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Date:Sat, 14 May 2022 00:37:00 GMT
Teak and Water
Calibrating water
The last couple days have been spent cleaning teak or staying out of the
rain. I used the opportunity to get taxes to the accountant and clean up
the repair database of what I fixed when.
Today we finally ran out of water and I ran the last 5 gallons out of the
tanks to zero our new vinyl sight/level meter. The old one was caked with
old water marks and sludge from decades of dis-use. So we couldn't see the
level unless it was in certain clean areas. A few days ago we put in a new
tube and had been waiting for the water to run out before re-calibrating and
marking the tube. So, I started with 20 gallons and it was just 1/2 inch
above the cabin sole. We marked it in 25 gallon increments till 175 then
did 5 gallon increments to 196 where it hit the vent overflow. Every time
it does that it dumps water in the bilge that sits on top of the gray water
tank. I have to use a wet dry vac to get it off the tank and dumped into
the bilge where I can pump it out. The last 18 inches or so of the level
gauge is only 1 gallon. I think it's just what is in the fill tube. But now
we know how much water is in the tanks at any point in time :)
Then while pumping out things I found that once again the gray water pump is
not working right. I'm sure it's a piece of sludge in the valve again. But
there I am again head first into the starboard lazzerette. There must be a
better type of pump that doesn't clog as easily.
After that I started cleaning the teak in the cockpit again. This took the
rest of the day. But while waiting for it to dry I started planning the
arch again. There is a boat next to us that has a traveler configuration that
is less than 10 inches. I have 20 inches between the boom and the top of
the dodger. If I can raise the dodger 10 inches it will be the same height
as the Bimini. But that only leaves 10 inches for the traveler. Hank also
had an idea about how to reduce the height of the traveler and blocks. So
perhaps it is still possible. There's the rain again... time to put up the
dodger before everything get's wet... ciao!