Re-relocation of the Batteries to Starboard (Nov 2013 - April 2014)

We had noticed for some time that the boat had small “list” to port. We partially corrected this by keeping the fresh water tank nearly full. We attributed most of the list to the fact a majority of the heavier equipment is located to port. This includes the head, holding tank, stove and batteries. We reviewed various options for equipment that might be easily moved from port to starboard as well as fit in the available space on the starboard side. The batteries were found to be the best candidate. There was some under utilized space beneath the starboard cabin settee. We measured the space and found that if we pushed the fresh water tank forward approximately twenty inches, there would be just enough space to accommodate the two batteries. This space is located forward of the galley sink, below the settee cushion bunk board and along the face of the settee facing.

This picture shows the relocated water tank, battery and tool space. There is a new bulkhead between the aft end of the tank and the battery-tool area. The athwartship aluminum stringer, which consists of two angles that are riveted together, is to support the bulkhead as well as the bunk boards.

This next picture is a close up of the finished battery and tool space. This also shows the fore and aft, aluminum stringer that supports the small bulkhead between the battery and tool spaces.

This picture shows the modified bunk boards, before painting. The middle access cover is for the water tank inspection and fill port. The two, aft, access covers are for the battery and tool spaces.

This project did meet the goal of curing the list-to-port. Moving over one hundred pounds of equipment about four feet to starboard did have a significant effect. Also, we gained a tool storage space that moves the tools to starboard at least a foot. We have yet to use the storage space that we gained in the “old” battery compartment.

{Lessons learned: 

1. Careful measurements and mockups, with full size pieces, like cardboard batteries, save much of the “cut twice” phenomenon.
2. Take the effort to get exact dimensional data for the parts that you plan to use. We obtained detail drawings from attwood Marine Products, for the battery trays.
3. We were fortunate in gaining a new spot for the tools that is secure, easy to access and moves the weight to starboard.}

Remote Dipstick for Engine (July 2010)

Moyer Marine announced that they were selling a new remote dipstick kit for the Atomic Four. We decided that it was worthwhile to acquire and install this kit. The kit includes a long tube, with bracket, and a new dipstick with a handle, marked “engine oil”. The tube fits over the original dipstick tube and the bracket fits under a fastener for the alternator. It was easy to install and use. It eliminates the long reach over the engine and searching for the old dipstick tube.

Fold down Tool Tray in Engine Compartment (June 2009)

It seems that whatever job there is to do in the engine compartment it takes many tools. There is no place to put them and they keep dropping and hiding. We made a small, fold down tray for the starboard wall of the compartment.

The picture on the left shows it in use with a few tools. There is a foam rubber pad banded to the bottom of the tray to stop the tools from sliding around. In the right hand picture, the tray is folded up and out of the way. The engine compartment removable shelf is in place for this picture. The tray has plastic, ball type, friction latch to hold it in the up position. This has proven itself to be quite handy while work is being done.

Moves

(Mar 2008)

Moved from Michigan Harbor Marina (MH) in Saint Clair Shores. Michigan to Harbor Club North (HCN) in Harrison Township. Michigan. This move was made to reduce the commuting distance between our home and the marina.  The facilities at HCN were a cut above those at MH, including free holding tank pump outs. However, there was no winter storage at HCN. Which forced us to find an alternative, nearby winter storage facility. We selected Markley Marine (MM) in Harrison Township, Michigan for winter storage, mast stepping and unstepping.Access to HCN was good since the harbor, like MH, is located directly on Lake Saint Clair. However, the bay, L’anse Creuse, outside the marina is quite shallow. This promotes the growth of aquatic plants. These plants can grow to be quite dense and do get picked up by and can clog the boat propellor to the point that thrust is lost and control of the boat is seriously degraded. Dredging a deeper channel to the marina would help. However, HCN was either unwilling or unable to do any dredging.

We investigated various devices to reduce the clogging of the propellor and settled on the ProProtector, “Rope and Weed Cutter” that is manufactured in Canada. This sharp disc, about three inches in diameter, mounts on the propellor shaft, just ahead of the propellor. This device did reduce the propellor clogging by a great amount and when clogging did occur, a little bit of reverse thrust quickly cleared the clog. We were successful in negotiating transit to and from HCN for a few seasons after we installed this device, It is still on the shaft today.

In the fall of 2010, the water level dropped to the point where we could not negotiate the channel out side of Harbor Club North. We searched for alternative summer dockage, for 2011, and found it at the Land’s End Marina, on the south side of the Clinton River, in Harrison Township, Michigan.

This marina is located about a mile inland from Anchor Bay on Lake Saint Clair. This marina seemed the perfect place for us as it did reduce our commuting time, either by land or sea and the amenities were first class. However, there were some things that we did not appreciate. There was much rocking from all of the river traffic and there was a nasty buildup of crud on the waterline from the river. We opted, therefore. to seek an alternative for 2012.

We opted to dock for the summer of 2012 at Markley Marine which is located on the North shore of the Clinton River, about two miles upstream from the mouth of the river. This does increase our “by sea” commuting time. However, it is peaceful and the waterline crud problem is reduced. We have continued to stay at Markley for summer dockage and winter storage to this time.

Hatch Board Holder (June 2007)

In the process of relocating the batteries and the holding tank, we gave up the space that was used to store the hatch boards while underway. Normally we would set them outboard, behind the cabin settee cushions, where they were somewhat secure. However, it meant that we still had to carry them down and up the ladder on each trip. There was space, in the starboard lazarette to store them. However, there was no way to secure them. After much thought, we came upon the idea of making a slotted rack and installing it forward in the lazarette. We then decided to use the hull structural stringer to support the rack. These photos show the slotted brackets, in place, and with the hatch boards set in place.

The slotted supports are cut and shaped from 3/4 inch thick “King Starboard” polyethylene plastic material that we obtained from West Marine. Each support is shaped to contact the hull on its lower edge and fit around the hull stringer on its outboard side. The supports are attached to shaped blocks of 3/4 inch teak plywood. The blocks and supports are screwed and bonded to the hull stringer.

{Lesson learned:

1. Always us simple mockup (cardboard or plywood) pieces to check the design and fit before cutting the final material.

2. Be sure to consider all boat motion in the design. The boards have yet to “come adrift” from this rack.}

Standing Rigging (Oct 2006)

All standing rigging was replaced by a local rigger (Mike's Marine). This included: forestay, backstay, upper and lower shrouds. All turnbuckles were also re-chrome plated by a local shop.

Engine Water Pump (Jun 2005))

Replaced the original Oberdorfer pump with a new one in March 1991.  This was the old style pump with a grease cup that required  turning the cap a quarter turn each time that we set sail. Shaft and seals of this "new" pump were replaced in June 2001.

In 2005, Moyer Marine introduced an improved water pump (Model MMI 502) which did not

require a grease fitting for lubrication. This new pump, installed on 25 May 2005, mounts in the same location as the original. There is no grease cup and the rear cover is easily removed by rotating thumb screws. Cover removal allows easy access to the impeller and drains the pump for winter storage.

Sorry to say, this pump (#1), began to leak engine oil from the seal area on 12 Jun 2005. We put the old pump in its place and contacted Moyer Marine and they provided a replacement (#2) which was installed on 17 Jun 2005. This second, new, pump, which, according to Moyer, had a secondary oil seal, began to leak engine oil, in the same place, early in April, 2006. We again contacted Moyer Marine. They shipped us pump #3 which was installed around 22 Apr 2006. This pump #3 has performed well and the new features make it a pleasure to own. Moyer asked that pump #2 be returned to them so that they could do an investigation. This was done and they provided a report which stated that pump #2 was, mistakenly, the same version as Pump #1. We seemed to have helped Moyer Marine Inc. to overcome the teething problems with this new pump.

{Lesson learned:

Always take the time, cost and effort involved to keep the water pump operating well. The engine is totally dependent on it's operation.}