They Call Me Capt’n Bri

It is finally official. I have achieved my 100GT Near Coastal Master's Mariners license. After years of putting it off, it only took the USCG 6 days to approve my application. I am still waiting on that actual printed license, but I am in the system so it must be on its way. It only took about 3 days for me to get my TWIC (Transportation Worker Identification Credential), so I am registered with yet another government agency that says I am OK. I just need to convince my neighbors of that, but that is a different blog.

I am still working on the technology piece of linking my phone with my computer so I can upload photos easier. Here is one of them. I was trying to get the sunset, but it really did not show up well.

I realize I have been neglecting the progress of my boat preparation, but rest assured things are happening. I will try to get a catch up blog out soon, with the progress and pictures. I have started my research into visiting the Turks and Caicos today and there is a lot to know without a lot of information. If you want to see some beautiful pictures, I just ran across this blog today and they are gorgeous. Well, back to more research…

Briman

USCG Licensed 100GT Master

Changing the Oil Changer

I had no idea that changing the location of the Oil Changer would be that complicated. One phone call, and two visits to the local rubber and gasket company netted the extensions I needed to move the changer. For those that are not familiar with the 480DB set up, the oil changer is mounted horizontally on the inboard stringer with the hoses mounted into the center passageway down in the bilge. The valves get accidentally opened and the hoses take up room in the aisle way. So I decided it needed to be moved to a more convenient location. It looked like it would fit on the bulkhead behind the transmission, but the sea strainer for the generator was mounted there. So I decided to swap the locations and mount the oil changer in a vertical orientation so that the hoses were straight down and no longer in the aisle. I had to extend two of the four hoses by adding a 1.5ft of oil resistant hose. After I tightened ALL of the connections, the oil stopped leaking into the bilge.

The sea strainer was a little complicated as the stringer is not a straight vertical surface, so I had to cut a spacer for the top of the strainer and I could only get one screw in the bottom bracket, but it is in securely now.

I have since continued on my quest for a clean bilge. There is 12 years of oily, smelly and dirty grime everywhere. I am using the best degreaser in the world, which is called Tuff Enough. This is the best stuff I have ever used when it comes to degreasing. It has my executive seal of approval for this, but I can only find it in Florida so I use it sparingly. Even with the overhead of the bilge up and out of the way, I cannot get into all of the spaces outboard of the main engines, so I hires one of my neighbors to help me clean. His name is Parker. He is about 13 and probably does not weigh 80 pounds. He came over with no shoes and a clean outfit. He left with grease literally from the balls of his feet to the top of his head. He can really fit into some small spaces. He helped immensely.

I have since repainted my motors and tomorrow I plan on more cleaning and painting of the bilge itself. Someday I will get it to my standards of cleanliness. Until then, that is where I will be. My turbos are not expected until at least Wednesday, so I get 2-3 more days cleaning the bilge. That is all for now.

Engine Room Pics

The Preparations Begin

OK, here we are in September of 2009 and I am starting to get ready for another southern journey. While I did not start early enough, I did however, start at the end of August, so hopefully we can be ready. The problem is: I have a lot of plans for this cruise. So here is what is going on:

Maintenance:

• I had a mechanic do a routine checkup on my main motors and here is what we found so far:
  
• The turbines need rebuilding – In Progress
  
• The Impellers need to be replaced – Done
  
• The Valves need adjusting – Done
  
• The Starboard Motor needs a new exhaust Gasket – Done
  
• Starboard Motor after-cooler to be cleaned – Done
  
• Both Oil Pan Gaskets need replacing – Done
  
• Major Field Day in the Bilge – In Progress
  
• All Engine Hoses need replacing – Done
  
• Generator Starter needs replaced – In Progress
  
• Generator has heavy smoke under load – In Progress
  

  
  

Modifications/Improvements:

• Bilge Area
  
  • Install Mirrors on outboard sides of the engines – Material bought, In progress
    
  • Update Bilge lighting – Not started
    
  • Relocate Oil Changer (which requires relocation of Generator Sea Strainer – In progress
    
  • Design and install Water Maker – Research only. There will be more posts on this one.
    
  • Design and install Scuba Tank compressor
    
  • Fix water intrusion from the transom locker
    
  • Organize poles in transom locker
    
  • Hook up STBD tank to generator
    
  • Organize storage
    
• Salon and Interior
  
  • Replace Carpet – Not started
    
  • Replace wood flooring – not started
    
  • Mount TV/DVD in Master Stateroom
    
  • Install TV in Guest Stateroom
    
  • Design and install phone system
    
  • Possibly design/install cabinetry in "L" room
    
• Cockpit Area
  
  • Relocate Water bib
    
  • Permanently install Water filter/softener
    
  • Install Tackle box
    
  • Create permanent line storage
    
  • Create Scuba Tank Holders (4)
    
  • Install subwoofer and amp
    
  • Design and have cockpit canopy installed
    
  • Teak flooring (as money allows)
    
• Bridge/Helm
  
  • Redo fiberglass for helm
    
  • Design new CPU based navigation system
    
  • Install TV
    
  • Install SAT Data/VOX
    
  • Replace all speakers
    
  • Possible replacement of forward isinglass
    
  • Teak flooring (As money allows)
    

I am sure there are a lot more items but I thought I would start with a list now. As I complete each job, I will post articles and pictures to describe each trial and tribulation. I am starting the blog early to ensure that I have all the tools necessary to post. That way there should be no delay once we start. More to come later.

briman

 

Swimming with the Fishes

We are still here at Bimini Big Game Marina. We have been around the island a little and found a lot of our old friends. We saw Sandra and Nikia as well as some other friends. BJ got a ride from Stevie S, the Plain Jane of Bimini and he has a new album out that I guess I will have to buy. She was returning from a long walk with Simba; who just discovered her first goat. She was very curious and so was the goat. We have laid pretty low since we got here and have been doing a lot of cleaning on the boat and trying to figure out all of my electronics. Luckily the Satellite TV has been great, we just don’t have local channels. That is yet another project I have to work on. We have, however successfully watched Shrek 3 on Pay-per-view. BJ has figured out the Washer/dryer combo on the boat, so we can now change clothes. At least I can, as BJ brought one swim suit per day for this entire voyage.

Yesterday, we had lunch up at the Big Game restaurant, when someone asked if that was out dog roaming the docks. Normally she does not leave the boat without us there, but we left the super-duper-Brian-enhanced dog ramp from the boat to the dock. She must have the extra confidence now that I have made it more stable and less abrasive to the boat, since she used it. We put her back on the boat and continued to eat and have a couple of Kaliks in the afternoon. All of the sudden someone asked again if that was our dog. I searched the docks with my eyes as fast as I could, but I could not see Simba. Then I saw her: swimming in the marina. She was swimming in the water pictured below while we were dining up in the balcony shown.

She must have tried to get off the boat again without the ramp and fell in. Luckily she is a great swimmer. She swam over to a ladder that I climbed down, but it was too awkward to balance and lift her about 6 feet from the water to the dock. We spotted a small fishing boat on another dock, so I went to the boat’s swim platform and Simba smoothly and with great speed swam over to me, where I could lift her up and over to the dock. Needless to say she had a great day with her walk, swim and a bath.

Tonight we will be grilling out on the boat. We have already paid off the security guard so it should be ok. Hopefully Arthur brings us some lobsters and a conch shell for BJ so she can blow it at sundown; a Bahamas tradition.

Herb Update:
For those of you that don’t know we decided to grow some of our own herbs so we can cook with them on this trip. It is a hydroponic system and BJ gets really excited when she sees significant growth. The chives are really growing fast as is the parsley and basil. My only complaint, is that the grow light is so bright is looks like a nuclear power plant in the cabin at night, so now I cover it at night.