Projects Update for Tango
Progress is oh so sweet. We have 100% of the standing rigging installed and lightly tightened. Next we will complete tensioning the wires to a static standard measurement. That should happen this week after this last batch of rain/wind passes. Then, with a moderate wind sailing day, we'll complete the tensioning with the rig under load. 11 stays and fittings done! Great rigger too. Hummm weather shows 35-45kt winds offshore this week... maybe next week...
Water Tank Bladder. This is a hard hard project. We got the tank lined in two super stink-out sessions. Spray on contact cement in a small area, get the foam cover aligned and stuck, rollback the unglued part and spray, then contact. Took 2 days but that's done too. We finally got the bladder aboard. Once the US shipping company understood our special set up in NZ shipping started to work. Yesterday we inserted the bladder and got it "hung". That was not an easy task and took a lot of patience. In the end we taped up all the ports (fill, vent, level gauge, and pump supplies), then blew air into the bladder, carefully, to let it expand into the corners. That worked pretty well. I had cut holes in the stainless tank and we pulled, tugged, smoothed out the bladder placement until all the support loops would reach through the holes. Several toggles need to be made today but the bladder should be "hung" by lunch. Then the plumbing starts. We've got to go buy new hoses, then install. I already have the fittings that convert from the US NPT threads to the NZ BSP threads.
The rest will take 3-4 days. Then fill, drain, fill drain rinsing out the inside of the bladder. Then Done! Pretty close to the end on this one.
Backup Auto Pilot. We are buying a CPT Wheelpilot as a backup to our hydraulic based big boat autopilot. The "leak-link" pin between the hydraulic ram and the rudder quadrant is fixed and new pinS (as in 3 extras) are ready and installed. This CPT Wheelpilot shares ZERO with the other system. It is a flux-gate based system that simply maintains a magnetic course. A small motor is connected via a belt to a matching cogged wheel that bolts to the helm wheel. The total system is WAY less expensive that a single back up component (ram, controller, etc.) for the main system. The process of importing this autopilot will start next week.
Janet has completed making our "Florida Room" cockpit windows. Outstanding job and we are totally enjoying the extra space out of the wind and rain. Tango was certainly the social center of the marina day on Sunday. All day we had people stopping bye to chat.
Upcoming projects are pretty simple. Main engine and generator oil changes, running wiring for Tango's new sensor system (temps @ fridge/freezer, engine spaces, electronics spaces, water leak detection in 3 bilge areas, weather data, and battery power checks). All with trend alarms and logging to an SD card. Done except for the sensor wiring.
Then there is the Sterling Engine. Version 1 failed and ended up in the trash after days and days of work to try and make it run. Version2 parts are collected and I'll start that after the bloomin' bladder is done.
Weather - seems to be getting a wee better with longer periods of no rain and no high wind. This AM there was a sunrise for the first time in a couple of weeks. Warmer too.
So... all is fine aboard Tango. We'll be fueling up soon, completing the dynamic tensioning of the new rig, and getting ready for "spring" as August arrives and we start moving around again.
Water Tank Bladder. This is a hard hard project. We got the tank lined in two super stink-out sessions. Spray on contact cement in a small area, get the foam cover aligned and stuck, rollback the unglued part and spray, then contact. Took 2 days but that's done too. We finally got the bladder aboard. Once the US shipping company understood our special set up in NZ shipping started to work. Yesterday we inserted the bladder and got it "hung". That was not an easy task and took a lot of patience. In the end we taped up all the ports (fill, vent, level gauge, and pump supplies), then blew air into the bladder, carefully, to let it expand into the corners. That worked pretty well. I had cut holes in the stainless tank and we pulled, tugged, smoothed out the bladder placement until all the support loops would reach through the holes. Several toggles need to be made today but the bladder should be "hung" by lunch. Then the plumbing starts. We've got to go buy new hoses, then install. I already have the fittings that convert from the US NPT threads to the NZ BSP threads.
The rest will take 3-4 days. Then fill, drain, fill drain rinsing out the inside of the bladder. Then Done! Pretty close to the end on this one.
Backup Auto Pilot. We are buying a CPT Wheelpilot as a backup to our hydraulic based big boat autopilot. The "leak-link" pin between the hydraulic ram and the rudder quadrant is fixed and new pinS (as in 3 extras) are ready and installed. This CPT Wheelpilot shares ZERO with the other system. It is a flux-gate based system that simply maintains a magnetic course. A small motor is connected via a belt to a matching cogged wheel that bolts to the helm wheel. The total system is WAY less expensive that a single back up component (ram, controller, etc.) for the main system. The process of importing this autopilot will start next week.
Janet has completed making our "Florida Room" cockpit windows. Outstanding job and we are totally enjoying the extra space out of the wind and rain. Tango was certainly the social center of the marina day on Sunday. All day we had people stopping bye to chat.
Upcoming projects are pretty simple. Main engine and generator oil changes, running wiring for Tango's new sensor system (temps @ fridge/freezer, engine spaces, electronics spaces, water leak detection in 3 bilge areas, weather data, and battery power checks). All with trend alarms and logging to an SD card. Done except for the sensor wiring.
Then there is the Sterling Engine. Version 1 failed and ended up in the trash after days and days of work to try and make it run. Version2 parts are collected and I'll start that after the bloomin' bladder is done.
Weather - seems to be getting a wee better with longer periods of no rain and no high wind. This AM there was a sunrise for the first time in a couple of weeks. Warmer too.
So... all is fine aboard Tango. We'll be fueling up soon, completing the dynamic tensioning of the new rig, and getting ready for "spring" as August arrives and we start moving around again.
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