When FedEx pulled up I started to wonder what I had ordered that required such a big truck. Turns out the truck was empty but the driver, Jim was here to help. Jim was an electrician before he was a driver so he fixed over hauled our cranes that were in serious need of service and also welded, helped with sails, and painting. So when you see a FedEx Custom Critical truck, wave at him, it might be Jim.
Open your doors and some of the most amazing people walk in. Hollis Fitch has stopped by before but this time he had Seeker’s engine room on his brain, so I handed this former Chief Engineer a credit card and he started plumbing the fuel lines for Seeker’s 6 fuel tanks and then sketched up other ideas. He has gone to help another friend, but he’ll be back. I still have his pressure washer. 🙂
We added 13 pounds of positive buoyancy to the ROV with pontoons made from the same 3.5″ ID aluminum pipe used for the main hull. That give us ample flotation, ease of construction, the ability to add more batteries while preserving the 6700 ft, 2000 m operational depth. Hull Details
We try out a 4200 psi Dewalt Pressure Washer with a Sandblasting Attachment.
I’ve been looking forward to starting this project for some time now. Josh and Alexis wanted to help and they are returning in the spring, so we’ve started the ground work. We have the aluminum. Now we need a low mileage 2000-2003 Volkswagen 1.9 TDI diesel engine and a Berkeley 12JC Jet Pump.
Details here: Tender web page. VW 1.9L TDI engine – NO ELECTRONICS
Bart’s putting enough screws in his tiny home to make it hurricane proof. No, we will not test that either. And we paid a visit to Mike to see how he is getting along with his new American Rotary 3-phase convert and electrical system that you good folks gifted to him. Thank You!
Laurens Gijzenberg; a mechanical engineer, stopped in on his way back to Portugal. And Hollis Fitch, a project planner, and chief engineer returned to do some boat work while I got some ROV work done and did my best to stay out of their way.
The ROV stuffed with controllers, wires and batteries took it’s first plunge as an assembled unit. It came out heavier than expected but there is a plan for that contingency. And with the temps nearing 100F, 37C; the water felt great.
Love New England. I was not planing on a vacation but the ability to see so many boats, of so many varieties and especially the Draken Harald was too much to pass up. And it was especially convenient once we could combine it with a road trip west to pickup a gift of inverters and a bank of nickle iron batteries from Ron Buttke in Janesville Wisconsin. And while so close we made it to Lincoln Nebraska to visit relatives milk goats and buy an inflatable life vest for our sailing trip. Betsy did a fantastic job with the itinerary. Boats, more boats, museums , pirates, great food and even a chance to say howdy to Keith Fenner. We’ll be back. Hang two lanterns in the belfry. –Doug
