Let it Bleed

Jessica, who is off fluttering about the southeastern United States in her helicopter, was good enough to let me use her kitchen to work on Alana's steering ram. The overpriced solenoid finally arrived last week, so I decided to see if I couldn't figure out how to bleed the ram, manual or no manual. I ended up removing all four check valves as well as the directional valve. I then topped off the reservoir and cycled the ram back and forth until I could no longer see any bubbling. I angled it every which way I could, trying to ensure that no bubbles were trapped inside, and then laid it on its side to install the check valves. All indications are that the system is air-free, but only time will tell. The steering pedestal project is still on-going, so I'll not be able to test it right away once it is reinstalled tomorrow.

Varnish Time

Here in northwest Florida we have been blessed with day after day of near-perfect weather. I've been trying to take advantage of the trend, using each day to apply another coat of Interlux Schooner 96 to Alana's woodwork. One really could not ask for a finer week of varnishing weather - light winds and temperatures in the mid-sixties. This weekend is forecast to be cold, so to now is the time to get things done.

In addition to the woodwork, I've been paying some attention to the steering pedestal. Two screws twisted off and had to be drilled out during disassembly, leaving large holes to be. filled with JB Weld, JB Weld I'll now be drilling and tapping to accept new machine screws. This weekend, while Jessica's flying her helicopter to St. Augustine and back, I'll be sanding and painting the pedestal, getting it ready to go back in the boat

The Transformation Continues

Alana continued her excruciatingly slow metamorphosis back to Bristol fashion today. The autopilot project is on hold for the time being, not because Jessica objected to her kitchen being used as a workshop, but because I am awaiting the arrival of a new $360 solenoid valve. A certain amount of fluid is lost every time the valve is swapped out, so I thought it best to wait until next week to try and bleed the hydraulic ram. I'm far from certain that a faulty solenoid is the problem, but in any case it seems like a good spare to have.

The last couple of days have been spent sanding down the severely degraded or bare spots on Alana's brightwork. I've applied a couple coats of Interprime 1026 sealer and will next start layering on the varnish. It is a shame that I allowed a few spots to actually cook/wear through to bare wood, Alana certainly deserves better, but I just didn't have the time, weather or opportunity to do better. Hopefully she will forgive this shameful period after about 8 coats of Schooner varnish.

I started the process of removing the helm pedestal, but ran into a couple of frozen machine screws. I applied some penetrating fluid to soak over the next day or two and picked up some Easy-Outs on the way home. One way or another those things are coming out Sunday or Monday.

Back to the Grindstone

After an extended Christmas holiday and some bitterly cold weather, it is once again time to get back to Alana and her long list of needs. In addition to scheduled maintenance on both the engine and generator, there are a number of other items that need attention:

The varnish has taken a beating, both from the sun and mechanical impact/abrasion by anchor chains, blocks, etc.; The helm pedestal needs to be completely refinished; the lifelines could stand to be replaced; two reef lines are nearing the end of their useful life (according to the halyard death panel), and of course there is the autopilot. I am in the process of completely disassembling the hydraulic ram, cleaning it and reassembling it with fresh fluid and a new solenoid valve. Jessica has generously agreed to let me do this project on her kitchen counter where I'll not have to worry about cold fingers dropping tiny parts and o-rings into the bilge.

I think I'll hold off on renewing the bottom paint and zincs until Alana reaches Georgia this spring. Hopefully I can find a yard receptive to the idea of me doing the work myself, something that was proving difficult around the Pensacola area.