Glastron Surface drive

[DangerNewb]

I see my accountant for what he is.
A bean cou ter who would throw me under a bus without hesitation.
My most lucrative investment was one that he was horrified with. ( not bitcoin)
I'm 60yr old, semi retired.
People think Accountants are money experts, they are not.

Accountants count money. Investment Advisors, at least good ones, make you money.

[89LASER]

We haven't heard from you in a while, I hope all is well and you're ok.

[CharlieN]

Life has been a bit of a roller coaster for me this year. Some medical stuff with a much needed change of my Primary physician. I have spent a fair bit of time hosting aviation events. But I have also spent allot of time working on this project but clearly not spending the time to up-date my posts.

[CharlieN]

Yesterday was interesting, I was in an MRI tube for more than an hour. My new to me doctor, she is impressively intelligent, just turned 40. She was transferred here since no one in the healthcare system I have changed to could understand how my neck injury is causing the serious Tinnitus that has developed after a very heavy handed ChiroQwack did a very heavy handed twist to my neck. Heck I was just in the place sitting in while my wife was getting an adjustment when he offered to give me some attention, Big issue is the short session for me was undocumented such that insurance has not been available.
Back to my boat.
I am concentrating on finalizing the mounting points for the outdrive, Now I now have all the material needed to make the thru hull sections of the exhaust and late yesterday I realized I need the engine in the hull, so that will be awhile.

[CharlieN]

The outdrive is permanently mounted to the hull now. All fasteners locktighted to seal them.
My next task is to fabricate the inner structure for the cooling water inlet.
once that is done the boat will float.
Not much to take any images of.
Next up is to fabricate the water jacket for the EX headers. This will take me a bit of time, the material is all here.
As I am living with a palsy I am limited in how much time I can get quality welds.
At worse I can fit all the split tubes and tack weld them and bring them to a welding shop that is only a few miles away, he is 35 years younger than me as well as far less beat up.
I still think back when I lived in Florida and Raced motorcycles, I had one 130+ MPH tumble on the banking of Daytona when the rider I was drafting rolled off the throttle entering a turn. Yah it hurts and my neck has it's issues as well.

[NICE PAIR]

Take care of yourself!

[CharlieN]

We have rain most of today, I will cut the FG to prepare to layup the aft end of the stringers. Humidity is expected to drop in the afternoon so I might be able to do glass work.
But we seriously need the rain since there are many dry wells in the region, ours being one which I did dig deeper yesterday so we can at least flush a toilet at least once a day.
We have a shallow well, it a a box built with Trex that is wrapped with rubber membrane set in the ground that is 20" deep. There used to be a small stream next to the well but this summer it re-routed itself to flow under the well. This dry season the well filled with sand.

[CharlieN]

I was happy to achieve the point on my boat that I could fill and bleed the steering. But no, this helm that I paid $223 on ebay has fluid running out the back of it. Not at a serviceable fitting, I bought a seal kit since there is no way I can buy a new one.

CharlieN

[NICE PAIR]

Bummer! Hang in there Charlie - You got this!

[CharlieN]

Had a scary moment before sunrise today, we had a strong cold front pass through about 3 am. Heavy wind of hurricane volume and serious rain. Heavy rain makes me sleep very well. I registered I was hearing allot noise outdoors though, heavy rain drives me to deep sleep. About 5AM my wife wakes me saying the canopy collapsed, I came down and looked out the living room window above where the canopy is, it sure did collapse. We went down through the shop and looked out at the boat with the center tube of the canopy resting hard on the center of the windshield. It had stopped raining but the wind is still up now at mid day. Thankfully it was not colder out to cause real damage had this being snow. I wish I thought to bring my camera out then.

[NICE PAIR]

Bummer Charlie.

[CharlieN]

The boat survived with minor issues and will go in a bay that is under the hot tub room for now.
Most important is no damage to the wind screen.
I do have a cover on the hull for now,


I will get the boat in the shop for the winter. First step for the winter will be fabricating the water jacket for the headers.
I need to get workspace in the shop to bring the hull into for the winter
but my black Montero needs the new exhaust behind the axle first,
I need to buy a bundle of conduit to get the canopy up next year.



I do have a cover on the hull for now,

[CharlieN]

Now that the weather is real nice out with mid 40s temps, not the snow as forecast for the next few days and being that snow is what collapsed my summer work area that was not forecast. I might as well store the hull for a bit and clean up my indoor space.

Thinking a bit I should finish the exhaust for the engine such that I have the "kit" ready to install.