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