PORTSTBDGEN              LAST OIL CHANGE

Finish Hrs    786.2        828.3             3733.6         PORT    STBD    GEN     

Start Hrs       779.2        821.3             3693.6            731        774     3694

Used                 7.0           7.0                   40.0

Problems with Engines or Generator:

The engines ran rough going out and would not hold a steady RPM.  They wandered about 200 RPM while underway.  I added heat and injector  cleaner and that took care of the problem coming back.

I checked for vibration on the engines and outdrives and didn’t note anything unusual.

I cleaned the engine compartment and checked all connections for tightness.  One ground wire was slightly loose.

The starboard engine RPM gauge is acting up.  While underway at 3200 RPM the gauge would move up to 4000 RPM on it’s own.  This would occur some time after we were underway and without anyone touching the throttle control.  Based on the sounds of the engines they were in synch despite the gauge showing port at 3200 RPM and starboard at 4000 RPM.  When I backed the starboard throttle off to 3200 RPM it was obvious by the sound of the engines that they were no longer in synch and the boat would start to push to the starboard side.  When the throttles were put into neutral or the engines stopped and restarted the RPM reset itself….for a while.  This happened once on the way out and twice on the way back.

Problems with the 110V or 12V systems:

The solar charging system worked well.

The generator worked well.  We were clocked at having used the gen for 40 hours.  That seems about double what I thought we had used it.  We only used it to get hot water for the shower and top off the charge on the batteries one day when it stormed all day.

Problems inside of boat:

Replaced the missing exterior door handle of the forward screen door.  When AP replaced the screen on the door they inserted the screen to tightly so the door is slightly bowed.  The screen on the door should be re-done properly by us this winter.  Note that the door itself was not replaced.  Only the screen was replaced.

The weather striping on the aft screen door was in backwards (it came that way from the factory).  I pulled the striping out and reinserted it properly.  This should help keeps bugs out of the interior of the houseboat.

Washed and cleaned the forward and aft screens on the sliding screen doors.

I checked for a leak in the rear bulkhead between the engine and hold.  I could not find any.  During the winter I will check the air intake for the AC for leaks.

The rear waste holding tank has separated again from the fill pipe gasket.  There is a 2 inch gap allowing waste fumes to escape the tank into the hold.  I have repaired this once before but used 3M 5200 Fast Cure instead of regular 5200.  The bond must not have taken.  At least one through bolt along with regular 5200 will need to be used to re-secure the fitting together. We used a new chemical (Odorless) that worked well.  Despite the gap between the tank and the fill gasket we had no smell until the day we were returning.  The backpressure created from the vent while we were underway forced odor out of the tank and into the boat itself.  I mentioned the problem during check off and asked AP to make sure when they treated the tanks they did not overfill them since we have a large gap.  I will fix the problem this winter if AP does not get it done.  This will be a difficult fix given the size of the gap.  AP may recommend that we replace the tank but I think we can fix it.  The forward tank is still good from our previous repair.  I believe that with the new chemical and tank repaired the odor problem some members have experienced should be solved.

We have added a larger First Aid Kit to the closet that includes a wider variety of bandages, compresses, wound cleaner, burn care and tablet and liquid Benedril for scorpion stings.

I adjusted the interior sliding doors on both bathrooms so they are a little easier to close and lock.  When closing the door no pressure should be place on the door itself while sliding it.  That pressure is causing the door to miss the latch and hit the exterior side of the latch.  The wood had been dented up to a full ½ inch beyond the wall latch.  If the door is lightly pulled and allowed to make contact with the latch it will only take a light pull to finish locking the door.  This is practical for adults onboard but I am not sure how practical it is for smaller children.  We may need to install a different type of latching system for those doors.

Problems Outside or Upper Deck:

There were several stains on the rear and forward deck.  The rear deck appeared to be oil.  I am  not sure what the forward stains were.  We managed to get them all removed. 

The fuel nozzle on the toy tank had a slight leak on the handle.  I tightened the handle.

We had a large and expensive crescent wrench in the rear deck closet that is missing.  The large adjustable pliers are still there.  We will need to replace the adjustable wrench this winter.  If we had an emergency with the toy tank fuel line it would be impossible to fix without both large wrenches.  We should have a misc. tool box for such items that we store in the hold below the helm station.

As we were leaving the boat after check off I broke the water tap handle on the forward station wash down spigot.  I didn’t have a chance to replace it but will when I go back down during the winter.

3 new hoses were added to the boat.  Forward bow locker, aft closet and upper deck island.  All hoses were secured with a stainless and rubber clamp.   I would suggest that we add a slam or latch hatch in the port side of the upper island next to the hose bib to store the hose in when not in use.  I have ordered a slam hatch and will install it during the winter unless someone from the group would rather we didn’t do it.

Two treads of carpet were coming loose from the rear stairway to the upper deck.  I pulled it up, cleaned the area and re-glued it.

Someone swiveled the winch boom without removing the pin and rotated the inner pipe so the securing pin holes no longer lined up.  I managed to get the inner pipe moved back around and the pipe lined up. We need to install a large sign on the boom that says “remove pin before use” with an arrow pointing to the pin. 

I replaced the oversized lined used to secure the boom with a smaller line that is longer and easier to secure.  When I arrived the secure line for the boom was tied to the upper rail of the railing.  We run the risk of bending the railing if the boom swings and the securing pin is not in.  The line should be secured at the weld of the horizontal and vertical railing at the bottom to minimize the risk of damaging the rail. We should consider installing a stainless half-loop that is through bolted  to secure the boom line to.

I replaced the lines that secure the lids to the cans on the large garbage cans.

There is mildew on the bottom of the cushion covers on the upper deck. I ran out of mildew remover and was not able to take care of it.

Misc:

The tap handle for the sink in the kitchen leaks when the tap is full on.  A Moen gasket set should fix it.

The outside garbage can lids are split and leak.  I have ordered some heavy-duty Rubbermaid cans for next season.

One large fender was punctured and not repairable. 

I caught an anchor line in the port prop when we were securing the boat.  The prop and outdrive were not damaged but the line is now 6 feet shorter and has a knot splice in it.  I will purchase another replacement line or get the line spliced (if that is possible) before next season starts.

AP still has not replaced our spare prop so we are one prop shy.

We had no problems with the O2 sensors going off.

I asked the check off person from AP to remove the 110V sensors they installed.  She said she would have them removed and credit our account.

I forgot a fish tape and was not able to install the GPS system.  Brandon and I will install it over the winter.

All onboard batteries need to be load tested before next season to make sure we don’t have a bad one in the group.  We have a tester on board to do this.

Cleaned rear closet. Removed duct tape residue from rear sliding door trim.

Wish List:

We need a new DVD player.  The one we have skips and stops despite having been cleaned scores of times.  I would suggest a Sony or similar DVD/CD player with surround sound.  I will install the surround system.

New stereo with satellite subscription and MP3 connection capability.  I will re-price a new system this winter and would be happy to install it. 

We should consider replacing our canvas canopy with a fiberglass cover.  It comes in 4 foot sections and appears to be modular.  I will see if I can find out a price for the sections.  Based on the other houseboats I saw at AP that have fiberglass covers our structure should be strong enough to hold the weight without any modification.

We should install a cell phone signal booster and antenna on the houseboat.  Depending on location and carrier it boosts the signal by up to 4 fold.  My friend has one on his boat and it works well……for Verizon users.

Water Therapy Check On/Off Sheet Received: Yes