Matriarch - "before" and "after"

[Elco57]

Here are some "before" and "after" shots you might find interesting. Trust me, the "before" areas were much worse than they look in the photos.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a282/Elcoholic/P1010107.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a282/Elcoholic/BoatDecember20040063.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a282/Elcoholic/P1010222.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a282/Elcoholic/June2005025.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a282/Elcoholic/P1010134.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a282/Elcoholic/June2005028.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a282/Elcoholic/bow.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a282/Elcoholic/BoatDecember20040073.jpg

[Elco57]

.......and a few more:

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a282/Elcoholic/boatapril05010.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a282/Elcoholic/boatapril05009.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a282/Elcoholic/June2005010.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a282/Elcoholic/boatapril05006.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a282/Elcoholic/boatapril05004.jpg

[Peter Malcolm Jardine]

Whew!!! Looks costly :D ]

Looks like you're still married tho... ;)

Again, a stunning boat... and nice work :eek: :cool:

[ 10-24-2005, 07:49 PM: Message edited by: Peter Malcolm Jardine ]

[paladin]

PLEASE...OH PLEASE tell those izzint copper fuel lines for those nice looking diesel engines....or are they gasoline?

[carioca1232001]

Definitely looks like you put your heart and soul into it Elco - and not just money, which incidentally does make the world go round ;)

I have seen some costly restorations which do not match upto Matriarch in matter of good taste.

I imagine you were on site most of the time - 55/60 hour week - making sure the carpenters were delivering as promised.

We have a saying in Brazil as follows:

"O boi só engorda sob o olho do dôno !" which translates to:

"The steer only fattens under the nose of the owner ! " ;)

[Elco57]

Yes, they're copper diesel fuel lines. This is a "no-no?" Why? I can do 1/2" stainless but it's such a pain to work with. Please enlighten me.

[Elco57]

In this case, the owner (me) was the main worker. The helpers did just that...help. I never just watched them. I would stop work every so often to check that they were doing things the right way.....MY way. Many things were re-done or torn out because they weren't up to my standards.

[carioca1232001]

Yes, sloven and shoddy work is not an exclusive feature of tradesmen that earn lower wages in the developing world !

Got my first wake-up call during my time as a student in the UK in the mid 60´s.

[landlocked sailor]

Elco, Edifying, just edifying. Rick

[formerlyknownasprince]

The sulphur content in diesel can corrode copper lines and tanks.

Our local diesel is about to drop from 5000 ppm sulphur to 50 ppm - so this may be less of a problem in future - but I think you should get advice from your engine manufacturer or fuel company. The recommendations that I have seen for copper fuel lines specify tin coated on the inside to prevent the corrosion and resulting sludge.

Ian

[mmd]

Reccommended materials for diesel fuel lines are ungalvanized iron, steel, stainless steel, and brass. As mentioned above, the zinc in galvanized pipe and bronze reacts poorly with sulphur in diesel fuel. It is usually assumed that the percentage of exposure presented by bronze fittings such as unions and valves is so small as to be not a threat to the fuel system as long as proper maintenance and inspection is carried out.

[paladin]

yup...sorry I wuz late getting back...
A gazillion years ago when I wuz drawing boats fer Westlawn and later fer Ted Brewer...the first thing on engines wuz...if they is diesel, do not use copper or galvanized fuel tanks cause the corrosive elements of diesel will form sludge...and should not use copper fuel lines for the same reason....it will plug the lines....
Aluminum, steel, black iron or monel are acceptable tank materials, and seamless steel for fuel lines .....also stainless steel should not be used for diesel exhausts because the fumes are also corrosive.....

[Lion]

Heroic!

[capt jake]

Beautiful indeed! smile.gif How much time do you estimate that you have invested?

[Elco57]

I figure we've put in about 7,000 man-hours so far and about 18 more every day. We both put in our eight but at night, I do my "homework"......sandblasting, wire-wheeling, priming, painting, fabricating, etc. Tonight, I built an aluminum arm extension for the Twin Disc clutch so that it can be operated from the salon hatch and altered two dip sticks from Palmer engines so that they can be used with the Cummins 903's. It's always something. Once, last summer, I worked in the shop so long that when it was time to use the bathroom, I walked out into the daylight....surprised the hell out of me.

[Garrett Lowell]

"Spaghetti dinner" would aptly describe the before shot of the engine room. Nice crew ya got there, too.

[brad9798]

TRULY unbelievable.

I am so proud FOR you and what you've done!!!

[paladin]

abbbsoooloootely beeyoootifull

[nedL]

Beautiful! I personally wouldn't worry to much about the copper fuel lines. The boat I 'grew up on' had copper fuel lines (was converted from gas to diesel four years before my family bought her), we had her for ten years & never had any related problems.

[Jay Greer]

I can see that you are very proud of your boat! I can also see that you have put a lot o hours into her restoration.
But, I am concernend about those short planks that have been put into the topsides. It is never advisable to put in three courses of planks with butts landing directly above each other! This materialy weakens the hull!
It would be better to carry the planks over at least five frame bays and stagger the butts by several more. Never reapeat a butt directly in line over less than three courses of planking.
Those nice lights in the galley may look good in port but, they may cause problems if you plan to go to sea. When your boat pitches, there will be a lot of torque applied to the mounting bases due to the extension of the fixture. I would hate to grab one for support if I were working in that fancy galley! Is that construction grade flex conduit you used for the wiring? If it is not anodised alumminum it will soon oxidise. If it is cadmium plated steel, it will soon rust. This is not meant to offend you but to point out some areas that need attention in order to make your ship more safe and more sea worthy.

[Elco57]

It's true that the planks should have been longer and staggered but what's done is done. However, they have already been subjected to the most stress they will ever endure.....the crane lift. The galley ceiling lights are mounted with ball sockets similar to those on a ceiling fan. The galvanized sheath for the hood wires was put there for looks....looks I don't like. It will be changed.

Today, we fired up the engines and put them in gear for the first time. When in reverse, the starboard prop shaft makes a fairly loud "thumping" noise, which seem to be coming from right under the first (of three) struts. This may require pulling the shaft, dropping the strut and replacing the cutlass bearing while afloat......an interesting project to say the least. Sea trials on Monday will determine if we make preparations and hire a diver.

Just to irritate me more, my custom-made Honduran mahogany cabinet doors have come apart at the seams, courtesy of Gorilla Glue. Live and learn. Oh, I hung them all with brass antique ice box hinges....not bad at all.

The good news is that I'll make fewer mistakes on my NEXT big wooden boat. Bottom line: Run and float. Everything else is secondary.

[Jay Greer]

I forgot to say bravo and best of sea trials for you!