| Restorations work on Madwenowe continues . . . | | | | to the engine compartment was very limited. Only |
| After a long hot summer and our usual retreat to | | | | the front panel could be removed,so working on the |
| Martha's Vineyard to escape the heat of San Carlos | | | | engine was almost impossible. |
| we returned home to continue the work on | | | | (to see pics of work in progress, visit: webtiller.com) |
| Madwenowe, our 42' Ed Monk design ketch. | | | | From past experience, when something breaks or |
| Madwenowe is currently on mooring #4 in the bahia | | | | doesn't start, conditions are never favorable. It's |
| at Marina San Carlos, in the State of Sonora, Mexico. | | | | either very cold, very hot, very dark, very rough |
| Working and living fulltime on the boat has its | | | | seas, very wet, etc. so accessibility to the engine is a |
| advantages and disadvantages. | | | | must. With this in mind I relocated the sink to the |
| On the down side, things take a little more time | | | | port side of the galley. This eliminated the plumbing |
| because of having to unpack tools (generator, | | | | that was running down over the engine and I |
| sanders, cords, etc.) at the beginning of the day, | | | | re-designed the top and side panels to be removed |
| then cleaning up at days end. | | | | for easy access to the engine compartment, battery |
| On the plus side, a clean work environment, and living | | | | banks, filter systems, bilge pumps and water valves. |
| quarters takes the edge off of not having the clutter | | | | Another modification that I did with great hesitation |
| as well as the dust from sanding and scraping. The | | | | is to cut out a portion of the interior portside |
| galley and living quarters are always presentable at | | | | bulkhead. I used a jigsaw to cut out the panel. Doing |
| the end of the day. | | | | this opened up the area between the galley and living |
| This makes it very relaxing when sitting topside | | | | area. This allows more natural lighting to the galley |
| watching the morning sunrise, drinking a hot cup of | | | | and living area and improved ventilation throughout |
| coffee or in the evening watching the seals, dolphins, | | | | the interior. I used the mahogany piece that I cut out |
| pelicans, fish, the dance of the sailboats and their | | | | to built a cabinet and storage area. This added |
| reflection on the water and the beautiful Sea of | | | | another foot of counter space to the galley |
| Cortez sunsets with Tetakawi as a backdrop. | | | | For a power source I installed an 80-watt solar panel |
| Another big plus living fulltime on a sailboat is No Yard | | | | and 3 deep cell marine batteries, a 1200 dc/ac |
| Work! | | | | converter to run our laptops and printer. This will also |
| That being said, the few weeks spent away from | | | | power the navigation equipment once installed. |
| the boat allows you to reassess priorities and plan of | | | | Between the solar panel, engine and the almost year |
| action. | | | | round sunshine that we get in this area of the Sea of |
| First and foremost was the attempt to get the old | | | | Cortez, we should have a sufficient energy supply. I |
| 1975 Volvo Penta MD3B running again. Two years | | | | will have photos and details on this when I complete |
| before I bought the boat, the injection pump, and | | | | this phase. |
| various parts had been disassembled so the engine | | | | Since our return from the Vineyard (October 2006) |
| was in bad condition. Rust and corrosion had covered | | | | and while waiting for parts etc. I began work to redo |
| everything. | | | | the topside of the cabin. It had to remove various |
| Before the summer began I had the engine hauled | | | | old coats of paint and some bondo that someone |
| out and the plan was to rebuild. An overhaul was | | | | had used to patch several holes and soft spots. The |
| done. New rings, bearings, valve job, starter and | | | | old top was too weathered to repair or patch so I |
| alternator rebuilt, injection pump and injectors cleaned | | | | decided to tear off the old fiberglass laminate down |
| and tested. Then had it hoisted back into the bilge. | | | | to the original plywood top. |
| Once the engine was again in place it took several | | | | Aside from once owning an "85" Corvette, this was |
| more weeks to get it started. Due to existing | | | | my first experience in working with fiberglass. |
| problems with the injector pump and injectors I | | | | Because of age and condition of the old material it |
| decided to give it up. It just was not going to be | | | | took about ten minutes total for both sections to be |
| dependable enough for me. I made the decision to | | | | stripped to the original wood. A much easier task |
| purchase a new Yanmar Diesel 3JH-E 38 hp engine. | | | | than I anticipated. The original top is 1" laminated |
| Madwenowe was hauled back to the marina and the | | | | plywood. |
| old Volvo was hauled out for the final time. | | | | I then cleaned and prepped the wood using 80-grit |
| I had the new Yanmar shipped from Wisconsin, USA, | | | | sandpaper. I cleaned out all of the soft spots and use |
| to Tucson, Arizona. From Tucson I hauled it down to | | | | a plastic bondo to fill in the holes and low areas. |
| San Carlos in the back of my pickup. The decision to | | | | Once the wood was finally prepped I used West |
| replace the engine is one that I should have made | | | | System Epoxy 105/205 along with 6-mil fiberglass |
| when I first purchased the boat. Having contentment | | | | cloth to reinforce the top. |
| and peace of mind is worth every dollar spent for a | | | | Before applying the West Systems I cleaned the |
| reliable engine. When you turn the key it must start. | | | | wood top using a clean paint brush and a solvent we |
| It could mean the difference between life and death. | | | | have here in Mexico called thinner (pronounced |
| (to see pics of work in progress, visit: webtiller.com) | | | | teener). I applied a coating of West System, let set |
| Second plan of action is to continue on the | | | | to a tacky touch, then applied the 6-mil fiberglass |
| woodworking. Much sanding and scraping still had to | | | | cloth. All together I applied 3 more coats of epoxy. |
| be done on the deck, rails, cabin top and trim. In fact | | | | (Note to self: never again do this on a windy day. |
| the entire topside of the boat needed to be | | | | The feeling of sticky fiberglass and epoxy hugging |
| completely stripped. | | | | my face, attempting to mummify me was an |
| (to see pics of work in progress, visit: webtiller.com) | | | | embarrassing experience. I hope no one was |
| The deck had been painted over 3 times prior. Thus I | | | | watching.) |
| removed 3 coats of paint, 1 coat of primer, and a | | | | For the final sanding of the top I again used 80-grit |
| very thick and hard layer of old varnish. I used | | | | sandpaper. |
| several packs of 80 grit sandpaper and some paint | | | | This will allowed the paint to adhere properly. |
| stripper only when necessary. | | | | Because of heat and the UV factor here in Mexico I |
| I now have the majority of old paint and varnish | | | | will use white Topside non-skid paint for the final |
| removed. Once I replace a couple of pieces of | | | | finish. |
| weathered mahogany I will be ready for final sanding | | | | Lessons Learned: |
| before applying paint, oil and varnish. A very handy | | | | We have had Madwenowe since February 2006 and |
| tool to have available is a paint scraper. Once you | | | | have made a considerable amount of progress. |
| learn the technique it makes the job much easier. It | | | | Finding materials takes longer than usual. The Internet |
| allows you to get into tight corners and edges and | | | | is a great resource for research and purchasing |
| looks very tidy once cleaned. | | | | materials. This past summer Marina San Carlos |
| This tool saves a tremendous amount of time. I use | | | | opened a chandlery called Star Marine. This makes |
| it to take off the majority of old paint and varnish. | | | | finding materials much easier, especially when it |
| Then I finished up with the sanding. Without it I | | | | comes to locating stainless steel nuts, bolts and other |
| would have spent many days and hours trying to | | | | needed hardware. |
| sand off old layers of paint and varnish. I highly | | | | When I first mentioned to sailing friends that I was |
| recommend it. | | | | considering buying an old wooden hull sailboat, their |
| Prior to all this, the living quarters needed to be put in | | | | first words were, "It's a lot of work". While it is true, |
| order. When we first bought the boat, below deck | | | | it is a lot of work, my reply to that is "I'm not afraid |
| needed much work. The former owners lived aboard | | | | of hard work." As of yet I have not grown tired or |
| for about three years. They were heavy smokers | | | | have any regrets of our owning the boat. |
| and had a dog and cat. I'm not saying that you can't | | | | Both my wife and I are enjoying the many benefits |
| live aboard with pets. I know many who do and have | | | | of fulltime living on Madwenowe. The wonderful |
| no problem with it. In this case however, combination | | | | experience of sailing and living on board, being outside |
| of stale tobacco smoke, tobacco stain, dog and cat | | | | the majority of the day and night has added years |
| odor and stains made it necessary to gut the inside, | | | | to our life and health. The physical work has also |
| clean and refinish. | | | | kept me great condition for a man of 57. |
| (to see pics of work in progress, visit: webtiller.com) | | | | As of December 20, 2006 this is a journal of the |
| This gave us the opportunity to do some needed | | | | work thus far completed on Madwenowe. If you |
| modifications in the galley. The galley sink was located | | | | have question or comments, feel free to email me at: |
| over the doghouse (a term many used to describe | | | | I will be happy to respond. |
| the compartment that houses the engine) so access | | | | (to see pics of work in progress, visit: webtiller. |