Fitting out a boat requires a ‘go-get’ attitude. An effort
has to be made by the one doing the fitting out. A boat is comprised of many
components, and in the case of ‘Minnow’, several of them have not been up to
scratch. Seawater will quickly rust and corrode cheap metal, as is witnessed by
the bolts retaining ‘Minnow’s’ windows. Stainless steel of marine standard or
phosphor bronze will stand up to the test, but I suppose when Derek built her
he was not thinking in the long term and saw her as a cheap and quick means of
getting afloat.
Galvanized pulleys suitable for a garden washing line cannot
possibly be as satisfactory as proper marine grade ball bearing blocks which I
have purchased today to replace them. Steering the boat will be a joy. Instead
of heaving on the steering line and hearing grating noises from seized metal
pulleys, I shall feel the tiller tremble in response to the boat’s movement
through the water. My Autohelm 800 will equally respond by effortlessly moving
the line, and at the same time it will consume less electricity than would be
the case with the recalcitrant pulleys.
While I was out shopping, in addition to buying bolts for
the windows, I bought a tin of grey International Toplac paint for the hull,
deck and cabin trunk. Grey will mask the scars and rough repairs given to this
valiant sea warrior over the years. She is strong and stalwart, much deserving a
name like ‘Warrior’, ‘Valiant’, ‘Gladiator’ or ‘Fighter’. ‘Commando’, ‘Red
Beret’ or ‘Paratrooper’, might also suit her character.
I can look forward to the mind-numbing job of replacing all
the bolts retaining the windows and the hatch light. While I’m about it I shall
have a go at cleaning spilled paint and epoxy off the Perspex, but I do not think
I shall have much success, in particular removing the epoxy. I shall attempt
scraping off the old sealant and applying new.
Hello again Bill, once you start spending money, then things are getting serious, haha. I hate to think what you had to pay for that little lot. But, as you say, when it's sea water you're up against, only the best will stand up to it, no arguments.
ReplyDeleteI don't envy you the task of replacing the nuts and bolts around the windows either. If I lived closer to you, I'd be only too happy to lend you a hand with that one for a few hours. Theres no way you'll remove epoxy spillages off the plexiglass. Any solvent that would shift epoxy, (heavy duty paint stripper containing methylene chloride would do at an extreme pinch), would be more than a match for plexiglass. One thing that could help you remove spillages elsewhere than the windows, is a hot air paint stripping gun, but the use of one of those would demand plenty of ventilation, and great care that it's use doesn't compromise epoxy that needs to stay in place......
Thanks Richard for your suggestions.
ReplyDeleteI did a test with the blade of my penknife and the epoxy peeled off. That may not be the case with all of it. I'll see.
Cheers,
Bill.