I found a barely used inverter on craigslist the other day and scooped that just for emergency sake.( I already have a generator) I stopped off at a marine shop to get a cord made up for it so I can wire it direct to the batteries. While I was there I was talking to the owner about how I am just running a hose straight into my boat for water. He was horrified and informed me that at least one boat a year sinks because of that. Apparently the water pressure blows the hose off of the fittings and the boat floods. That scared me silly so I decided to look into holding tanks and a pump system. I know I have some tanks kicking around here already just never looked at their capacity. I found a great deal on a metal water pump ( craigslist again bless their soul)which Im picking up tommorrow.I think I have lots of room in the small cockpit deck on the back to store the water tank ,so will try and get that all hooked up in the near future.
I finally got the kayak I wanted for the very reasonable price of $200 with spray skirt, paddle,a lifevest,and a kit to mount to the car for transporting it. Its got a much bigger cockpit that is easy to get in and out of and tracks beautifully. I love it. I also found a used wetsuit for $60 that is a two-piece outfit farmer john and jacket. Im all set now.
I also spent a couple of hundred dollars on planter boxes and flowers. I got inspired by Tana's lovely display all down their dock and wanted a little colour down at our end of things.They have ended up on Davids decks as he gets all the sun at his end.It does take the rough edge off things down here tho. David has moved Meat Locker 17( thats the name of his seriously ugly barge) down beside his house and has stacked several tons of wood and styrofoam on it to start building docks. Its not the most attractive thing to look at so yaaa for the flowers.
I seriously considered buying my friend Rod's boat. Its lovely and has a running motor but in the end it needs to be hauled out, surveyed, painted and I would have to do a ton of interior rearranging of things to fit my life on it. Its alot of money and energy to spend and in the end I still love my boat to bits.
I am now looking at ways I can patch it up without rebuilding the whole thing. Ive considered ferro cement, fiberglass and sprayfoam.I get different opinions from everyone. Someone told me fiberglass would rot my boat even faster while others say it would be the way to go. The inside is fine its just the outside that needs work.As much as I would love to restore the wood exterior its not looking like a viable( read affordable) option. I dont want the boat out of the water for eons just want to get it out, fixed and back in as quick as possible. I know nothing about fiberglassing but met a cool guy at Shelter Island Shipyard that Im sure will help me figure it out. Im hoping to get the decks fixed and the hull redone before next winter hits.
Im slowly working on my vehicles as well. I put all new tires on the car ( that hurt the wallet) , got the flat tire on the van fixed, finally got the van tuned up and just have to do the same for the car now. Now that the van is running again I can take my boat motors in for repairs without the hassle of hauling my whole boat out of the water. Ive spent all my savings this month so the motors will have to wait for a few more weeks but my goal is to have the boat running before the end of June.In the meantime I can enjoy a paddle around here and at least get out on the water finally.Its funny,Ive lived on a boat now for eight months and am just finally getting away from the dock.Whoohoo!!
2 comments:
How about finding ,creating,beg borrowing or stealing, a broad pontoon, made of a suitable box section steel ( there must be hundreds that pass down the river on their way to oblivion or are cut up for scrap in the many yards about those parts, they could be old diesel tanks) and modifying the bow to a simmetrical but rough point for design and attaching twin engine mounting plates like Tana has and then with a cradle that sets your old girl well down into the hull so that there isn`t any stability issues, a drop of paint and away you go, Progressively you(one`s significant other)) could completely rebuild her to the new dimentions, maybe add a new deck level some handrails, all possible with a bit of pers (perspitacity) spelling. this way you could slowly transmographye the old into the new, the old remains at the heart and the new (under the tarp) slowly "trans-mogs" into a new steel butterfly, a thing of taste and beauty, like me :o)) Ha Haa,
Just think what the "Insane Canadian" could do with that for a hobby? I love his work :o))
Oh Rhianna how a couple of hundred feet make all the difference!! I never see you anymore :((
Your POV about the on-demand has sealed it for me. I am keeping the existing hot water heater rather than switch it over. I likes my hot H20!
Glad you found a yak. Let's go to the beach baby!
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