November 30, 2013 - Impellor repairs...cont'd

Well, Hank got the tools necessary to remove my impeller... was very easy, quick and painless operation.

Now with my impeller on the service bench, pump doctor Richard Grass will perform the operation of removing the rusted bolts on the impeller. The extraction did not go well... now ALL the bolts have broken off, leaving the bolt shafts in the impeller body. These shafts must be extracted, or we have to replace the entire pump.

got one bolt out, but broken off the three other bolts.

Pump Doctor Richard Grass performing the operation

Using drill, harden drill-bit (which got broken), a special file (which got broken), and WD40 spray, they only got 2 out of 4 shafts out!

Pump doctor Richard took my impeller pump home to continue the repairs there... needs a vise and drill press... maybe need to drill out the remaining two shafts and  re-tap new treads.

Hank now waiting for the doctor's report and the successful operation. Failing that... a new pump needs to be ordered.

For now...

Tarka out!

November 28, 2013 - Cont'd of engine repairs - Impeller replacement

Hank continued to work on my impeller replacement. His fears were materialized... bolts are rusted completely through. The only option now is to remove the impeller completely and hope that the bolts can be removed... if not... need to replace the entire impeller!

Needless to say, access to remove the impeller will be difficult. You can only use one hand to remove the impeller

You can see from the photos, that the bolts have completed rusted off. While just removing the rust with a wire brush, one of the bolts head came off.

Having a small camera works great; you can get into cramp spaces and see what you are getting into. Note the lower left bolt head is now broken off... rusted completed through. Hopefully we can still remove the bolt, once we have it on the bench.

Hank has now removed all the "stuff" around the impeller for ease of removal... diesel filter, engine controls, all raw water hoses (they now may need replacing as well). wiring, etc.

Now all Hank needs is a universal socket joint to remove the last mounting bolt...

That is it for today...

Tarka out!

November 27, 2013 - Engine Repairs

Today, Hank came over to check up on me... sitting here... waiting for something to happen. For the last month or so, the "birds" have taken over the marina! More shit (bird droppings) that I have ever experienced. My deck, cockpit, boom cover completely covered with the stuff... not nice! To top it all, the marina has shut down the water for the winter (lines will freeze up). Needless to say, Hank will not be cleaning my deck for a while, hopefully the rain will take some of it away.

In addition to checking on me, he is going to replace my raw water impeller; the little water pump that takes the ocean water and pumps it through my heat exchanger. Hank has not replaced the impeller since May 10, 2010, so it is due.

By the looks of the pictures... something needs to be done!

looks like this will take some time to remove the four little bolts.

rust and salt encrusted to say the least

needed to remove all the stuff for access to the side of the motor.

 
Only 4 little screws to undone, pull out the impeller and replace it with a new one. Sounds simple, but that job will take the entire day or more. Problems...
Access:
Getting access to the pump, you have to take the entire cabin apart, then removing the diesel lines and filter.

the impeller is on the left rear side of the motor.

Then somehow remove the rusted bolts. you need to lay on your back, squeeze through an access port, using one hand to to the work. The guy who designed the pump location should be flogged!

Could not finished the job today, as I need to buy a special screw driver or ? to remove the rusted bolts.

Hank will be back as soon as he has the parts...

Tarka out!

November 02 2013 - Winter get ready

Well this is it, it seems that Hank is getting me ready for the winter.

He was over this weekend removing a lot of my deck equipment and storing the stuff at home or in my cabin.

Bimini top removed, Boom vang line and jib sheet lines (replaced with old lines), lazy jacks brought down so my boom cover will fit properly to give better protection of my main sail, removed all stay covers, added extra fenders to protect my hull, removed the BBQ, removed little Tarkie's engine, removed the cockpit seat, removed all flags, put back the dehumidifier,

However, Hank always leaves enough sailing gear on board, as we sail year round.

Now sitting here, half naked, waiting for the winter storms to arrive and going for the occasional winter sail.

Tarka out!

Oct 26 2013 - Snug Cove - With Caroline and Aaron

Another get away trip to Snug Cove... just to get away. Nothing out of the ordinary, just a peaceful sunny weekend with friends.

We left on Friday morning... setup camp, sort of speak... waiting for Caroline to arrive the following day by ferry (she has to work).

Hank went for long walks up the hills sides, even got up to the look-out buff!

It is nice being the only colourful boat around, I sort of stand out in the crowd.

Hank greeted Caroline at the ferry terminal in the morning, spending the rest of the day going for walks, drinks, dinners, etc.

Caroline is on this ferry!

Aaron arrived on Rosa Maria later in the day, mooring next to us, as usual. :)

Aaron, Kia and Rosa Maria coming over to spend the weekend with us.

That night was a bit cool, but my two electric heaters worked very well, keeping my cabin nice and warm.

Rainforest - going up to the look-out

Trail going up to the look-out

Looking out towards Vancouver

BC Ferry coming into view, with Vancouver as a backdrop

Union Steamship Store / Marina

resident otters, playing (etc.) right next to me, so far they have been very good and not given me any presents. :)

We had a nice breeze to take us most of the way home.

Now resting again at home waiting for my next adventure

Tarka out!