Shallow Minded passes survey

I want to thank Joey Duran of Harbor Marine Consultants for a very fair minded survey of Shallow Minded.
Here is his summery:
"The subject vessel was personally inspected by the undersigned on June 23, 2015 and was found to be a well constructed, appointed and comfortable vessel.  The vessel is very capably captained and well-kept..."

I have since received an insurance binder for $100K liability and $825K oil spill liability. 

Shallow Minded is back under her shelter. Having completely gone over the running rigging and sails I am pushing toward getting the last of the preparation and packing for this fall's trip. 
To continue following my preparation and subsequent adventures please follow me from now on at my new blog site: Shallow Sailing. This will be my only record from here on.  Thanks

Getting Ready for a Survey

Let me say up front, I am changing to a new blog.  This will be my last entry here.  You can find my new blog here.
For this last entry I will detail my preparations for survey.  "Why on earth would you get a survey"? I hear you say.  Well it's like this: I just don't have the nerve to maneuver around big expensive boats like I have to when getting gas or docking to get supplies.  Not to mention the hundreds of thousands you can get fined for a fuel spill even if you didn't cause the sinking of your own vessel etc.  The insurance is cheap.  Only $131 a year for peace of mind.  Caveat: on a home built you have to get a survey.  Okay, I'm just paranoid.  I will feel so much better knowing I have a cushion in case the worst happens.  My assets and retirement could be at risk.  'Nuff said.

So it's happening tomorrow.  I have to have the motor ready to run.  This is my setup for running the motor.  I just don't trust those earmuff things. I lost an impeller once trying to use one.  Not again, especially on a new motor.  (I know, more evidence of mild paranoia).  The nice thing about this build is that I can use it in the lower position to run my other motors using the bar as the motor hanger.  Let me tell you, it works great.  I get to run the motor for 20-30 minutes so I can heat it up thereby opening the thermostat and cleaning out the salt residual when I take it out.  Also, I can introduce chemicals to dissolve the buildups.

I took a look at the bilge pump. It was pretty pathetic so I installed this heavy duty Johnson 1600 GPH model with separate float switch.

I bought this control switch so I can pulse the pump manually, turn it on auto or turn it off if need be.  I used an existing cutout in the cabinet door where the power management meter resides to monitor solar charge activity.








Ok back to the survey.  The reason the insurance companies all require surveys is that they just don't trust us home builders to launch out in a safe boat.  Never mind that the most derelict glass boat with a manufacturers name is insured without question.  I know, stupid, none of their business and screw them...  Well you can't fight city hall on this one.  I need what they have.  And once it's done...never again.  $131 a year from here out sounds good.  That includes $825,000 spill insurance. Trust me, the government isn't kidding about the spill thing, even if it isn't your fault.  The survey focuses on sound hull.  Functional propulsion and steering.  Enough safety systems to keep you from being a menace.  It happens tomorrow (6/24/2015).  Wish me luck.  You can see why I got to thinking about systems and looking at the penny-Annie, light weight bilge pump, that was definitely for my own good.

Remember, from here on look for me at:  here

I'm working on finishing the Spindrift 11N nesting dinghy to be Shallow Minded's tender.  Looks like the Interlux Perfection went on pretty nice.  I believe I have somewhere around 6 coats of Primer under 4 coats of Perfection.  I find it takes a lot of paint to get good results.  Between my mistakes and filling in the imperfections it seems to go on and on.

This was my first bottom job.  It just didn't seem like it came up high enough and just looked funny.

I'm using the laser level to re-level the boat and move the line up 2 and 1/2 inches.

This seems a lot better to me.  I will be taking it up some time this week to have it measured for GA DNR registration. 

Swift on the spare trailer.  Waiting for name and DNR numbers as well as the striping tape to finish.  When it is all done will disassemble and finish the water line on the facing halves.  At that point she is ready to load on the foredeck of Shallow Minded.

Inside view of Swift.  Just need to install the oar collars and she is ready to row.

I got 125 lbs of Anthracite coal for Shallow Minded's multi-fuel stove.  I loaded two 25 lb boxes on board to ward of chilly day's this next winter.  Word has it that it can get a bit nippy even in the Everglades.  Remember the big fish kill in 2009 from freezing temps down there?
I have ordered 8 six-inch cleats for Shallow Minded's gunnels to make short term docking easier.  Anything requiring strength of course, gets attached to the kevels. 
In August I will start the loading process.  Meanwhile Shallow Minded gets a good cleaning and goes back in the shelter where I will apply one more coat of anti-skid.

 Dinghy name in place