Project List

Galley lighting third time is the charm.

Sun, 7 Mar 2010 14:25:50 -0600

I have changed the galley light three times, I finally got enough light in the kitchen to cook with. I really like the look. More pictures letter.

I do windows.

Sat, 2 Jan 2010 14:07:00 -0600

Gutted the aft portal trim. Prepping for the re-planking and found out nothing but glue holds the window in. Not sure how I feel about that. I am seriously thinking about replace the window with something that has through hull bolts. It would be a fair amount of money to fix something that is not broke.

Back to regular work on the boat

Tue, 8 Dec 2009 00:10:58 -0600

I finished one more hatch, Only four or so left! I am now putting some thought into the back cabin window walls. Getting close to making dissection on the electric drive train. Been a long time coming. It will be nice to have the boat moving under clean power. Can’t wait to sell the house and get aboard full time!

Not dead yet.

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 20:57:51 -0500

In case you where wondering if I was dead or something. I have not been working on the boat the last few weeks because I have been getting the House ready to sell. Gardening, pressure washing, and cleaning house. You know all the crap that goes with listing a house. I am about done with the house work more or less. So should have some time to sink in the boat here soon. Anyone wanting a cute little house 1100 Square foot near Opryland hotel for 125,000 let me know!

A/C is working again.

Sun, 4 Oct 2009 18:31:26 -0500

I replaced the 500 GPH pump with a 1000 GPH pump and added a strainer on the intake, Hope this takes care of the A/C for a few years. $316 for the new pump. I also calked the out side foot rails. One more pass and I’m done with the calking for a year or two.

Investigating A/C pump.

Mon, 28 Sep 2009 03:19:43 -0500

I Added a strainer to the A/C pump. But I think I need to replace the thru hull that it is attached to, this is a big deal because I would need to pull the boat to do that. Big pain in my ass. I also will redo the bilge pump wiring again! I made a mistake that needs to be corrected.

After a week of on call I can do some work this week.

Sun, 20 Sep 2009 20:49:16 -0500

I still need to call out an A/C guy this week to fix the air. Then I can get back to inside work. I did some repairs on the deck foot boards. I also uncalked the outside of them, then did the prep work to recalk. To wet to calk today so will have to wait till better weather to do more.

Setback

Sat, 5 Sep 2009 21:46:57 -0500

I went to the boat today to get some chalking done. and The A/C had thrown the circuit breaker, Turned it back on and it worked about an hour and through the breaker again. Not good I was hoping to list my house this month, Now I’m looking at an expansive repair, This will set me back at least a month. No big, I would rather get expensive break downs now rather then once I am in the middle of nowhere.

More of the same.

Sun, 23 Aug 2009 22:59:22 -0500

Completed the hatch in the aft head (back bathroom) Also finished up all the mechanical work on the head. Tested the head with a large dump, worked great. I also bought the parts to fix the aft shower.

Odds and Ends

Sun, 16 Aug 2009 20:25:20 -0500

New Motor installed on the head and re-calked the inlet. This will need to dry so the the first test flush will have to wait. I tested the aft shower, and would you now it the damn previous owner managed to screw that up as well! He better be glad I don’t remember his address in Texas because I would drive down there and open up a can of wipe ass on the moron. The shower drain is just missing, it empties right in the the bilge! Crap, great...thanks guy, more hose clams!

Now on to an historic event. The first thing to break that was already working right on the boat, The bulge pump wiring that I fixed Just last week did not work to pump the shower water over board. So went to the helm to see what was up. No 12v power to the helm. Great, another project. It will have to wait for next week, I’m through for this weekend. There is only one working bilge pump on the boat till I fix this.

Here is what head pluming should look like!

Sun, 16 Aug 2009 20:19:05 -0500

Well after hours of clamping marine grade hoses , I finished the pluming for the aft head. Notice the double clamping on any hoses that connects to a sea cock.

Lots done this weekend

Mon, 10 Aug 2009 23:51:33 -0500

I finished the first of five aft hatches using silver trim this time around. I installed new lights in the galley they look fabulous! I also stared working on the monstrous previous owner fuck up that is the aft head. It is amazing this boat did not sink. He had used hose clamps to hold a 1 inch hose to a 1 1/2 hose that was connected to a sea cock. Nothing solid at all under the clamps! I installed so many stainless steal clamps today that my hands are now raw. And still have work to do to fix this massive fuck up. But on the plus side the boat will not sink now!

Finished the back Bedroom flooring

Sun, 2 Aug 2009 22:55:18 -0500

I finished the flooring in the aft Berth. Next step is to finish the hatches and trim. The picture above is the nook and one of the hatch panel that I have finished the trim on.

The boat is getting close to being livable.

Sat, 1 Aug 2009 03:32:43 -0500

The boat with working fridge and AC is very comfy. Soon I will be putting the house on the market. Wonder how long it will take to sell in this market? Wonder how my cat will feel about the move. She is not one for change.

Fixed the bulge pump wiring.

Wed, 22 Jul 2009 22:31:02 -0500

See the old crusty panel, new panel is in and working great, I also fixed and boxed some spaghetti wiring in the engine room, (Lots more to fix.) I also did some minor cosmetic work on the Galley floor and walls, Why? I have no clue because I do have bigger fish to fry.

Cooool

Sat, 18 Jul 2009 22:18:54 -0500

The new super sized fridge is in and all trimmed out. Both A/C’s now work great. Spent a couple of nights on the boat this week, She is becoming very livable!

Shit can work

Wed, 15 Jul 2009 00:26:02 -0500

Replacing the motor on the Aft Shit can. Also doing some plumbing on the galley sink to make room for the new fridge. Tested the (Internet Box) for reception got three bars in the parking lot.

Cutting big hole

Sun, 12 Jul 2009 00:33:45 -0500

Spent the day enlarging the hole in the counter top so the new fridge will fit. I had to reroute the sink drain, and move the shelf supports, and tomorrow I’ll finish up with moving the electrical box.

New fridge is in.

Wed, 8 Jul 2009 00:51:46 -0500

The new fridge is in now sitting at my house. Soon I have to get it on the boat. I also got my AC manifold kit in the mail. These are two of the biggest obstacles left to make the boat livable enough to move on to it. I also built my water proof internet hot spot in a box, I’ll take some picture of it once I finish up some cosmetic details. So The boat will soon have a fridge, AC and Internet..... And life will be good.

New fridge is on the way.

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 01:16:31 -0500

Ordered the new fridge. Sure hope it fits through the cabin door! Don’t really want to take another door frame apart. I still have not seen hide nor hair from the A/C guys.

A/C needs professional help.

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 00:52:43 -0500

I Sleep on the boat one day this week to test out the A/C and it will need to be recharged. I Also replaced the house battery pack. This was by far the worst boat work I have done so far it was very hot lugging around nine batteries four new ones into the boat and five old ones out of the boat. And half the batteries where is a spot a yoga master would have had issues getting into! I also tried hooking up may 50A shore cord and it instantly blew the breaker. Not sure if the 50A cord that came with the boat is wired wrong or the boat has a wiring problem will investigate further later. My 30A cord on the other side is working well I just wanted more power since I put the wash/dryer on board. Ohh yeah! I did the first load of laundry this weekend...Damn that thing is slow!

The plan was lights and flooring

Sun, 14 Jun 2009 21:51:29 -0500

The plan was lights and flooring this weekend, I did get a few lights changed out, but I got side tracked getting the A/C to work, It was just to damn hot to work on the flooring. Both A/C water pumps work, and the aft A/C blows cold, I had to re-calk it to keep it from leaking water. The forward A/C only blows mildly cool air and look like it will need to be recharged. My attempts at recharging it failed. I could not find the hookup needed to get the R134a in. I also removed some more mirrors from the boat. The previous own was far more vane then me, Every room had large mirrors, they were everywhere!

Finished fixing the ugly wiring

Sat, 6 Jun 2009 23:42:26 -0500

I finished fixing the previous owners fuck up in the aft berth. I laid some more wood flooring and put up new lighting in the galley. I did it right to with marine connectors and shrink tubing on all joints ... and then immediately bloke the cheap Radio shack toggle switch! Teach me to shop at Radio shack for electronic parts. Sigh. So I get to reinstall it again later once I find a better source for toggle switches.

Previous owner fuck up fixed.

Sun, 31 May 2009 23:47:37 -0500

The Previous owner did a few stupid things one of them was to drill a hole in the wood walls and just leave the cords hanging out. I took a router and eat into the wall so as to keep the wires out of sight. I trimmed around the now much better looking hole and will finish it off with a decretive wood panel. You can also see the wood flooring that I started in the main berth (bed room) I had to power sand the crap out of the floor to get it strait enough to lay flooring over.

Trim added to steps

Sun, 31 May 2009 23:45:17 -0500

I added trim to the steps to hide the flooring, Looks great. Took me forever and a day to find the right size router bit to fit around the nosing on the stair treads.

I broke down and bought a real saw.

Sun, 31 May 2009 23:29:58 -0500

I was trying not to buy a table saw because of the size and weight, I was in Lowe’s and one of the floor staff found me looking at table saws with a sour look on my face. I told him that I guess I was going to buy a table saw but complained about the weight and size. Then something happened that has never happened to me before. He gave me advise that was useful! He told me a portable band saw was what I wanted, it is light and can do most jobs a table saw can and is easy to store. I said hmmmm and started looking at band saws and they did seem to fit my needs. Now that I have used it two weekends I love it well worth the $120 bucks it cost!

Let there be good looking light!

Sat, 23 May 2009 01:08:04 -0500

Removed one of the horrible plastic lights that the PO (previous owner) had put in. Replaced it with as good a match as I could find of the original Chris-Craft lights. It is very low profile but I might make it even more low profile by replacing the dome with a flat peace of glass. I also got some nice green glass and a glass cutter and will try my hand at stain glass window making, I want a way to let light in the laundry nook with out seeing the half hidden window.

Trim problem solved

Sat, 23 May 2009 01:04:54 -0500

MD still make the trim I want in silver, so after a few different cans of brass/gold paint I found a near perfect match, I finished one of the last two main hatches last week and the last one is all done except for one peace of trim! Load off my mind!

Finished installing the Washer dryer.

Sun, 3 May 2009 01:13:41 -0500

With the help of a friend (Thanks EJ!) I got Operation clean laundry done today. The washer/dryer is now happily in the laundry nook. Now all that is left on this project is a little trim work and some brackets to keep the washer from moving. I also repaired the door frame. You know the one I had to cut a big hole in to get the washer in through Looks good as new, Maybe even a little better. I also got internet for the boat today, The ClearWire modem is now tested and will go on the boat tomorrow. And if that was not enough I bought some window trim, and cleaned the glue from the boat mover off the outside of my boat. I think it is about time the boat got a bath. I was how ever to chicken shit to do a load of laundry today! Did not want to push my luck.

Finished the laundry nook.

Sun, 26 Apr 2009 18:55:52 -0500

I finished all the carpentry, plumbing and electrical for the laundry hookups. Insulated the forward port side of the boat while I had the walls open (not Very pretty to look at but no one will see it anyways.) Now I need to find some sucker to come out and help me move the washer into place. I also took out the carpet in the aft cabin, I hate removing tack strips.

Still stuck on the plumbing

Sun, 12 Apr 2009 22:23:28 -0500

After many many trip to Lowe’s I think I have everything I need to finish the plumbing for the new Washer/dryer. I ran the hot and cool water today, and started the drain plumbing. I also got some insulation and insulated some of the areas I have open to work on project “Clean Clothing”

A little of everything.

Sun, 5 Apr 2009 20:19:31 -0500

I had a attention deficit weekend. I pulled out the carpet in the aft berth. Fixed the aft head door.
Started the plumbing for the laundry room, which cost seventy bucks in plumbing supplies. Finished the platform the washer will sit on. I keep finding little doors that hide ton of valuable space. If I every want to smuggle stuff I’m hooked up.

Big hole

Sun, 29 Mar 2009 21:47:44 -0500

Ok have the hole where the washer/dryer will go. Used to be a cute but useless cubby hole, now will be the laundry cubby. I still feel bad when I cut in to all the fine mahogany wood work. Well till something gives me trouble, then me and the hammer are one. Beeewhahaha.

Removed the door trim still not enough space.

Sun, 29 Mar 2009 07:15:27 -0500

I Removed the trim still not enough space, so sawing away at the door frame to get to 22.5 inches!
I also deconstructed the cubby hole that the washer-dryer will go in that thankfully went smoothly.

Drag Pull ......@#$% ......

Sun, 22 Mar 2009 20:11:06 -0500

Picked up washer/dryer from Camping world: Check. Get washer/dryer to boat: Check.
Lift Washer/dryer onto boat 8 feet up by myself: Check. Next unbox washer/dryer so that is fits through cabin door: Check. Next step should be move Washer/dryer into forward cabin....but the door is 19 inches across the washer/dryer is 21 inches deep....@#$%.....@#$% . So I spent most of the day disassembling the door frame in the hopes I can get three more inches. If not were looking at cutting some holes in the wall.

Where is my money!

Tue, 17 Mar 2009 23:01:06 -0500

I stopped by Camping World today to look around and they had the washer-dryer I wanted, $1200.00 dollars later I’m now the broke owner of a Splendide 2100 XC. Now I get to tear out good looking walls to make it fit in the boat. Fun fun fun.

http://www.campingworld.com/shopping/item/splendide-2100-xc-washer-dryer-platinum/37547

Trim hell

Sat, 14 Mar 2009 23:58:55 -0500

The hardware store I buy my trim from ran out, In search of more. I finished another step on the inside stair case. Have the washer-dryer picked out. The Splendide won out because the reviews for the other washer-dryer where down right hateful. Still on the lookout for light fixtures I like that are less then or equal to 2-1.5 inchs tall. I have the fridge picked out as well, and again it was the most expensive model that one out. sigh. Still racking my brains on the oven.

Have most of my appliance picked out.

Sun, 8 Mar 2009 20:19:37 -0500

The washer dryer will go in the forward Quarters: http://www.campingworld.com/shopping/product/splendide-2100xc-washer-dryer/6705

The fridge will take some works to get in the space it needs to go in. It is 5 inches wider then the last fridge: http://www.indelwebastomarineusa.com/products/CR200.htm

The oven is awesome: http://www.qualitymatters.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=QMMAX%2D1200K&Show=TechSpecs

Once these are in I can sell the house.

Stairs and pluming

Sun, 8 Mar 2009 20:09:41 -0500

Finished Laying all the wood in the main cabin, installed half the trim. Half finished with the stairs to the aft quarters. I replaced the water pump, to get a little more water pressure, the second I tuned on the new pump the shower line blew in the aft shower. After a trip to Lowe’s for some parts I had that fixed. Turned on the water again. And the forward shower line blew!!!! Fixed that as well. Now all the pluming works great.

Started to redo the stairs, stained the new trim.

Sun, 22 Feb 2009 18:49:39 -0600

I started to redo the stairs to the master quarters With the same wood as the hardwood floor. I also stained the new trim. I still don’t like the color match so one more coat of stain is needed before the varnish goes on. I tried using a jig saw again to day, and like every time I use a jig saw I fuck up a nice expensive piece of wood. I just need to pitch the jig saw they never do what I want them two. Look forward to my vacation the first week of march, should get some real work done.

Almost done with the floor.

Sun, 1 Feb 2009 20:41:02 -0600

Almost done with Project Take Forever: flooring. Now putting some thought in to what trim to use. I also started to look into the next big project. Project Wash My Cloths: I looked around for a good place to put the washing machine. The forward bedroom would be my first pick if I can squeeze the wash and dryer in there. That location would need a fair amount of deconstruction.

Half the Cabin is done.

Sat, 10 Jan 2009 23:16:56 -0600

Finished the second hatch and half the cabin. Did not finish till late so the images are a little dark. Click to see lots of pics.

Looks factory good.

Thu, 1 Jan 2009 23:33:37 -0600

I got enough of the flooring done today to put the stairs back in, so no jumping 3 feet down to get in the boat. See the picture of the trim installed on the hatch panels, looks pretty good if I got to say so my self.

First hatch is almost finished

Sat, 27 Dec 2008 16:50:39 -0600

The new trim works great, I forgot to cut the first corners at a 45 degree angle. The Anodized Albras MD Moulding (Counter Edging A20S7) comes in 6 foot lengths and cost 9 bucks each! Make the hatches look professionally installed.

Finally found some trim I like.

Sun, 21 Dec 2008 18:53:01 -0600

I finally found some trim that looks great! Searched every hardware place in town. By the way who knew that habitat for humanity ran a hardware store. I also read up on Steam, Microwave, and Convection Ovens. Talk about doing it all! I got to have one of these: Sharp AX-1200s. The floor laying is slow going around the hatches. I hope to have enough done tomorrow t0 put the stairs back in. It gets old climbing four feet in and out of the boat.

Tool Time.

Sun, 14 Dec 2008 20:10:19 -0600

I needed a table saw, but did not feel like dropping $100 bucks on one so I built one from stuff I had laying around. I still can’t find any trim I like, to use on the engine room hatches.

Brrrr cold.

Sat, 6 Dec 2008 22:42:48 -0600

I purchased a Boatsafe 750 watt Engine room heater. Checked wiring today. Will install it tomorrow. I also found out that the engine room lights and the heat share a circuit, Not sure how I feel about that.

Back from my trip to India

Sun, 30 Nov 2008 01:18:04 -0600

First weekend back from my trip to India. Before I left two weeks ago I stop by the boat to drop of a new router table and forgot that I had removed the stairs to lay hardwood flooring under them. It was late at night and dark. I stepped right in to the void. I also fell the four feet to the ground where I hit like a sack or potatoes. After hitting the ground I laid there in pain for a bit then started laughing pretty good. I was real lucky and just had a few deep bruises and some scraps. Nothing was broke. I got back to laying the flooring today. I think I figured out how I am going to work around the access panels. I am using a hand router to trim the wood flooring and then using golden door trim to dress up the edges. I will take some close up pictures once I get a panel done.

Still laying the floor.

Thu, 6 Nov 2008 23:46:26 -0600

Still laying the flooring, The flooring is a very good match for the mahogany walls. working around the engine room doors is much harder then I thought it would be. This will be the last update for the next two weeks I am flying to India to train some folks.

Installing the hardwood floor.

Sun, 26 Oct 2008 21:07:46 -0500

I have mostly finished with the out side work till spring. Now that I have the place mostly water tight, I started the install of the Hardwood floors. Well I spent the day buying power tools I needed and then laid one messily row. Nail guns are not cheap! Took me most of the day to find one I liked. I also found some loose hoses dripping water under deck, a couple turns with the old flat head and all fixed.