Last post for 2014.

We decided to change marinas for next season and the new marina gave us a deal that we could not refuse so we moved the boat.   Easy trip from one side of the bay bridge to the other.   We were on the Magothy river and now we changed to Whitehall creek.  This marina is at the end of the creek in a well protected cove so we decided to winter in the water. 


This is my curent project.  A dingy for the Alberg...





http://cootaproperyachttender.blogspot.com/2015/01/lots-of-futzin.html

                                          Aproching the bay bridge.

                                                Under the bridge.

                                  Aproaching the marina from Whitehall creek.

                                                      New marina.

Another fine day

We have been day sailing the boat.  It's a fine boat for doing that.  She is easy to maneuver and easy to dock.   So  a 3 hour round trip to sandy point light is a fun day on the water.

                                                   Main span of the bay bridge

Cedar stripped tables

We've spent most of our time working on the outside of the boat.  That work is just about done so it's time to start work on the inside.  I've been slowly doing little things.  Back in the day when this boat was made Formica was the choice for counter tops.   It was a durable product that every kitchen had.  Someone thought it would be good for boats too so this boat had all the flat surfaces cover in the stuff.  I work with cedar strips building canoes and other boats from the strips so it was a natural extension to do cedar stripped tops in the boat.  Since the dinette table was missing I made that first.  One inch thick cedar strips glued and fiberglassed.   After the table I made a motor cover.  Then came the little table that hangs down from the sink area.  The last item is the shelf that holds all the nicknack things your bring aboard.
I tried to refinish the teak floor but it is badly stained and I don't think it's going to clean up.  That's another story.

 Dinette table.  Not sure that the design location is ideal but that's where the hooks for it were so I just made   the table to fit.  Not good if you have to hit the head fast!

    My inspiration for the tables came from the cover/cutting board for the stove top.  The sink area is going       to be a wintertime project.

                                                                      Nicknack table on top of the icebox.

                                                                Motor cover.

Another fine sailing day

Another great day on the water. Wind was about 15 from the south.  We close reached all the way to the Chester river.

The knot meter was bouncing between 5-9 and 6.3

I actually got to test my hiking seat.  It passed with flying colors. I have an adjustable hiking stick attached to the tiller. I'm taking orders!!i

Pullman sink update

I've been futzing with this sink for some time.  I got a bowl from Home Goods, got the pump from the junk bin at Bacons and a chunk of roofing rubber from Ace Hardware.  I got a 5 gallon flexible water tank from Walmart.  I hooked everything up and the pump didn't work. Hence the reason it was in the junk bin.   I ordered a rebuild kit from Imtra, an internet marine store.  That solved the problem.  Now you can wash you hands!

First sail

We got out today for our first sail of the season.  SE winds 10k.  We sailed out of the Magothy and over to the mouth of the Chester river.   Close reach all the way.   The boat handled extremely well  We made 4.5-5 knots all the way.  We sailed about half of the way back then used the diesel   I'm impressed with that too.  With the clean bottom we made 7+ knots wide open and about 6 knots with just minimal throttle.  This was a far cry from when we bought the boat down from Baltimore last year.

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Fired up

I mentioned a few posts ago that I had to replace both batteries.  I got two new batteries this past March and put them in the boat.  I did not hook them up until it was time to start the motor.  After we launched I attached the cables and appeared to have power.  The radio worked, the lights worked etc.  I tried the motor but all I got was a solenoid sound.  No cranking power.  I figured the bats need a charge so I put my charger on them for a day.  Tried again, nothing.   I took a close look at the terminals and found the + side was completely wasted.   I hack sawed off the terminals and put new ones on.  Things went well after that.

Also figured we needed an annoying video to go along with that.

               

In the water

The marina dropped us overboard this morning.  Scary thing is the marina owner was driving the travel lift.  I think finding good help in this industry is hard to come by.  The other thing is on the service shop door their is a sign that says absolutely no free advice.   I think that's why the owner drives the truck.

I replaced both batteries in the boat a few months ago.  At the end of last season I overcharged the deep cycle battery and it broke the case.  Then on top of that I dropped the starting battery and broke the case.    I tried to start the motor and both new bats were dead flat.    Here comes the battery charger...

BTW..  That wood looking thing sticking out of the dock is the finger pier the owner put in.

Bottom paint/finger pier

Looks like we are ready to splash.  Shane took the pix.   Still haven't dealt with the stuffing box.  Had one guy say he would do it but never showed up.  Won't answer his phone or email.  Fired him.  Second guy is supposed to do it after we drop in.   We'll see.  Just might get a bigger bilge pump!


The owner of the marina promised us a finger pier so we could get on the boat a little better.  They don't have floating piers here so at times it becomes hard to manage.  I posted a pix earlier of the slip that he promised.  This is what he actually delivered.  I'm not a happy camper.

Hiking seats and Pullman sink update

I'm a dingy sailor.  Grew up with them and still race them.  We sit on the rail when sailing small boats.  With that, the Alberg left a lot to be desired when going up wind.  Sitting on the combing became quite painful...   Last season I made a hiking seat.  It was not quite successful.  I made it flat and it worked when the boat was level.  When the boat healed you slid off.  Over the winter I modified the seat  about 10 degrees.  When the boat is healed you sit flat.  I've seen other hi tech solutions but nothing quite like this.

I mounted the sink on the bulkhead next to the head.  I think this is going to work nicely.  I'll drain it into the head and use a folding plastic jug for the supply.  I'll mount the jug in the cabinet behind the head. 

The little sticker on the window allows us to dock at the Fleet Reserve Club in Annapolis.  

I'm hoping we are in the water next week!

The rubber scupper directs the water down the drain when you put the sink in the upright position.

                                                      I just have to hook up the plumbing

The bay is full of water!

                   .

Pullman sink update

I'm still futzing with the sink but I think I'm about 99% there.  I started with a block of wood, a bowl from Home Goods, a pump from Bacons junk bin, and a chunk of roofing rubber from Ace Hardware.  I also got a scupper from West Marine.  The rubber will ride up on the bulkhead separating the main cabin from the head.  I'll use a flexable tube for the drain going into the head.  The sink water supply will be from a collapsible plastic 5 gallon jug.

                                                                  Sink in the up position

                              With rubber scupper,  I'll cut the excess rubber at some point.

Coambing trim

The trim that covered the back side of the cockpit coambing was teak.  When I took it off in disigenerated in my hands.  Finding teak 1/4 round was not an option so I went to Lowes and got two 8 foot pine 1/4 rounds.  I stained them to match and put several coats of urethane on them.  On the starboard side there is a "hook" right at the back of the coambing.  My plan was to take that off and get rid of it.  So I get into the lazerlatte and start looking for the bolt. What I found was it is the diesel fuel tank vent!  So I cut a hole in the molding to fit around it.

Wow! updated

I got the stainless  rubrail back on the boat.  I also found a local sign maker to do the name and numbers.  Years ago I did the same kind of lettering on another boat.  It was very tedious getting the letters right.  The way it's done now is easy.  They put the letters sandwiched between sticky paper.  Peal the one backer off while applying the letters, then when it's right you peal the top layer off.

Pullman sink

There was some chatter on the Alberg site about sinks in the head area.  This boat does not have one.  I thought that kind of odd given all the upgrades the previous owners did to this boat.  I'm told that some Albergs came with fold up sinks.  These are commonly referred to as Pullman sinks from the namesake railroad cars.  I'm going to build one.  I found a perfect bowl for this.  It came from Home Goods and is a two quart stainless steel  mixing bowl.  It will be mounted on a wood block with hinges for folding up.  I'll faberacate some kind of drain.  This will go nicely  with the mirror and the toothbrush holder...

I built a stand.  The hole is for a pump.  That will be stationary while the sink folds up. Still haven't figured out a drain.

 

 

Wow+

What more can I say.  I'm really impressed with the paint.  It flowed with no runs or sags. I used a 1/4 inch nap roller. We'll do another coat on Sunday.  Update...  We got the second coat on the boat and it just looks like a million bucks.  I didn't do any of the work!  Shane did it all.

 

Boot stripe

We're getting rid of the red on this boat.   Shane gets to do the paint.  He ran a painting company during college so he knows how to paint.  Two coats on the boot and then we will tackle the hull.   I bought 4 quarts of Rustoleum Topside marine paint.  Going to do that job next Friday.
Update on the bootstripe
  I put the second coat on and pulled the tape.  I also made a tiller cover.  I'm getting quite good at the sewing machine!

Woodwork is done

I finally got a fair day to re-install the cockpit coamings.  When I took these off last November the 1/4 round molding that covered the gap disintegrated.  I have a solution for that but it can wait for a while. I also rebuilt and refinished the drop boards. Main thing is the cockpit is back in order.  Next up is a pressure washer for all the dirt.

The marina where we are is under new management and they are going full tilt on rebuilding the docks and generally getting the place in nice shape.  They even put a little  house back on the dock.

Other parts

I haven't done too much lately because the weather is still not behaving.  I did get one nice day this week and I finished sanding the hull, getting it ready for paint. I'm going to paint the hull Navy blue and the boot stripe white with blue bottom paint. I've been doing the woodwork back at my shop..  I got the cockpit combings varnished.  I'm using a urethane varnish.  I'm finding that the urethane is better than regular varnish.  My opinion!    I contracted with  the marina to do the stuffing box so we are getting down to the end of the winter punch list.  

 Stainless steal rubrail is off and the hull was sanded with 60 grit paper.  I did the teak too.  Looks good.

                                               Seat locker cover.  I fiberglassed both seats.