Mon 10 May, HHN day 27: Reassembling the water heater and pressure vessel pipework, and a rewarding dinner.
As the alarm goes off at 6:45 I realise it’s Monday, and all of a sudden I cannot get the Snow White dwarf song out of my head! I wonder which one I will be today? I’ve done Sneezy with my allergies, also Sleepy with antihistamines. Bashful?… well, I’m always shy! Dopey? I’ve had enough days being him. That leaves Grumpy, Doc and Happy. I think I’ll choose Happy today. And indeed, that’s how I end up feeling all day.
First thing, I take the defective rivet gun back to Stephen at ECMR. And of course, he puts a rivet in it, and it works perfectly! Classic. Feels a bit like taking your PC to the IT technician only to find it suddenly has no problem!
Then I set off with my trolley in tow to Deale hardware store in the village to buy a few bits and pieces. It’s one of those great little hardware shops that always seem to have what you need, and I’m soon rattling my way back with my shopping list all ticked.
Mid-morning, I happily start to put the pipe fittings back together again in my galley workshop (no one is issuing Galley visas, while Oana is not on board!). And as I start, I can only think: thank goodness I was smart enough to take a few photos before taking all this piping apart! And even with the photos, I still have to redo one connection.
I have to make a decision on what compound to use to seal the joints.
I like what Hallberg-Rassy uses, Loctite 275. It both locks the joint in place at the angle you require (even if the joints are not tight) and provides a good seal. But, after 12 years (8 in fact – they started leaking 4 years ago) 275 becomes very brittle and has failed on these pipes. I think because of the constant temperature changes: hot to cold, cold to hot, over and over.
I also like 3M 5200. Once cured, it’s a damned good seal: good rigidity and also flexible for temperature changes and vibration. But 5200, even the fast-cure version, takes a few hours to “grab”. So you need to somehow hold the joints at the required angle until it cures.
Both 275 and 5200 make it difficult to remove the fittings later, but heat always fixes this if you are really determined to take them apart. My goal is NOT to have them leak again, and therefore NOT to have to ever again take them apart!
I’ve decided I will use a mixture of Loctite 275 and 3M 5200 fast cure. 275 goes onto an inside thread (just a few drips to one inner thread) to get that quick “grab” and 5200 sparingly on the outer 3 threads to give a good seal with longevity. As usual with 5200, the damned stuff gets everywhere! I wear gloves but it still seems to end up on everything. Not a problem though, Acetone cleans it up once it’s all done and together.
By late afternoon I’ve finished and also got the 3 sets of pipework back in place. One assembly on the pressure vessel and 2 on the hot-water tank. I’ll leave the joints to cure hard over night before I reinstall the tank tomorrow. I don’t want to disturb all my good work as I’ll undoubtedly struggle to get the monster mounted back on the wall.
During the day I have 2 visitors. Ray pops by with the new teak outboard bracket he is making for us. The original one started to fall apart. Ray is a free man now, having just left his job. He has all sorts of interesting ideas about what to do next. A very skilled guy in all things boating.
Then in the afternoon I get a visit from Paul, a British/Australian guy who has just purchased the Hallberg-Rassy 49 ketch that has been sitting outside Free State Yachts (Hallberg-Rassy dealer) for 2 years.
In its day (1986) the HR49 was the flag ship – the biggest they built. It is from that era when the teak decks were wonderfully clear from the windscreen all the way to the bow, with no coach roof. Plus, built like a Sherman tank with a semi-long keel. And the ketch rig makes it an ideal safe globe trotter.
It is those 1980’s models, before Hallberg-Rassy started with coach-roof designs, which originally inspired me to the brand. And it’s interesting that the new models, like the 57, have in some way gone back to that style of flush deck and windows in the side of the hull. But that is about where the similarity ends. Full stop!
Anyway, Paul is a really nice guy and we chat for quite a while. He will sail his new prize back to UK, pick up all his stuff then set off globetrotting. The boat is well set up, but I still can’t help feeling a little anxious for him: launching a boat that has been sitting still for 8 years (mostly ashore) and directly setting off eastwards for the Azores. There will be some challenges for sure.
Paul asks if I will come take a look and advise on a few things. Hmmm, I can see a trend here. Guys buying boats from Roger (at Free State Yachts) but wanting me to look them over. Might not be good for me and Roger, if you know what I mean!
At 6pm I’m done with the pipework and fittings and proud of how they have come out. Well, I will be if/when they don’t leak! The sun is out again and it’s warm outside. So I decide to treat myself to a pub dinner at the Riverside restaurant.
Sitting with the late afternoon sun on my back, with quite a social atmosphere around me, I suddenly realise just how long it’s been since I’ve eaten out like this. What a treat. What a luxury! It’s amazing how quickly you forget how good it feels. Needless to say, 2 big beers and my evening work plans were a write off!
Yes, today I’ve definitely been happy to be Happy: I ho, I ho … it’s off to bed I go, with a Zzz here and a Zzzzzzz there… I ho, I ho, I ho, I ho (fading music as Sleeping Beauty sleeps 😊)