New Season

The boat is back in the water and ready for use. Marlyn and I spent a few days cleaning and restocking the supplies Scott had purchased. We pumped water from the engine compartment bilge that seeps in after spring relaunching until the wood portions of the hull expand and seal it off. The seepage continues for a few weeks, so if you are using the boat while the seepage is happening please continue to pump it out using the small shop vacuum with its filters removed.

Toward the end of last season the performance of the air conditioning became degraded. After relaunching we arranged for service. Bulldog inspected and found that the filters were extremely dirty and caked over.  However, even after cleaning them the front unit still displayed a low pressure error message. We then arranged for Lake Powell Refrigeration (Jimmie Jones) to come out. He found it to be low on freon and replenished it. The other units tested fine. Hopefully with some regular cleaning of the filters, we will enjoy good, cool air this summer. Which leads to another matter.

To service the filters there must be access to the units in the bilge. With the accumulation of totes, old stuff, and other personal owner items, it was not possible to access the units. We had to move several totes from the bilge just to make a path into the areas needing access. This is going to be an ongoing problem as the filters should be cleaned monthly according to Bulldog.

In addition to the maintenance problems they cause, we have also found it to be inconvenient not to have some storage space for ice chests and other containers we use to transport belongings for our time on the boat.

Scott and I discussed this situation came up with the idea of limiting the personal gear stored on the boat to a couple of soft sided bags that are stored in areas away from the space in the front, port (left)  side of the hull.  We also discussed that other equipment like generators, dutch ovens and the like ought to be available for common use if they are going to be stored on the boat.  We discussed that the boat could purchase those items that are currently there from their owners or acquire new items as the case may be.

As Marlyn and I did some casual inspection of the boat we noticed that there are a number of things that needed doing to restore it to a more appealing condition - such as new carpet on the front and back decks, waxing, carpet shampooing, canvas & netting repair, & caulking.  Bart Sorenson and his family were coming out following us. As we communicated with them I mentioned the idea to Bart of owners taking on some of those items as "service projects" as they spend time on the boat, as it fits their capabilities and available time.

Well, Bart texted me the next week and reported that he had waxed the entire boat, repainted the exterior areas as needed, re-caulked the seal where the cabin meets the hull, and reconfigured the tie ropes to keep the boat from striking against the dock.  Many thanks to you Bart and I believe a very nice example of what we could do as a group to keep the boat in nice shape without paying big bucks to get it done if we wish to follow suite.  The boat would of course cover the cost of materials and supplies.

Here's a couple of photos showing the results of Bart's efforts.  The first shows the before and after effect of the waxing, as you can see from the contrast between the middle un-waxed section compared to the front and back sections.  The other shows the newly painted front bumper section .

Lastly, the new raised up slide is being further modified to change the angle of the support structure coming off the back deck.  As it was done, it still precluded boats from docking against the back.  The new support will raise vertically before angling outward.

I think the blog was helpful to everyone last year in communicating with the other owners.  Please continue to post and comment as helpful (or entertaining).  It was much appreciated.

Yours,

George & Marlyn Graff