How do you know that it is almost spring?

[miky2884]

Looks AWESOME!!!!

 

[Megabyte]

Thanks Mike.
When you can see the reflection of boats next to you in the gel coat, I think you can consider it a 'mirror finish'.

 

[Megabyte]

Worked the transom today, and I think I can declare it done.

Started on the details too... The washboards and the area above the rub rail got one coat today.
More to come tomorrow because I'm approaching a deadline.

 

[miky2884]

THOSE WASHBOARDS ARE A PAIN!!!!!!

did you do yours by hand ??

 

[Megabyte]

THOSE WASHBOARDS ARE A PAIN!!!!!!
did you do yours by hand ??

Yes they are... and no I did not.
I did the area above the rub rail and the washboards with a wool pad on my Makita buffer and I used 3M cleaner wax.

The 3M product has a good bit of 'grit' in it, so it took the oxidation off, but the pads did get really loaded up.
I used four wool pads alone on the washboards from the pilothouse back to the transom.

I've noticed that when it rains, gel coat leaches from the washboards down the hull sides, so I'm hoping that this corrects that problem.
I will eventually give those washboards another pass-over, but for now I'm moving on to some other detail areas. :wink:

 

[TheOtherLine]

Looks good Kev.

Dri Deck is nice but not comfy on soles of feet. Also, catches a lot of dirt and not easy to remove and replace.

 

[Megabyte]

Subscribers to this thread might notice that it hasn't been updated in awhile.
The reason is because I accepted a captains job in the British Virgin Islands on fairly short notice, so the Megabyte remains on land in the BOE Marine storage lot until I return.

My daily 'launch' here in the BVI is a 19' Whaler with 4-stroke Yamaha power.
I am caring for a number of other vessels and other assorted watercraft as part of this job.
It's a great gig in a beautiful part of the world.

I will update this thread with the projects that did not get completed before my departure, when I return to the states.

 

[POGE]

If in Tortolla stop by the Italian Ice Cream, gelato, store right down town. The Lady who owns it went to Itally and learned the trade and outdoes them.

 

[Megabyte]

Thanks for the tip. I'll make it a point to check the place out when I go to Tortolla.

 

[Bryan 2530]

:mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

 

[Megabyte]

:mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

I know, I know... but the man paying the bills says no photos, so I'm doing what I was told.

But... I might be able to post some photos of my off-island travels, once I am able to transfer the photos from my camera, to my laptop.
Maybe in a couple of days. Waiting on a new power-pack to arrive for the laptop.

 

[Megabyte]

I'm baaaaack!

Arrived home late Thursday night after a loooooong day.

Around Memorial Day, two of my neighbors fetched my boat from the BOE Marine lot, and brought her home to my slip, so I would have her in the water upon my return.
Spent all day Friday trying to get re-aquainted with home, stow all my gear, and give the Megabyte a gross decon.
She was pretty nasty having spent almost 6 weeks in a dusty lot and she was full of various tree seeds and pollen.

Today was spent re-mounting the rocket launcher.

Before I left, I had prepped the holes and filled everything with West Systems epoxy.
First thing I did was to mix up a small batch, and paint over my repair one more time to make sure that everything was sealed.

I could not document the process as I only had two sets of hands, mine and the Admirals.
So... re-assembly was pretty straightforward.

The Admiral held the rocket launcher in place while I drilled the holes through the epoxy in the proper position.
Hardware was upgraded from the original 1/4" bolts to 5/16", and custom made 1/8" stainless backing plates were used top and bottom.

I think it turned out well, and should remain solid for the life of the boat. 8)

 

[Megabyte]

One last project item for this thread...

Before I left for the BVI, I had bought new fuel hose and vent line, but the AWAB clamps that I wanted to use were backordered.
Since I ran out of time, I asked Jim at BOE to order a set of AWAB's for me, and have one of his technicians install the hose while I was gone.
I gave Jim a copy of the 'fuel hose thread' where other CP members had documented the process, so hopefully it would go easier for them.

Looks good to me!

Boat is in her slip, and spring commissioning is complete.
Now the detail work begins. :wink:

 

[Bryan 2530]

Looks good!!!

Nice to be back?? :?:

 

[Megabyte]

Nice to be back?? :?:

It is.
The BVI opportunity was a once in a lifetime gig, and it is an awesome place, but it is good to be home after being gone so long.

On to the next adventure!

 

[Megabyte]

How about this one?
This was my 'crew boat' while I was working in the BVI.

I'm told that it is a 1989 model, though the HIN was obliterated when the boat was "refinished" awhile back.
That 60 hp Yamaha on the back had (an indicated) 1300 hours on her, and trust me... she was run hard and put away wet!

 

[Bryan 2530]

Perfect for down there!!

 

[miky2884]

I could stare at that picture all day!!!!!

 

[Megabyte]

I could stare at that picture all day!!!!!

Many times, I did.
The photo was taken from 'my' dock and if the breezes were light, that was the best place to be, because you could always catch a breeze there.
Oh, and there is about 15' of water there under the boat.

I fished off that dock and caught a variety of fish, most of which I filleted for the two island cats.
If they saw me with a fishing rod in my hand, they would follow me to the dock and peer over the side intently looking for fish.
They would come to my villa shortly after dawn to wake me, because I would give them fresh fish every morning as a treat.

First fish that I caught off that dock was a small Grouper, caught on a jig head / chartreuse curly-tail artificial.
The Grouper hit on the very first cast.

I had seen big tarpon to around 36" cruise that dock in late afternoon.
The water under the dock was loaded with rain minnows / silversides - literally millions of bait fish.

One evening I decided to try my luck with cut bait at sundown.
I grabbed one of the 'offshore' rigs that had a seawitch and steel leader already loaded up, and used an empty water bottle as a float.
Ghetto... but it worked.

After about 15 minutes of soaking that bait, there was a huge swirl on top and bang! It was game on! :shock:
That fish broke new 100# braid like it was nothing. Had to have been a big shark.
I saw 4' to 5' Threshers cruising the area at sundown, in addition to smaller Nurse and Lemon sharks.
According to one of the locals, the sharks come out of the deep water into the 'shallows' at night to hunt and feed.

Since that rig was gone, I re-rigged with a wooden Lonely Angler topwater lure which allowed me to float the bait and use the plug as a bobber.
That one got hit too, and it was gone. :evil:

Determined to change my luck, I took a good size jig head, baited it, and just hung it over the edge of the dock where I could see it.
The kitties were peering over the side watching too...

Well, I saw the shark that hit it. It was about a 3' Lemon (I believe) that grabbed the bait in the blink of an eye.
When the drag on the Shimano 4000 series spinner started singing, the kitties (and me) went nuts... until that one bit through a steel leader and was gone.

The kitties looked at me with disappointment, and we called it a night.
I had already lost enough gear and decided not to loose any more.
Obviously, I had neither the proper gear, or the skill, to catch a BIG fish from the dock, but it was fun trying!

 

[miky2884]

GREAT PICTURES!!!!
Its my dream to end up down there "somewhere" one day.