Modern Pirate

There's something about boat people that reminds me of modern day pirates.

Maybe pirates is too strong a word with the killing and thieving,

there's a saltiness that needs to be accepted if your gonna be on the ocean.

Actually you're gonna either accept the saltyballs like a pirate,

or your gonna fight it like a yachtsmen,

a never ending battle.

Well a buddy of mine is a pirate at heart,

really a rat rodder in the small boat world,

acquiring plunder and making it work.

Then beating the heck out of it as you should.

After seeing the progress on our little whaler,

Dino coerced me to make some of his ideas a reality.

How could I resist.

Using a donor windshield and some scrap SS tubing,

a side console unit was fabbed up,

complete with spot lights and switches.

A stern light was whipped out from the remaining scrap.

I'll be making a light for ours!

I gotta admit it was a fun project.

More attention to the big picture instead of the smallest details.

The funky workboat styling,

function before form,

may irk the Boston Whaler traditionalists!

What'll happen is he'll be out there that much more,

surfing off the Point,

or hoop-netting for lobsters,

while keeping dry.

That's what it's all about.

One thing I was surprised about,

was the differences between the 13 and 15 foot whalers.

The 2 foot difference is an additional 200 lbs in hull weight alone,

not including the larger engine and controls.

The trailer must be twice as heavy,

and way wider,

a 2-man job squeezing it into the slot.

Dangerous with bare feet!

I'll admit I got the bug looking for a larger boat,

a montauk 17 would be bitchin.

For our use and space,

the little 13 is way more manageable.

So for now I'll be happy 

balancing the pirate vs yachtsman with our little whaler.

TP

Pave the world - Part V

Looks like my brick saga is wrapping up.

It's like Lewis and Clark making it to the Pacific Ocean.

The path is set,

now use it.

We met an old brick scrounger on one of our forays.

He was in the process of paving his world.

His insight was to lay a dozen or so bricks every couple days.

Don't get burnt out.

That was good advice.

I or we would knock out row by row,

little by little,

night by night.

Check out that brick stack.

About 430 bricks!

That was the second big score like that we grabbed.

Each row was about 20 bricks,

and planning issues arose.

The walkway was not level with the boat/car pad,

and 20 rows of  20 was barely half way to the end.

This picture sums up the work method,

start at the end of the day,

and work with the good old light bulb,

until I heard "dinner is ready" the 3rd time.

Over this past weekend the final push was made.

The remaining bricks could pave the walkway,

I could deal with the car/boat pad later.

Sorting through hidden treasures made progress slow.

It had been months since this doorway was accessible!

Dang there is a lot of junk to clean up!!

The last push used every remaining brick.

Seriously!

I had to scrounge brick parts to fill the last hole!

No more working in the dirt,

or skipping from paver to pavers weeds.

Big difference when working barefoot!

The aftermath is a ton of haphazard pavers.

Remnant dirt from leveling was spread out,

and the pavers helped to pack it down.

Now it doesn't dip as bad,

and a car or boat won't be on an angle.

Yeah guess I'm not done.

TP

Poop rocks

For the past month or two,

the Cradle Robber has been collecting dust.

Not that it isn't on the STD list,

I'm just distracted lately.

So distracted that I missed out on this eBay score.

I found this thing one evening,

or most likely early morning judging from the time stamp,

and had made sure to put it on my watch list.

It's just a simple single point 4-banger distributor, 

Not the hot rod dual point version from the box.

This would have really upgraded the ignition system,

replacing the stock manual advance distributor,

and all the levers.

Totally spaced out,

and didn't throw in a sufficient bid,

thinking I would try to snipe it at the end.

Nope.

I've reasoned that the winner had bid over $100,

so I doubt I would have won it for $83.

The thing that drives up prices,

is a bidding war. 

Good to know deals are out there,

even if this one still stings.

TP

Ding Dong

It looks like we survived one of the longest years of our lives.

So many traps narrowly averted,

the depths of our patience tested.

The kids sadly learning that all people aren't as nice as they seem.

Plenty of records by the police and code enforcement 

that we are a normal household.

For months the house had been vacant and on the market.

Not that it meant we could relax,

quite the contrary.

On October 1st - great news!

The escrow closed and a new family is moving in.

And from what it sounds like they own a stereo!

Normal people!!

Funny when the neighbors want to party cause people are moving out!!

I hear a Lionel Ritchie song...

TP

Gearhead ADD

Craigslist is a tricky place,

peppered with both shady and trustworthy characters.

Easiest to go in with some caution,

maybe a low expectation,

but always a pocket of cash to seal the deal.

It also helps to know what you're looking at.

The few times I've taken a failed leap of faith,

were the times I wasn't as savvy 

to the reality of what I was l buying.

Which usually ends up as subject matter

for the loyal readers!

Hey if I can help your last minute cellphone research,

it was worth it.

The whaler deal was a good example of the positive side of craigslist.

Straightforward guy with a low price.

The old mercury wasn't running,

and the deal was like getting the motor and trailer for free.

He said the engine should run,

maybe clean the carbs,

as it was an electrical issue,

basically no key.

Yeah right.

One of the first things I did 

was cut the lock cylinder out of the ignition switch,

and try to turn it over with a screwdriver.

Click...click...click...

I was already set on a smaller engine with a tiller steer,

and although clean,

the engine seemed too much of a project.

A weak attempt at flipping had no takers.

As time passed,

A couple manuals were found on the cheap.

I was on the fence of parting it out,

but not after a good try at starting it.

People online raved at how the early 4-cylinder  engines were so smooth and powerful,

and since it was as old as me,

I couldn't just kill it.

Luckily it was a freshwater lake engine,

not a crusty salted up bay beater.

It took longer to hoist it onto the stand,

then it did to get it running.

The problem was simple,

the controls were jammed,

and it was stuck in gear.

That was a Chinese puzzle to put back together.

Couldn't start with the safety on.

A couple taps on the starter and solenoid

loosened up the contacts,

and some ether woke the engine up.

All the shadetree mechanic tricks.

Anyone need any mercury manuals?

Man did it want to run!

First time since 1992.

Definitely more mechanical sounding then the newer fuel injected outboards,

like an old hot rod engine.

Now the ADD is really kicking in.

Not many people looking for boat stuff at the end of summer.

In fact there are deals popping up for project boats.

Actually I even thought building a skiff would be fun.

Holey chit why couldn't I just like watching football or baseball.

TP

Percolated

Months ago a friend Sloppy declared he'd make me the best cup of coffee.

Guess he forgot I dropped joe cold turkey.

Not one to give up,

we settled on the best cup of tea.

He brought out his old percolator,

and I was hooked.

*************************************

LEE MOSES - HEY JOE 

Easily one of the best versions.

*************************************

It took all summer to find one!

I thought they'd be throw away common.

Little did I realize the cult following of these workhorses.

Last week I finally found a small aluminum one at a dead ladies estate sale - $3!!

A little TMI back story here.

My painter friend How saw my daily green tea bag ritual.

I'd rebrew it by adding water throughout the day.

Like a crack dealer,

he gave up a can of the Kings Series oolong tea.

Super smooth and really packed a punch.

His brew method wasn't as refined.

Throw some tea in a cup and drink it.

The rolled balls would unfurl and fill up the cup!

Once I realized how expensive the 403 Kings Blend was,

I searched good old eBay and found a thriving tea trade.

With names like Red Robe, Iron Goddess, Iron Monk, Dong Ding...

I had to try these different varieties,

at $1-2 a bag how could I not.

Some are balls of rolled leaves,

some are open leaves,

each has a different flavor.

Yeah quite the connoisseur!

I've found that with the percolator,

I can make a 4 cup pot...

and by the time it's done have either lunch or breakfast made.

Guess this is how rituals begin,
and a good way to get chit done.

Way better than standing in line at the coffee shop.

TP