes less wear and tear on the cap rails and canvas. As for that canvas shop? I found another shop which works cheaper and faster AND their quality is much better too. Interested? Try <a href="http://www.nwtarp.com/">Northwest Tarp & Canvas</a> on Holly Street.<br />
__________________________<br />
<br />
The Key of Sea, meanwhile, made a fine show of herself on our first cruise of the season--the Shakedown Cruise to the <a href="http://www.portofanacortes.com/marina">Cap Sante Marina</a> about 15 nm south of Bellingham. We left the harbor on Thursday, 12 April and aside from a rain squall part way there, we had a very quiet cruise.<br />
<br />
I can't say the same for day 2. Friday dawned with gale force winds gusting to 45 MPH. It was a stay in dayand except for brief visits to other boats who had made the journey the day before and a docktail gathering around 5:30, we did just that.<br />
<br />
Day 3 was calmer but the rains came. Still several more boats showed up and by 5:30 we were all heading down to the party barges for a dinner of BBQ pork loin and plenty of pot luck dishes.<br />
<br />
Day 4 was time to head for home. Happily the day dawned calm and partly sunny. We went out to breakfast at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Dads-Diner-494325663922039/timeline">Dad's Diner</a> down on Commercial, a popular breakfast/lunch joint, with some dear friends of ours. Then headed back to the boat for our pre-departure check and farewells to neighbors. The cruise home was as smooth as Thursday's cruise south. Docking went great and we were home and in the shower by a little after noon.<br />
<br />
Next cruise? Possibly to Blaine for the SeaSkills Rendezvous or else to points west later in the summer. We have cruises planned for the south sound and to the Gulf Islands of Canada this year.michaelgchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13425336290105511786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246395055355855805.post-39702822350056090402017-11-28T16:55:00.002-08:002017-11-28T16:58:22.318-08:00Coolest Toy Ever!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzxdnf2JtaEKAj1KfdQ31xXjn7R0jc5Q9DEpg6NkGCwSslgH4vOWRp_KdZjFIr5jR6U0jGSMrgshRJ1UsZHkw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">So, my wife's dad was young at heart right up to the day he passed. Just to show you what I mean, Ldad bought two of the sets in this video, oh, back probably 25 years ago. He set it up every Christmas. He absolutely loved this thing. He laughed just to watch it go andto see other's getting a kick out of watching it. It’s hypnotic! </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">I don't recall where he said he got it bt it was quite a bargain. I think he said he got them for about $5 each; a steal! I don’t know what happened to the other set but after he passed away we got this one. It has been in a box on a shelf out in the garage. We found it among out Christmas things so, what with a nearly 3 year old coming here soon, we wanted to be decorated for Christmas to the hilt. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Out it came. Down in the bottom of the box was a hand drawn diagram for how to put it together. Turned out to be my handwriting. I put it together and changed the old AA battery. I started right up. Now its our turn to watch and get a kick out of other's enjoyment. Evie is gonna love this! Thanks, Gramp!</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Happy Christmas!</span>michaelgchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13425336290105511786noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246395055355855805.post-72043624410817589412017-11-05T12:14:00.002-08:002017-11-05T12:20:06.119-08:00A Few New Items For the BoatFrom time to time we make Amazon purchases. Usually I see something I want and save it to my cart waiting for enough items to be added so that I can take advantage of the free shipping. It's been suggested I should just go ahead and get Amazon Prime but I figure, how does paying a fee for Prime make the shipping free? Hmmmmm...<br />
<div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So, once the cart has enough items in it I go ahead and push the buy button and the purchases come to me. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Recently, I got a small shipment of items that will all go to the boat on my next visit. All stuff I've thought about that ought to be aboard but thatI just haven't got around to buying. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
First item is a <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Whitecap-Teak-Thru-Hull-Boat-Plug/dp/B00GXVKK6Y">teak through-hull plug</a>. Huh? Yeah, its a funny looking thing that could, in certain emergencies aboard, save the boat and you. Shaped like an ice cream cone, in the event of a through-hull or other valve or hose failure, this simple device can be shoved into the breach to </div>
<div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMRm1nBgvWnlT5wn02ZTMkiBStp0F5QtMmew914PmH8nCbnxpnucyUdAB0Rq0Wlpz-DeE_JLrcwJ770L85lS7B9bO5Pn2c-gtWpfxOmPjNSC4r22ghk83csUpt8YH1rsX3JIYMyTHVAObX/s1600/teak+through-hull+plug.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="177" data-original-width="522" height="108" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMRm1nBgvWnlT5wn02ZTMkiBStp0F5QtMmew914PmH8nCbnxpnucyUdAB0Rq0Wlpz-DeE_JLrcwJ770L85lS7B9bO5Pn2c-gtWpfxOmPjNSC4r22ghk83csUpt8YH1rsX3JIYMyTHVAObX/s320/teak+through-hull+plug.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Teak through-hull plug</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
staunch the flow of water into the boat. It's a good idea to know where it is and can be accessed quickly in the event of an emergency. Like any number of items aboard, an emergency is not the time to have to start thinking about where you put it. Mine will go into the cockpit cabinet adjacent to the engine hatches. There are three through-hull valves down there along with lots of hoses. So, there it will go, just in case.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzgEl_SqykrVu5JXptqanyVEKSCWCcdq57VV5SrIMyNENv4RhSy6F80LQr5F70X2MKaHPud7y9pQkHVsYV5FxeCSIypKHOOKyYoxpWu5iPQ1WK_kQLkdYdIb_Pa5dI8sy73okRNNHggIYA/s1600/wash+bottle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="342" data-original-width="342" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzgEl_SqykrVu5JXptqanyVEKSCWCcdq57VV5SrIMyNENv4RhSy6F80LQr5F70X2MKaHPud7y9pQkHVsYV5FxeCSIypKHOOKyYoxpWu5iPQ1WK_kQLkdYdIb_Pa5dI8sy73okRNNHggIYA/s200/wash+bottle.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">wash bottle</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
The second item in the box delivered the other day was a <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00WTHLR2M/ref=sxr_rr_xsim_1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_p=3008523062&pd_rd_wg=MUZUQ&pf_rd_r=3ATRA1NEX9134HA00Y9G&pf_rd_s=desktop-rhs-carousels&pf_rd_t=301&pd_rd_i=B00WTHLR18&pd_rd_w=PAPj8&pf_rd_i=wash+bottles&pd_rd_r=1b313c77-229b-4531-875e-9f1a2c994031&ie=UTF8&qid=1509913051&sr=1">small wash bottle</a>. Another odd device but I have a great use for it. My battery bank, especially my house batteries, are in cramped space that makes checking the fluid levels difficult and adding fluids even more difficult. Distilled water needs to go into those little holes in the top of the batteries, but holding a gallon bottle of distilled waer over those holes and trying to get water into them without making a mess is hard. I saw this wash bottle and thought...problem solved! I can squeeze the bottle gently and get just the right amount of water into those tight spots. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Having spent my life not protecting my hearing has left me somewhat deaf, especially in my right ear. Many years ago, as a teenager, my grandfather took me to the gun range as he routinely did with my dad and I whenever we came to visit. On this occasion he handed me a .45 handgun and gave me a few instructions for firing it. I held it close to my right ear intending to lower the weapon slowly towards the target before pulling off a round. Unfortunately, the hair trigger went off right next to my head. I felt the hair on the side of my head flip up as the bullet went past it. I put that gun down and that was it for my day. In fact, I think it may have been the last time I ever fired one of my grandfather's guns. He just laughed his head off at me but I felt I came a little too close to losing <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLgDr3G-7zyRJvBWibIBZD6bluWc4kQOo1FgQ0m8eeB1VPad5ix8npobkjcpJr8IHicOPy3zSYvAHo8meOFOVD1CGDNPOOBPvYJTPpWm3UbBloBl9UpD32BUvnBRPrHL7XaX7fftv-ysEB/s1600/safety+ear+muffs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="522" data-original-width="522" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLgDr3G-7zyRJvBWibIBZD6bluWc4kQOo1FgQ0m8eeB1VPad5ix8npobkjcpJr8IHicOPy3zSYvAHo8meOFOVD1CGDNPOOBPvYJTPpWm3UbBloBl9UpD32BUvnBRPrHL7XaX7fftv-ysEB/s200/safety+ear+muffs.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Fnova-34dB-Highest-Safety-Muffs/dp/B01AFOJ3HG/ref=sr_1_4?s=industrial&ie=UTF8&qid=1509913093&sr=1-4&keywords=safety+ear+muffs">Safety Ear Muffs</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
mine. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
All these years later I have purchased headphones to use when operating loud equipment in our yard or shop and I use them religiously. But aboard the boat with its two noisy diesel engines, I had nothing. Well, now I do. These should do the trick and though I am seldom in the engine room when they are running, they are still a good idea when anywhere near them. I'll store these in that cockpit cabinet. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Item #4 in the shipment was a couple of<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Satco-S3929-Incandescent-Service-Shatterproof/dp/B000V52X7C/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?s=industrial&ie=UTF8&qid=1509913160&sr=1-1-fkmr0&keywords=satco+rough+use+lightbulbs"> Satco brand Rough Use, Shatter-proof 100 wattlight bulbs.</a> These bulbs running 24/7 during the cold months add just a bit of heat to the engines. I have a single bulb hanging between the engines. They hold up well when the engines are running despite the heavy vibrations and each bulb lasts about 2 seasons before burning out. I finally needed some new ones and they topped off my Amazon order to get the free <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3MrV3B-29r3qGu0rUvcI42pQJL7VCtzd81zaAYeYMkx1bdVKWg4iSgtvbSPeNhl9lWe6qZ-TV9ce93Y9ZqF5Ycmj-8ZbVu5FOpJ3XHXeKIMoWdt7jjDqusRmpnExdZf0la9B2qqIt5Nns/s1600/satco+rough+service+lightbulbs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3MrV3B-29r3qGu0rUvcI42pQJL7VCtzd81zaAYeYMkx1bdVKWg4iSgtvbSPeNhl9lWe6qZ-TV9ce93Y9ZqF5Ycmj-8ZbVu5FOpJ3XHXeKIMoWdt7jjDqusRmpnExdZf0la9B2qqIt5Nns/s200/satco+rough+service+lightbulbs.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
shipping. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
They are shatter-proof as well so if they do break you don't have a mess in your bilge to try and clean up. I've found them in local hardware stores as well so they aren't a rarity. They are pretty reasonably priced too. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv2dsotd4KmylNOp9thJLHAZQHptTk43PRKFn4LQt0TPn9AbjayiGIzsAW5orsrYd3E_fGt41gTxOLqHLfU2fzhBqg5iLXZF5XasMu4XVw2RZnZrENtjV8rSDjZmcuNQo2VgoWwByrplQj/s1600/wet+dry+vac.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv2dsotd4KmylNOp9thJLHAZQHptTk43PRKFn4LQt0TPn9AbjayiGIzsAW5orsrYd3E_fGt41gTxOLqHLfU2fzhBqg5iLXZF5XasMu4XVw2RZnZrENtjV8rSDjZmcuNQo2VgoWwByrplQj/s320/wet+dry+vac.jpg" width="320" /></a>The final item ordered was a <a href="https://www.shopvac.com/product/shop-vac-1-gallon-1-0-peak-hp-micro-wet-dry-vac-catnum:2021000">Micro Dry/Wet Vacuum by Shop Vac</a>. This little wonder came highly recommended by my mechanic. I saw it in action recently when he was aboard. He loved it. It has good suction despite its 'Micro' size. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So I had to order one. What with very limited storage aboard the boat, something that must always be taken into consideration when bringing anything new aboard, this little device seems like a no brainer. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
It holds one gallon of liquid and is 1 hp. It comes with a couple of attachments, hanging hardware, a six foot cord and everything you need to get started. And, its by Shop Vac, a quality product. They run about $40.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So, there you have it. A few little somethings for the boat. Nothing spectacular but all with specific and necessary purposes. The Amazon cart already has some more items in it...waiting. They probably won't get ordered until next spring though as they are all items I'll need to prep the boat for cruising season. I can't wait!!!</div>
</div>
michaelgchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13425336290105511786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246395055355855805.post-64375144323466035982017-11-05T10:46:00.001-08:002017-11-05T10:46:22.544-08:00Snow? In November?<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmxss2oroVM2mKnzZmLiftpyudiDvaj0gI2bBttR0ebN6QkSP-4VMkvfMEfrQq6P0ai9TtpQXGosp8_LhIt2ExKoCZHGJrzO94PEXpoibx0r3IUQrHY1t3-L67RcXwy_Ywh7HXbW1tl4Fy/s1600/squalicum+harbor+11042017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="867" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmxss2oroVM2mKnzZmLiftpyudiDvaj0gI2bBttR0ebN6QkSP-4VMkvfMEfrQq6P0ai9TtpQXGosp8_LhIt2ExKoCZHGJrzO94PEXpoibx0r3IUQrHY1t3-L67RcXwy_Ywh7HXbW1tl4Fy/s320/squalicum+harbor+11042017.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taken on November 3, 2017</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Well, yea, it does happen on occasion. But snow in early November is pretty rare here in B'ham. So a lot of us were taken by surprise when we, first noticed a few flakes falling on our way out the door from the Bellingham Sail and Power Squadron Dinner Meeting on Thursday night at the yacht club, and then awoke to a pretty substantial amount of snow on the ground Friday morning.<br />
<br />
Amounts varied throughout the region but up on our hilltop we gazed amazed at nearly 5 inches sitting on our deck railings.<br />
<br />
It didn't stick around on the street very long so my wife was able to drive down the hill to work. It was just enough to look beautiful on the trees, shrubery and lawns. Perfect day to sit in the front window reading, occasionally gaze out the window and sigh.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3PsCP28vvCieHy9IHcK7ZAhPINUfU4PERqwvycJFnY0p0zYGSy6riDynKL6wKhD8j0kEk5HuUFZPsnU1AF8jAYaB4TppMjYrE8rXeCLfwhx4hBH8EH9s3Cu_t4b0c2sBq9gQmwvSl-wLs/s1600/oil+heater.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="450" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3PsCP28vvCieHy9IHcK7ZAhPINUfU4PERqwvycJFnY0p0zYGSy6riDynKL6wKhD8j0kEk5HuUFZPsnU1AF8jAYaB4TppMjYrE8rXeCLfwhx4hBH8EH9s3Cu_t4b0c2sBq9gQmwvSl-wLs/s320/oil+heater.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our Oil-filled Radiant Heater does the job!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I haven't been to the marina to check on the Key of Sea yet but friends who had been to their boats all recommended staying away until things warmed up a bit as the docks were covered with 3-4 inches of snow on top of ice. So, pretty slippery and not worth risking a fall or worse, falling in!<br />
<br />
I'll head down tomorrow sometime during the day to check on things. I want to make sure the heat is up high enough. I already turned it on but purposely kept it low as it never gets this cold this early in the season. Fortunately, I have already turned on the 100 watt light bulb I hang between the engines and the electric oil-filled radiant heater. I still have some things needing done though before I feel really winterized.<br />
<br />
The dinghy outboard and the generator both need to come home and the kayaks are still outside the boat. They either need to be dragged into the salon or deflated and hauled home to inside storage. I need to pour a bit of anti-freeze down the drains and sump pump and open the cabinet doors to allow warmer air to flow through them. Aside from that, I think we are in pretty good shape for the winter. Not that that isn't enough to do and that needs doing pretty soon before damage sets in. Guess I ought to stop writing and get busy!michaelgchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13425336290105511786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246395055355855805.post-87528276814076472812017-10-23T20:26:00.002-07:002017-10-23T20:27:32.199-07:00Fall 2017 Boat Projects Completed!<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="3l47u" data-offset-key="cmehs-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="cmehs-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;">
<span data-offset-key="cmehs-0-0"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Final push tonight to finish up the fall boat projects aboard the Key of Sea. Also, pay day for my mechanic.</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span data-offset-key="cmehs-0-0"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2cMDe-4BlpX1gjI9qnXZyE44oo5Im8EqhSbVd29PmgpYKTlcrBMqgw9GZ5YuHkbdmPyfwo1EWiGy_E5DrqGWd81vGyYg-j_AQuP2DlOATqpmyowGESS2qhCtpeoFGpxwZ0EIa7OIzjX_H/s1600/IMG_5474.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2cMDe-4BlpX1gjI9qnXZyE44oo5Im8EqhSbVd29PmgpYKTlcrBMqgw9GZ5YuHkbdmPyfwo1EWiGy_E5DrqGWd81vGyYg-j_AQuP2DlOATqpmyowGESS2qhCtpeoFGpxwZ0EIa7OIzjX_H/s200/IMG_5474.jpg" width="150" /></a></span></span></div>
<span data-offset-key="cmehs-0-0"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="cmehs-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;">
<span data-offset-key="cmehs-0-0"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="cmehs-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;">
<span data-offset-key="cmehs-0-0"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Tonight he installed the new Y-valve, the last thing needed doing. The old valve was cracked when he removed it. The new one is considerably better built and he mounted it to the bulkhead. The old one just sat, unmounted , on the floor of the utility tunnel. Everytime it was turned it probably added to its demise.</span></span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="cmehs-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;">
<span data-offset-key="cmehs-0-0"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="cmehs-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;">
<span data-offset-key="cmehs-0-0"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Y-valve controls the directional flow of the waste tank contents. Turn it one way and waste can be pumped out using a Marina’s pumping system. Turn it the other way and waste is pumped overboard through the macerator pump directly into the sea. This can only be done in certain places in Canadian waters. In the US the valve must be zip tied in the marina pump out position. </span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span data-offset-key="cmehs-0-0"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWKc86Xn7HCOlJm2NmoevbdBXglEZDOUqF3v7yubFunSOkUqw2eWjXAhgPbDLBWq-duUbf_m10U3TDPlIdG1cd_QdvlUBm7kWg2KO7_O7_xy3r1kSQrHHg1L5gNYcubcaYy4XilUnkoSq9/s1600/IMG_5476.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWKc86Xn7HCOlJm2NmoevbdBXglEZDOUqF3v7yubFunSOkUqw2eWjXAhgPbDLBWq-duUbf_m10U3TDPlIdG1cd_QdvlUBm7kWg2KO7_O7_xy3r1kSQrHHg1L5gNYcubcaYy4XilUnkoSq9/s320/IMG_5476.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></span></div>
<span data-offset-key="cmehs-0-0"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
Failure to do this is subject to a hefty fine from the Coast Guard.</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="3l47u" data-offset-key="9kf64-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="9kf64-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;">
<span data-offset-key="9kf64-0-0"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="9kf64-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative;">
<span data-offset-key="9kf64-0-0"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Here's a series of photos of the valve mounted to the bulkhead, much easier to get at than its old location. Also, notice all the new white hoses running around. The macerator pump is in the foreground and just behind the sky blue cylinder is the waste tank. Above the new valve is a grey box with a red switch. This is the macerator pump switch. A circuit breaker on the DC panel below the main helm must be on before this switch can be activated. This prevents the pump from accidently running when thee is no liquid in the line. The pump would burn up if that happened. </span></span></div>
</div>
<br />
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="3l47u" data-offset-key="50mp0-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="3l47u" data-offset-key="6qj1a-0-0" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: pre-wrap; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="6qj1a-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span data-offset-key="6qj1a-0-0"><span data-text="true"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="6qj1a-0-0" style="direction: ltr; position: relative; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span data-offset-key="6qj1a-0-0"><span data-text="true"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When I got on the boat this evening the old odd non-descript smell had disappeared. So, I guess we did need to replace those old toilet hoses!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpSVfzg-hwoX1QWbyWg8LJegKrZdHLVYpGLLXro9N2Sve3WP1Fm-4Oey_M7leBK86l9eADKrSfT33H7hEOSIftkNctiHOD8sFp29MYUY0X08KVD13Dky9ieb5MgqAm69p6EUxUdjzGIRI7/s1600/New+Y+valve+2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1404" data-original-width="1600" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpSVfzg-hwoX1QWbyWg8LJegKrZdHLVYpGLLXro9N2Sve3WP1Fm-4Oey_M7leBK86l9eADKrSfT33H7hEOSIftkNctiHOD8sFp29MYUY0X08KVD13Dky9ieb5MgqAm69p6EUxUdjzGIRI7/s320/New+Y+valve+2017.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New Y-valve replaced 10/23/2017</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span></span></div>
</div>
michaelgchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13425336290105511786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246395055355855805.post-41488899353299148812017-10-21T19:13:00.004-07:002017-10-21T19:13:54.595-07:00Sea Strainer and Other Projects<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDtpnbiTrlGCHx7AnN5eVk4o2yAMcf640tEO1V06jC4D_z-yxJRpFCIY8PzLLLJRyW7gTrTV1LzAHqszCha-aO4Lcs7K2gLKvePszwvlq8SRxeMYajdUag_-Ea_Ibw_HhzaDhTruCOtwH2/s1600/sea+strainer+top.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDtpnbiTrlGCHx7AnN5eVk4o2yAMcf640tEO1V06jC4D_z-yxJRpFCIY8PzLLLJRyW7gTrTV1LzAHqszCha-aO4Lcs7K2gLKvePszwvlq8SRxeMYajdUag_-Ea_Ibw_HhzaDhTruCOtwH2/s200/sea+strainer+top.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">sea strainer parts</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Aboard the Key of Sea for the first time in a month. Taking on a couple of projects thanks to my stalwart mechanic, Jared. He’ll be replacing coolant hoses he discovered had pin holes in them, repairing some minor oil leaks, replacing the intake hose for head and output hose for the bilge system, both of which were very worn AND, drum roll please.....replacing all the hoses on the head, the macerator and the hand pump on the head. Woo-Hoo! Hope to be finished up this weekend.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The sea strainer project is about done and ready to install when I find out the nuts pulling the top and bottom of the strainer are missing. Need new nuts! Then, ready to reattach the unit to the bulkhead we find out the piece of plywood (can't tell you how much crappy plywood is used in these old Bayliners) the unit is attached to is rotten. A piece of starboard is purchased and voila, the job is done.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; display: inline; margin-top: 6px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"></span></div>
<div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; display: inline; margin-top: 6px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Interesting! No mechanic ever aboard our boat has ever caught this problem and yet there it is, plain as day. Pin holes at regular intervals along both our coolant hoses complete with tiny drips of coolant coming from each tiny hole. Not enough to cause any damage or even noticeable </span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTMuC0Vojlx0FvzYYNhdBjuyqpCY2IH1YIz8lh8QQOp2-2T-DKpLYhUPl9HiWw6VXY_0a9HdI1-knYHzPEWNYE1r6n7jTzoAi65KRc-zQDC-u419wk-QryeOAHx3VJrYzN2rkTfChieM4i/s1600/utility+tunnel+looking+aft.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTMuC0Vojlx0FvzYYNhdBjuyqpCY2IH1YIz8lh8QQOp2-2T-DKpLYhUPl9HiWw6VXY_0a9HdI1-knYHzPEWNYE1r6n7jTzoAi65KRc-zQDC-u419wk-QryeOAHx3VJrYzN2rkTfChieM4i/s200/utility+tunnel+looking+aft.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">new hoses being installed</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">when checking coolant levels over time. Just enough to make a mess over time that no mechanic has ever picked up on until my new mechanic.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-top: 6px;">
Jared has himself squeezed into a hole about 24 x 36 inches and down in the utility tunnel where he is changing out hoses. A place I might have got into 25 years ago but certainly not now. Amazing!</div>
<div>
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; display: inline; margin-top: 6px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">My new mechanic Jared had to squeeze himself into a hole about 24 x 36 inches, hatch under the main helm, and down into the utility tunnel where he changed out the damaged hoses and the waste system hoses. He was crawling into place I might have got into 25 years ago but certainly not now. Amazing!</span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdsQL3psXKYKUnApOTeGkkL1eC9fJ7VpLCRH6NsNmtJybOjhCvSF2qbuEWxBAZLagHir6ySyyIBapAz_-HZxdOFQEOuaTgxmn7sT3sjNpudFyI_ZO_ffZlBN_1GzDGoLo84Xu6Tb2Bfaom/s1600/new+hand+pump+and+parts+for+toilet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdsQL3psXKYKUnApOTeGkkL1eC9fJ7VpLCRH6NsNmtJybOjhCvSF2qbuEWxBAZLagHir6ySyyIBapAz_-HZxdOFQEOuaTgxmn7sT3sjNpudFyI_ZO_ffZlBN_1GzDGoLo84Xu6Tb2Bfaom/s200/new+hand+pump+and+parts+for+toilet.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">new toilet parts</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; display: inline; margin-top: 6px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: #f6f7f9;"> </span><span style="background-color: #f6f7f9;"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody _1n4g">I am hoping the completion of these projects aboard the Key of Sea, aside from the mechanical improvements, will clear up an odd smell that has persisted on our boat since we have owned it. It isn’t, excuse the language, a sewage issue but rather, I suspect, a combination of odors that seem to permeate the boat whenever we come aboard. It seems to improve after we’ve aired it out a bit but ......<br />I am told by my mechanic that his experience is that smells are always evident on every boat and this is just our boat’s particular smell. But ... having said that he believes the replacement of all these hoses should alleviate much of the smell! From Jared’s mouth to the sea god’s ear!</span></span></span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<div class="_1dwg _1w_m" style="padding: 12px 12px 0px;">
<div>
<div class="_5pbx userContent _22jv _3576" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" id="js_4a" style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(229, 229, 229); line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 6px; padding-bottom: 12px;">
<div class="text_exposed_root text_exposed" id="id_59ebf57ee52886d87214540" style="display: inline;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><div style="margin-bottom: 6px;">
The Key of Sea saga continues.....so, my mechanic is installing new hoses to the head when he comes across the “Y” valve. He removes the old hoses running in and out of it and on close inspection sees it is cracked and if it had been used one more time it may well have broken completely. Not something you want </div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitPeQ5dn0PeWHYOT9YDUwHLrIAF7uzQtR0rTsm0iADgv4Cur40gED7jnkgTsazkGauWMavXfxGeB8PhUrxiz2ham4ulgXFM3zRo1mcY6ZzNMMEeEwEc_SenJ-ixzi9evdI8IXYmFyvuta_/s1600/Y+valve.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="670" data-original-width="670" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitPeQ5dn0PeWHYOT9YDUwHLrIAF7uzQtR0rTsm0iADgv4Cur40gED7jnkgTsazkGauWMavXfxGeB8PhUrxiz2ham4ulgXFM3zRo1mcY6ZzNMMEeEwEc_SenJ-ixzi9evdI8IXYmFyvuta_/s200/Y+valve.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Y valve</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
to have happen out on the water.<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
Oh, what is a “Y” valve you ask. Well, even if you didn’t I’ll tell you. It opens and closes off the direction waste from your waste <span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;">tank goes. When in Canada there are times when the waste tank is full and needs to be emptied. The problem is that many places<br />In Canada are out of the way enough that your only real option is to pump out overboard. I know, I don’t like it either but there literally are no other options in places that out of the way. So, you turn that valve and turn on the macerator pump and all the waste in your tank is ground and pumped overboard. Once you re-enter the U.S. though, that valve MUST be tied off. If a Coast Guard inspection set so the waste can only go into the waste holding tank. If found otherwise, you </span><span style="text-align: center;">are in for a big fine.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<span style="text-align: center;">No Y valve was to be found the day we needed it. We'd have to wait until Monday to pick one up. The good news is that when the new one gets installed it will be placed further to the stern of the utility tunnel so that when I need to use it I won'thaveto crawl 6 feet back into the tunnel trying to avoid damaging a depth sounder transducer and the macerator pump which used tolie between me and the valve. Now it will not only be attached to the deck but will also be easily accesible. YES! </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwC8lcuGKmaW0pzv3q5fXLdBygoAaXxEAMxCrefYyrzg-qyzKziS_EuDhi1vyiaUwod8JCfVuonxTkUPvxi-p2N2iD2ESSfOeKvW8oahXK7bJllRodu4M9WbdzHZfCt6gVOcWy-PseFNdr/s1600/coolant+drain+valve.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwC8lcuGKmaW0pzv3q5fXLdBygoAaXxEAMxCrefYyrzg-qyzKziS_EuDhi1vyiaUwod8JCfVuonxTkUPvxi-p2N2iD2ESSfOeKvW8oahXK7bJllRodu4M9WbdzHZfCt6gVOcWy-PseFNdr/s200/coolant+drain+valve.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;">It seems like you do one thing and find another thing needing doing or that ought to be done since you’ve got this or that apart. So, why not install drain valves on both the Key of Sea’s engines to facilitate draining the coolant easier and faster in the future. It’s a simple, easy, quick install and an inexpensive part that will wind up saving you money down the road. So...each engine received its very own, brand spanking new ball valve with one purpose only. Not a new gadget or domewachit that we can proudly show off when guests come aboard. These devices will remain hidden away from view (especially the one on the starboard engine) and only get used the next time we replace the coolant. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
<span style="color: #1d2129;">So, there you have it folks. A boat buck or so later our boat smells better and and operates more efficiently. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
michaelgchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13425336290105511786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246395055355855805.post-37735724917082852552017-10-05T12:42:00.000-07:002017-10-05T12:42:12.107-07:00Smoked Salmon It's been a while since I last used my smoker to smoke up some salmon. But I recently found a great deal on some commercially caught salmon from the local Lummi indian tribe. A local fish market had some pink salmon on sale for just a buck and a half a pound. It was already cleaned, filleted and cut up into chunk sizes perfect for smoking. It had already been frozen as well which is my preference for fish I want to smoke.<br />
So, after a recent run over to their shop to pick up about 20 pounds of fish, I brought it home and put it in our freezer waiting for a time when I could do the deed. Yesterday was the day.<br />
I knew I wanted to back off the saltiness of the brine I use so I looked for a new recipe. This one is a 4 to 1 brown sugar to kosher salt ratio and includes some fresh garlic. I mixed the combination into a bowl adding the minced garlic as I stirred it together. Then laying each piece of thawed out fish skin side down in the bottom of a plastic tub, I poured in enough of the brine mix to cover the filets. Another layer, skin side up this time, went in on top of the brine mix. And so it went until all the brine mix and filets were in the tub and covered with the mix.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMfTLwspFDQGJdbeQuCfgv30DwBm8VlWO0cnquoUUJDcT3HV8CGyxhgL472pn2ghMQ0D5MbggHgivd0dW_5zpUYBN4aY-eSviGEbDwliRJRyVrXmeVAOj3eBxSvVJxQQVVbFhI9SllNFWd/s1600/22221952_722624411262754_2007947306544187430_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="960" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMfTLwspFDQGJdbeQuCfgv30DwBm8VlWO0cnquoUUJDcT3HV8CGyxhgL472pn2ghMQ0D5MbggHgivd0dW_5zpUYBN4aY-eSviGEbDwliRJRyVrXmeVAOj3eBxSvVJxQQVVbFhI9SllNFWd/s320/22221952_722624411262754_2007947306544187430_n.jpg" width="320" /></a> A placed a lid over the tub and placed it into the fridge out in the garage which has the space to hold the tub. It sits in there for about 6 hours. When it comes out there is a lot of liquid which has come out of the fish as it absorbs the salt and sugar flavors.<br />
Next, rinse off the brine mix by washing the filets under the fawcett. Then, lay out the filets on the racks which will go into the smoker. Let the fish sit out to air dry for up to 4 hours. Then they are ready to head into the smoker.<br />
Preparing the smoker means to clean it and all the parts that go into it carefully. Mine is an old electric model made by Masterbuilt. Interesting story as to how I came to own this smoker. I think I told it in a pervious blog entry. Anyway, I am careful to keep the elctrical parts away from the cleaning process. Once done, I place a cup of wood chips in the pan. I use a variety of wood types--apple, hickory, cherry, there are lots to chose from and they all impart their own special flavors to the fish. My favorite is alder which is the traditional w<span style="clear: left; color: black; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;">ood around here.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYvJaceu41oVUs85VNYohBhpeaW69n21c42PiMQS0Jb-shHIgctzkGWExPjlZRCcTyen64neBTbzp-V-JvFu_4v3iSvxtPqUbqStbry5_jH453Bi3rGjCOGGMR1Y4xK61UnvTm_tL1QDIp/s1600/22279483_722939571231238_9142218818972472764_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYvJaceu41oVUs85VNYohBhpeaW69n21c42PiMQS0Jb-shHIgctzkGWExPjlZRCcTyen64neBTbzp-V-JvFu_4v3iSvxtPqUbqStbry5_jH453Bi3rGjCOGGMR1Y4xK61UnvTm_tL1QDIp/s320/22279483_722939571231238_9142218818972472764_n.jpg" width="240" />.</a></div>
I slide the racks of fish into the smoker and the bottom rack which has a pan of water and the pan with the wood chips. The wood shavings pan sits on top of the electric element and slowly begins tosmoke. Some say you should soak the chips before putting them into the smoker but I don't think it really makes any difference.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1lE2psDTu2ANNkIPE4LOJID0hNJHG2t5VZbVvQWfh3nGNgGp_XxuajCbCIc1ZgOjBSRvmqtbwm0k51zcXAnz_x2tQU9DObT4EteEFE6W48m1D5CNnoscmkNZkPrXAbcagG_cyCmfcUFG3/s1600/22228507_722939567897905_7053992601766520310_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1lE2psDTu2ANNkIPE4LOJID0hNJHG2t5VZbVvQWfh3nGNgGp_XxuajCbCIc1ZgOjBSRvmqtbwm0k51zcXAnz_x2tQU9DObT4EteEFE6W48m1D5CNnoscmkNZkPrXAbcagG_cyCmfcUFG3/s320/22228507_722939567897905_7053992601766520310_n.jpg" width="240" /></a> How long to keep the fish in the smoker depends on your personal taste in the donenessof the filets. Some like them more and others less cooked. Whatever your choice, set the smoker at about 225 to 250 degrees and keep an eye on it. <br />
Generally, about 2-4 hours will get it done. Practice will let you know what works best for your particular taste.<br />
In the end, pull the racks and set them on a counter to cool. When cool, they are best sealed in air tight Seal-A-Meal type plastic. They will last much longer when you put the filets back in the freezer. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxidRgI3in4PBarStufxTKnjgzRVbDjQcqQ6tuXHNmBUKO4ce2HBCEuOG0ivHV83ORBefh9UlVywAoBucPSQT_Mpsbuh2X-5c9sySpEXvY72MpyQ1EO_ZWg7s7tC2F8-kF4oX-z0q2fbsa/s1600/22308605_722974361227759_8070628439943910803_n+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxidRgI3in4PBarStufxTKnjgzRVbDjQcqQ6tuXHNmBUKO4ce2HBCEuOG0ivHV83ORBefh9UlVywAoBucPSQT_Mpsbuh2X-5c9sySpEXvY72MpyQ1EO_ZWg7s7tC2F8-kF4oX-z0q2fbsa/s320/22308605_722974361227759_8070628439943910803_n+%25281%2529.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk3WRrwLN0TCfBhffa8opm9sC6exNKUKUgBqyQptIPV4AlygA89KGimR9c9hbwaqiu-cxw1hfYiWr8YMiIl3RyPEZto8wkemUga4CAQ8uQI3BP4laga_06XKSCxMEmj1-uAg8AWXVk6nSW/s1600/22195418_722974364561092_218488563589617797_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk3WRrwLN0TCfBhffa8opm9sC6exNKUKUgBqyQptIPV4AlygA89KGimR9c9hbwaqiu-cxw1hfYiWr8YMiIl3RyPEZto8wkemUga4CAQ8uQI3BP4laga_06XKSCxMEmj1-uAg8AWXVk6nSW/s320/22195418_722974364561092_218488563589617797_n.jpg" width="240" /></a> When serving the filets I like to set them out which crackers, cream cheese, capers and minced red onion. But it is fabulous just on top of a cracker by itself. Enjoy!<br />
<br />
<br />michaelgchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13425336290105511786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246395055355855805.post-60065276371136905232017-09-11T17:18:00.000-07:002017-09-11T17:18:07.235-07:00Sea Strainer...More to Follow<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU6jHXFypAcI9rmOsrtq87mp8DV3AwXVgHSjX_n91cRKUECOeE3Vtj4mLyzx7-g2FafSaq7IzuRLFDxTlVYB_nMzFQNWIRPJXS3mfVqXXFSH87-RfC2P0oEzVis2pJCxajbUglSEmN2BW6/s1600/sea+strainer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="375" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU6jHXFypAcI9rmOsrtq87mp8DV3AwXVgHSjX_n91cRKUECOeE3Vtj4mLyzx7-g2FafSaq7IzuRLFDxTlVYB_nMzFQNWIRPJXS3mfVqXXFSH87-RfC2P0oEzVis2pJCxajbUglSEmN2BW6/s320/sea+strainer.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is what the strainer look like new.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I spent about three hours on the Key of Sea this morning attempting to remove the little stainless steel pin that holds the base of the bronze bolt holding down one side of the lid of the strainer. After attempting several ways to remove the pin I elected to remove the entire sea strainer and take it down to Tri-County Diesel. I asked them to remove the pin and replace it with the new pin and bolt I had already purchased.<br />
<br />
The strainer in the Key of Sea is made of several main parts. The very top is the lid (see one in the lower right of this article) Two wing nuts hold it in place. Just below it is the portion where two hoses are attached on either side bringing in water from the outside of the boat and the output hose sending the water towards the engine. Below that is a plastic cylinder which when operating is full of sea water. Inside it is a stainless steel basket which filters sea weed and other debris from the sea water. Finally, there is the base which holds the enitr assembly together with four long bolts. The lid and the top and bottom parts whee the plastic cylinder seat all have gaskets. The lid gasket is most important to keep an eye on as the lid is removed for inspection of the strainer basket quite often and then retightened. It is a good idea to keep a spare for each sea strainer on hand should the lid spring a leak.<br />
<br />
After talking it over with the Tri-County folks I ordered all new gaskets so I could rebuild the strainer. When I'm done I will have replaced all three of the gaskets.<br />
<br />
I also noticed that the ground wire was loose on the strainer so I will sand that connector and where it connects to the strainer and reattach it as I reassemble the strainer.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnYz_MIgPViPe_esTCw7YaL3nKllG9qVBm3uDTkYO4rx9cbrIzh418mqwtbf8xtOu-w90XmFgvq0lAClPNdzrqdzMNbVFjnHC28CDds93MdhlE61gWEgJKOVWm4wYQRtOE_GaFcaYywAEA/s1600/parts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="250" data-original-width="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnYz_MIgPViPe_esTCw7YaL3nKllG9qVBm3uDTkYO4rx9cbrIzh418mqwtbf8xtOu-w90XmFgvq0lAClPNdzrqdzMNbVFjnHC28CDds93MdhlE61gWEgJKOVWm4wYQRtOE_GaFcaYywAEA/s1600/parts.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Parts of the strainer including the strainer basket,<br />the bronze bolt, pin and gaskets.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The parts will come in in a couple of days and then I should be able to re-install the unit.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBkK9dAW9PjLe8BgA7GeljTCU6qGwoHkiI3-Ld57N1YUUa5TKeBRfZZyJzmXvF6XHTf5V2V8IcmaNSgxRfBOa0CKqdTp9EJ6lcQXLcVrcQmLRGNSdSmUD8inmhLY69ugNht1txmEITkidO/s1600/seastrainer+lid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="266" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBkK9dAW9PjLe8BgA7GeljTCU6qGwoHkiI3-Ld57N1YUUa5TKeBRfZZyJzmXvF6XHTf5V2V8IcmaNSgxRfBOa0CKqdTp9EJ6lcQXLcVrcQmLRGNSdSmUD8inmhLY69ugNht1txmEITkidO/s320/seastrainer+lid.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Strainer lid with gasket.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
As I suspected, the pin will have to be drilled out since it was too corroded to be able to remove. The pin is a curious little thing. About 1-inch long, it has a slit slit the length of it. Squeezing it with a small needle-nose plier should compress it enough to slide it into the holes on either side of the strainer. As it is slid in the bolt must be inserted into its path so the pin slides through the hole in the base of the bolt. Then the pin is squeezed again and slid the rest of the way into place. Removing the compression caused by the pliers allows the pin to expand enough to be immoveable. Sounds easy enough except when corrosion has taken a toll and no amount of compression on the pin would allow it to move.<br />
<br />
I figured, well, drill it out. Hmmm...not me. I could just visualize so many problems with doing that myself including having to purchase an entirely new sea strainer.<br />
<br />
For a few dollars I'd let a pro do the drilling. More to come...<br />
michaelgchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13425336290105511786noreply@blogger.com3