Splendid’s Cabin house is totally encapsulated! There is no more “cabin to deck” seem. She is really ugly and messy with epoxy but if I’ve learned one thing about this job it’s, “Paint goes on fast and it’s all prep”. There is about 40% of the toe rail that needs to get glassed and we still need to fair and put the starboard jib track on. I made this picture of Splendid big, so if you click on it you’ll see it in some detail. She will be a really beautiful boat, wont she? She is going to get a black sheer stripe from the rub rail up, black netting on the life lines, rat lines, and I’ll dye the sails tanbark. I’ve decided to make a hard dodger and bimini when I’m in Colombia. Actually it will be more of a pilot house. Next time I cross the Pacific, or any ocean for that matter, I’d like to be out of the wind and rain. Speaking of wind and rain, We have another cold front approaching tonight, ARRRRGGGGG!!!!!! I threw out another anchor yesterday as the currents and opposing wind can get nasty and brisk.
I was cleaning up in the engine room the other day and took a look at “Splendid’s” diesel generator again. When I bought Splendid I tried starting it and all I managed to do was flood the heads with water. I emptied them, filled them with oil, and forgot about the project. I looked at it again a few months ago and broke off the water pump as the pulley and mount were poorly constructed and made from aluminum. The motor actually looks perfect and the hour meter only reads 315 hours. I grabbed the fuel pump and it disintegrated in my hand. Well I’ve decided that it’s in good shape and I’m going to fix it. I bought another fuel pump yesterday, and I’m going to run an electric water pump to it. I’ll eventually fabricate another belt driven (mechanical) water pump, but for now, I just want to get it going. If I can get it to run well I’m going to put a hi-output alternator and water maker pump on it and use it as my primary charging. I’m sure it is a lot more fuel efficient than my Perking 4108. Actually my solar panels will be my primary charging, but if I have to run the motor I’d like to burn 1/4 GPH, as opposed to 3/4 an hour.
I’m still scouring ebay and Craig’s list for a used radar mount for my mizzen and 5/16ths bbb chain for the new windlass. Money is really tight but it’s all working out. Splendid will soon cross oceans and Project BlueSphere will be on the road again. It’s been a long year!
Peace everyone.
– Alex
Published in Alex Dorsey
She’s looking good man. Keep it up.
WOW it really looks like a ship!!!! The pilot house will be awesome!!!
I added the hour meter, so no idea how many real hours, and I don’t know how old that is. Another Sailor suggested the hour meter to help me measure oil changes.
You’re looking good, and I’m anxious to hear how you think she sails. At 27,000 pounds, it takes wind to move her, but when the wind gets heavy she’s splendid. She points much better with the aluminum spars, and the water line came up with that transition.
For those who don’t know fiberglass history, Splendid was an early fiberglass boat, and Cheoy Lee, who was a pioneer in it’s use for commercial boats, still made fiberglass the thickness of wood at that time. There are two plugs from the deck on board, and the construction was teak, fiberglass, teak and another layer of fiberglass, and that’s just on the deck. I removed the top fiberglass because some of the boards were worn and were buckling up, and everyone told me if I just screwed them down I’d be apt to allow water to seep into the layers.
In classic girlie style, I bought a break fast set, thinking I could must unscrew those boards. Well, chisel, crow bar and lots of effort brought the boards off in pieces. Most of the screws then came up with a crow bar, and the rest were cut level with a grinder. The boards were also laid down with tar. Some of that washed off with a cleanser I bought, and the rest was ground off the glass. Then I poured quarts of a thin epoxy product down the screw holes, because I was paranoid about sealing everything. Then I used epoxy and filler, lots of sanding. a coat of paint, a coat with the non skid and 2 more coats over everything. It was lots more project than I thought it would be, which is typical for any boat project. Then the cabin top paint looked awful, so sanded and sanded and couldn’t get the cracks out of that paint, so used the epoxy filler, sanded and painted. The finishes help fairly well in storage until the sand blasting that came with hurricane Wilma.
Sorry the sit in the cow pasture let that generator decay, but sounds like you’re into a quick and easy fix. Glad she’s with the sealife around her again.
Tammy
Nice pic Alex, she is already a beautiful boat. Sweat equity goes along way so keep on going buddy, you have a bigger fan base than you could ever imagine.
Chris Waddles
She looks GREAT Alex, really nice profile and lines. I know you can’t want to bend on some sail & head south.
We’re headed north in a few months – see you on the water!!!!
MM
Alex,
The first thing when I get to work, is to check on you and your crew. I only wish I could come help. Your web page brings a warmth only a sailor and mother nature can give. Your hard work will pay off and man I can wait to see her when you done. ALso I can’t wait to open up youe web site and read that your under way. Breaking free of the grid, man would I love to do that as well. Alex, thank all of your freinds today for the fine work that has been done, your new found love (ship) is soon to be the talk of the ocean. How go get finish and sen more viedo, I’m so ready to see the world ago thru your camera lens.
HEY ALEX. TELL GUIN HI, FOR RYLEE. WE CAME ACROSS THE BRIDGE, AND RYLEE WAS IN TEARS, WHEN SHE SAW YOUR BOAT GONE. SHOULD BRING THE NEW BOAT BACK THE END OF THE MONTH, RYLEE WILL BE ON SPRING BREAK THEN. GAVE THE ISLANDER TO RYLEES BIG BROTHER, SHAWN, SO WE’LL BE GOING BACK INTO THE SAME SLIP. HI SAM, HI GUIN, AND HI DARREN. BOB AND RYLEE.
hello, hello,anybody home?