Jack giving a quick welding lesson to a visitor, David, who was passing through Tulsa for the holidays.
Finally Got The Leaky Keel Fixed!
Mucking Out the Keels
There is about an inch of Grinder Grit in the bottom.
Glad we left the big drain holes.
The Gingerbread Crew
[cs_section style=”margin: 0px; padding: 45px 0px; “][cs_row style=”margin: 0px auto; padding: 0px; ” inner_container=”true”][cs_column style=”padding: 0px; ” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″][cs_text][/cs_text][/cs_column][/cs_row][/cs_section][cs_section style=”margin: 0px; padding: 0px; “][cs_row style=”margin: 0px auto; padding: 0px; ” inner_container=”true”][cs_column style=”padding: 0px; ” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″][cs_text text_align=”center-text”]While nutcrackers pranced and sugar plums danced,
a special magic fell upon Seeker by chance.
A dusting by fairies or mystical things,
turned the boat and the crew into gingerbread beings.[/cs_text][/cs_column][/cs_row][/cs_section][cs_section style=”margin: 0px; padding: 0px; “][cs_row style=”margin: 0px auto; padding: 0px; ” inner_container=”true”][cs_column style=”padding: 0px; ” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″][x_video_embed no_container=”false” type=”16:9″][/x_video_embed][/cs_column][/cs_row][/cs_section][cs_section style=”margin: 0px; padding: 0px; “][cs_row style=”margin: 0px auto; padding: 0px; ” inner_container=”true”][cs_column style=”padding: 0px; ” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″][cs_text text_align=”center-text”]
On Christmas morn’ she sailed the waves,
A crew that included Jacks, Aarons and Daves.
The skies were bright blue, all sunny and clear,
When all of a sudden, the bad did appear.[/cs_text][/cs_column][/cs_row][/cs_section][cs_section style=”margin: 0px; padding: 0px; “][cs_row style=”margin: 0px auto; padding: 0px; ” inner_container=”true”][cs_column style=”padding: 0px; ” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″][cs_text text_align=”center-text”]
Where once he had sat
all sweet on the shelf,
A towering giant named
Rizzo the Elf.
Walking the plank
was the route of the crew,
Rizzo waved his sharp weapon,
Oh! What shall we do?[/cs_text][/cs_column][/cs_row][/cs_section][cs_section style=”margin: 0px; padding: 0px; “][cs_row style=”margin: 0px auto; padding: 0px; ” inner_container=”true”][cs_column style=”padding: 0px; ” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″][cs_text text_align=”center-text”]
Drew and Ed,
Dean and Greg,
marched down the timber,
leg by leg.
He speared on his trident,
poking them on,
Who will save them?
Where has Doug gone?[/cs_text][/cs_column][/cs_row][/cs_section][cs_section style=”margin: 0px; padding: 0px; “][cs_row style=”margin: 0px auto; padding: 0px; ” inner_container=”true”][cs_column style=”padding: 0px; ” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″][cs_text text_align=”center-text”]
What hero could save
the Seeker’s crew,
How do you conquer
a gingerbread shrew?
[/cs_text][/cs_column][/cs_row][/cs_section][cs_section style=”margin: 0px; padding: 0px; “][cs_row style=”margin: 0px auto; padding: 0px; ” inner_container=”true”][cs_column style=”padding: 0px; ” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″][cs_text text_align=”center-text”]When just out of nowhere, help did appear,
A long legged shepherd, and her sidekick “The Ears”.
“Don’t hurt the crew”, the shepherd proclaimed,
If you don’t step away, you will surely be maimed!
They sniffed and they licked until they were clear,
The tall evil elf was quite nothing to fear.
[/cs_text][/cs_column][/cs_row][/cs_section][cs_section style=”margin: 0px; padding: 0px; “][cs_row style=”margin: 0px auto; padding: 0px; ” inner_container=”true”][cs_column style=”padding: 0px; ” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/3″][x_image type=”none” src=”http://www.svseeker.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/vs151224-004.jpg” alt=”” link=”false” href=”#” title=”” target=”” info=”none” info_place=”top” info_trigger=”hover” info_content=””][/cs_column][cs_column style=”padding: 0px; ” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/3″][x_image type=”none” src=”http://www.svseeker.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/vs151224-003.jpg” alt=”” link=”false” href=”#” title=”” target=”” info=”none” info_place=”top” info_trigger=”hover” info_content=””][/cs_column][cs_column style=”padding: 0px; ” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/3″][x_image type=”none” src=”http://www.svseeker.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/vs151224-001.jpg” alt=”” link=”false” href=”#” title=”” target=”” info=”none” info_place=”top” info_trigger=”hover” info_content=””][/cs_column][/cs_row][/cs_section][cs_section style=”margin: 0px; padding: 45px 0px; “][cs_row style=”margin: 0px auto; padding: 0px; ” inner_container=”true”][cs_column style=”padding: 0px; ” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″][cs_text text_align=”center-text”]
And there he fell
Ginger Rizzo’s no more,
Cold and stiff
on the rusty floor.
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They munched and they crunched,
the bad guy was gone,
And things were all normal by the next dawn.[/cs_text][/cs_column][/cs_row][/cs_section][cs_section style=”margin: 0px; padding: 45px 0px; “][cs_row style=”margin: 0px auto; padding: 0px; ” inner_container=”true”][cs_column style=”padding: 0px; ” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″][cs_text text_align=”center-text”]
[/cs_text][x_feature_headline level=”h2″ looks_like=”h3″ icon=”” class=”center-text “]Merry Christmas from all of us at the Shipyard.
[/x_feature_headline][/cs_column][/cs_row][/cs_section][cs_section style=”margin: 0px; padding: 0px; “][cs_row style=”margin: 0px auto; padding: 0px; ” inner_container=”true”][cs_column style=”padding: 0px; ” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″][cs_text]Note: No elves or crew were harmed during the production (except of course for the edible ones).
A hardy thank you to the Seeker crew for having made 2015 a fantastic year. And a special thanks to Betsy for the screen play, baking, and choreography.
–Doug
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Casting, Rudder, Hatches and other
The engine room hatch has a gasket. A second deadlight is cast. The rudder quadrant now has put out dowel pins as several of you suggested. Thank you! The chain to cable connectors are done for the chain and cable steering system. And you get to see me continue to fail to patch a hole in a keel. 🙂 Many thanks to crew members, Betsy, Su, Aaron S, Jack C, Jack S. Seeker crew rock!
If you love cars and motorcycles, then checkout Aaron Starnes web site and blog: www.aaronstarnes.com
More Clues….
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We took a closer look at the “crime scene” and spotted some interesting things —- TRACKS!
Hmmmmmmm…….
[/cs_text][/cs_column][/cs_row][/cs_section][cs_section style=”margin: 0px; padding: 0px; “][cs_row style=”margin: 0px auto; padding: 0px; ” inner_container=”true”][cs_column style=”padding: 0px; ” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″][x_feature_headline level=”h2″ looks_like=”h4″ icon=””]Questioning the suspects…..[/x_feature_headline][/cs_column][/cs_row][cs_row style=”margin: 0px auto; padding: 0px; ” inner_container=”true”][cs_column style=”padding: 0px; ” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″][cs_text]
Nose? What’s wrong with my nose?
Look at her if you wanna talk about noses…..
It snowed… big fat fluffy white snow….
Elf? What elf?
Ok,, so it was 70 degrees…. but as for the elf… I didn’t kill him! Ask ol’ big ears over there!
Yep, it snowed.. just like ol’ long legs said. There we were, just minding our own business and this white stuff starting falling from above… Last time I saw that elf, he was hanging out on the couch.
Checking the surveillance cams we see that elf … along with Doug, eyeglasses all askew. Is Doug asleep? Is that a black eye? Is this a case of elf bashing?
Rudder Quadrant / Keels / Deadlight
[cs_section style=”margin: 0px; padding: 45px 0px; “][cs_row style=”margin: 0px auto; padding: 0px; ” inner_container=”true”][cs_column style=”padding: 0px; ” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″][cs_text]We had a great weekend despite the keels. Jack Sadrakula flew in from Chicago. We successfully cast another porthole deadlight, he help me unsuccessfully patch a keel. He then completed the gadget that connects the #60 chains to the 3/8″ steel cable for the chain and cable steering system, and then help me unsuccessfully patch the keel again. He then broke and fit the #60 chain and centered up the drive shaft coupler on the helm’s gear box and helped me unsuccessfully patch the keel again. Randy Martin drove in from Denton Texas and while Jack drilled, reamed and set the pull out dowel pins in the rudder quadrant. Randy help me unsuccessfully patch the keel. All and all it was a good weekend thanks to Jack and Randy. Next week I will be patching the leak in the keel.
Setting pull out dowel pins to reinforce the rudder post to quadrant connection.
Welding a shaft coupler to the helm gear box shaft.
Randy helping my dig a hole so I can get to the leak in the keel.
Bailing water out of the keel and into the forward cabin where it can drain out of the boat.
Randy cleaning up the second porthole deadlight, and Jack drilling holes for the dowel pins.
Me “not” patching a leak in the keel.
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Xmas Shopping
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There’s still time to have a very merry SV Seeker holiday! Padding the USPS estimates (c’mon.. you know they’re running behind), we are pretty darn confident (no guarantees — but confident) that if you order a T-Shirt or Thermal Mug by this Sunday (Dec. 20, 2015), we can pop it in the mail first thing Monday morning and you will have it in time to shove it in your Christmas stocking.
Rates for USPS Priority mail in the USA are very reasonable. Priority shipping for T-shirts is roughly $5. For actual shipping charges, head on over to our Shop and you can fiddle around clicking the shipment buttons in your cart and see what the charges would be. Yep.. you can cram muliple items together and save on shipping charges when you go Priority.
Get your Jolly on and thanks for your support![/cs_text][/cs_column][/cs_row][/cs_section]
CSI Seeker
[cs_section style=”margin: 0px; padding: 45px 0px; “][cs_row style=”margin: 0px auto; padding: 0px; ” inner_container=”true”][cs_column style=”padding: 0px; ” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″][cs_text]We haven’t seen our elf in several days — ever since we spotted the crime scene chalk outline on the shard of steel beneath Seeker. Had Rizzo the elf been electrocuted and fallen to his death? Or did somebody kill the little fellow? Why is there no body?
Where is the little guy and what’s he been doing?
Who in the world would have a motive? The Elf Police have been pouring through our surveillance videos in hopes of turning up something that will help and look what they found!!!!!
OMG!!! It’s a picture of Rizzo on Doug’s computer watching FAIRY PORN! Clearly there’s more to this elf than meets the eye![/cs_text][/cs_column][/cs_row][/cs_section]
Grind, Weld, and Poo
[cs_section style=”margin: 0px; padding: 45px 0px; “][cs_row style=”margin: 0px auto; padding: 0px; ” inner_container=”true”][cs_column style=”padding: 0px; ” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″][cs_text]The rain held off today and Aaron, Jack and I got the last of the welding and grinding done on cabin tops and deck. In the shop Su and Betsy worked on the art of the next deadlight casting. “Some people care too much. I think it’s called love.” — A.A. Milne
Aaron Starnes, Denton Texas
Su Davis, Tulsa Oklahoma
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Crime Scene
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Oh NO! This is what we woke up to this morning in the shipyard. A chalk outline of our mischievous little helper. Suggesting something like an episode of CSI Shipyard, we lost all thoughts of sugar plums dancing through our heads. We’ve got Jezebel and Tinka scouting the perimeter and hopefully something will turn up.
As far as other clues, we don’t have much to go on. The last time we saw Rizzo the Elf, he was swinging on Seeker’s Christmas Lights. But a storm is moving in and there is a fair amount of humidity out there — could he have been electrocuted? He seemed so happy and carefree and though he does tend to be a bit of a troublemaker at times, he’s still a part of the Seeker Crew. What happened?
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Casting Deadlights – Part 1
Sodium Silicate Sand Rocks! Especially for the occasional casting or big casting. Traditional Green Sand requires, skill, storage, and a sand muller to recondition your sand. And the difficulty increases with the size of the casting. Sodium silicate sand uses inexpensive fine silica sand, and sodium silicate (water glass) which reacts with CO2 to harden the sand. 200 pounds of mix cost less than $30.
I’d like to thank our local Tulsa foundries for sharing their knowledge. Especially Scott and Adam at R & D Foundry and Don Doss at Metal Dynamics.
And many thanks to Seeker crew: Jack, Su, Hugh, and Paul who helped get us through the learning curve casting our first porthole deadlight.
And finally to Betsy who has been working on our new web site. You can now buy from our Junk Store and help support our work.