Cool Things ~ Stitch it Awl

I have been looking for an all-around tool for repairing worn seams in cockpit cushions and for finishing my double-braided eye-splices.

I came across an advertisement for the "Stitch it Awl" in Practical Boat Owner, noted that it was Australian, and therefore not too far away.  I ordered the full kit and it arrived within a week.

Interesting, it is made in Airlie Beach, Qld, which is not only one of the most beautiful places on earth, it is also the site of my last vacation (4 years ago!...I work too hard).

In any case, without doubt one of those things that all sailors must own...and in the top 10 of my all-time cool gadgets.

Extremely well-built, heavy stainless steel.  Nice wooden box.

Cool things ~ RPM Meter

I admit my shortcomings...and one of them is my inability to abide inaccuracy.  I suspect the Westerbeke 35D3 tachometer is not being honest with me...and I also suspect the zero-throttle rpms are a hair too low.  Given that the factory tachometer is but a signal from the alternator, converted to a mechanical needle, how does one accurately-determine rpm?

With one of these...$25...

Laser/digital rpm meter

The unit comes with sticky reflective strips that you stick on the crankshaft pulley, aim and press the green button...easy...at least I hope...it hasn't yet arrived.

Clean your water strainer!

As the boat is new to me I don't know when last the raw water strainer was cleaned, but I am glad I took a look yesterday:

The large object on the lower right is a black olive (!)...I suppose the rest is the other half of the greek salad?  Perhaps we sailed too close to a cruise ship.

The strainer was 90% filled...did not notice lack of flow on our first trip, but this has shocked me into regular maintenance on this item.  I didn't have a chance to clean the glass bowl itself, but I will find a toothbrush and do so soon.

The new tank is installed and filled with clean diesel.  The Racor filter was changed and the bowl cleaned.  When I ran the motor for 1/2 hour there was still some particles/debris in the bowl, so I cleaned it again.  I suspect there is some debris in the supply line/primer bulb, so I may have to keep cleaning the bowl for a while.  I am getting good at it, including bleeding the air without making a big mess.

Diesel Tank rebuilt

I picked the tank up from the engineer yesterday.  I had the bottom floor of the tank cut out entirely, and in it's place I had them weld in a much thicker (3mm) plate, and remove exactly 10mm from all sides.  As a result the tank is 10mm "shorter" from bottom to top.  This was done to ease removal and installation in the future, and will have very little impact on capacity.  It also completely-eliminated the original lower welds, giving me new welds all around.  Securing the tank in the locker will be as easy as adjusting the position of the boards and trim that hold it down against the hull.  I have also purchased some foam rubber strips to add to these contact points. The tank was pressure tested.

I then cleaned and lightly-sanded to tank before masking off and spraying with 2 coats of aluminium etch-primer and two coats of dark grey epoxy paint.

Installation perhaps Sunday, then install new secondary filter and test run.

Diesel Tank Removal

With the boat sitting securely at Whangamata Marina (beautiful), I've begun the first major project on Kiss Kiss, namely the removal, repair, and re installation of the diesel tank.

The tank was taken offline some years ago by the previous owner following a bad bout of 'diesel bug' (an algae).  He used a plastic tank mounted amidships.  I elected to have an inspection port cut into the tank and to have it steam cleaned.  I did so to give myself a full compliment of fuel onboard.

Once steam cleaned, the tank began to leak (!).  It amounted to about 500mL to 1L per 24hrs, but however little, the stink of diesel permeated the cabin, and made a mess of the bilge.

I began by draining the tank entirely (every drop) with a siphon pump through the inspection port.  I then disconnected the filler, vent, return and supply, as well as the wiring to the gauge.

I then removed the various screws holding the trim that secures the tank from above.  This is accessed from the cabin, lifting the base panel that sits above the tank.

Once the trim pieces were removed, the tank slides aft very easily.  I then rotated the aft end of the tank upward, so that the top of the tank faced outboard.  Lifting through the starboard cockpit locker, rotating forward at the last minute...and it was out...without removing the teak trim (though gouging it slightly).

The source of the corrosion that may have led to the leak (ongoing) is apparent looking back into the space occupied by the tank.  Years of dirt, grime, and various screws, washers and the like were found blocking the drain hole at the forward port corner.  The tank was sitting in this brew of moisture, metal bits and dirt.

The tank was sitting in a damp and dirty spot...the wires dropped down during removal

An intense cleaning was done, and the drain hole was scrubbed and opened.  When the tank is repaired and re installed  I will either paint it or seal it in some way to keep the moisture away from the metal.

Details of the repair and re installation to follow.