Oct
23
2009
Posts Tagged ‘Ferrocement repairs’
Oct
23
2009
Haul Out..Endurance 40 Ferrocement
Author: Los VagabundosI got the boat out of the water today! …and took a look at the hull! The boat was nasty to say the least, but the hull looked fantastic.
I don’t know what all the hype is about when talking about a “properly” built ferrocement boat, but so far (knock on wood), I have no complaints. While cleaning the hull we found 2 clams and a small crab and some other thing that looked like a sea cucumber. No rust or exposed wire frame or any other horror stories associated with ferrocement sailboats.
I did, however, find that the shaft is moving a bit and the rudder needs to be removed and repaired a bit. Apparently, it’s fiberglass and needs to be fixed. All the anodes looked good and I was surprised that there were any left at all given the last owner’s non-boating skills. There was a place where there were supposed to be some anodes and someone took the cheap route and didn’t put anything! I’ll be putting those in, as well as a couple extra big ones.
There are also a couple of places that looked as if someone ran aground, which actually made me smile. Knowing that the boat didn’t crumble at the point of contact with something other than water made me feel comfortable in knowing that some of the BAD PRESS that ferrocement has gotten is just that…BAD PRESS.
It’s really comforting to see everyone that I have told this boat is cement have not turned their noses up or even flinched, for that matter. All I get is “Wow, that’s a strong boat” or “It will take care of you”. There was a Scottish couple on the yard today actually admiring the boat and even asked to go aboard and take a look. They were amazed at how big it was and loved the roomy interior.
I saw the speed paddle and depth sounder transducers and hope to replace both this coming week. I have also asked them to give me a quote for repairing some of the paint work above the water line.
As far as I can tell, this boat has all the same problems that fiberglass, wood or steel boats would have and nothing more! Sure, we have a lot of work to do, but so does everyone else with a sailboat!
EL V
Oct
10
2009
Shower Blues….Endurance 40 Ferrocement
Author: Los VagabundosI replaced the manual pump on the toilet and also added a new filter in line with the new bilge pump, so the head is looking and SMELLING better. But then… We took showers and the tank didn’t fully drain. I tested the pump in another bilge and it works fine but I’m thinking the tank is so full of crap and hair that the pump just isn’t strong enough to pull the water out.
I’m going to install a pump closer to the tank and see if that works. If not… It’s time to get dirty and remove the old tank!!!
HUGE JOB!
El Vagabundo
Oct
8
2009
Bilge Repairs….Endurance 40 Ferrocement
Author: Los VagabundosI wanted my first job on El Vagabundo to be an easy one. The shower would not drain and there was water in the engine room and the forward bilge area. I checked the bilge pump and it just wasn’t doing a good enough job in the engine room and no water at all was draining from the shower.
So I set out to get the job done. I was hoping to have the help of a local mechanic, but he was busy, so I had to man up and do it myself. Mind you, I am not a mechanic and, although I know my way around a tool box, I’m far from a DIY Guru dude. The idea was to install a new pump and run new hoses. Well, it’s a bigger job now. Four pumps and a new system is in order! So far, I have replaced the main pump and the water is out of both bilge areas and the shower is draining.
Now that a new hose has been run, all I have to do is install the new pumps!
