New Project: Covering a Hot Exhaust Vent Pipe

Before

Apart from a short break for some late New Year’s Eve partying on the fly bridge, mostly this holiday weekend has been about completing our move to the boat, and getting back into our punch list of projects & repairs.  One project that I’d been putting off for a while was finding a fix for an item that actually turned up on the initial boat survey, which identified a potential safety issue with the vent pipe for the exhaust stack. Basically the thing got really hot….you could cook on it after running the main engine for only a short while.

In the first pic you can see the exposed exhaust vent, which is on the (upper) boat deck, and in close proximity to the steps leading to the fly bridge.  Michelle & I did not consider it a high priority item until we knew that we were having family visitors aboard later this month – including our 3 young grandchildren.  The thought of one of them losing balance & using it as a handhold was beginning to keep me up at night.  It was time for a solution, even if only temporary.

After

There are a number of ways to attack this, but I decided to simply wrap the pipe with a titanium webbing  that was originally designed to protect human skin from hot motorcycle exhaust pipes.  The stuff is rated to 1800F, and with the stainless steel securing straps it should be OK for an outdoor application.

Admittedly the end result (2nd pic) doesn’t look nearly as attractive as the original chromed stainless steel, but at least now I won’t be worrying about one of the little ones scorching themselves on it.

Happy New Year

We're wishing everyone a fruitful & fantastic New Year (and hoping your New Year's Eve was fun but safe.)  We made a final move of "condo stuff" to the boat yesterday -- and are still looking for places to put it all.

FMY Fireworks from the Fly Bridge of Ghost Rider

As it turned out, we had a great view of the Fort Myers fireworks from the fly bridge of Ghost Rider as the ball dropped and the calendar flipped into 2016.

Now it's back to our list of boat projects...although we're looking forward to a visit this weekend with Martin & Stephanie who are in town to get their N60 Blossom splashed for the new season.

Holy Ghost (Rider), It’s Christmas…

Michelle & I truly hope everyone who eventually reads this enjoyed a personally satisfying holiday; we certainly have.  We’re very much missing our Ghosts, but thankful for the family we still have around us.

Our Hand Made Ornament from Cher Clark

Christmas day….and it’s 85F outside?  Yah, this is south Florida, but that still close to a record here in Fort Myers.  And it’s very humid – feels like June.  (Edit:  final official high was 87F,which did indeed break the old record of 86. Yikes.)

Regardless, we just completed our move from the condo (now occupied by family visitors) to the boat – although it may take a few more days to get all this stuff stowed somewhere less, um, obvious.  Gotta admit, though, the boat has gobs of storage space.  Now if we can just remember where we put it all…or where Michelle moved it afterwards.

Moving To the Boat

This should be more than just interesting.  Between out-of-town company for the holidays, and more importantly the fact we've rented out our home (condo) for the months of Jan, Feb & Mar, in the next week or so we'll be moving onto the boat.  The challenge of downsizing from 2400 square feet to, um, something that is nowhere near that, is about to become reality.  The admiral says I don't have to move (or throw out) everything -- the condo has a locked closet where I could put some things....although it's about the size of a breadbox and already jamming up with other stuff.

A concurrent challenge will be setting up a good Internet connection and secure network on the boat, for both personal and business use.  The boat's current Netgear router isn't going to cut it, so I'm currently testing out Microtik's gear,which looks promising so far....after one gets past the horridly inadequate documentation.  Good thing they have a detailed wiki.

The good news is we'll have more time to spend on the Ghost Rider's punch list....which still seems to be growing.

Back on the Boat (3)

We motored back to Legacy Harbour today, a little less than a 5 hour sortie, & gave Ghost Rider a much needed hosing down.  As usual we checked off a few of our punch list items and added a few more this week, but nothing major.  Found a slow-drip leak from the generator's fuel priming bowl, tightened up a few of its screws, will need to monitor to determine if its gasket is still serviceable.  Also have some fuel seepage (very slight) from a fuel transfer manifold valve that needs watching as we try to gradually tighten its attaching nut.

We are back to the condo for a while to tend to work obligations and administrative stuff; plus we have to (mostly) move out of the condo by January, as we've managed to rent it out for a few months. This will be interesting.

And....we got the old (Grady-White) boat sold....finally.  It's good to be back to owning just one boat.

Back on the Boat (2)

We departed the St. James City this morning & motored up the ICW to our favorite Useppa Island anchorage.  I dusted off the drone and mounted the GoPro on it to take some pics.  I was (very) rusty on the drone controls....it's apparent I'm a fixed-wing puke, this rotary wing thing in the wind takes some serious practice, especially with the small landing footprint on Ghost Rider.  My first landing was reasonably good, although I'd classify it as an aggressive "assault landing."  But the second one would have made my Dad (a Navy pilot) wince.

Anyway, we got some decent pics out of it....and I think the drone is still airworthy after the hard landing....

On the Hook @ Useppa

A Very Happy Couple

Back on the Boat

We got a severe case of "marina queen fever" and decided we had to get back out on the boat.  So we are currently hanging on the hook just south of Pine Island / St. James City.  Gave us us chance to verify our "Spot Tracker" link was working on the Ghost Rider web site, and to continue working through our punch list for the boat.  Tomorrow we'll head up to Useppa or Boca Grande and do more of the same.

Rick is also back to some part time consulting, so occasional "real work" and conference calls still enter the picture, thus we're staying within range of 4G.  That's a story for another day.

Early December Update

12/2/15....

Still working through our punch lists, but also hoping to get some more "stick time" soon.  A cold front is 4cast to plow thru here in the next couple days, will be interesting to see what the stiff north winds do to the tides, and the subsequent water we have under the keel.....not a lot of wiggle room in terms of depth in this part of Florida.

Current "project list" includes:

• Getting a better drip rate & lower temps for the wing engine stuffing box / prop shaft
• Getting a GPS feed re-established to the SSB radio
• Replacing the water maker's filters
• Painting the shower pan repair in the GSR

Actually the list is a lot longer, but trying to carve out workable chunks.