Vira - Sailboat rebuild, Irwin Citation 34

 Water tank     About two years after I rebuilt the water tanks, I finally started using them again—and right away I found out the forward tank lid was leaking into the V-berth. The funny part is, the difference came down to the sealant. The little portside tank I’d done with silicone, but on the big forward tank I decided to try butyl tape. The butyl itself wasn’t the problem. What actually happened was that in one corner, the gap between the tank lip and the lid was just too wide, so the tape never got squeezed. That left an open path, and sure enough—leak. To find exactly where it was coming from, I hooked up my shop vac in “blow” mode to pressurize the tank, then sprayed soapy water around the seams. The bubbles gave the leak away instantly. Now, saying “just reseal it” sounds simple—but to reseal, I had to actually get the lid off. And that turned out to be a real fight. The lid was cut so snug that there was basically no room to wedge anything under it, and butyl...

 Engine Manual starter  Last steps of the manual starter installation. In previous posts I showed how I built  new chain drive for manual starter. Due to I added coolant recalculation pump i was not able to use original parts for raw water version, fresh water engine version is very hard to source and also it will not fit my engine compartment. so, i designed  my own ;-) New part added. Steel plate 8mm thick about 200x60mm. screwed to existing holes on the top of timing gears box, 2 pillow block bearings, shaft, bicycle 28 tooth sprocket and shaft hub. Mechanism assembled for dry fit in the shop.  When engine installed shaft (with pin) is hidden inside engine compartment. Manual starter mechanism in place. To get to starter shaft I drilled wall and installed block of HDPE plastic to provide extra support to handle adapter.   Little bit about handle. Instead of building whole handle I made adapter which utilities standard sailboat winch handle. Two problems ...

Interior  Companionway steps refinished, new teak mounting blocks cut and finished. Engine room access door (over the steps) completely rebuilt.  Small Lexan 0.25" thich door to "inverter compartment" added   Deck Hatches, how small project to couple hours may quickly grow to midsize one. I decided to replace ugly looking, leaking and in general bad constructed, as well jib sheet catchers original hatches with new low profile aluminum ones.   Original one.   In the Irwin owners forum one guy recommended these and tell he installed them on IC34. Maybe he has different IC34 than me, but ... link to hatch Low Profile Extruded Hatch, 17-3/8" Square, Silver Frame & Smoke Lens I spent to source them almost 3 months. go2marine.com shipped one and back-ordered second one and it took a lot of time to get it. Ok, I get them, bought 4000UV and butil tape to seal. and.... I found the round does not fit in square well. Opening in the deck is square, hatch frame has round...

 Fresh water plumping replacement Do not try to do better if it works! Short story, My boat 40 years old and all hoses are original. All of them Are hardened and start cracking. I do not want to wait until they bust. I made decision to replace old PVC hoses with PEX-A tubing.    Why PEX-A? It is pretty simple  "crimping" process. Connection are possible in pretty in hard to access places due to you can expand pipe in comfortable place and then install it. Beside price I would point other reasons: fittings are expensive but not so high as Shark bite, no metal collars (vs PEX-B) - no corrosion, expansion tool is not very expensive. It is easy to say - replace tubing.  In mind I imagine simple process - take off clamps,  connect PEX tube to old hose with some insert plug  and duct tape, and then pull new tube using old hose as guide. Simple enough. Right? Sounds like couple hours to do. In reality I spent 4 days to pull hoses and put PEX tubing.  Wh...

 Interior Front cabin almost done, trimming left to do and we will be good. Little bit boat yoga     Head walls sanding before front cabin neoprene walls in-liner installation (to eliminate unnecessary dust exposure). Thru-hulls  New bronze pipe-to-hose adapters installed. Yes it is rat nest, but boat in the water and i do not see way to redo it. Only one plastic adapter left Deck Front hatch re-sanded, re-bedded and re-assembled  <<< pictures will be later>>>

 Big weekend Standing rigging Backstay shackle elimination. Main concern was 2000lb shackle used in backstay. sure chain is not the best solution too, but at least it is the same strength as wire rope. Was: It is now. two plated and two 1/2" pins. Plates are thicker than existing chainplate. Water Fresh Water tanks test. Tanks filled to top lid, actually overfilled (up to height of lid top)  to make sure lids are sealed well. I did lids sealing different way. Big tank lid perimeter sealed with butyl tape, and fittings with 3M 4200. Small one with silicon sealer. Will see what will work longer.  Just several grades of white in brand new tank during the filling . I had some places where coating ruined, but it is just cosmetically inside the tank. Sceth to make humps to protect electric level sensors and make surface easier to sit on. Test went well, both tanks filled full, checked gravity transfer from bigger to filling small tank from big one.  Gray water, Holding tan...