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It’s Been a Very Good Week!
Week of October 13-18, 2013
 Last Sunday I brought Starr back across the Ballard Ship Canal to SBMC, from the boathouse where we started our work in preparation to hauling out at Pacific Fishermen Shipyard (PacFish). Oct…

It’s Been a Very Good Week!

Week of October 13-18, 2013

 Last Sunday I brought Starr back across the Ballard Ship Canal to SBMC, from the boathouse where we started our work in preparation to hauling out at Pacific Fishermen Shipyard (PacFish).

 Oct. 12 – We moved from the boathouse at Ballard Mill Marina to SBMC,  all of 500 feet across the canal!

Starr at dock at SBMC

 The back deck “part” (the formwork for the top deck extension)

 
 Oct. 14– We moved to PacFish, another 1000 foot voyage!

 At PacFish, Starr is ready to haul out.

 
Oct. 15 – Starr is hauled out at PacFish

Al Brands, our PacFish Dockmaster

Pacific Fisherman Shipyard is a fishermen owned co-op.  It has a colorful history and a very experienced team, primarily doing wood and steel boat repair.  The Norwester and most of the other “Deadliest Catch” fleet have their work done at PacFish. http://www.pacificfishermen.com

There are 400 shares of ownership in the yard.  If you look on their website at the “Lost Shareholders” names, you would think we were in Norway; that’s why some call Ballard “Little Norway”.

 Starr Blocked up

 Starr’s new home for the next few months

 Oct. 16 – We set up a16 ft high scaffold, pulled the twin rudders, trimmed back the lower deck rail flanges, and cut back top deck core to the lower FRP skin.

 The scaffolding is completed

 The rudders are off

 Dave Schmidt pulling prop

 We have had numerous conversations over the last couple of weeks with Steve Seaton, Starr’s original designer, going over the various design options.  Steve has a great eye for the right lines, which is what we have always loved about Starr.

 Steve Seaton at his office in Florida

Oct. 17 – We are emptying the lazerett of the furnace, rudder assembly, and shore power transformers in preparation to cutting out the transom.

Removing Shorepower Transformers and Steering Gear

 I met with Neil Gibbons from Teak Decking Systems in Florida, who was measuring for new teak decks. 

 Neil Gibbons, Teak Decking Systems

 Al Brands, our dock master at PacFish, checking on some details.

 Al Brands

Oct. 18 – Dan Lebo and Bill Kennedy, owners of All Points Marine, are doing the fiberglass work and painting. 

Randy and Dana cut a new top deck drain path into bulwarks.  The new cutout will give us 10 sq. in. of downspout, as compared to our previous 1 sq. in.

 Top deck drain running down Bulwarks

Dana Lebo cutting off the Transom

 We cut off the Transom in preparation for the 2 ft swim step extension. The transom fiberglass measured from ¾ inch to 2 inches in thickness….It is built “hell for stout”.

 Transom sections

Don

Deck Drains-part 2
or
How to sink your boat…..OR BURN DOWN your boat.
October 19, 2013
 
When I wrote my recent blog entry about my deck drain problems, I had completely blanked-out recalling the discovery of a burnt-out electrical switch that could…

Deck Drains-part 2
or
How to sink your boat…..OR BURN DOWN your boat.
October 19, 2013
 
When I wrote my recent blog entry about my deck drain problems, I had completely blanked-out recalling the discovery of a burnt-out electrical switch that could…

Deck Drains-part 2
or
How to sink your boat…..OR BURN DOWN your boat.
October 19, 2013
 
When I wrote my recent blog entry about my deck drain problems, I had completely blanked-out recalling the discovery of a burnt-out electrical switch that could…

Deck Drains-part 2

or

How to sink your boat…..OR BURN DOWN your boat.

October 19, 2013

When I wrote my recent blog entry about my deck drain problems, I had completely blanked-out recalling the discovery of a burnt-out electrical switch that could have caused a fire as the result of a leaking top deck drain.

Steve D’Antonio was on Starr last Thursday and Friday (October 10 & 11) doing a complete boat survey for me.  We have been cruising Starr for fourteen years, and I wanted a professional analysis of the boat; it’s just too easy to miss things that are right in front of my face, and this refit time is when I have the opportunity to make things right.  Steve spent two days on Starr taking over 500 photos and making copious notes  (see www stevedmarineconsulting.com).

During his survey Steve D. commented on how I need more drip loops in several areas on Starr.  My first thought was, “hmm, I’ve read Steve’s article about the necessity of having these drip loops, but isn’t that getting just a little picky”?  The fact is that I didn’t completely understand the preventive function of drip loops. 

Drip Loop

One of Steve’s many comments was that 50% of boat fires are due to the shore power connections, and noted that Starr didn’t have the ABYC recommended shore power breakers within the required 10ft of the boat side connection.   Suddenly that brought back the memory of finding a fried electrical switch from water intrusion, via a leaking top deck drain which ran thru the soffit and down into an interior wall switch in Starr’s salon.

 New wall switches and outlet

Just prior to our departing Japan in 2011, there was a burning smell around a switch. I opened the switch and found a completely melted switch where even the wires were burnt in half.  The short was caused by water intrusion from a leaking top deck drain.

 Burnt switch due to overhead deck drain leak

 Flat out scary!!

 I asked Steve D. “why didn’t the breaker shut off and protect the circuit?”  Steve reminded me that electrical fires could start even without the breaker ever tripping.  Even if it’s only a 15 amp breaker, if there is a short similar to having a small electric heater running, the wire will eventually heat up to the point of a complete meltdown and start any nearby combustibles on fire.

 Steve D. doing his critical analysis

 Steve D working on his findings

I highly recommend that anyone who is interested in learning more about drip loops read Steve D’s article in Passagemaker Magazine.

http://www.passagemaker.com/articles/technical/systems/the-skinny-on-coaxial-cables-connectors/

Don

Some Information Regarding Deck Drains on Starr. or
“HOW TO SAVE YOUR BOAT FROM SINKING!!!”
October 8, 2013
 
I’m fed up with our inadequate deck drains on Starr, and have decided that now that we are doing other glass work, such as lowering the…

Some Information Regarding Deck Drains on Starr. or
“HOW TO SAVE YOUR BOAT FROM SINKING!!!”
October 8, 2013
 
I’m fed up with our inadequate deck drains on Starr, and have decided that now that we are doing other glass work, such as lowering the…

Some Information Regarding Deck Drains on Starr. or

“HOW TO SAVE YOUR BOAT FROM SINKING!!!”

October 8, 2013

I’m fed up with our inadequate deck drains on Starr, and have decided that now that we are doing other glass work, such as lowering the back deck rail and extending the top deck overhang, this is a good time to fix or modify the drains.   I have read many blog entries about how other boaters are frustrated with their deck drains; so I would like to share with you what I’ve discovered on Starr.

 I started out by tracing all of the deck drains which were hidden from view, buried behind cabinets and bulkheads.  This required completely removing a cabinet, cutting the top out another, and cutting open a bulkhead as well.

We removed a cabinet in the lower guest stateroom

  And in the lower guest bunkroom

 A drain buried in wall of lower guest stateroom

We had to cut out the top one of the master stateroom bookshelves

Master stateroom bookshelf 

We had to cut an access hole in the top

 This is what the drain looked like

 
What I found was very scary!  There were no shut-off valves on ANY of the through-hull fittings which exited the hull at the boot stripe on the waterline.

 A through-hull fitting at the waterline

 
AND, The drain leaders were made up of 1-inch rubber hose that was severely deteriorated in some places.  Some of the hose clamps crimping the hose to the thru hull fittings were rusted to the point that they fell off. 

 Through-hull fitting with rotten hose and rusted hose clamp

 So, What is the Fix? 

I plan to upsize the through-hull fittings from the current 1-in. to 1 -1/2-in., or maybe 2-in., with a shut off valve, and all through- hull fittings will have access hatches.   The rubber hoses will be replaced with fiberglass or Mepla leaders, and the small 3-in. top deck drain gratings will be upsized to 12-in. grilled-slot drain scuppers.

Now that I’m into this project I will continue to post on Starr’s blog: www.starr.talkspotblogs.com.   I’m including some photos of the current deck drains.

 Deck Drain on Upper Deck will be replaced with 12 inch slot drain

Deck Drain on Port side of Main Deck

Deck Drain on Starbord side of the Main Deck

I will continue to report on what I find and what fixes I think should be implemented; however I would appreciate any and all suggestions on what I’m doing.  Please send any comments and suggestions to my personal email address.   I will continue to ask questions, and hope that some of you “boat guys” (and perhaps some “boat ladies”) will have good ideas I can use.

Thanks,

Don Stabbert
don@sbmc.com

“The Adventures and Follies of an Amateur Boat Re-Builder October 1, 2013
 
Starr is now back home at Salmon Bay Maine Center (SBMC) in Seattle.  We have been cruising Starr since September of 2000, traveling to the South Pacific, Europe and, Japa…