Eric working in the stern locker. |
As an example of what we have been doing here on Katmai
these last months, we would like to share some details from one of our larger
projects which took place in one of the tighter/smaller physical spaces on Katmai. (This is probably why this work was last on the list!)
The stern area on Katmai contains fair bit of complex equipment: The NKE autopilot hydraulic ram, the quadrant
at the top of the rudder, the Webasto heater and related glycol tanks, the SGC
antenna tuner and related equipment, as well as a lot of ’boat plumbing’(various
hoses and wiring). The space is also
very small, therefore needs to be well organized and of course very sturdy for
items like the hydraulic ram which mechanically turns the rudder and is under
a great deal of lateral force. The space
is so small to work in that Eric, and I to a lesser degree, have become
contortionists.
There basically is room
only to sit, or kneel in a contorted way, and of course reach here and there,
grind, fiberglass, turn wrenches, screw drivers and cut. Working in such a small space is very tiring
to say the least, and brutal when it is hot and sunny.
top of the rudder post with attached quadrant, rudder angle sensor and business end of the NKE ram that drives the rudder. |
Eric basically removed the heater, auto pilot ram and all related
equipment and rebuilt from scratch their supporting structures. This entailed building new marine plywood for-aft bulkheads and using fiberglass to secure the bulkheads onto the boat structure for
strength. A new platform for the
autopilot ram was then constructed, the ram bases (we have a spare ram) mounted
with substantial backing plates etc.
Heater the starboard side of the locker. White cylinder is an 'ugly balun' that Laurie made for the HF antenna feedline. |
The Webasto heater had been out of service for the last
couple years as we needed to move the glycol storage tanks when we installed the
generator. The heater was also due for a
major maintenance/rebuilt as well.
Largely, this was an Eric job, although I spent
a several long days in the locker myself doing the related wiring
jobs that the heater and autopilot ram required as well as many hours working on
our High Frequency (HF) radio installation.
We’ll write another entry about radios one day, but it certainly has been
fun as I learned a great deal about marine single side band (SSB) and HF
radio installations. Fun in a very
technical, geeky sort of way! All
working great now!
Fortunately, we are done in the stern locker, the seat cover has been re-installed and we are on to other details of our preparation to leave for Indonesia in mid May. -Laurie
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