Update on "Phoenix"

smanni · Post by **smanni** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 2:36 pm

What did they charge you for the new mounts including install? - that is something I will need within the next 2 years - if not sooner

IRGuy · Post by **IRGuy** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 2:00 pm

SManni... I don't know yet.. will be picking up the boat and returning to Charleston probably next Tues or Wed. I will be paying the yard bill then. I am sure I will be unpleasantly surprised! Frank B - IRGuy@aol.com "Phoenix" 1983 FBC

IRGuy · Post by **IRGuy** » Fri Jul 28, 2006 4:54 am

Sean...and John I finally have "Phoenix" back.. will post more info soon.. but to answer your specific question about new engine mounts.. I can't be exactly sure about the labor hours dedicated to this task alone, because they did so many things, and moved from one to another as they progressed, but as close as I can tell.. here are the charges .. Total hours.. 18 @ $80.00 = $1,440 New mounts.. 8 @ $145 each = $1,168 Total charges.. $2,608 (plus 6.5% SC sales tax on parts). As far as I can tell, this includes realignment of both engines, and the mounts are the newest style made by Barry.. the old mounts (probably 10 years old) were also Barry, so the mounting holes and such are identical, but the design is different. The old mounts had horizontal pins through them, the new mounts do not. The owner of the shop assured me these were the essentially identical mounts but of a somewhat improved design. Frank B - IRGuy@aol.com "Phoenix" 1983 FBC

boat bum dan · Post by **boat bum dan** » Fri Jul 28, 2006 7:34 am

It is my understanding that the first year designation is when the keel is laid and the second number would be the model year. My hull number is 79 but Bertram has confirmed it is indeed 1980. thanxs for letting me add my two cents Cpt. Dan

IRGuy · Post by **IRGuy** » Fri Jul 28, 2006 10:31 am

We picked up “Phoenixâ€� Wed from the diesel shop and brought her back to Charleston.. decided for the return to go outside rather than retrace our winding path south which was through a couple of rivers and creeks.. very pretty, but slow, with lots of no wake zones and many boats just off the channel at the end of long piers.. so idle speed was common. On the return we went about 15 miles off shore and trolled for a couple of hours.. caught a 40â€� Barracuda but nothing to keep. Still.. it was getting Phoenix into blue water.. my first time. As I said above.. I had taken her to a diesel shop for several engine issues.. The stbd engine had a very small coolant leak.. not into the oil, and not external, but it was a concern. I had originally thought I might bring her back home to Wilmington and address the leak when I had more time.. but fortunately decided to have it fixed before the trip. I say fortunately, because we found that there was a crack in the exhaust manifold.. which apparently opened up on the trip to the shop.. when they started to open the exhaust system they had a bunch of coolant flow out.. which, according to people more knowledgeable than I am, should have found it’s way into one of the cylinders! Not a good thing.. visions of rods coming through the sides of the block come to mind! Anyway.. they replaced the exhaust manifold.. $1,500 plus labor. Then, I had the engine mounts replaced.. they had more or less lost their resilience, if this is the proper term.. and the engines had dropped somewhat.. meaning that the shafts were out of alignment, plus both were rubbing against the shaft log tubes.. 8 new mounts at $145 per, plus labor. The raw water systems had not been cleaned in the 7 years the past owner had her, so I had a RydLyme flush done. I had block heaters installed, since they were going to drain the coolant from one engine anyway.. these might not be necessary to start the boat because the weather here in NC is not as cold as I knew in MA.. but the stern of the boat when backed into my slip (if I can ever learn how to back her in) will be about 35 feet from my neighbor’s screened in porch and pool! I am sure they won’t appreciate a cloud of diesel exhaust when they are entertaining guests.. even though I will drive most of the local mosquitos into the next county. Keeping the engines warmer than ambient is supposed to reduce smoke on startup. For the past two months we had a vibration when running over 2,100 RPM.. and thought the port prop might have a problem after we picked up a crab pot a couple of months ago.. so I had them send the props out and scanned.. they came back with some minor tweaking and a report saying they are as near to perfect as possible. I suspect they were originally OK to continue using, but since she was hauled for the other work I thought it best to be sure. The cutless bearings were replaced.. I thought they seemed good when I had her surveyed, but with the props serviced, new cutless bearings and the shafts being checked and found within tolerance the vibration has gone away. Originally the tachs were off, reading about 10% to 15% high, so they were recalibrated. When we got out into open water I ran her up to 2,400 RPM.. she just rumbled along and seemed happy.. It was a strange sensation to me.. running at 1,700-2,100 she seemed fine, but when I increased the throttles to 2,400 she actually seemed happy! So was I !!.. 23 knots average at 2,400 RPM for almost an hour! I am psyched!! One final issue.. the old flybridge enclosure top finally tore itself in a major way after a hail storm a few weeks ago put about 6 holes into it.. and then when we moved the boat south the wind started tearing where the holes were.. so we took it off and I brought it back to Wilmington last night. About an hour ago I agreed to have a local canvas guy make a new one. I should have it in a week to 10 days. So.. when will she come north to Wilmington? I still have to install the flybridge top and the head and holding tank.. before we depart Charleston.. I don’t mind doing the trip without a fresh water tank installed, but I sure won’t depart without an operable head! I expect to leave in about 2 weeks or so.. it should be a two day trip up the ICW.. Wish me luck! I really want her home! Frank B - IRGuy@aol.com "Phoenix" 1983 FBC

buzzk · Post by **buzzk** » Wed Aug 23, 2006 8:39 am

Frank, how about giving us an update on Phoenix. You must be getting ready to bring her home. Thanks Buzz

IRGuy · Post by **IRGuy** » Wed Aug 23, 2006 12:39 pm

Well.. two weeks has turned into four.. and maybe a little longer.. I had a new flybridge cover made and it is ready to install.. I might just use electrical wire tie wraps for temporary installation until I get her home.. plus I just read Pascoe's article on the negatives of having a flybridge cover on in a hurricane.. so I might keep the tie wraps on until urrricane season is over.. I wish there was an easy way to fasten these but still be able to remove them. A local shop made it for me in one week.. Stamoid and Gore Tex thread.. he says it should last 10 years. I was on the boat for three days last week.. working on the head/holding tank installation.. I made painfully slow progress at first.. trying to get everything in place and lined up properly. The head is ready to permanently mount, I am just waiting until all the plumbing is done. The 23 gallon plastic holding tank is in place (just aft of the head in the water tank compartment) and I have run most of the plumbing. I am using as much rigid 1 1/2" PVC pipe as possible, with sanitary hose to make up flexible connections. I have an electrical diaphragm pump to discharge the tank overboard, and I can open and close two valves and have the head discharge directly overboard. I was going to have a 3 way valve in the pump suction line so I could have a hose and strainer permanently in the bilge and use the tank discharge pump as a backup bilge pump, but I did not have room without messing up the rest of the plumbing. As it is I do have a loop that will have to be flushed well at the end of every trip when I use the head.. I couldn't have everything from the head flow downhill to the tank.. without putting a tiny tank under the head floor. The water tank is in my garage, and will be installed when I get her home. I hope to make the move in the next two weeks.. hope Debbie stays away! Frank B - IRGuy@aol.com "Phoenix" 1983 FBC

buzzk · Post by **buzzk** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 1:32 pm

Frank, Is you boat still in Charleston? If your boat is still in Charleston what are your plans if the storm becomes a hurricane? Right now it looks like the projected path is right at Charleston. Of cousre that changes every hour. Buzz Buzzk 1988 Bertram 33 FBC Morhead City, NC

IRGuy · Post by **IRGuy** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 11:17 pm

Hi Buzz.. Sorry I have not followed up on my attempts to call you a week or so ago.. the Admiral had to have some semi-emergency surgery and has been in the hospital (drydock?) since Fri AM, after several sick days at home.. all is OK now, but for a couple of days she was pretty uncomfortable. She had the equivalent of a kinked raw water discharge hose that blocked all flow. The two most important people in my life at the moment are my wife's surgeon and my diesel mechanic. I had planned on being in Charleston this past week to finish working on the head/holding tank, changing filters, topping off the fuel, and then moving "Phoenix" north. All that is sort of on hold now for another week or so. The guy who has been working with me on her is keeping an eye on things.. she is in a small marina which is visible to the north from the second I-526 bridge as you head west from Route 17. The marina is on Daniel Island about two miles up a narrow creek, well sheltered with a bulkhead along it's east side that is about 15' above normal high water, with a bunch of new four story condos next to the water. My slip is right against the main float that runs along the bulkhead, so she is in as secure a place as I could hope for. Not an easy place to get into normally, with the creek being so narrow, and at a couple of points less than 4' depth.. I often churn up some mud with 2' below the transducer.. I bought about 200' of 5/8" line and made up all new dock lines about two months ago.. and having someone local who I can count on is a relief. In the next few days I will haul my 24' Grady and put her on my trailer in the storage space I rent. If you know of anyone who wants a nice center console 1985 GW with twin Yamaha 115 HP outboards at a good price send them my way. Each time I look at the weather I see signs that Ernesto is losing strength but supposed to rebuild somewhat as it leaves FL and gets back over the ocean.. at least you and I should be on the NW side of the eye if it stays out to sea, which seems to be what the models are predicting. Hope you are OK as well.. I know your slip is well protected. Frank B - IRGuy@aol.com "Phoenix" 1983 FBC

IRGuy · Post by **IRGuy** » Tue Aug 29, 2006 3:17 am

Buzz.. Now it is forecast that Ernesto will depart FL and head north, inland over SC and central NC, and if it does that we will be in the NE quadrant.. not good, but I suspect it will also lose wind strength the longer it stays over land.. but I am sure there will be lots of rain. Frank B - IRGuy@aol.com "Phoenix" 1983 FBC Wilmington, NC

buzzk · Post by **buzzk** » Wed Aug 30, 2006 1:02 am

Frank,I am sorry to hear about your wife but it's good to hear she's going to be OK. I don't think we have anything to worry about with this storm. The highest the water has ever been over my dock is around 4'(much larger storm). Behind my house I'm not as worried about wind as much as I am about high water and hopefully this storm will stay weak. I usually double my lines and take my canvas down. The way things look now other than rain it doesn't look like it will have much effect on Morehead. When do you think you will be bring Phoenix home? Buzz Buzzk 1988 Bertram 33 FBC Buzz Off Morehead City, NC

IRGuy · Post by **IRGuy** » Wed Aug 30, 2006 3:06 am

Buzz... I had hoped to finish the head and holding tank this week and get "Phoenix" soon thereafter.. now I have to see what happens with my wife.. she is making excellent progress so I expect her home in a day or so.. then a couple of days of rest and recovery at home.. (she is weak as she has not had any solid food in 9 days.. just started eating Jello yesterday).. then I should be free to go back down to Charleston for a couple of days. I just read the latest weather report.. my only concern is if Ernesto stalls out while over the ocean between the FL and SC coastlines.. I am betting by that time it will get more disorganized and be mostly heavy rains by the time it gets here. One nice thing about living near the ocean.. as long as there is not much of a tidal surge, there is not any flooding, as the rain has a place to run off into. Frank B - IRGuy@aol.com "Phoenix" 1983 FBC Wilmington, NC

buzzk · Post by **buzzk** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 5:17 am

Frank, How is it going? I'm in the process of getting prices on a new three sided enclosure. I got my auto pilot working but I think I'm going to buy a new one at the Ft. Lauderdale show this October.I made the repair on my aft bulkhead. Buzz Buzzk 1988 Bertram 33 FBC Buzz Off Morehead City, NC

IRGuy · Post by **IRGuy** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 7:25 am

Buzz... I haven't been to Charleston since a few days before my wife became sick, but now that she is recovering (she drove her car for the first time yesterday) I am going to go down sometime soon.. probably early next week. While I am there I will look at a Bertram 28 on Johns Island for a guy I have spoken with online. What did you do to repair the aft bulkhead? I have two fair sized areas where the skin has come loose from the substrate.. I suspect the substrate is rotted mush now. My autopilot had been disconnected by the previous owner.. he had actually cut the multi conductor harness! I saved all the components, and assume I can buy a harness.. so maybe one day I will try to get mine working. Not a priority issue now compared to all the other things I need to do first. BTW: If you want a canvas guy who seems to know what he is doing I can give you the info about the guy who made my flybridge cover. He is here in Wilmington, so it might be too far for you. Frank B - IRGuy@aol.com "Phoenix" 1983 FBC Wilmington, NC

buzzk · Post by **buzzk** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 9:26 am

My rear bulkhead had an area 2 and a half inches by 4 feet that had turned to mush under the veneer along the bottom, the rest of the bulkhead was solid. I cut this area out and replaced it with treated plywood. Before installing the treated plywood I coated it with fiberglass resin. Then I very carefully took fiberglass cloth and fiberglassed the treated plywood to the old bulkhead making it solid. My boat has a oak finish inside so I put a piece of oak baseboard along the bottom of the inside of the bulkhead to cover up the repair. To cover up the repair on the bottom of the outside of the bulkhead I made a piece of baseboard out of 1/4" starboard fastening it with 5200 and screws. It looks good and was an easy fix however if the rot had gone higher up the bulkhead I may have had to replace the entire bulkhead.Buzz Buzzk 1988 Bertram 33 FBC Buzz Off Morehead,NC