Slow and steady wins the race

Another several weeks have flown by without an update on 'ol Creeky, but that's not because I haven't been making progress.  I've just been cranking away at things little by little as time has allowed.  Every night when I get home from work I try to make some headway on a major project and do some reorganizing.  So far so good.  I've also been doing lot's of reading in between and even more list making.  

The most frustrating part of this whole endeavor has got to be the sheer number of competing priorities at a given moment.  There are two seemingly endless lists of projects: 1) those focused around the mechanical function of the boat, and 2) those regarding the livability of Creeky as a home.  It is so easy to get overwhelmed by all of the potentially urgent projects.  I think I'm getting better at zeroing in on them as time goes by though.

Here are some highlights:  

1) In between other epoxy-based projects I managed to crank out a new engine control mount for the steering pedestal.  The first one I made didn't take into account how far below the control lever the throttle and shifter cables need to go, but this one should do the trick.

New engine control mount setting up

New engine control mount cured

2) Made a box to cover the cutout in the state room bulkhead for the exhaust elbow.  This should help to cut down on the lingering bilge smell that creeps in on hot days.

Exhaust elbow cover

Exhaust elbow cover 2

3) Put weather stripping down under the cabin sole panels.  Similar to #2, this has helped with bilge-stink lingering.  No pictures.

4) Put wood stove sealer and gasket maker on exhaust elbow connections to hopefully safeguard against any CO leaks.  I also painted the elbow with high-temp exhaust paint.  The next step is to wrap the elbow with exhaust header wrap to help reduce the radiation of heat to the bulkhead.  No pictures.

5) Finally made up my mind about the steering setup below the cockpit and pulled the trigger on buying new wire rope and a $106 piece of mahogany.  I am building a frame out of 1.5"x10" mahogany that will be bonded to the hull and cockpit sole with fiberglass and epoxy.  I am still planning to use the pull-pull conduit that came with the boat, which will drop down directly below the pedestal.  It will then wrap around the underside of the cockpit sole over the rudder post and terminate into the sides of the mahogany frame.  The description and pictures below may seem confusing now, but it will all make sense when I post pictures of the finished project.

Only the quadrant will be used for the cockpit steering.  The radial wheel may be used for the setup in the salon (if I ever get around to it).  

The mahogany frame will be glassed in under the supports with the free space filled in.

Three sides of the basic setup.  There will be one more side angled to match the slope of the hull.

A look at the angle of the lower side (right).

This is the frame clamped together and setting up (upside down).  The bottom (top) board is just there to keep things square.

That's a big 'ol roll of woven roving!

Adding some more strength to the joints.

Glassing up some 3/4" oak to bring the cockpit sole down to the same level as the cross-supports.

The same thing will be done on this side with woven roving to make nice sealed panels. 

I should have added more filler so this would be more like peanut butter.  Oops.

6) In keeping with the balance of livability and mechanical function I installed my propane detection and control system.

Hose connection on back of stove

Propane "sniffer" located under stove since LPG is heavier than air

Hose running under sink area.

More under sink area.  All of this will need some tidying up and chafe protection later on.

The solenoid and regulator setup at the tank.  This will eventually go into a propane locker when I have time to build one.  Thanks for the propane tank Billy!!!

The control panel mounted above the electrical panel.

Here you can see that the "Red Danger" light is on.  I was testing the sniffer by opening the valve on my blowtorch next to it.  Next, the solenoid automatically closes off the gas supply and an alarm goes off until the sniffer no longer detects propane.  Pretty cool system.

Success!!!

7) I have to give a big thanks to Lesley for helping me do some much needed organizing, and once again to Jesse for helping me plan out some systems.  It really made a huge difference, and having less clutter has bought me at least a few more weeks of sanity.  You guys rock (as do your children).

I'm sure there are some other things that I'm leaving out, but they will have to wait until my next update.