April Projects

During our spring visit to the FHP we took down both spreaders and replaced them with solid 2x12'' Douglas Fir.  Rob and Mac built them in the Creative Cottages warehouse.  The new spreaders are now painted and ready to go up!

One of our biggest undertakings was cleaning out the bilge and preparing it for the new engine.  We removed and filtered approximately 25 gallons of dirty bilge water.  This project would have made a perfect episode for Dirty Jobs!  We had to make a few adjustments in order to make the new engine fit.  We made new engine mounts, replaced a seacock, re-routed the exhaust system, cleaned and flushed the fuel tank, re-built the stuffing box and replaced the propellor shaft.  Whew! 

We finally got Twinky to its new home!  Thanks to Larry at the boat yard, we were able to lower it into the forward hatch with a crane.  It was then placed on a dolly, rolled towards the engine compartment, raised with a winch and finally lowered into the bilge.  With some minor adjustments, it fit perfectly! 

When Mac came to visit he took measurements for new shelves and built them in his warehouse.  The new shelves are in the hallway and above the engine compartment.  This will be were the Nigel Calder books live.  Thanks Mac! 

Spring Break

April on Fishers Hornpipe

Nadine and I just got back from a couple weeks working on the FHP.  Nadine was out for her spring break and her first visit to the boat.  We worked on tons of projects mostly having to do with the new engine.  We will talk about the projects we worked on in an upcoming post.  For now: here are the people who came to help out while we worked on the boat.  We are going to try to post a picture of everyone who comes to help.  Here is your chance for internet fame!!  Just come help us out on the FHP and see yourself immortalized online!

R Mac and Lucy

Here are R Mac and Lucy Cutting a new bulkhead for the battery compartment.  See future posts for more details on this and other projects.  Dad also made a beautiful bookshelf for the hallway area in the workshop and helped make new spreaders for the mast.

Meggie

Sister gets the award for dirtiest fingers of any FHP volunteer!  She has helped with lots of different projects, most recently stove cleanup and helping with a new exhaust thru-hull.  She has also been practicing her boat-yoga, which involves constricting your body into to awkward "poses" and holding it there while working in cramped spaces.

Mom

Mom helped out with getting the oven fired up (still in process).  She also measured the bunks so we can start to make sleeping mats.  Also use of the Subaru and storage space in Plymouth are appreciated.  Thanks Ma!

Urm

We don't have a picture of benny aboard the FHP so I had to go with a classic from the Kennedy Space Center.  Benny has been working on wiring and electrical issues.  He is a co-recipient of our NOLS grant.  You rock Urm!

Who is next?

We will be back in Rhode Island in June to start up again.  Everyone is invited to come lend a hand or just take a look.  Thanks to everyone for their support.  We are going to start a FHP mixtape drive.  We found an awesome cassette tape deck onboard and are requesting your best mixtapes for our listening enjoyment.  Thanks again!