I was hoping to start removing my battery switch and some wiring from the transom of the boat. When I arrived to the marina an old Egg Harbor behind me was doing wood and glass work. This was kicking up dusk, particles and some good size chunks of both glass and wood not only in my direction but into the cockpit of my boat. It wasn’t a sand storm but it definitly blocked out some of the little light that was shining through the clouds…at least from the vantage point of my cockpit. The guys never even apologized about the mess on and in my boat or about me having to work in their mess. They were not wearing masks or respirators either. The best part was watching them repair fiberglass with bondo though. I hope they are not just repairing the boat for a quick re-sale…the poor soul that does not figure out that they cut every corner fixing it up will have some real problems down the road.

So without being able to work outside I turned my energy to the inside. I cleaned the whole pilothouse from headliner to sole. Applied the anti-fog to the windows, polished the stainless sink, removed the drain to measure for a replacement and measured to make a bracket to support the ditch bag.

I am still not sure what to do about the black streaks on the painted glass surfaces from sneakers and even boat shoes around the seating areas. Since it is not a smooth finish like gel coat it mars very easily. I may consider sanding it smooth and gel coating it or covering it with some thin teak plywood. I would rather keep it white or light in color so it does not feel closed in, but there is a lot of surface to sand and re-paint.

Hopefully the weather is good enough this weekend. I plan on installing the new battery switches, charge relay, breakers, battery boxes, batteries, battery charger and polishing at least from the rub rail down. If I can get all that done and next week we install the through hulls I am all set to get wet!

I am very optimistic today…I spoke with the marina and we hope to glass in the holes for the through hulls early next week. I guess you could say we will have the glass completely full! Assuming the weather does not halt that later in the week we can re-bore the holes and install the through hulls. If all goes well the rest of the connections can be finalized and the fishing touches on the spring maintenance can be completed. It looks as if I will launch by the first week of March maybe earlier. Great news…I can then have a plenty of time to get a good shake down run in and if any unforeseen issues pop up have time to fix them before flounder season opens on March 23.

Sunday I hope to get all the templating done for cup holders, new rigging station and new shelving. The initial shelving will be for the ditch back with a small tray above it for odds and ends. After I get some other projects done I will move on to installing shelving in the lockers for tackle boxes and bins.

I know its been a while…just been doing small odds and ends on the boat and around the yard waiting for a good weather window to do the glass work and then install the through hulls.

The hailer is in and working very well. Definitely wont be able to use it to talk to whoever is anchoring the boat. Even on the lowest setting it will blow you off the bow. At lest the talk back will be a welcome addition and I will at least be able to hear what the anchorman is saying.

I also removed the battery trays to give us more room to do the raw water intake conversion and also round over the edges of starboard so we don’t have a rerun of a Joey Fingers episode. Also I will be replacing the trays with battery boxes and will install starboard rails around the boxes for added security and to prevent them from sliding.

The outdrive is off and serviced and in fine condition according to the Volvo-Penta dealer. Zincs are in pretty good shape but since they sat out of water for a period of time are now oxidized and will be replaced prior to launch. There is no sense in taking chances with corrosion, they only cost about $30 and well worth the investment on new ones.

This past weekend was more of a social outing than a working weekend. Pretty much everyone on my dock showed up and since we have not seen each other in a few weeks we spent most of the day catching up and at lunch.

I did however finish putting the headliner back up and all the electronics hangers. Only items left on the interior task list left are a thorough cleaning, shelf/hanger for ditch bag, replace and relocate interior stereo speakers, and install a cup holder for the captain.

I received great news today from Sea Sport. After speaking with Sea Sport about the coring and hull/liner gap and wetness issue I can put it past me and move on with repairs. Since the coring is not wet and only slight wetness between the liner and hull I should be in good shape. The coring is devinicell, which is a huge relief. The wetness is probably due to sweat. The gap between the liner and hull they also said is not an issue. I can either cut the liner back or fill in between it as I would fill in the removed coring with thick cell and bore through solid glass.

Now all we need is a few days above 35 degrees and we can kick this project into high gear and get ready to go back in the water in time for the winter flounder opener…assuming they don’t change the date on us.

The new valve and full flow 90 degree elbow came today. Only problem is that I did not realize when I placed the order that the 90 has a 1″ hose barb on it. My current hose to the wash down pump is 3/4″ ID. I just checked the old fitting and it is a reducing fitting from 1″ pipe to 3/4″ hose.

I checked the online catalog and Groco does not make a 90 for a 3/4″ valve to 3/4″ ID hose so I am stuck with the 1″ hose barb. I will probably end up running 1″ hose to the strainer and then off the strainer 3/4″ to the pump. If not I will see if the pump will accommodate 1″ hose. There is always something to throw your plans off kilter.

I had every intention of boring a large hole in the bottom of the boat and installing a new raw water pickup today. Right up until we were halfway through the bottom. That was when I realized the hull is cored. That was not the worst part of the discovery…the coring was dry and not wood, it was some type of foam. But the material between the hull and the deck liner was wet.

At this point we decided to remove the existing through hull for the wash down pump and inspect that hole and the area around it due to the wetness between the hull and liner. While it is not conclusive it is possible that the wetness between the liner could be from this through hull.

Now that the coring back about 1.5″ from the holes has been removed I will let it dry for the next week and then fill the void and holes with chopped glass and epoxy resin and then re-bore the holes through solid glass to eliminate the possibility of water intrusion into the coring.

The thing that has me worried though is the gap between the hull and the liner, it was at least 3/8″, maybe more, I did not measure. I have to contact Sea Sport to find out if that is normal or if some sort of delamination has occurred. I also want to find out the layup schedule knowing that the hull is cored. And if they recommend drilling a larger hole through the liner to allow the backing block to contact the hull directly.

It also was probably a good idea to remove the existing through hull as it was quite lose and the valve that was originally installed was of poor material. The through hull was a Perko model and after polishing it up with a wire wheel to remove paint, growth and sealant, it seemed to be in fine condition. The threads on the valve however had no bronze left showing at all so later today I will order a new Groco valve.

The Groco valves seem to be of good quality, I know many boat mechanics that like them and no surveyors that dislike them. The nice feature on them is that you can remove a set screw and install it on the other side to have the handle open and close in the opposite direction. Which can be extremely helpful in a tight engine room or cramped compartment.

I also mapped out some of my existing wiring in plans to re-route some of it. The end result will have the bilge pumps and primary start battery functions combined. Right now there is an always on bus bar, wash down pump and cockpit power point also connected to the start battery. These will all be re-wired to the house battery, I will also be installing an automatic charge relay. Once that is all done the batteries will also be replaced prior to spring launch.

On a high note, I did finish testing the GPS to sonar NMEA wiring and have been able to pause the sonar screen, point to a location, create a way point and navigate back to it on the GPS. This is going to greatly improve getting back on structure, bait and fish this season. Especially when you pass over something at high speeds, being able to pause the screen point to it and then navigate to it is going to be awesome.

It is amazing how many little things you can find to do on a boat. I started making a list of repairs I need to make and improvements or upgrades I also want to do. I think I need to transfer my list to adding machine tape! I still have a long list of little things to get down…new rod holders, cup holders, binocular rack, hang the ditch bag, replace the batteries and all the other spring maintenance.

I did find a real ingenious invention that will probably work really well for cup holders but is a bit pricey. I saw a product called Sea Suckers at the boat show in NY this week. They have two size suction cups that use a vacuum pump to adhere to the surface. This will probably work really well for a pliers and knife rack as well as mounting the fillet table to the transom cap instead of burning a rod holder for it.

One repair I was all set to do until I realized I had the wrong size hose was to replace the bow deck drain hoses. They are currently not smooth bore hoses, very thin plastic an leaking around the fittings despite the hose clamps being tight. I have not removed them yet but suspect that the thin plastic hose is cracked.

I did get the external VHF speaker connected up and working as well as the CO2 alarm. I also installed a cooler tie-down system on the swim platform to get the cooler off the deck and provide more fishing space.

To top the day off I worked on the NMEA cables from the GPS to the sonar. I now have the data flowing in both directions and have the ability to pause the sonar screen put the pointer over a bait ball or good concentration of fish and have the GPS navigate back to it or mark a way point for that particular piece of bottom. This will also be very helpful in setting up on a wreck or piece of bottom, once I figure out how to do it. My initial testing was not successful.

I headed down the Parkway to exit 98 for the last trip of ’07-as I normally do as if I were off to go fishing. It was a very sad 45 minute drive…I knew there would be no fishing trip but just repair, maintenance and improvement work to be done on the boat.

The marina was quiet with only the few in-water storage boats left bobbing the chilly 41 degree waters. A small 13′ tender did go past in the creek, not sure what he was thinking being out int hat cold water with a boat like that.

After talking to Tommy for a while and then helping Ryan setup his ice eater I decided I have to get some work done as much as I did not want to.

On the to do list today was a short list of small things but they all included removing the head liner which is a PIA. You have to take down the stereo, satellite radio, GPS and fishfinder prior to taking down the headline that is held up by the chart rack, and numerous strips of teak.

Once down I proceeded with running a new duplex wire to power the CO2 alarm, let out a length of coiled GPS sensor wire and installed and auxiliary speaker for the VHF to the starboard side of the helm seat. The proceeded to put the headliner, teak and electronics back up.

I still have to connect the CO2 alarm, fuse and circuit breaker together but the hard part is done running the wiring. Same with the VHF speaker.

It is too bad the rain let up early in the day. I had planned on working the entire day inside the pilothouse due to the morning rain. Otherwise I would have washed and polished the boat, it was in the mid 50′s and quite pleasant all day.

Hopefully in the coming weeks the weather will be fair again after this cold front coming in the next few days and we will be able to get the raw water pickup and sea strainer installed.

It was a sad day today…I removed all my gear from the boat. Cleaned the wheelhouse and the bilge. There is something to be said for a bilge area that you can eat off of. For one, you know right away if there is a leak of any kind as it is clearly visible. I am fortunate that my entire aft bilge area is gel coated. It makes for quick and easy cleaning.

I usually take the all the cushions from the dinette and v-berth out and shampoo them but I had no idea I had so much gear on the boat. Last year I was able to fit the gear and the cushions in the truck. This year I could barely fit all the gear, and I actually left a few things on the boat and in the dock box. I think I am going to have to trim that down for next year.

Now begins the task of going through all the gear checking it to make sure it is up to snuff and storing it till the spring…well March anyway. Restocking tackle, checking all the rods, breaking down each reel and servicing them. Lots of work to be done. It is worth the effort though, makes the season go smoothly with perfectly functioning gear.

I just want to thank everyone we had out this year. It was a great season, we caught tons of fish , had a great time and made some memories. Out of the 50 plus trips only once did we return to the dock without catching a single fish and only three times without anything in the box!

Originally I was not planning on coming out of the water due to the weather but since my chronic running hot issue needs to be rectified we pulled her yesterday. She is winterized and on a trailer waiting for a high speed raw water pickup and sea strainer retrofit. I received all the parts yesterday and should be doing the install weather permitting next Tuesday. If all goes well, the weather stays mild and bass stick around we should be re-splashing her soon!

What really surprised me though was that my zincs were pretty well intact. None of the metals, (drive, trim tabs, through hulls, risers, manifolds, etc.) show any electrolysis either. Strange because the previous year I had to have them replaced mid season and I was in the water for less time. In any event I will be replacing them regardless since we will be adding a substantial amount of bronze to the equation with the new through hull, sea cock, sea strainer and three 90 degree elbows.

Arrrgggg…..being tied up and soon to be on the hard is killing me. With the fall run just getting into high gear and some of the best weather in the last two months I am out of commission. Hopefully someone in the marina is sailing on Sunday and I can jump aboard and get at least one more striper trip under my belt. I would like to get into some bigger fish before they are gone. This fall all we have seen basically is schoolies.

At the very least I should be running down to Indian River soon for a blackfish slaughter on the Bandit. They do well every year down there and the average fish for them is a trophy in Central NJ.

We looked into the chronic overheating issue and so far have come up empty handed. Checked the heat exchanger-nothing clogging it. Checked the raw water impeller-in excellent condition, not burnt and not missing any vanes. Checked the raw water pump-excellent condition. Checked all the hoses-free and clear and fastened tightly. Checked the thermostat-operating fine.

The only other thing it could be is a clogged or broken intake on the outdrive. Since I have not hit anything since last haul out that I know if it being broken or cracked is not likely. There is a possibility it is clogged but then it would overheat all the time. Last Saturday the motor was running for over 4 hours before we had a problem.

Volvo-Penta had service bulletins on other drive models for chronic overheat problems in heavy load/use applications. For my drive however there are no such bulletins.

After speaking to several mechanics they suggest installing a similar kit to Volvo’s sea water strainer kit for the DPX drive overheating issue. Basically it bypasses the raw water pickups in the drive using a high speed raw water pickup thru-hull and intake sea strainer like on an inboard engine. This has several advantages. It is higher in the water column and less susceptible to picking up mud and debris churned up by the wheels and also allows for a visual inspection of how much debris is being picked up and when it needs to be cleaned.

After running this idea by a Vovlo-Penta dealer they say it will should not help the situation and I should just continue to clean out the heat exchanger when needed and not boat in an area where there may be weeds and mud. Unfortunately I think that rules out pretty much everywhere boats are present. I know the past few weeks we have had very low water but I had overheat issues when the water was very high.

The whole thing is very frustrating. I wish there was a bad part somewhere. At least then spending money on a fix makes sense. In this situation it is all speculation that it will fix the problem but it is speculation by the area’s best mechanics so I have to go by their word.

I will probably be hauled out later this week or early next week and begin repairs and upgrades on the cooling system. If the weather is still somewhat mild and some bigger bass show up I will go back in the water for a while.

Ran the boat back to our home port in Point Pleasant from Barnegat. Had a great stay at Sun Harbor Bay Club for the fall weakfish run. Joe has a top notch facility there. I did not get to use the pool, it was a little chilly out my taste. Speaking of taste…we did have a few meals at Osaka after getting the boat and fish cleaned, it was a real treat to come back and have a good place to eat a short walk from the boat.

After returning home I hauled out to inspect the hull, bottom paint and zincs. Everything was in perfect condition, well the zincs were worn a little but still in fine shape. Had the bottom and drive power washed and also scrapped off any barnacles. With no evidence of water intrusion we let her dry out for a few ours and to see if there would be any water weeping from the outside in…there was none. All good but the mystery of a few pints to a few quarts of water per week in the bilge still remains.

I called the dealer and the manufacturer as well as consulting with the mechanics and fabricators in the marina and everyone is stumped on this one. The only thing we can come up with is that a through hull, seacock, or transom shield is leaking between the hull and the inner liner or tub. But according to the manufacturer if that were happening there would be a lot of water in the boat and it would be sitting very low in the water which I am not.

We will see what happens over the next few weeks and may decide to haul out again and re-bed the seacock to be on the save side and see if that fixes the problem.

It has been a while since my last post and I will try and piece the summer back together and fill in the gaps as best I can in the coming weeks. But as many of you know I typically avoid the holiday weekends as much I as I can. So this Labor Day weekend I decided to get some mid-season work done myself instead of having the marina do it.

I got down early to avoid the traffic and began my running around. Stopped at the boat to pickup the bad light bulb so I knew what model to buy. Then stopped at the Volvo dealer for oil and filter. What a rip off marine grade synthetic oil is at $29.99 a gallon. I know this has been debated before but unfortunately marine grade oils are slightly different and worth the extra cost in prolonging you motor’s life. After that it was off to West Marine for light bulbs and then to Mark’s station to pick up the oil change pump.

After changing the oil I then replaced all my dock lines with brand new lines since the old ones are now almost four seasons old. The few bucks the new lines cost is a small price to pay for piece of mind in the event of big blow this fall.

In between the maintenance I set out the killie trap and a recently purchased crab pot. The killies were quite large for the creek and quickly showed up. Crabbing was a little slow. I ended the day with 7 nice sized males, a dozen or so short males and females and two short fluke. After a little break and some food I moved onto the domestic water system. It had seemed like the system was sucking in air but after careful inspection and a little help from Tommy it was was determined it was a clogged filter that I had overlooked. Cleaned the sludge out of the filter and the system was back to normal.

With all the repairs and maintenance done it was now time to relax, enjoy the beautiful weather, good company and case of Sam Adams!

Yes it is! The cover came off today and final preparation is just about done for launch day. I fished the wiring overhaul project as well as the finishing touches on new wiring for new devices and toys. Loaded on most of the gear and safety equipment. Removed the rosin paper that I had taped down in the cockpit to keep it clean over the winter while working on the boat. Boy did that work well. The cockpit sole is just as clean as the day it was washed and polished. I was hesitant that the rosin paper might bleed since it was red but there was only two stains about the size of dimes that were only a very faint pink color. Most likely they will fade in a week or so of sunlight.

I finally finished moving my second sonar unit to the cockpit. It will be so nice to not have to squint and duck to look into the pilothouse and read the one at the helm. It will also just be cool to watch your hooked fish come up on the screen next to you! I also finished installing the new radio. I have never used a Uniden VHF but have had several of their other products with no complaints.

I went with a wireless second station mic so I can roam anywhere on the boat and hear what is going on and keep in contact with fellow fisherman.

Another good use of the wireless mic is when someone goes up on the bow to work the anchor. They can take the mic with them and I won’t have to shout through the windows for them to hear, it doubles as an intercom system. It will also serve me well while back at the dock hanging out in the picnic area waiting for the larger boats returning from offshore. Instead of having to run out to the boat to hail them on the radio we will be able to do it from the comfort of a lounge chair.

I would have liked to get the new cockpit lighting, CO2 detector, new power points and freshwater shower installed before going back in the water. Because most likely once in the water projects get put on the back burner unless absolutely needed…fishing becomes the number one priority once we get wet!

Why yes! I just finished cleaning the portable head. I left it in the garage a few days in hopes it would clean itself but for some reason it did not. I made an executive decision…paint or clean the head. You would think that would be a no brainer and most would opt for painting but I have been painting for two days and nights and needed a break. It actually was not that bad, the tablets I have been adding each time it was emptied and filled with fresh water kill off any smell at all and leave a somewhat pleasant smell. It is the slush, chunks and color that are less desirable. Probably TMI but thought I would share. Well at least it is done and I can get on with the more fun and enjoyable projects.

I guess if you can’t be on the water then the next best thing is being on the boat! I finished removing all items from the boat. It is amazing how much stuff you end up with, it is equally amazing that the boat still floats with all this stuff. Anyway I began the cleansing of the interior as well as electronics musical chairs. I removed the bracket and wiring for the old fish finder to make way for the new Uniden VHF. I installed the wireless second station charging cradle on the v-berth bulkhead and could not complete the wiring because they do not include an in-line fuse. Can you believe that, you spend over a hundred bucks for a second mic and they can’t even give you a 2 dollar fuse holder. It is just as well since I really should install an new buss bar with power that is always on regardless of batter selector switch position. This mic needs to recharge and there is also a need for accessory power for other devices to keep memory so I will add that to the distribution panel next time. I also decided to try replacing the gimbel pins on two of the rod holders with stainless hardware in lieu of replacing the whole rod holder. Only time will tell if this will hold up to wire line trolling which is what busted out the pins in the first place. Hopefully they will hold up that way I can order a new Avet reel instead of two rod holders. I also vacuumed the whole interior, something that was long over due. Once all the other wiring and work is done inside I will wash down all interior surfaces and oil the teak. Hopefully between working on the house and 47 days left before launch I can get all the planned projects done this time.

The outside of the boat is done and now it is on to the pilothouse and the rest of the inside. I hope to get down this weekend to do some more work in preparation for Winter Flounder season. It is only 63 days away and you would be amazed how fast 63 days slips by when your boat is not completely ready to back in the water. It is amazing how much stuff you acquire throughout the year. I now know why my fuel consumption went up…I have about an extra 100 pounds of gear from the previous year. Anyway I will be cleaning the fiberglass interior, cushions, windows, carpets, head, teak, etc. I was thinking of trying Interlux’s teak products…Premium Teak Restorer and Premium Teak Oil. Anyone have experience with them? Please post comments good or bad.

This is one arena where size does matter! And it very well may save your life one day. After too much thought and two measuring sessions I have come to a conclusion. I am going to put in a 4000GPH pump in the bilge replacing the 1500GPH, replace the 250GPH forward and replace with a 750GPH, and move the 250GPH low in the bilge to handle washing and rain run off. I wish I could fit a larger one foreword but just don’t have the room, I may try and squeeze in a second 750 up there but will probably wait until haul out in May when I paint the bottom. I will add a length of wire and alligator clips to the 1500 when it comes out and keep it aboard as an emergency spare.

I finally got around to putting the headliner back in. I am sure my girlfriend is very happy to have it out of the house. The cabin looks a hundred times better now that it is back in. Now all I have to do is find time for the 500 other things I still want to get done before spring launch.

Took advantage of the nice weather for this time of year and washed and waxed the hull sides and transom. If we get another balmy weekend in February I will get to the topsides, if not they will wait until spring launch. Good thing I have somewhat of a tent over the boat due to the downpour that plagued most of my waxing efforts. What a difference after giving it a real good scrubbing and waxing.

Well it was a slow week at work so I started working on my rods and reels. Since I am very meticulous they are very clean…always! I already gave them a good cleaning when they came off the boat. I serviced all the reels…yes all 18 of them! I went through my rigs, not much to do there…only a few need to be retied or replaced. Waiting for my line order to come so I can spool up most of the reels. All in all not much left to do for spring and it is several months away still. Maybe we will get some nice schools of herring in close for some action from the jetties on light tackle.

Well we pulled the boat and winterized the motor, head and fresh water systems. The Volvo dealer came and winterized the outdrive. I spent half of a very cold day building a frame for covering the boat. This year I am just going to trow a tarp over it. Maybe next year I will shrink wrap it or get a heavy winter canvas for the task. At least the frame is built and should provide enough angle to eliminate snow build as well as enough room to work on it without removing the cover.

Hopefully winter will be mild, I have several tasks I would like to accomplish over the next month. Unfortunately I won’t be able to much in the spring due to us finalizing a house purchase and with moving and repairs/improvements to the house I will have to concentrate on that in the spring. At least winter flounder season was pushed back….I should be done with the house by opening day!

All the gear has been removed, cleaned and stored. My office now looks like a tackle shop with all my rods stripped, cleaned and ready for winter maintenance. Santa was very kind this year brining a pair of wire line outfits for trolling bunker spoons and umbrella rigs.

Well I could not muster a crew up this weekend despite the gorgeous weather. I did get some much needed work done on the boat though. Installed the bilge heater since we are supposed to get some snow next week. Hopefully the seas will lay down quickly after this noreaster passes by on Tuesday.