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Sail Winch – Mark 1

DougJune 14, 2016Steel Boat, Winches

Junk sails are heavy, and we want a sail winch that is versatile. This idea is centered around a hydraulic hub motor, allowing the sail to be raised or lowered with a remote switch in the pilothouse or a secondary switch near the winch. I do not think the motor will hold the sail in position, so a solenoid will be needed to release the pawl so the sail can be lowered. I think the motor’s will need a valve that connect its two hydraulic lines together so it can freely spin. When that is done then the winch becomes a manual winch, and the break, ratchet and pawl, and hand wheel are used. The spool and sufficient space of all of the sail halyard, but it is an open spool and so the halyard can be removed and the winch used as a capstan. Or if the which has failed the halyard can relocated to another winch such as the capstan on the anchor winch. The eventual plan it to have similar winches controlling the sheets making it possible to sail the boat completely from the helm station, and provide greater control to the autopilot so that sails can be reefed automatically. You are welcome to download the DFX file: Sail_Winch_1.dxf , make modifications or leave comments below. More details can be found on the bottom of the Winches page. And thank you for your help. –Doug

Manual/Hydraulic Sail Winch

Main Mast and Gangway and Assorted Repairs

DougJune 7, 2016Gangway, Mast, Steel Boat

What a great week. We get a lot of people the will weld and grind on the boat. It’s understandable that we want to leave a mark there. But occasionally we get folk like Bill Wygant and Will Linna that will fix broken stuff, like the Cummins Killer Dowel Pin, your girl friends Jeep, the lawn mower, and a couple of leaver chain host that we broke pulling the mast into shape. Those are the kind of people you want for crew. Hard workers that will pick up anything that needs to be done without even needing to be asked. Seeker Crew Rock!

Dragons and the Main Mast – Part II

DougJune 1, 2016Foam Sculpture, Mast, Steel Boat

Their are many times while learning to build stuff that you look at it and just think there is no way in hell that it’s going to look like the image you had in your mind when you started. This was definitely one of those times. But trust in your abilities and work as a team and you will see it slowly come together. We now have a tapered mainmast and two awesome looking dragons to oversee the rest of the construction.

Many thanks to Seeker crew: Bart, Drew, Jesus, Bill, Jack, Jim, Su, Betsy and Keith Fenner for his video “The Mast of the Larinda”

Dragons and the Main Mast Coming Together

DougMay 30, 2016Foam Sculpture, Mast, Steel Boat

We’ve had an fantastic Memorial Day weekend. It is not lost on us that none of this project would be possible if we did not live in a country with freedoms paid for by our service members. I just wish we did not have to remind so many people that we do live in a free country and not everything is regulated by a national homeowners association. ….yet. –Doug

Drew Atherton

Jim Squirrel

Jezabel

Drew Atherton

Jesus Flores

Bill Wygant

Me and Jack

Yes. It’s 3 inches out of true.

Bracing and Bending and Welding

Bart Robinson

Betsy

Dragons and the Main Mast

DougMay 25, 2016Foam Sculpture, Mast, Steel Boat

Tacking in the splice

“She has built a wall between herself and her goal. A wall made of conditions and expectations. Is it possible that you’ve built a similar wall?”
…
“Stop looking for the “right” career, and start looking for a job. Any job. Forget about what you like. Focus on what’s available. Get yourself hired. Show up early. Stay late. Volunteer for the scut work. Become indispensable. You can always quit later, and be no worse off than you are today. But don’t waste another year looking for a career that doesn’t exist. And most of all, stop worrying about your happiness. Happiness does not come from a job. It comes from knowing what you truly value, and behaving in a way that’s consistent with those beliefs.” — Mike Row

Full Article: Man Asks Mike Rowe for “Life Advice” – His Response is the Best Thing You’ll Read Today

Dragons and Mast

DougMay 22, 2016Foam Sculpture, Mast, Steel Boat

SVSeeker says goodbye to Ronald & Margie and thanks them for the assistance on the dragons and main mast. And we welcome Drew flying in from Salem Oregon who will be working on the main mast between thunder storms this week and next. Storms in Oklahoma are the Universe’s way of telling you to get off your butt and LIVE. 🙂

Ronald Yadro

Ronald & Margie Yardro

Dragon Work

Main Mast

Playing with Color

Trimming the Main Mast

Tacking in the splice

Scuppers, Keels and Pouring Lead

DougMay 18, 2016Casting, Keels, Scuppers, Steel Boat

The last of the lead; I think. About 1200 pounds, a surprising amount went into the leading and trailing ends of the keels. On the leading edge it will do an excellent job of reinforcing the keel against collision damage. There is already a 2 inch solid round bar with a 1/2 inch by 5 inch wide flat bar behind that; but with the lead behind it as well, I don’t see that as a weak spot. Pouring lead is always an amazing thing to watch. I’m glad the new crew got to have the opportunity. Many thanks to George, Andy, Zach, Terry, Jack, Hugh and Bart for their work this past weekend. Good friends, good work, good food, and relaxing cool evenings beside a fire of old cribbing and pallets.

Betsy has been patching and prepping the dragons and this coming weekend is more dragon work. The weather is forecast to be warm and sunny. And we are looking forward to it. The solar tank is holding water and Betsy already has her inflatable chair out by the tub, just waiting for some sunny skies.

So if you can, I highly recommend getting out to your shop, shed, yard, or basement and build that thing you always wanted to build. Especially if it involves molten lead, making new friends, and ending the day with sore muscles in a warm tub of water, or beside a fire under the stars. –Doug

Weld-Grind-Repeat, and other Boat Building Activities.

DougMay 10, 2016Steel Boat

Left To Right. Doug, Terry, Bart, George, Zach, Jack

I enjoy the welding and grinding, but what I enjoy the most is the journey this boat has taken me on. Physically I am in the same place I was ten years ago when we started working toward building this boat, but mentally I have journeyed to an entirely new world. I have learned to love myself first and in doing so I find I have no need to try to please others, and they have no ability to harm me. It sounds selfish until you realize that there is no longer any reason to try and control anyone. The way I feel about myself is completely from within me. And when I have love for myself, I have love that I can give to others. I listen more and judge less. I find it easier to find the good, the positive, and when I find the good and the positive it brings more of that into my life. I never expected that I would find so many rewards from Seeker’s crew, but they are now a huge influence on my life and my happiness. They bring creativity, motivation, insight, skills and knowledge of life. It’s been a surprising journey and one that I want to continue on. Life is about the journey. Set sail. –Doug

Weld/Grind Repeat

DougMay 7, 2016Steel Boat

An awesome crew! All of the porthole frames are welded in, the catwalk is done, the freeing ports are half cleaned up, and the steel plates over the lead are going in.

Terry from Alaska

Jack

Gluing Bart Back Together

George from Wyoming

Zach from Florida

Zach

Welding Blind

George Welding Blind

Left To Right. Doug, Terry, Bart, George, Zach, Jack

An Excellent Day Boat Building.

DougMay 6, 2016Steel Boat

And Excellent day indeed. George drove in from Laramie Wyoming. And Bart is back and moving into the house next door. Together we got a lot of welding and grinding done. If the weather cooperates, then by tomorrow we should have all of the portholes fully welded. And Betsy is prepping the dragons for paint by next weekend. Now we are off for Bar-B-Q.

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