Exercise the Genset & Fair the Keel

Wednesday, September 28, 2011
I've been worried about leaving the genset with the old oil and not running it, so today I started it up and changed the oil.  Because the impeller can wear very quickly if it is started dry, I poured soapy water into the water pump outlet hose to lubricate it before starting the genset.  Then I put a hose in the raw water strainer to fill it up, started the genset and adjusted the hose to supply just the right amount of water.  After the genset warmed up I stopped it, changed the oil and filter, and then started it up to circulate the new oil.

Graphite for smooth halyard exit

In the late afternoon the keel is finally in the shade of the large boat just west of it.  That's when I started the keel fairing.  I double wiped the area and coated it with epoxy and let it kick off.  Then I mixed up some epoxy with silica and wiped it over all the irregularities.  I did the same for the chips on the very front of the bow where it gets hit by the anchor.  My last batch of epoxy I split in half and mixed graphite powder in it to coat the rough areas where the main halyard exits the mast head. That left a very smooth rounded surface.  I'll keep watch on the halyard to see if it is wearing.
After another long break, just before dark I went out and sanded the keel.  At first it looked like I hadn't filled the low spots, but it was an illusion because of the different color of the filler.

Thursday, September 29, 2011
I sanded the repairs on the bow.

Then I tested and installed the tri-color.  I had to move the bracket for the wind transducer so that when it is in it's lower mast head setting it is about a foot below the head of the mast.  The upper setting puts it above the tri-color.  The only interference is the rod for the lightning brush.



Last time I left I forgot to disconnect the battery, and when I got here it only had a couple of volts left.  It seems to have taken a charge, but I won't know till I get back.

I'm going to pick up the sail from Inner Banks Sail Loft in Oriental.  He wasn't able to fix the main thing I was interested in i.e. the batten pockets catching in the lazy jacks.  I might have bought a new sail if he had told me, but he did a lot of repair for lots less than a new sail.  I'm going to shorten the battens and put some protective stitch in.