Paul and All:
Summer Palace now has two beating hearts and I was at a loss for words when the starboard 454 cranked up on the 3rd revolution. It is just too scary.
Now? I hope 5 gallons will get me to the fuel pump just around the peninsula from the marina. Yeah, another Saudi slave to the pumps is in line! We will put in high test, run around a bit and then change out the FRAM filters and put in new oil.
I guess I have to get up to speed on the recommended synthetic oil to go with the new WIX filters. I have been skipping over those posts as I wasn't ever certain She would run again. Anybody need a tow? I will pay you to let me tow you and see how she works as lead DOG!!!!
I plan to just go over to the marina now, start the engines, pull up the captain's chair, and drink an ice tea until I have the nerve to actually pull out into the traffic. Man, what did I do with all her paper work and documentation papers? It has been so long.....
And wouldn't you know that one of the 4 pots of epoxy that I put on the chess galley table last night did not set up completely. No idea why. Everything was identical. Time to worry in 2 or 3 days. All new upholstry and no table to sit at.
Where do we go from here? Clearly, the electircal system has to be addressed. Any volunteers? I will trade a boat for your work and expertise,,, as long as I do not get schocked more than 5 or 6 times a day. Do you have to run her up on a mud bank to get a good ground, or is that a grounding??? I can't remember all that 'lectrical stuff.
Jerry - Still shaking, and on the bay with Summer Palace 38' FXA 0049.
It warms my heart to get news like this, knowing all of the issues you have had to prevail upon, including a trip to Iraq! The excitement and satisfaction factor is off the scale at a moment like this. With the new fuel tanks, rebuilt carbs, good fuel filters, good ignition, Wix filters, you should be reliable. It is remarkable that the boat has now moved under its own power for the first time in HOW MANY YEARS??? Literally like raising the dead!
Sidenote, we had a litter of pups years ago, one crawled off and was on the cold concrete floor of the barn where we didn't see him. He would have perished had I not spotted him. He was "almost dead", so we warmed him up, and he made it. That dog we called Laz, for Lazurus! Would make a good boat name for a project like yours, but SUMMER PALACE is much more fitting especially with the Iraq connection, ha, I like your summer palace better than the one over there. Location, location, location.
Now I'm sure there are bugs to be found and worked out. Linkage, wiring, running gear issues, perhaps alignment. Good luck on the shakedown, but now that you have the boat in the water and running, the rest is going to take on an entirely different character. Keep us posted !
Ever since I started viewing, lurking, posting and enjoying this site I've read your posts of grief and joy so you must be beside yourself getting the "Palace" up and running. It takes a lot of wherewithal to pull that off so again, CONGRATULATIONS!
Steve Lendzion
1969 42' Commander
Bear-Z-Girl
.....of filling the fuel tanks. What is this 5 gal business? You realize you can burn 5 gal in a few minutes with that rig, right?
I echo the the others with a congratulations for your stick-to-it-ness in the face of adversity. You have done a lot of work, and it is good to see someone get the satisfaction they deserve with a successful big step like this. Here's hoping you have many happy wakes to look back on this season!
As for that uncured epoxy, might spend some time with a hair dryer, the warmer and drier it gets, the better it likes it. Might have been a little lean on the hardner or really humid conditions?
Paul, Tom, Don and All:
Thanks for the responses. Tom, I am still puzzeling out the epoxy. All 4 pots were mixed and stirred within 15 minutes of each other, I used a brand new cup, there was nothing on the wood and I stirred each pot 2 minutes to the clock. I did not mix epoxy brands and used the measurements on the cup in a 2 to 1 ratio. It was just a mix and pour deal, with the table top pre-positioned as perfectly level as I could make it, using carpenters shims. The first pot did not set up and this morning, I put it outside in the sun, thinking like you, that the heat would set the epoxy. As it warmed, the first pot turned to a liquid again and because the table top was not level, flowed over the pots that had set, then some parts of it started to set up. Yes, complete mess, but I salvaged it by scraping the liquid off and into a trash bucket. This took some time. I repostitioned it again in the shop and repoured. I just checked it and it is setting up normal. What the heck, I am moving on and will worry later. Papa needs a place to put his iced tea!
The only thing I have not mentioned is humidity, but all were poured at nearly the same time. None the less, it is looking OK now, but I am in for some sanding.
Don, I am going out on Wednesday and will take pictures. I did not turn the blue stripe up like you did and now I am kicking myself. However, the smoke grey and machine blue really look good, but all the old wireing and junk stand out. I have no idea of detail except when it comes to women!!! Obviously! I like to collect old salvage boats and I am married to a very beautiful woman.