Day 318 The tasks continue.

Back into the engine room this morning to change out the hose clamps on the starboard side.  They fell apart as I unscrewed them just as the port side ones had yesterday.  Fatigue had set in, along with a bit of rust.  On with the new ones and the job was done.

Next, on to all the through hulls.  If they don't get used for a while they tend to bind up and won't close with just the pressure a hand can exert.  It requires a pipe slid over the entire handle to get them to turn on and off.  If you blow a hose or a clamp fails, it's important to be able to close them quickly and easily.  I sprayed each with PB Blaster and moved each several times open and closed.  Some took it easier than others.  The one for the galley sink just refused to move and required the use of the pipe extension.  I'll be turning it on and off quite a bit over the next week or so.  The rest all work much easier now.  It's all part of the "routine maintenance" that is required on a boat.

We're replacing the motor mounts that help support the transmission and the rear of the engine.  They were rusted and shot.  It was recommended that we also change the mounts on the front of the engine but the cost for that would cripple us.  They would have to raise the entire engine to get to them and that is a tremendous amount of not only effort but time and in this yard, as in any yard, time is money.  We opted for replacing the stern ones only.  With the transmission out, it's the perfect time since they not only support the transmission but also the rear of the engine.  We fully expect that the new ones won't fit the existing holes that are drilled in for the bolts that hold it to the stringers in the engine compartment.  They will have to be filled and re-drilled.  They will be here by next week, long before the transmission gets back.  We'll see how they fit and fill the holes with epoxy ourselves to save the labor charges to have them do it if they don't align properly.

Off to the showers to get all the oil and dirt off from changing out the clamps in a dirty engine room.  It's not really that bad, but the dirt just jumps off the surfaces and onto my hands magically.  I can come out looking a mess. 

On to the next project.  Finding out where we will stow the new gasoline jerry cans we bought.  We tried on the stern and along the rail amidships.  Amidships worked out the best.  I headed off to the hardware store for stainless hardware and a 2 X 6 to attach the tanks to.  I'll be fastening the 2 X 6 to the stanchions with "U" bolts--2 on each end--and then drilling and installing "eye" bolts to hold the ratchet straps on that will be around each tank.  We have four tanks that each hold 5.3 gallons.  Plus another spare tank is already fastened to the stern so we should have plenty of fuel for the generator and the outboard motor while we are out cruising.  As is my norm, I got fittings that were too big so back to the store for the proper ones.  I got the board cut, drilled and installed by about 6:30 last evening.  Today, I'll be cutting off the extra threads that come out past the nuts that I used.  I can't have them hanging out there to snag anything that passes as we sail.  

We ordered stainless steel ratchet straps to hold the tanks on this morning.  They will be here by next Tuesday so I can get the job done.  I have other ratchet straps from last year and since they aren't made out of stainless steel, they have rusted quite well.  I'll be replacing them over the next week or so.  I have Sea Marine order them in with their supplies.  Being from Colorado, we pay no sales tax on items we buy here.  We pay tax on labor.  Totally the opposite in Colorado.  There, you don't pay tax on labor but you do on materials.  

It's sunny now and should be all day with rain set for the weekend.  I need to get as much done outside as I can before it sets in.

More to come.

Have a great day everyone.