THURSDAY, MAY 6, 2010
"Sailing Belmira" is live and well !!!
Welcome to my blog, "Sailing Belmira".
This is where I plan to post updates on the progress of what I will be doing now that I have retired. If you would like to know a little more about the plan, you can visit the website that went live just a few minutes ago with the very creative name of,"Sailing Belmira". You can get find the page at http://belmira.org/, or click on the link above.
This is where I plan to post updates on the progress of what I will be doing now that I have retired. If you would like to know a little more about the plan, you can visit the website that went live just a few minutes ago with the very creative name of,"Sailing Belmira". You can get find the page at http://belmira.org/, or click on the link above.
MONDAY, MAY 10, 2010
Heading East
Well, the time has finally come to start moving east to get to work on the boat.
The plan is to leave Wednesday morning, weather permitting. Recent forecast are calling for the possibility of some serious precipitation on Wednesday morning with some models calling for snow from 2 to 24 inches north of I-70. Of course my route will be along I-70 so I will be watching the forecasts pretty closely.
If I do manage to get away, my tentative itinerary is to make it across Kansas to somewhere east of Kansas City on Wednesday, then on to the vicinity of Columbus, Ohio on Thursday. Friday should see me getting to Chris' Dad's house near the Delaware Water Gap in Northern New Jersey then it will be on to Southern Massachusetts.
Stay tuned for blog posts on my progress.
The plan is to leave Wednesday morning, weather permitting. Recent forecast are calling for the possibility of some serious precipitation on Wednesday morning with some models calling for snow from 2 to 24 inches north of I-70. Of course my route will be along I-70 so I will be watching the forecasts pretty closely.
If I do manage to get away, my tentative itinerary is to make it across Kansas to somewhere east of Kansas City on Wednesday, then on to the vicinity of Columbus, Ohio on Thursday. Friday should see me getting to Chris' Dad's house near the Delaware Water Gap in Northern New Jersey then it will be on to Southern Massachusetts.
Stay tuned for blog posts on my progress.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 12, 2010
1st Leg Eastward Completed
Got away as planned about 10:00 this morning. The weather mostly cooperated and I made it across Kansas to Blue Springs, MO, 635 miles in 10 hours. Coming through Kansas City, at 8 o'clock at night, in the rain, is like playing a Gran Turismo night race on a Play Station, but, your in a real vehicle.
THURSDAY, MAY 13, 2010
2nd, (Downwind), Leg Completed
Thursday, Blue Springs, MO to Reynoldsburg, OH, 673 Miles, 11 hrs, 10min.
Started off in the rain and ended up with mostly clear skies and 80 degrees. Somewhat of a climate change shock since Colorado has been somewhat hanging on to Winter.
The leg, (legs are from fill-up to fill-up), from just inside Indiana to just West of Columbus, OH must have been downwind, I got 27.3 mpg when I had been averaging 22 to 25. Tomorrow it's on to Chris' Dad's in Northern NJ.
2nd, (Downwind), Leg Completed
Thursday, Blue Springs, MO to Reynoldsburg, OH, 673 Miles, 11 hrs, 10min.
Started off in the rain and ended up with mostly clear skies and 80 degrees. Somewhat of a climate change shock since Colorado has been somewhat hanging on to Winter.
The leg, (legs are from fill-up to fill-up), from just inside Indiana to just West of Columbus, OH must have been downwind, I got 27.3 mpg when I had been averaging 22 to 25. Tomorrow it's on to Chris' Dad's in Northern NJ.
Started off in the rain and ended up with mostly clear skies and 80 degrees. Somewhat of a climate change shock since Colorado has been somewhat hanging on to Winter.
The leg, (legs are from fill-up to fill-up), from just inside Indiana to just West of Columbus, OH must have been downwind, I got 27.3 mpg when I had been averaging 22 to 25. Tomorrow it's on to Chris' Dad's in Northern NJ.
FRIDAY, MAY 14, 2010
3r Leg, 4 States, Completed
Say hello to humidity, 69 degrees with 87% RH this morning at 6:55.
Columbus Ohio to Port Murray, New Jersey today, 8-1/4 Hours, 474 miles. Got into those smaller, East Coast states today. Started in Ohio, clipped the corner of West Virginia, cut a diagonal across Pennsylvania and on into Northern New Jersey. A little rain but mostly good weather. Speed limits seem to be only guidelines. Another 4 state day tomorrow.
3r Leg, 4 States, Completed
Say hello to humidity, 69 degrees with 87% RH this morning at 6:55.
Columbus Ohio to Port Murray, New Jersey today, 8-1/4 Hours, 474 miles. Got into those smaller, East Coast states today. Started in Ohio, clipped the corner of West Virginia, cut a diagonal across Pennsylvania and on into Northern New Jersey. A little rain but mostly good weather. Speed limits seem to be only guidelines. Another 4 state day tomorrow.
Columbus Ohio to Port Murray, New Jersey today, 8-1/4 Hours, 474 miles. Got into those smaller, East Coast states today. Started in Ohio, clipped the corner of West Virginia, cut a diagonal across Pennsylvania and on into Northern New Jersey. A little rain but mostly good weather. Speed limits seem to be only guidelines. Another 4 state day tomorrow.
SATURDAY, MAY 15, 2010
4th, Final, Leg
5 States, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts. 240 miles in 5 hours, 5 minutes. New York City will slow you down even if you don't get to close. The weather was good but the traffic was heavy. Tomorrow its on to the boat.
4th, Final, Leg
5 States, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts. 240 miles in 5 hours, 5 minutes. New York City will slow you down even if you don't get to close. The weather was good but the traffic was heavy. Tomorrow its on to the boat.
SUNDAY, MAY 16, 2010
Got to the Boat Today
Got to the boat and started in on the Spring work list. First things first. All traces of the old name and numbers had to go. Got that done and had a proper de-naming ceremony to satisfy the sea gods and strike the name from their records.
Once things are cleaned up, she will be ready for the renaming ceremony.
Until then, it will be lots of elbow grease.
Got to the Boat Today
Got to the boat and started in on the Spring work list. First things first. All traces of the old name and numbers had to go. Got that done and had a proper de-naming ceremony to satisfy the sea gods and strike the name from their records.
Once things are cleaned up, she will be ready for the renaming ceremony.
Until then, it will be lots of elbow grease.
Once things are cleaned up, she will be ready for the renaming ceremony.
Until then, it will be lots of elbow grease.
MONDAY, MAY 24, 2010
1st Week at the Boat
Had some pretty good weather for the first week's work on the boat. There was a day and a half of semi-wet weather but the time was put to good use doing some inside work and visiting a great little potential summer mooring site with direct access to Buzzards Bay. More on the site as things develop.
As planned, the boat has been properly de-named. So until the re-naming ceremony, when she splashes down, she will be referred to as the boat.Power washed the winter off the boat and got the teak looking a lot better. It will take at least a second coat of oil to get it back to looking really good. The teak drank up the first coat of oil in a few hours and almost looked like it wasn't oiled at all.Tried on some of the new canvas and it looks good. I still need to attach some hardware, snaps and stuff, and tweek the frame adjusters a little to fine tune the fitI managed to get a bad chain plate replaced. Found a local steel supply yard that cut the stainless steel and drilled the needed holes for a really reasonable price. I am going back tomorrow to see about having some stainless steel backing plates made for the other chain plates. The original backing plates were made of aluminum and I found some electrolysis damage. In fact, I had a 3/8" stainless steel bolt snap at the point were it had been in contact with the aluminum plate. All 30chain plate bolts will be replaced.The engine will be ready to go once I install the new injector line that arrived today.Still lots of work to go so the adventure is not very exciting yet, except for those of us, who, like Rat, in "Wind in the Willows" believe, "There is nothing--absolutely nothing - half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats."Stay tuned, I hope to have some progress to report at the next posting that will be worthy of some photographic evidence. Until then, I will continue to mess about.
1st Week at the Boat
Had some pretty good weather for the first week's work on the boat. There was a day and a half of semi-wet weather but the time was put to good use doing some inside work and visiting a great little potential summer mooring site with direct access to Buzzards Bay. More on the site as things develop.
As planned, the boat has been properly de-named. So until the re-naming ceremony, when she splashes down, she will be referred to as the boat.
Power washed the winter off the boat and got the teak looking a lot better. It will take at least a second coat of oil to get it back to looking really good. The teak drank up the first coat of oil in a few hours and almost looked like it wasn't oiled at all.
Tried on some of the new canvas and it looks good. I still need to attach some hardware, snaps and stuff, and tweek the frame adjusters a little to fine tune the fit
I managed to get a bad chain plate replaced. Found a local steel supply yard that cut the stainless steel and drilled the needed holes for a really reasonable price. I am going back tomorrow to see about having some stainless steel backing plates made for the other chain plates. The original backing plates were made of aluminum and I found some electrolysis damage. In fact, I had a 3/8" stainless steel bolt snap at the point were it had been in contact with the aluminum plate. All 30chain plate bolts will be replaced.
The engine will be ready to go once I install the new injector line that arrived today.
Still lots of work to go so the adventure is not very exciting yet, except for those of us, who, like Rat, in "Wind in the Willows" believe, "There is nothing--absolutely nothing - half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats."
Stay tuned, I hope to have some progress to report at the next posting that will be worthy of some photographic evidence. Until then, I will continue to mess about.
SUNDAY, MAY 30, 2010
Week 2
Week 2 has been more of the same, plugging away at the to-do list. Mostly forward progress with more things coming off the list than went on. The weather has been great. What rain there has been has happened overnight. My new injector line turned out to be the wrong part so I made an unplanned trip up to Marblehead and now have the new line installed and the engine is purring. Got the new chain plate backers made and have all of the main mast chain plates redone with new hardware. Starting to get some of the interior space livable to the point where I have started unpacking some stuff onto the boat. I hope to be able to schedule the masts to be reinstalled by the end of this week.
Had a family of Canada Geese swim by the dock today and quit a little early to go out to Bristol for dinner and a few beers with my brother Jordan who has been helping with the boat. So, although not directly boat related here are a few pics. Almost sunset in Bristol, and my boatyard neighbors
Had a family of Canada Geese swim by the dock today and quit a little early to go out to Bristol for dinner and a few beers with my brother Jordan who has been helping with the boat. So, although not directly boat related here are a few pics. Almost sunset in Bristol, and my boatyard neighbors
SUNDAY, JUNE 6, 2010
Week 3
Week 3 didn't see the masts raised as I had expected. As I was installing the backing plates on the mizzen chain plates I found another cracked plate. Had a new one made and it is installed and all of the chain plates have now been re-bedded. That was done on Friday so I can schedule the masts raising for this week. Got a little fiberglass work done on the rudder and the hull is almost half buffed out.
So, things are coming together and the list is getting smaller.
People have been asking for some pictures but most of what I have been doing is not very photogenic.
Here are a few shots of the chain plate damage. For non-sailors, the chain plates are what the shrouds that hold up the masts are connected to. Not something you want to have fail unexpectedly.
And here is a pic of how the hull buff and wax is coming out. I am really surprised and pleased with the results so far. That is the piling and shoreline that is reflecting off the hull. Not bad for 30 year old gelcoat.
My next blog post should have lots of photos. If all goes well, I hope to be able to show off a shinny boat with masts and rigging and maybe even some fresh bottom paint.
So, things are coming together and the list is getting smaller.
People have been asking for some pictures but most of what I have been doing is not very photogenic.
Here are a few shots of the chain plate damage. For non-sailors, the chain plates are what the shrouds that hold up the masts are connected to. Not something you want to have fail unexpectedly.
My next blog post should have lots of photos. If all goes well, I hope to be able to show off a shinny boat with masts and rigging and maybe even some fresh bottom paint.
SATURDAY, JUNE 26, 2010
Weeks 4,5 & 6
Sorry for the delay in getting a blog update out to you all who may be wondering what I have been up to. The delay was the result of a big push that left very little time for anything but working on the boat and sleep and being off the grid for awhile. But now here is my latest update with pictures and a long story.
I discovered that the sanitation lines were not in very good shape. I now am convinced that no boat owner deserves recognition as a,"DIY Sailor" until he has had to replace 20 plus feet of 1-1/2 inch sanitary hose. I have now been there, done that. We don't need pictures.
I also didn't like the single non-automatic bilge pump system so replaced it with a 2 pump, both automatic, system. The bilge pump installation was giving me problems. All of the pumps, bilge, shower sump and ice box share a common outlet. Installing check valves on the pump discharges solved the problem.Now I can feel secure with leaving the boat on a mooring while I am away.
Here is a before and after of the bilge pump area.
There was the usual scrubbing and rubbing, wax on, wax off, stuff that got done when the weather permitted.
I also had a new survey of the boat done toward the end of this week.
Tuesday was the 15th of June, my original projected date for launching the boat. It didn't matter that I got started 2 weeks later than I projected, this was a challenge.
On Friday, June 19th at 0900 she splashed and now the work to get her ready to go down river had begun.
I moved aboard, started getting some of the work done, and after wasting to much time trying to get the old Force 10 grill to fire up so I could cook my celebratory, "I am living on the boat", New York Strip Steak, I pan fried it and had my first dinner aboard. Life is good !
Had a christening ceremony on Sunday and now she is officially "Belmira", no longer, "the boat"
Week 6:
With Jordan's help I got the sails on Belmira this week and started into finishing what had to be done.
Then came some problems with the batteries. The PO did not have a dedicated start battery but used two deep cell batteries, normally reserved for house loads. One of then decided it had had enough of supplying cold cranking amps and gave up the ghost. I decided to put in a starting battery and I am ashamed to say, that after being an electrician for more than 45 years, I managed to install the new battery backwards. End result, a disaster, I burned out a 500 amp rated battery switch and damaged the alternator.
This happened on Wednesday night, and Oh!, I forgot to mention the plan was to take her down river on Friday.
Thursday morning I rebuilt the battery wiring system with a new switch and wiring as needed. Then about 2:00 PM I started the engine and found the alternator problem. The great guys at the boatyard directed me to Taunton Auto Electric, in an alley, behind a liquor store, about 8 miles away. I got the fried alternator to them about 3:30 and they rebuilt it and had it ready for pickup by 12:30 on Friday.
The bottom line is, in spite of making dumb ass mistakes, we were able to motor out of Shaw's Boatyard at 1635, (4:35 PM), make it down river and arrive at a new mooring at Standish Boatyard, in Tiverton, RI, at 2009, (nine minutes after eight) on Friday evening, a total of 13 nautical miles.
The time could have been a little better but we were fighting an incoming tide and heading straight into an 8 knot wind. Oh! and by the way, when we arrived at the Brightman Street Bridge in Fall River at 6:15 and requested an opening, we were told that the operator was on dinner break and we would have to wait until 6:30. You gotta love unions.
But all is well and I spent my first day here doing laundry and getting some supplies, food, etc. Tonight is a full moon but its not visible because of an overcast sky. But I did get and internet connection, right here on Belmira, and am able to get this blog update out.
Now that most of the heavy lifting has been done I hope to get out some regular updates about how great it is to be retired and how great the sailing is here on the East Coast with some descriptions of all the great places that can be visited by sailboat.
Week 4:
This was to be the week of getting the masts raised and it was after a small delay. The yard crew, (not my yard crew), broke off the anchor light on the main mast on Tuesday and had to wait for a new light to come in. The light made it and the masts were raised on Wednesday.
I discovered that the sanitation lines were not in very good shape. I now am convinced that no boat owner deserves recognition as a,"DIY Sailor" until he has had to replace 20 plus feet of 1-1/2 inch sanitary hose. I have now been there, done that. We don't need pictures.
I also didn't like the single non-automatic bilge pump system so replaced it with a 2 pump, both automatic, system. The bilge pump installation was giving me problems. All of the pumps, bilge, shower sump and ice box share a common outlet. Installing check valves on the pump discharges solved the problem.Now I can feel secure with leaving the boat on a mooring while I am away.
Here is a before and after of the bilge pump area.
I also had a new survey of the boat done toward the end of this week.
Week 5:
Got all of the new running rigging put on this week. Finished up the fiberglass work on the rudder.Tuesday was the 15th of June, my original projected date for launching the boat. It didn't matter that I got started 2 weeks later than I projected, this was a challenge.
Got the bottom sanded and painted, completed the all of the things that needed to be done to insure she was watertight and on Thursday evening as the sun was going down I hung a fender off of the bowsprit. This is the signal to the yard crew that you are ready to splash.
I moved aboard, started getting some of the work done, and after wasting to much time trying to get the old Force 10 grill to fire up so I could cook my celebratory, "I am living on the boat", New York Strip Steak, I pan fried it and had my first dinner aboard. Life is good !
Had a christening ceremony on Sunday and now she is officially "Belmira", no longer, "the boat"
Week 6:
With Jordan's help I got the sails on Belmira this week and started into finishing what had to be done.
Then came some problems with the batteries. The PO did not have a dedicated start battery but used two deep cell batteries, normally reserved for house loads. One of then decided it had had enough of supplying cold cranking amps and gave up the ghost. I decided to put in a starting battery and I am ashamed to say, that after being an electrician for more than 45 years, I managed to install the new battery backwards. End result, a disaster, I burned out a 500 amp rated battery switch and damaged the alternator.
Thursday morning I rebuilt the battery wiring system with a new switch and wiring as needed. Then about 2:00 PM I started the engine and found the alternator problem. The great guys at the boatyard directed me to Taunton Auto Electric, in an alley, behind a liquor store, about 8 miles away. I got the fried alternator to them about 3:30 and they rebuilt it and had it ready for pickup by 12:30 on Friday.
The bottom line is, in spite of making dumb ass mistakes, we were able to motor out of Shaw's Boatyard at 1635, (4:35 PM), make it down river and arrive at a new mooring at Standish Boatyard, in Tiverton, RI, at 2009, (nine minutes after eight) on Friday evening, a total of 13 nautical miles.
But all is well and I spent my first day here doing laundry and getting some supplies, food, etc. Tonight is a full moon but its not visible because of an overcast sky. But I did get and internet connection, right here on Belmira, and am able to get this blog update out.
Here I am burning the Midnight Oil.
Now that most of the heavy lifting has been done I hope to get out some regular updates about how great it is to be retired and how great the sailing is here on the East Coast with some descriptions of all the great places that can be visited by sailboat.
