My trip to Panama City was fantastic, I had a really good time and got so much accomplished :)
I’m told I may not have access to internet during my job which starts on the 10th. The ship is upgrading wireless. I may not be able to check in until the second week of May. It is what it is. I’m hoping the time goes fast. When I’m on the ship I work, eat, and sleep. I’m not there to make friends, or party like a lot of the guys like to do. I’m hoping to bunk with my buddy Darren, or some old guy who likes to rest in his time off.
It is inevitable that most people get sick during the job, everyone gets “boat throat” from yelling over loud machinery, ventilation issues, and copious amount of dust. I try to keep a mask on as much as possible. This job will be in a hot climate as opposed to the last time we were up in Canada. It make complicate things but I’m used to working in the heat, its just harder. The company I work for is really good about taking care of their crew and keeping us in a good working environment and well fed. It really is such a sight to dry dock a ship of this size.
My own little ship has her own issues. Splendid has a deep small bilge and I’ve been trying to figure out how to best keep it dry for over three years!
I have a diaphragm (belt driven) pump and a manual pump that will pump the bilge dry. The diaphragm pump has no switch and my little 1100 GPH rule pump that has a little magnetic float switch inside just died. it was however mounted at the top of the bilge and leaves 40 gallons or so in the hole. Well I bought another kind of Rule pump that turns on every two and a half minutes and senses if there is a load on the impellor. I’m installing this tomorrow in hopes it will protect Splendid from water. It is installed near the top of the bilge so it doesn’t keep the bilge dry but it is what it is.
When I return I need to figure out a switch at the bottom of the bilge that will turn on the diaphragm pump to keep it as dry as possible. I’m thinking an electric pressure switch is my best option? Any bilge pump guru please comment.
My buddy Paul will be keeping a close eye on on Splendid, he is only about 50 feet away. He is a good friend and has been cruising for thirty-three years on the same boat (Sun Runner). I’ll be closing most of the threw hulls (not the scuppers), and rationally I know she will be safe, I’m just a worrisome father and don’t like being away from her.
The wet season is starting a bit early, its been raining for two days, strange for this time of year.
I’m so apprehensive about leaving my home but am looking forward to the reward it brings. Mostly I’m looking forward to a fridge large enough to carry large amounts of fresh produce. My new way of eating is really paying off and i feel great, not to mention I’m loosing some weight. It does require more fresh raw food and protein than I’m able to manage in my little Engel. Quality of life is so important to me. I’m amazed at how badly most people eat. So many people make a good living and eat junk and fast food. They call it the Standard American Diet (SAD). If money is good for anything we should feed our bodies well. I’m going to get back into juicing and sprouting when I return. I believe the vita mix I want to buy will also juice wheat grass, a really good source of vitamins. Wheat grass is also easy to grow on the boat.
Well guys I’ll check in when I can and maybe make another post but I’m pretty busy. As soon as I return I have a charter for a few weeks, then I’ll be getting to the business of spending some of my wealth.
Sail far and live slowly.
Peace, Love, and Money, Money, Money :)
Alex
Alex,
I also have a very deep rectangular bidge….about 8″ sq. Mechanical float switches were alway’s giving me problems. Bought a Water Witch Switch…..no moving parts all electric. Actually kinda forgot about it till you posted your last email, anyway they come w/ a great warranty.
Also you might consider putting a few inches of reflective tape along your water line……should help your buddy at night checking on your boat. Good Luck w/ the job.
soupjb
Alex,
I also have a very deep rectangular bidge….about 8″ sq. Mechanical float switches were alway’s giving me problems. Bought a Water Witch Switch…..no moving parts all electric. Actually kinda forgot about it till you posted your last email, anyway they come w/ a great warranty.
Also you might consider putting a few inches of reflective tape along your water line……should help your buddy at night checking on your boat. Good Luck w/ the job.
soupjb
Glad to hear things are going well! It’s good to know that you will have good friends watching over your “baby” while you will be gone.
I was trying to re-read your trip to Tahiti , but don’t recall the year….could you tell me so it will make it easier to locate?
Thanks!
Mitch, That would be around June 12, 2007. I re-read from day one until Tahiti over the last few days. Enjoy!
Hi Alex,
I was thinking the other day that after you set sail to Hiva Oa there is very little flm footage of your journey to Tahiti and beyond to New Zealand.
It would be great if your put together a video download of that footage. I am sure you could sell enough down loads to pay for your transit thru the canal. Or did you not film much after Hiva Oa?
It would be intersting to see that voyage and the different places you sailed too. Even sailing into New Zealand and selling Namesta would be interesting.
Let us know if it is possible.
Hi Alex,
question for Ross Wright if you don’t mind.
How much does your boat draw and any way points for getting in to the blue hole. Mine draws 1.5m and I didn’t think I could get in.
Regards
Sharne
Hi Alex,
I’m supprised that my post above got thru as I tried to post 3 times without success a few weeks ago when you were going thru the worst of your personal storm. So glad that you sound as though the worst is over and fair winds are returning.
Best Regards
Sharne
Sharne,
Good to hear from you. It’s been quite a journey, the past 7 months for me, but I see my path pretty clearly once again :)
Sharne was the winner of the first Charter raffle. Speaking of which there are a bunch of tickets left, really , really, good chances of winning :)
I’m off in the morning, been really busy getting Splendid and myself ready for so long away from home.
I’ll check in when I can.
Peace everyone.
good luck on your job…..mavis leaves for astoria on monday to work for the summer, and i will follow a month later to run that same salmon charter boat for one more season. got to do what you got to do……G
Alex, looking forward to possibly meeting you in San Blas. We are currently in Bahia Del Sol El Salvador and are trying to guess at the best time to transit the canal. Any way I am still enjoying the site after all these years and just rewatched the second DVD last night. You’ve been a fantastic inspiration…
I had one of those automatic bilge pumps that turn on every 2 minutes in La Brisa. I didn’t like it. It killed the batteries within days if I couldn’t keep them on a charge.
I think that reflective tape idea is really good. Your neighbor could probably judge an inch of draft change from a distance.
peace,
Alex, a couple of things….is the boat you are going to work on heading to Victoria BC? If so Liberate is moored a stones throw from where the Cruise ships dock. Secondly, we will be there until the beginning of June when we set sail south for Panama….if you are heading to Victoria you are welcome to visit Liberate if you get there before we depart..Terry
Hi Sharne,
I draw i.5 mtrs also
If you know Moreton Island at all head to the southern part of the island and Little Sand Hill’s
The channel is marked fairly well but don’t deviate from the markers at all or you will end up aground ,
i personally wouldn’t go in less than a 2 mtr tide , the channel is full of humps and i have been caught out and stuck
in the channel . make sure you go into the Blue Hole on a run in tide at least if you run aground you can get off
once you are in it is fantastic, take a good camera there is so much sea life to see
Ross
COME BACK ALEX…………
Good Morning Alex:
Hope all is well. I’m staying busy this time of year doing a lot of charters. That’s good summer is right around the corner. Thanks for all your plugs this year, it’s been a good ride.
I’ll talk with you when you get back in service.
Talk with you later and continue t enjoy every precious moment…
Capt. Paul
s/v Panacera
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
16 days I havent been off of the ship. 15 hour days of hard, hard work. Ive been welding, jack hammering, grinding, demoing, building. After work I collapse after a few beers, wake up and do it all over again. I havent had accesss to internet until today, I ll get a few pictures and a blog up soon. The good news is I’ll have a few bucks when I get back to get back to work on my boat :)
God i’m so beat. I’ve had a light ficture fall on me and I had to go to the doctor onboard. I have a weird clicking when I breath, she thinks I tore some cartilage inbetween my lung and rib, rib hurts pretty good, and last night i hade soe welding flux fall down into my ear. I’m cut up and brused up but holding up well for the most part. I dream of being back on Splendid, just another week to freedom !!!!!
Cheers.
The water witch will work very well. Additionally the whale super sub 650 is possibly the lowest profile pump out there. Make sure that you order the SMART model which comes with an integrated non-mechanical switch.
Wholesale Hats
New Era Hats
Adjustable Hat
New Era Caps
Adjustable Hat
MLB Adjustable Hat
NFL Adjustable Hat
NBA Adjustable Hat
NFL Hats
MLB Hats
DC Hats
Fox Hats
Red Bull Hats
Monster Energy Hats
New York Hats
New York Yankees Hats
MLB Hats
Baseball Caps
Baseball Hats
HVG&^