SNOW????

[kimbottles]

I meant no disparagement Kim, I'm a slow learner too- meaning if I can I work on a project slowly and often better answers to my problems come when there is a gap in my work. I'm going through something like this on my Caterham right now. I tore a fender off and need to mount a new one (fiberglass fender on the aluminum body). Several of the original mounts were blind and I tore those out so now I need a way to get at the back of several closed off places in the body. Better and better answers come to me as I work on the easy part and stare at the difficult part. Some people are skilled at getting to great answers quickly the first time- they usually get paid for it. If I had the opportunity I'd be doing just what you are doing- I can't think of more fun.

Yeah Tucky, I have found that now that I am retired my sense of urgency has gone walkabout, so I take much more time to do anything and it always comes out much better than before. I spent a fair amount of time considering various ducting solutions until it just hit me that moving the furnace was the answer.

Then I spent some time mentally going over the steps involved before I got out the tools and started. The actual work went very fast because I had already sorted it all out in my mind. I never had time to do that when I was working and had a tight schedule. And the schedule was always on my mind so I had more stress in those days too.

I find working on FRANCIS to be very relaxing and fun.

I wish I had a Caterham (or better yet a Lotus Seven) but I am out of garage space in my 30x36 garage. I should have gone for the 30x48 garage, but that would have required moving the drain field. And I would have just filled it up. Someday I need to start getting rid of stuff. Maybe later on.

[kimbottles]

Furnace installation move was easy.

Everything lined up perfectly, that does not happen very often.
There were unused wire tie anchors exactly where I needed them to rerun the control and power wires.
The mounting bolts ended up hidden behind the starboard galley drawer.
The furnace placement means the exhaust port will be much higher above the waterline.
There are numerous possible locations for the dedicated fuel tank. I might try a selection before settling on the right one.
The heater outlet ports are very close to the new furnace location allowing easy duct installation.
There was plenty of room for this old body to sit comfortably in the engine room as I did the new installation.
Just have to cut the exhaust port hole, cover the old one and run ducts.

All boat projects should go this easily! (I did measure carefully and mock it up before I drilled any holes.)

(The tiller pilot project is moving along well too. Measurements all taken and the new pilot should be here in a week or two. Heavy duty, stainless steel instead of plastic, well located out of the cockpit, powerful (1000 pounds of thrust), good electronics, remote operator, should make single handed racing and double handed racing a possibility.)

[JoeP]

If I were a little kid I would make one of those snug empty spaces up forward or back aft my "cabin".

[kimbottles]

If I were a little kid I would make one of those snug empty spaces up forward or back aft my "cabin".

They are nice spaces, pretty much empty so easy to work in.

[kimbottles]

Poor FRANCIS!
She has a hole in her side!
Got to go shopping for a thru hull plug or something like that, I can't leave that hole in her!
(Note the G10 hole liner, I will duplicate that on the new exhaust port which will be a good 18" higher away from the water than this old one.)
I have to work up the courage to cut yet another hole in FRANCIS' hull!

[Tucky]

Good thing she doesn't heel much.

[kimbottles]

Just how strong is racers/helicopter tape anyway?

[Ish]

Just how strong is racers/helicopter tape anyway?

Gorilla Tape is much stronger, but leaves a lot more residue when you remove it. May as well stock up on Goo Gone right now.

[kimbottles]

Just how strong is racers/helicopter tape anyway?

Gorilla Tape is much stronger, but leaves a lot more residue when you remove it. May as well stock up on Goo Gone right now.

Hopefully it won't be there very long, just have to find a good plug. Jordan suggests a thruhull, because if white it will be less noticeable and as a thruhull it looks like it is functional, not just a plug.

I am looking at possibly piping a drain to the hole as the aft cockpit doesn't drain well, and maybe this opening will help that, (I would have to keep cleaning the hull under the drain as it is well above the waterline, but that's easy.)

Originally I considered a cedar plug, but then I would have to take her back to CSR for paint. I wish there was a nice blank white thruhull available that would simply close it off, haven't found one.

I called the Wallas people and discussed the details of the "best" exhaust configuration, the new one will be much better than old, as it will have the suggested drop from the loop and still be well above the old exit. However they discouraged using kerosene, they confirmed it will work, but is less safe than diesel.

[Ish]

Just how strong is racers/helicopter tape anyway?

Gorilla Tape is much stronger, but leaves a lot more residue when you remove it. May as well stock up on Goo Gone right now.

Hopefully it won't be there very long, just have to find a good plug. Jordan suggests a thruhull, because if white it will be less noticeable and as a thruhull it looks like it is functional, not just a plug.

I am looking at possibly piping a drain to the hole as the aft cockpit doesn't drain well, and maybe this opening will help that, (I would have to keep cleaning the hull under the drain as it is well above the waterline, but that's easy.)

Originally I considered a cedar plug, but then I would have to take her back to CSR for paint. I wish there was a nice blank white thruhull available that would simply close it off, haven't found one.

I called the Wallas people and discussed the details of the "best" exhaust configuration, the new one will be much better than old, as it will have the suggested drop from the loop and still be well above the old exit. However they discouraged using kerosene, they confirmed it will work, but is less safe than diesel.

What is the hole size? Maybe we can crowdsource something.

My Espar repair guy suggested I should run on kerosene "because the diesel here is crap". The Espar care and feeding guide suggests running for an hour on kerosene at high to clean out the combustion chamber, something I do once a year now. It really helps, but my furnace is ancient.

[kimbottles]

Just how strong is racers/helicopter tape anyway?

Gorilla Tape is much stronger, but leaves a lot more residue when you remove it. May as well stock up on Goo Gone right now.

Hopefully it won't be there very long, just have to find a good plug. Jordan suggests a thruhull, because if white it will be less noticeable and as a thruhull it looks like it is functional, not just a plug.

I am looking at possibly piping a drain to the hole as the aft cockpit doesn't drain well, and maybe this opening will help that, (I would have to keep cleaning the hull under the drain as it is well above the waterline, but that's easy.)

Originally I considered a cedar plug, but then I would have to take her back to CSR for paint. I wish there was a nice blank white thruhull available that would simply close it off, haven't found one.

I called the Wallas people and discussed the details of the "best" exhaust configuration, the new one will be much better than old, as it will have the suggested drop from the loop and still be well above the old exit. However they discouraged using kerosene, they confirmed it will work, but is less safe than diesel.

What is the hole size? Maybe we can crowdsource something.

My Espar repair guy suggested I should run on kerosene "because the diesel here is crap". The Espar care and feeding guide suggests running for an hour on kerosene at high to clean out the combustion chamber, something I do once a year now. It really helps, but my furnace is ancient.

Inside diameter is 2-3/16", but a 2 inch would work OK, the outside ring would be great at 3.25" to cover the screw holes, but that might be asking too much.

Might just have to plug them with epoxy and find some touch up paint to match the Awlgrip "Off White". The hull is just barely over 1" thick, so the length is not much of an issue.

[Ish]

Forespar makes a white mushroom through-hull with 2.32" thread and 3.525 head flange size, so that is fairly close but you'd have to grind 3/16" out of the inside of the hole for a fit.
http://www.forespar.com/products/boat-marine-plumbing-mushroom-head-threaded-thru-hull.shtml

I'll keep looking...

Edit: this may be a silly question, but why don't you just buy another exhaust fitting?

[kimbottles]

Forespar makes a white mushroom through-hull with 2.32" thread and 3.525 head flange size, so that is fairly close but you'd have to grind 3/16" out of the inside of the hole for a fit.
http://www.forespar.com/products/boat-marine-plumbing-mushroom-head-threaded-thru-hull.shtml

I'll keep looking...

Edit: this may be a silly question, but why don't you just buy another exhaust fitting?

Because it is UGLY! One is bad enough, I don't want two of them hanging on the side of my vessel!

I have some high temperature black paint, I might look to see if there is any white high temp paint out there. That would lower the unsightliness somewhat. Usually I like the look of SS, but I don't much like the SS Exhaust port.

[SloopJonB]

Kim, it's out there - VHT is one brand.

[kimbottles]

Forespar makes a white mushroom through-hull with 2.32" thread and 3.525 head flange size, so that is fairly close but you'd have to grind 3/16" out of the inside of the hole for a fit.
http://www.forespar.com/products/boat-marine-plumbing-mushroom-head-threaded-thru-hull.shtml

I'll keep looking...

Edit: this may be a silly question, but why don't you just buy another exhaust fitting?

Ish, that fore spar thru hull looks good, just have to ream out the G10 sleeve that is epoxied in the opening. The flange size looks great! Thanks!

[JoeP]

Forespar makes a white mushroom through-hull with 2.32" thread and 3.525 head flange size, so that is fairly close but you'd have to grind 3/16" out of the inside of the hole for a fit.
http://www.forespar.com/products/boat-marine-plumbing-mushroom-head-threaded-thru-hull.shtml

I'll keep looking...

Edit: this may be a silly question, but why don't you just buy another exhaust fitting?

Ish, that fore spar thru hull looks good, just have to ream out the G10 sleeve that is epoxied in the opening. The flange size looks great! Thanks!

Will removing the G10 expose the cedar strip planking? Careful.

[kimbottles]

Forespar makes a white mushroom through-hull with 2.32" thread and 3.525 head flange size, so that is fairly close but you'd have to grind 3/16" out of the inside of the hole for a fit.
http://www.forespar.com/products/boat-marine-plumbing-mushroom-head-threaded-thru-hull.shtml

I'll keep looking...

Edit: this may be a silly question, but why don't you just buy another exhaust fitting?

Ish, that fore spar thru hull looks good, just have to ream out the G10 sleeve that is epoxied in the opening. The flange size looks great! Thanks!

Will removing the G10 expose the cedar strip planking? Careful.

It appears that I will not have to remove all of the G-10, just need to "open" it up a little bit for a tight fit on the thru hull. The G-10 was epoxied into the hull.

Then just thread a pipe cap onto the mounted Forespar and we are good to go! (I have a carbide reaming bit.)

Otherwise I would excavate the cedar a bit and fill with Six-10 West. We don't like exposed cedar or core on FRANCIS.

[kimbottles]

Well that was not difficult, the barrel sander opened up the G10 sleeve in no time (just when the battery powered drill motor ran out of battery. Sometimes I get lucky!)

So a little 5200 to seal the thru hull Ish recommended and then a pipe cap threaded onto the thru hull.

I am getting closer to having to cut the new exhaust port hole in the new location. Jordan found a scrap G10 sleeve for me and I have the proper hole saw, so I am running out of excuses. Guess I will have to take a deep breath and cut another hole in FRANCIS' hull.

At least it will be located much higher out of the water than the hole I just plugged.

(Please pardon the messy dinghy gunnel that is in the picture, that dust is from the G10 sanding.)

[Slick470]

not to take away from the awesome that is FL being heated properly, but apparently (according to the weather people) we on the east coast are going to be screwed in the next couple days. So there's that.

Even heard a potential for thundersnow... anytime I hear of a chance for thundersnow, AC/DC thunderstruck plays in my head... which being a bit of a dork, I think is pretty cool.

Will be stacking up some firewood in the living room and on the front porch and gassing up the vehicles and generator just in case. Nice to have a couple 4x4's for the random times they are needed. The pickup only seats 3, and only one can be a car seat, so it is of limited use if we had to get somewhere together, although it is the better "if you gotta get there" vehicle. Better ground clearance and meatier tires than the Explorer.

Need to keep the house, or at least part of it warm enough for the baby in case we have an extended power outage, although that is pretty unlikely where we live. Worst our neighborhood has seen was the derecho, but we we were up a the ACWS in Newport that weekend so missed out on most of that. Driving through Tysons Corner on Sunday night onI-495 with all the lights off was pretty eerie though.

According to the news, stores around here are already selling out of stuff. That always makes for a pleasant experience making sure you have the essentials.

Was planning on taking off Friday to have a much needed date day with the wife, but that's probably a bust at this point. We were going to finally go see the new Star Wars movie. It's really hard to go see a movie at the theater anymore unless it's during a weekday.

[Tucky]

Looks right now like this one is all yours and won't make it up to Maine where we are used to it- even had thundersnow a couple of weeks ago. Have fun when you can.

[LarryHoward]

Were are in the "snowmageddon" or lousy weekend transition zone. Something between a dusting and 2 feet of snow depending on track changes of the low as small as 5 miles. That usually means a mix of every type of precipitation known to meteorologists with the possible exception of hail.

I'm doing my best. To go with my recently acquired "UTV", I have a plow setup being delivered tomorrow and will head for a friend's garage after work Thursday to install it. Given it's all supposed to be "custom made" to fit perfectly, I'm expecting a 18 bolts and 4 wires to take at least 6 hours and 3 trips to the hardware store to install. I'll know how much snow we will get based on how the job goes. If it all goes together easily, we will get 1/4" of fluffy snow. If we give up on the install in frustration, we'll see 2' of snow and have to make snow shoes out of old clothes.

[Slick470]

About an inch of primer snow tonight. The drivers are as bad as they were last time, hopefully they'll stay home on Friday.

[LarryHoward]

About an inch of primer snow tonight. The drivers are as bad as they were last time, hopefully they'll stay home on Friday.

Yep. Got a call from Chris a while ago. He attended the SAE Govt/industry meeting at theWashington Auto Show this afternoon. As he put it, DC took the forecast of snow this evening as an opportunity to do absolutely nothing to prepare so 1" of snow made the drive out of town a major PIA.

[kimbottles]

Hey! The weather isn't bad here in Blakely Harbor. High 40's and dry this afternoon.

So of course I cut a hole in the side of my boat. Made me nervous to do it, but so far the holes I have cut come out OK.
I also ran ducting and mounted the heat outlets. All worked out fine.

I have to cut the G10 tube to length and then epoxy it in the hole to protect the cedar. Then the exhaust port is easy to mount.

I ran the fan to see how well it moved air and it is very quiet. Susan will like this addition to her comfort.

In the last picture you can see the blank thru hull that replaced the old exhaust outlet under the "B" in the hailing port. Note how much higher the new (taped up) hole is above the water line. And the ducts are a fraction of the length of what would be required from the old furnace location.

Now I just have to figure out how to tent the hole and add heat to get the epoxy to set.

[Orestes Munn]

We've got plenty of food and hooch, a propane heater, oil lamps, and workout toys in the basement. We're basically good until April.

The inch of snow we got this evening has paralyzed the area. The hilly streets are all blocked by abandoned vehicles. I rode my bike home in the initial flurries, but I guess I missed the fun part.

[Slick470]

They never cease to amaze me as far as the lack of preparation for snow around here. Although I imagine that the news of this little snow was lost in all the noise of what is supposed to roll through on Friday. This area doesn't seem to fair well then any weather rolls through during the evening rush hour.

[Ish]

Hey! The weather isn't bad here in Blakely Harbor. High 40's and dry this afternoon.

So of course I cut a hole in the side of my boat. Made me nervous to do it, but so far the holes I have cut come out OK.
I also ran ducting and mounted the heat outlets. All worked out fine.

I have to cut the G10 tube to length and then epoxy it in the hole to protect the cedar. Then the exhaust port is easy to mount.

I ran the fan to see how well it moved air and it is very quiet. Susan will like this addition to her comfort.

In the last picture you can see the blank thru hull that replaced the old exhaust outlet under the "B" in the hailing port. Note how much higher the new (taped up) hole is above the water line. And the ducts are a fraction of the length of what would be required from the old furnace location.

Now I just have to figure out how to tent the hole and add heat to get the epoxy to set.

You are going to cut the core back, saturate the core, and make a solid glass annulus for the exhaust, yes?

[Orestes Munn]

Annulus, what a great word. Covers all the little assholes in my life.

[Slick470]

... and schools are closed today for an inch of snow.

[kimbottles]

Hey! The weather isn't bad here in Blakely Harbor. High 40's and dry this afternoon.

So of course I cut a hole in the side of my boat. Made me nervous to do it, but so far the holes I have cut come out OK.
I also ran ducting and mounted the heat outlets. All worked out fine.

I have to cut the G10 tube to length and then epoxy it in the hole to protect the cedar. Then the exhaust port is easy to mount.

I ran the fan to see how well it moved air and it is very quiet. Susan will like this addition to her comfort.

In the last picture you can see the blank thru hull that replaced the old exhaust outlet under the "B" in the hailing port. Note how much higher the new (taped up) hole is above the water line. And the ducts are a fraction of the length of what would be required from the old furnace location.

Now I just have to figure out how to tent the hole and add heat to get the epoxy to set.

You are going to cut the core back, saturate the core, and make a solid glass annulus for the exhaust, yes?

Well kind of, I am using a G10 pipe, same as they did it before. Just have to cut the pipe to be flush after measuring it in this first picture.

The last two shots show the old port with the G10 pipe installed which I left in to protect the core around the new thru-hull.