Started off the morning with my normal ritual of getting on the Internet, answering email, checking the weather, while making a pot of coffee.

Worked on table tops, sealed with Krylon Fusion, worked on pin rails, dyed refrigerator trim and wire covering wood.

When I arrived at the shop, I started in on the pin rails. The epoxy had set up, so I sanded and scraped them again down to the bare wood. When they were all sanded down, it was not necessary to apply another coat of epoxy. I then hung them up in the shop getting them ready for the application of the Smith’s penetrating epoxy.

Hanging Pin Rails

I masked off the main cabin table. I then applied the coat of Krylon Fusion clear sealant to the chart that I had glued down to the main cabin table.

Masked Main Cabin Table

Painted Main Cabin Table

When the paint had set up on the charts on the main cabin table, I worked to level each piece of the main cabin table. I finally got both pieces level, so now we are ready to pour on the table resin.

Leveled Main Cabin Table

I then set out the refrigerator/freezer teak trim pieces along with the teak wire covers. I the applied the dye (Agent Orange) to all of the pieces of teak. I do not have a photo of the dyed parts, but do have a photo of the refrigerator/freezer teak trim pieces.

Refrigerator/freezer Teak Trim Pieces

To finish off the day. I got back onto the teak name boards. These are very time consuming because of all of the scroll work carved into the name boards.

Started off the morning with my normal ritual of getting on the Internet, answering email, checking the weather, while making a pot of coffee.

When I got to the shop this morning I mixed a pot of epoxy and applied it to the pin rail to repair them.

Pin Rail With Epoxy Applied

While the epoxy on the pin rails was setting up, I scraped and sanded the teak wire covers, and got them ready for the dye (Agent Orange) application. When the covers were completely sanded I put them on Kitty’s computer desk for the dye (Agent Orange) application, and for the application of varnish.

Sanded Teak Wire Covers

By the time the teak wire covers were finished the epoxy had set up on the pin rails. I scraped and sanded the pin rails again. It was necessary to apply another coat of epoxy to the pin rails, which I did.

While the second coat of epoxy was setting up, I continued sanding and scraping the name boards. I left the second coat of epoxy to set up over night.

Drove to Nassau Bay, Texas, and back to help a friend with a doctors appointment. While my friend was in the doctors, I drove to Dickinson and purchased aluminum for dodger at Momentum Recycling.

Started off the morning with my normal ritual of getting on the Internet, answering email, checking the weather, while making a pot of coffee.

Worked on the spare outboard power head. I was able to remove one of the broken bolts, but not the second. It is still stuck, so more liberal applications of PB Blaster. I also attempted to remove the drive shaft housing from the power head. Two of the bolts broke off, and I was able to get the third bolt out. The drive shaft housing is still attached to the power head. More PB Blaster!!

I also had to replace the light bulb for the light in the nav station. Then I worked on the pan locker in the galley. The catch had come loose, so I fixed that problem with longer screws.

Worked all day on the computer catching up on email and receipts from the boat show.

Drove back to Delcambre from the boat show in Houston yesterday, so Alan and I spent the whole day in the shop working on the spare outboard.

We were finally able to remove the bracket assembly from the broken upper casing.

Broken Upper Bracket Assembly

We then assembled the bracket assembly onto the new long shaft upper casing.

New Upper Casing And Bracket Assembly

We then put together the new bottom casing with the new exhaust manifold attached to it. We were also able to remove all of the parts from the broken bottom casing to save as spares.

New Bottom Casing And New Exhaust Manifold

March 19, 2013, Tuesday

Started off the morning with my normal ritual of getting on the Internet, answering email, checking the weather.

When to the dock day sponsored by Sea Grant Louisiana. It was very interesting and informative. Learned alot about the shrimping industry in Texas and Louisiana.

Went over to the shop and re-installed the after market grill on the Black Beast. I had removed the after market grill so I could install the factory grille that was broken. I replaced the factory grill and passenger side headlamp.

The after market grill went back on with out too many problems.

After Market Grille On Black Beast

March 18, 2013, Monday

Started off the morning with my normal ritual of getting on the Internet, answering email, checking the weather, and getting the maintenance log updated.

I was finally able to get the bottom cowling separated from the upper casing on the spare outboard. With the power head also removed, I am on my way to getting all of the parts needed to get a fully functioning spare long shaft motor.

My new repair manual for the outboard on DVD finally arrived and I discovered what the name of the part is that is so corroded on the power head. It is the drive shaft housing.

Corroded Drive Shaft Housing On Power Head

This is really going to be a problem removing the drive shaft housing from the power head. For now I am just applying PB Blaster to the bolts holding the drive shaft housing to the power head and also the broken bolts in the power head.

I will also have to remove and replace the exhaust manifold that is broken and attached to the bottom cowling. The good news is I have a spare bottom cowling, exhaust manifold and upper casing.

Bottom Cowling With Broken Exhaust Manifold

Now it was time to cut the chart, and get it glued onto the main salon table. Since this was my last chart from our original trip to Puerto Rico, I was very careful. I measured three times before cutting. I got the chart cut, dry fitted on the table, and then glued down to the table.

Dry Fit Of Chart On Main Salon Table

Chart Being Clamped To Table After Glueing

Continued more work on sanding down the pin rails and preparing them for the application of epoxy to repair the pin rails. Also sanded the belaying pins in preparation for the application of Cetol.

Pin Rails Undergoing Sanding

Pin Rails Sanded And Ready For Epoxy

Next on the sanding list are the name boards. I am sanding them down and getting them prepared for varnish.

Name Boards Undergoing Sanding Process

Last item is to get the teak wire covers cut and prepared for installation. Many years ago I built electrical wire covers out of teak. When I re-wired DREAM AWAY, I wanted all of the wiring out where I could easily get to it and maintain it. I decided to use teak wire covers to hide the wiring with the appealing pieces of teak. The problem is I never got them installed, so now I am on a mission to get them installed where they need to be instead of carrying them around under a bunk!

Wire Cover Installed In Aft Cabin Overhead

I have two more covers to cover some wires in the Main cabin, that have to be “adjusted” to fit in their proper locations.

Teak Wire Covers Marked For “Adjusting”

March 17, 2013, Sunday

Started off the morning with my normal ritual of getting on the Internet, answering email, checking the weather, and getting the maintenance log updated, while making a pot of coffee.

Went over to the shop and replaced the headlamp assembly on the Black Beast. The passenger side light was not reflecting any light, so was very dim, and very dangerous. I wanted to get a new one installed before we made the trip over to Houston for the boat show.

I put the first coat of paint on the spare oar, then back to DREAM AWAY for breakfast.

Spare Oar Before Paint

Spare Oar After First Coat Of Paint

After breakfast, we went out and did the laundry. When we returned, I finished cleaning up the forward cabin. The mold from the winter condensation was really bad, and needed a lot of work.

When I was finished, Kitty and I went out for a ride in the tender using the Yamaha outboard with the extension kit installed. All went well, and when we returned we put the tender up in the davits, and I put the outboard on the dock.

I loaded the outboard in the Black Beast, along with some other parts, and went back to the shop. I unloaded the outboard and set it aside for right now. I have to remove the flywheel and install a new flywheel so I can install the electric start kit.

Still working on the spare outboard. I was able to remove the power head and only broke off two bolts that will have to be replaced. I have still not been able to separate the bracket, bottom cowling and the upper casing. Hopefully my new maintenance manual will arrive and explain how to accomplish this task.

I started measuring and cutting the Puerto Rico & Virgin Islands chart to get it ready for installation on the main salon table.

Chart Before First Cuts

Chart After Cutting Off Bottom Of Chart

March 16, 2013, Saturday

This whole day, starting at 0700 was spent at or supporting the Delcambre Seafood and Farmers Market. The day ended at 1430, and I was very tired, so we went back to DREAM AWAY and relaxed the remainder of the day.

March 15, 2013, Friday

Started off the morning with my normal ritual of getting on the Internet, answering email and checking the weather.

Removed Yamaha outboard from tender, and took it over to the shop. I took the outboard apart and discovered the water pumping problem. When I put the extension casting on the outboard the water tube extension, had moved, so did not go into the water pump.

I checked the alignment, and put the extension kit back together. I felt pretty confident that I had done it properly this time. I loaded the outboard back into the Black Beast, went back to the marina, unloaded the outboard from the Black Beast, the put the outboard back onto the tender.

I got everything set up, and started the outboard. Success! The motor started, and vast amounts of water was pumping! I then ran down Bayou Carlin past the shrimp boats, and put the tender up on a plane. It was great, the new kit worked just fine. Now I have to get three people in the tender and see if it will get up on a plane. Brought the tender back to the dock and tied it off.

Now it was time for volunteer work. I went over to the Shrimp Festival grounds and worked to get the set up done for the Delcambre Seafood and Farmers Market that will be happening tomorrow. We finished up about 1730.

Kitty was still working at the Port of Delcambre office preparing items for the upcoming boat show, so I went back to the shop and started working on cleaning up and sanding the pin rails and belaying pins. I left the shop around 1930 and walked back to the marina and DREAM AWAY.

Pin Rails And Belaying Pins Before Cleaning & Sanding

Pin Rails Before Cleaning & Sanding

March 14, 2013, Thursday

Started off the morning with my normal ritual of getting on the Internet, answering email and checking the weather.

The second application of epoxy had hardened, so I sanded down both pieces of the main salon table. Both pieces looked very good after sanding. There are a few very small places that could use another application of epoxy to fill in, but I am going to be covering the table surface with a chart and the bar top epoxy, so I can not see spending any more time with it.

Main Salon Table First Piece Post-Sanding

Main Salon Table Second Piece Post-Sanding

When the table top pieces were finished, I also sanded down the spare oar to get it ready for paint application.

Next, I started in on completing the anti-slide devises for friend Kittie’s magnetic cookers. I straightened out the stainless steel skewers, and then bent them at the proper location to slide down into the stainless steel tubing that I had cut and inserted into the cut Starboard. This was sort of installing a “fence”, and the solution looked like it would solve the problem.

Kittie has two of the magnetic cookers, so I built a second anti-slide device using the first anti-slide device as a template.

Anti-slide Devices With “fence” Installed

I then went back to the marina, and took the magnetic cooker, and the two anti-slide devices over to Kittie’s boat. She was very happy to have them.

I went to DREAM AWAY, and got the tender put in the water and ready to go. I then dropped the Yamaha outboard, with the new long shaft extension kit installed, onto the tender. Naturally being a Yamaha, it started right up, and after a minute it idled just fine.

The problem was there was no water coming out of the Pee tube, so I was not pumping water. I must have done something incorrect when I installed the water tube extension. I know the pump worked, because I checked that when I took the water pump apart.

It was late, so I tied up the tender, and decided to deal with the problem tomorrow. Before quitting for the day, I removed the pin rails and belaying pins from the man mast rigging. The pin rails are in bad need of maintenance. They will need to be repaired, and then Cetol applied before being put back onto DREAM AWAY.

March 13, 2013, Wednesday

Started off the morning with my normal ritual of getting on the Internet, answering email and checking the weather.

The first application of epoxy had hardened, so I turned to on sanding both pieces of the main salon table. When I had finished the sanding, the pieces looked very good, and I think they do not need any more sanding.

Main Salon Table First Piece Post-Sanding

Main Salon Table Second Piece Post-Sanding

I mixed up a batch of epoxy, and added some Cabosil as a thickener. I then applied the mix to the table tops, and filled in the imperfections as good as possible. I took as much extra care to fill in all of the bad spots.

I also used some of the epoxy to fill in on a spot that needed repair on a spare oar I keep for emergencies.

Second Application Of Epoxy To The Table Tops

I then started a project for a friend of ours here at the marina. She had a new cooker, actually two cookers that use magnetism to cook the food in non-ferrous cooking pots. The problem she has is with the pots sliding off of the cookers if the boats hit rough waters. She provided me with the Starboard for my planned anti-sliding device. So I cut out a piece of Starboard, and then cut and inserted four pieces of stainless steel tubing as uprights around the cooker to keep the pots from sliding off.

Magnetic Cooker

Magnetic Cooker Anti-sliding Device

When I took the anti-sliding device over to Kittie’s boat, we discovered the small cooking post slid right off the cooker, but the big pots remained on the cooker. We worked out that I would take some metal skewers, and adjust (bend) them to fit inside the four pieces of tubing. This would keep the small pots from sliding off of the cooker.

Before I left the shop, I continued to work on the spare outboard. I applied some more PB Blaster to all of the bolta I am attempting to remove. I also tried to loosen the bolts before I left the shop.

When I got back to DREAM AWAY, I changed out the filter in the fresh water system

I started the gen-set and ran it for three hours. I also ran a charge cycle on the batteries while the gen-set was running

March 12, 2013, Tuesday

Started off the morning with my normal ritual of getting on the Internet, answering email and checking the weather.

After breakfast, went over to the shop and checked on the freezer top. It was dry and looked good. Adding the thinner to the paint really helped.

Freezer Top Ready For Weather Stripping

As you can see from the picture, I have the weather stripping ready to go. I cut and applied the weather stripping to the Freezer top, so it is now ready for installation back on the freezer.

Freezer Top With Weather Stripping

Now it was time to start with getting the Formica off of the first piece of the main salon table. With patience and time, I got all of the Formica off f the first piece of the main salon table.

First Main Salon Table Piece With Varnish And Formica Removed

As with the other piece, some of the plywood came off with the Formica. So I will have to repair the two pieces before I can put the Puerto Rico chart on the table.

Main Salon Table Pieces Ready For Epoxy Repair

I got the two table pieces set up, and ready to go. I mixed up a batch of epoxy, and added some Cabosil as a thickener. I then applied the mix to the table tops, and filled in the imperfections as good as possible. Based on past experience, I will probably have to apply the epoxy filler two or three times to get the tops really smooth.

Next I started back working on the spare outboard motor. I have discovered that the repair manual I have for the motor, does not cover replacing the parts I wish to replace. So I will have to go it alone, but I am pretty sure I will be able to get the job done. I have to remove and replace the upper casing, and also remove the bracket. Today I started the disassembly, but some of the stainless steel bolts were very tight in the Aluminum casting. I stopped and sprayed all of the bolts down with Screwloose.

Outboard Engine And Parts On Work Bench

March 11, 2013, Monday

Started off the morning with my normal ritual of getting on the Internet, answering email and checking the weather.

Went over to the shop and first looked at the freezer top. It had reached room temperature, so it was ready to paint. The problem is it was too cold in the morning, so waited till noon when the temperature was warmer. I used the same two part epoxy paint I had used on the refrigerator top. I added more thinner to this batch, and it went on very nice. Tomorrow when the paint is dried, all I have to do will be to add the weather stripping.

Started in again on the second main salon table piece, and finally got all of the Formica removed from the table top. By the end of the day, I had removed all of the Formica from the table top, and all of the varnish. I will have to do a couple of repairs to the wood on the table piece because of some gouges made while removing the Formica. The first main salon table piece is now ready for the Formica removal.

Second Main Salon Table Piece With Varnish And Formica Removed

First Main Salon Table Piece Ready For Formica Removal

March 10, 2013, Sunday

Started off the morning with my normal ritual of getting on the Internet, answering email and checking the weather.

Went over to the shop and checked on the painted drawer and the painted refrigerator top. Both looked good, and dry. I then cut the weather stripping and applied it to the underside of the refrigerator top.

Refrigerator Top With Weather Stripping Applied

Started in on removing varnish from the first piece of the main salon table. I used scrapers rather than a heat gun, but I may give the heat gun a try, and see if it is any easier.

Removing Varnish From First Main Salon Table Piece

Went back to DREAM AWAY for lunch, and took the painted drawer and the finished refrigerator top. I put the refrigerator top back into its place after removing the temporary top. I also put the newly painted drawer back into it’s place, and all of my T-Shirts back into the drawer. Before leaving DREAM AWAY to go back to the shop, I put the temporary top in the freezer, and took the freezer top back to the shop.

I finished the varnish removal on the first piece of the main salon table. I started in on the second piece of the main salon table. I removed all of the epoxy and the chart from the table. While doing this, I discovered the table top was actually covered with Formica. This was probably why the epoxy did not stick to the table. I started in removing the Formica from the table top. This was much harder than removing the epoxy.

Removing Formica From Second Main Salon Table Piece

It is more effort, but I believe the epoxy will stick much better to the wood than the Formica.

I was not able to paint the freezer top because it never reached room temperature. With any luck, I will be able to paint the top tomorrow.

Freezer Top Coming To Room Temperature

March 9, 2013, Saturday

Started off the morning with my normal ritual of getting on the Internet, answering email and checking the weather. I also had a bunch of scanning to do and updating spreadsheets.

I had brought over to DREAM AWAY the new temporary reefer top, and the new temporary table. After breakfast, I installed the new temporary top in the reefer. Easy to do, pull out the original, and insert the temporary.

Temporary Top Installed

Next was to remove the original main salon table and install the temporary main salon table. This was a more time consuming, as the table is bolted down to the table base. I got the job done and we now have a fine new unfinished plywood table in the main salon.

Table Base With Table Removed

Table Top Pieces Removed From Table

New Table Top In Main Salon

Now I loaded the main salon table parts and the old reefer top into the Black Beast, and took them over to the shop. When I got to the shop, I had to change priorities. I was last working on the spare outboard, but that will have to be put on the back burner until I get the reefer/freezer tops and the main salon table finished.

Outboard Parts On Work Bench

First on the agenda was to get the reefer top cleaned up and ready for painting. This was pretty easy to do. Scrape the old weather striping off of the top, then wipe the top down with acetone. Then I sanded down the top so it was nice and smooth, and again wiped it down with acetone.

Reefer Top Ready For Paint

Now it was time to work on the main salon table top. First was to remove all of the old epoxy and chart that was on one half of the table. If you remember the main salon table is a drop down table, so the top is actually in two pieces. This was not too bad, as the epoxy came off pretty easy. I finished the first piece of the table, and cleaned up from that. Pieces of broken epoxy went all over.

Removing Epoxy From Table Top

Now it was time to prepare for the painting. Because I do all type of work in the shop, I do the painting last, so I get get the shop cleaned up and allow the dust to settle. So far it seems to be a good plan.

I decided to try painting the reefer top. I have had good luck with a two part epoxy paint I had purchased in Guatemala, so I decided to use it on the reefer top. I checked the drawer that I had painted yesterday with a water base latex paint. It looked real good, so I used a tack rag and wiped down the inside of the drawer, and the reefer top. I then mixed up the two part paint, and was ready for the application phase.

Reefer Top Ready For Painting

Drawer Ready For Second Coat

I the applied the two part epoxy paint to the reefer lid. The paint went on very well, but I think I could have used more thinner. When I do the freezer lid, I will add more thinner.

Painted Reefer Top

Cleaned up the area and the brushes from the reefer top application, and the applied the second coat of paint to the drawer.

Drawer With Second Coat Of Paint

Cleaned up the area and the brushes from that project, closed up the shop and went back to DREAM AWAY. When I got back to DREAM AWAY, I mixed up a batch of soap and water, and scrubbed out the tender. It was in pretty bad shape, very dirty, so it needed attention. I wanted it cleaned out so I can get the upgraded Yamaha outboard on it and tested.

I also scrubbed down the back ¼ of DREAM AWAY. The whole boat is in need of a cleaning. I will finish that job tomorrow or the coming Monday.

March 8, 2013, Friday

Started off the morning with my normal ritual of getting on the Internet, answering email and checking the weather.

Spent the whole day in the shop except for a breakfast break.

First item on the agenda was to finish the welder table, and get the welder set up. I completed this task and also checked out the welder to make sure it functioned. I was able to draw an arc on stainless steel. The welder and the auto darkening helmet functioned perfectly.

Table With Welder Set Up.

The next project was to get the small table for the hand power tools to set on. I have a roll around table, but when I want to do some dirty work, I take the roll around table outside to do the work on, but I have to set all of the hand power tools on the floor. Not a good solution. I built a small table and used empty plastic containers as the legs.

Small Tool Table

The next project was to complete my “temporary” tops for the refrigerator/freezer. I have to replace the sealing strips around the tops, but to do that the tops have to be dry and reach room temperature. I need “temporary” tops to fill the space while I am working on the real tops. I calculate I will need a day or two to complete the sealing upgrade to the tops. I decided to use ½” pieces of insulation glued together with Liquid Nails. I finished fabrication of the “temporary” top, and I am ready to get the real tops over to the shop and finished as quickly as possible.

Fabricated “Temporary” Top

Next on the list for today was to get a T-Shirt drawer off of DREAM AWAY, so the interior of the drawer could be painted. We have discovered over the years, that if you leave the teak inside of drawers unpainted the oils in the teak will leach into the clothing, and ruin it. I have been slowly taking drawers off of DREAM AWAY, and getting the drawer interior painted.

This picture is of scraping the old paint out of a drawer.

Another project have been wanting to get under way is to repair the table in the main salon. As you may remember I refinished the main salon table several years ago.

Main Salon Table

I put a chart of Puerto Rico on the table, and covered the table with an epoxy resin. I did not use the proper resin, and the layer of epoxy has lifted off of the table. Now I have to redo the chart on the table, and also varnish the table.

The bar top epoxy I ordered from AeroMarine Products arrived today. This is the resin I will use on the table to cover the chart of Puerto Rico.

Because I am taking the table out of the main salon, I constructed a “temporary” table to use while I am working on the refit of the original table. It will probably take two to three weeks to get the table done. It will take five or six days just for the varnish!

The last project I worked on today was starting on the upgrade of my spare Yamaha 15 HP outboard. I will not bore you with the whole story of how I ended up with the extra outboard, I just did.

The spare outboard had some damage in shipment, and needed the upper casing replaced. Because of my experience with the original outboard, I knew I needed to make a long shaft out of the outboard, so it could be used with our Livingston tender.

Being the patient sort, I have been obtaining all of the necessary parts I would need for the repair and the upgrade from eBay. It has taken a couple of years, but I have them all together.

I sorted through all of the parts, and I have been spraying down all of the bolts on the motor with Screwloose so I would not have any problems with backing out all of the bolts.

I checked out the new lower drive unit, and verified the water pump impeller is good. Everything else in the lower unit seems to be good. I have not checked the oil in the lower unit, but will get on that tomorrow.

Before leaving for the day, I applied the first coat of paint to the drawer I cleaned out, and sanded in preparation for the painting process.

March 7, 2013, Thursday

Started off the morning with my normal ritual of getting on the Internet, answering email and checking the weather.

I then went over to the shop and got the damaged air conditioner ready for pickup. The unit was damaged in shipment from Tampa to Delcambre. It really was not packed very well, and resulted in damage. This is a Cruisair air conditioner I purchased off of eBay as a spare in case the new one I purchased fails. The original Cruisair unit lasted 18 years, so I have confidence in their systems.

I had a store room mate give me some seats he was throwing away. I wanted to salvage the foam and the wood. Not sure what I would use them for, but did not want to throw them away.

I decided I needed to use the wood to build a table to put my welder on. I wanted the welder up, and out of the way, but also easy to access when I start the welding projects. I spent the time stripping the seats getting the foam and wood separated.

We had to drive to New Iberia, and on the way I went by Xtreme Marine, and saw they had a pallet out by their dumpster. I told Kitty when we come back, and the pallet is still there I want to get it. We came back, it was there, I got it. We took it to the shop, and I went to work on taking the pallet apart. Bottom line is I have enough wood to build the welder table and another table to put my small electric tools on. This will get them up and out of the way. Tomorrow I hope to finish the tables, and work on temporary lids for the reefer/freezer.

March 6, 2013, Wednesday

Attended a Seafood Academy session in the morning. It was a worthwhile effort, and I learned a lot of information about the seafood industry in general, and the shrimping industry in Louisiana. We also met a couple of new friends that came over to DREAM AWAY and visited.

Worked in the forward cabin, and got out the bottle of argon, and all of the other welding parts. I have to run the wiring, and build a small table, but hope to get the welder operational very soon.

March 5, 2013, Tuesday

Attended a Seafood Academy session in the morning, and then helped Kitty with errands and chores getting ready for the Southwest International In The Water Boat Show.

March 4, 2013, Monday

Nice warm day when I went over to the shop. Messed around with the Yamaha outboard, but still could not figure out why the outboard is difficult to shift. Played around with electric start kit, but first have to remove the flywheel. Will need some way to hold the flywheel, and loosen the bolt, and then will need a puller.

Messed around with the wood I will need to fix up and cover the area in the aft cabin where the backing plates are for the aft cleats and the dinghy davits.

I sanded down all of the pieces of teak wood on which I had put the fourth coat of varnish. I wiped down all of the parts with a tack rag. I then filtered the varnish, and applied the fifth coat to the teak wood pieces. I will probably put on a sixth coat of varnish and call it quits. After all this is inside wood, so six coats applied with a brush should be adequate. If the wood was exterior, it would require at least 12 coats, and a tape change every four to five coats.

March 3, 2013, Sunday

Another cold day but very sunny, and warmed up as the day went on. I went over to the shop, and continued with the Yamaha long shaft extension kit installation. I installed the studs and all of the extension pieces. Before I put the gear housing back on the engine I took the water pump apart and made sure the impeller was in good shape. It was so it all went back together. The gear housing went back on the engine with no problems. I am anxious to get the engine on the dinghy and test out the long shaft.

I still have to install the electric start option, but that will come as soon as I can get some drawings to show exactly how all the parts go into and attach to the engine. I also spent some time trying to figure out why the shift mechanism is so hard to shift. I was not able to come to a resolution. The shift mechanism is not mentioned at all in my Yamaha manual, so I will have to see if I can find another manual that cover this issue.

Next I worked on the vice. The vice jaws are steel, and very hard. I had some pieces of angle aluminum which I cut to the size of the jaws and hammered them onto the jaws. Now I can put wood and soft metals into the vice without having to worry about damaging it.

I had sanded all of the teak wood pieces yesterday, so I wiped down all of the parts with a tack rag. I then filtered the varnish, and applied the fourth coat to the teak wood pieces.

March 2, 2013, Saturday

Today was a cold day here in Delcambre, so did not go over to the shop until around noon. In the morning I spent my time on the computer checking weather, and scanning in paperwork by the pound! Eventually, I will get most of the paper off of the boat and onto electronic media.

When I did get over to the shop, I was able to install the second shop light I had purchased this past Thursday. I had to go to the hardware store and purchase a plug, but got the light up and working over the workbench. I must remember to bring my camera with me to take photos of the progress.

I had sanded the teak wood pieces yesterday, so all I had to do was apply the fourth coat of varnish to all of the teak wood pieces.

I then started into working on my primary 15 HP Yamaha outboard. On this motor I am installing an extension kit from Bay Manufacturing who makes a specific extension kit to make the engine a long shaft. I had been applying PB Blaster to all of the bolts on the engine, so they would be easy to remove. As I thought the bolts came right out, so I was able to remove the gear housing from the motor. Hopefully installing the extension kit will be pretty easy going. Once that project is complete, I have to install the electric start kit on this engine.

By 1500 in the afternoon, I was getting cold, so I headed back to DREAM AWAY, and continued with paperwork scanning project.

March 1, 2013, Friday

We got some domestic chores taken care of, and then I went over to the shop. I finished getting all of the stuff from Alan’s storeroom put away, and generally straightened up the area to make the shop more productive, and easier to use.

I was able to get one of the shop lights installed over the saw table. The second light I was not able to install, because I did not have a power plug for it. The good news is when I left the shop, the first light was still working.

I sanded down all of the pieces of teak wood on which I had put the third coat of varnish. The sandpaper I used was 320 grit, so I was just preparing the surface for the next coat. It was late in the afternoon, and getting cold, so I did not apply the fourth coat of varnish.