This season we have experienced more than our share of boat maintenance. I know, I know, "poor Rob and Nancy.... Living it up in Mexico, and complaining about a few boat chores" I can just hear a teeny little violin (not even a cello) being played right now...
When you start using a boat more, you would expect that you would have more stuff to fix.
I get that, but for one reason or another, this year has been by far the most..... challenging.
Maybe being 17 years old means that Shindig has become a surly teenager.
When we put the boat to bed in June we usually spend two weeks decommissioning the boat for summer in La Paz. All the sails come off, anything bolted to the rails gets put down below. There is a long list of chores that we power through in the heat of June so that we feel good about leaving the boat for 4 months during hurricane season.
The recommissioning process in the Fall usually unwinds all that was done in June; then we can apply proper fixes to things that broke the season before and make a few upgrades for the next season.
I always expect there to be a few bumps along the way but not like the Baja 1000.
Here is our recommissioning list and maintenance log so far. This list is exported from a handy to-do application on my iPad. It just keeps reminding me of all the things to do, as I juggle these projects with the proper amount of socializing required of me. I won't go into more details, but you might say that it is a wonder that Shindig has moved from the docks in La Paz,got a few fun days in the beautiful islands nearby, and is now in the marina at La Cruz. And that Nancy is still aboard and not flying out of here.
Let's just say that I am ready for the New Year and hopefully more sailing and less boat maintenance.
Recommissioning
list (what you do normally in the Fall to get ready for a Season)
Above Deck
Inspect
for hurricane damage (bent stanchion, lost tricolor lens, broken dock line)
Put Diesel
fuel in jugs
Get Dinghy
fuel
Replace
dinghy fuel filter
Mark
anchor chain at 50 ft increments
Install fishing rod holders
Install lifesling
Install engine hoist
Refill
scuba tank
Remount Lifting harness on outboard
Unlock
dinghy lock
Inflate dinghy
Wash
dinghy chaps
Make body
strap for new hookah I can use for cleaning the bottom and sides of the boat
Polish and
install outboard motor lock
Lube outboard
steering and throttle, inspect plugs
Re-rig all
halyards
Bend on
jib
Bend on
main
Add chafe discs
to outhaul
Install
board racks
Put up
bimini
Install
solar panels
Test
output of solar panels
Clean out
aft lazzerette- cleaning supplies
Test
hookah
Rig
outhaul and move line above boom light
Below deck
Inspect
and replace zincs as needed
Place oil
pads in bilge
Put in new
galley water filter
Check fan
for battery box
Water
maker - remove and replace RO elements
Fit new
damage control pump impeller
Lube aft
fans
Install new raw
water impeller on Onan
Flush raw
water and fresh water side of Onan with barnacle buster
Zinc in
heat exchanger - Perkins
Flush raw
water and fresh water side of Perkins with barnacle buster
New
coolant for "Perky"
Flush raw
water side of Perky
New raw
water impeller on Perkins
Engine and
generator vacuum brake inspect
Transmission
cooler service
Lube steering
cables
Test Generator
- not getting to RPM - 95 volts and 52 to 54 HZ - white smoke
Drain
shocked water from tank
Backup
computer and photos to server and external HDD
Check A/C
New bilge
pump impeller
Turn on
refer and inspect for freon leaks
Flush
generator with barnacle buster
Flush Perkins with barnacle buster
Inspect
and tighten Allen bolts on shaft coupling
Inspect
engine batteries- voltage differential
Service all
strainers
Test bow
thruster
Test sailing
instruments and radar
Test VHF
Test Ham
Radio
Test
Pactor modem
Test navigation
lights
General and Unexpected Maintenance
Generator
- remove exhaust system and repair
blockage
Generator –
make new exhaust manifold gaskets
Generator –
clean and pressure test heat exchanger
Generator - clean head for exhaust gasket
Generator
- exhaust tube weld patch
Generator
- Retest generator for water leaks
Generator
- Touch up paint for Onan near water pump
Generator - backside and pan cleanup
Generator
- heat exchanger cleaning and paint
Generator
- mixing elbow cleaning and paint
Generator
- exhaust manifold cleaning and paint
Generator -
Reinstall generator sound box
Generator –
Raw water pump leaking – replace with spare
Generator
- Remove failed heat exchanger – replace
Generator
- drill out drain cock for generator coolant
Install new
dinghy transom guard
Fix red
LEDs in electrical panel for sockets, water heater and microwave
Water
maker – diverter valve failed - re plumb without diverter valve
Water
maker - install new boost pump and test
Aft head
leaking - pinhole in hose – replace 8 feet of hose (Yucky job)
Fix port
deck fitting that was broken off. – fill and paint
Install new
boom light
Replace lost tri color lens
Touch up
paint on boom vang
Paint thru-hull handles
Replace failed
aft cabin fan
Replace failed thruhull for generator raw water
Fix green
washdown hose
Paint
outboard flushing device - rusted
Re adjust
belt and pulley on refer
House
alternator is misbehaving – measure output and monitor
Pressure
switch for fresh water failed – replace
Pressure
pump weeping from bottom – rebuild pump
Clean
switch connections on primary winches – port side intermittent
Clean
corrosion on the transmission CV joint and paint
Replace
failing Perkins exhaust hose 2.5 ft
Paint and
install new exhaust mixing elbow on Perkins
Replace mater maker RO elements and test
Replace
failed bilge pump
Replace failed
AC recirculation pump
Replace
failed sump pumps
Install
torsion springs on door latches that are broken
Fix
chicken loop on kiteboarding harness
Rebuild spare
generator raw water pump
Fix bent
stanchion – gift from Hurricane Odile
Replace aft head manual pump
Firmware
update for solar controller
Replace failed
alternator cooling fan
Replace corroded stern shower H/C handles
Lube
primary winches
Replace
failed 24v alternator
Service
clickers on both fishing poles
Replace
hot water tank pressure relief valve
Upgrades
Install
24v fan at nav station
Install Wichard
folding pad eye on mast for dingy hoist
Missing Tricolor lens after Hurricane Odile Going up the 70 ft mast is needed for this photo |
Replacement of the RO elements for the water maker. |
Restriction found in the generator exhaust |
Pressure testing the generator heat exchanger - FAIL |
Two fried alternators, leaking pressure relief valve and failed heat exchanger. Merry Christmas |
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.