Yard 3...

[Deep C]

In the never ending quest to make ours the finest best 43 Viking of all we are back in the yard... Before christmas we added a UV light/ TiO2 Air cleaning system for the cabin a/c units. Also we went to polycarbonate enclosure panels... Now they are slick!

Today was the haul out and pressure blast. Man! You gotta love Micron 66. Stuff looks like it did when I put it on last year. I could count the Barnacles under there on one hand...

Got a couple side detours on this haul. First of which we started today. New rudders are on the menue after having one shear off. The one that sheared had been worked on before. All the assemblies that hold it in place were done properly with one part broken the rudder itself had been original and we did some Sherlock Holmesing . Seems that the less than great grade metal they used had pitted to the point that it was tearing up the packing... Allowed a wobble (including a leak into the boat we noticed this summer). The wobble then worked it to the point that the metal gave up.
Now we get to the side that still had its rudder... All original and what a cluster! Galvanized nuts on low grade stainless against brass on aluminum plates no never seize and the list goes on. Ripped up some carbide grinder blades getting that crap out. Nothing and I mean nothing could come apart short of cutting. I don't know what the hell Viking was thinking but I'm not impressed...
Should have been an hour but ws closer to three getting that crap out...
Tomorrow I start on the bottom and change some intake screens. Adding another temp and speed sensor in the morn too. Hopefully other crew get there to do our new Awlgrip custom boot stripe and get started on a fresh hull polish job.

[dunn6253]

Good luck with the projects Deep. Viking helping out at all with the rudder issue? From reading the other thread about when it happened, seemed like it was a common problem with them. Or only care if it is under warranty?

[Deep C]

Took nine days to get a response from Viking and the one they thought might work had wrong specs. Very wrong...
Blade was close bit if I got it I would have had to send out, cut three inches off shaft then cut in six more inches of key and re drill for the set screws...

The factory installed components were an absolute abortion. Must have just grabbed stuff from around the ground. Galvanized nuts? Five dissimilar metals, no never seize? The other side that had been worked on at least had been done right.
Came to learn that they "notch" cut the shafts so it works at all angles of turn radius... Thats the bottom line trouble spot. The cheap ass low grade aquamet pits and starts that eating of packing and subsequent wobble.

[dunn6253]

Sucks to hear Deep, but I guess do it right yourself once, and not have to worry about it again, hopefully anyways......

[Deep C]

Gonna go A22 on the shaft and maybe get a little "creative" with the blades. Boat never did steer worth a crap any way. In the water I was thinking they were a couple inches higher than the wheels but I see its several inches. The ones we had were standard heavy flat stock but with flat not very hydrodynamic edges... And again cast bronze over steel...
I'm thinking A22 shaft and stick with stainless all the way right through the blade. With them so far above prop blade tips I'm not going to worry about smacking one. Touch of cutting edge and maybe a sweep back.

[Deep C]

Boss stopped by today for a visit. Now a lot of guys might object to having their boss loom over them while they're doing the often ugly back braking crap that goes with a yard trip. Not me... Boss has been stressed bad for a while now. Today gave him a break and let him be one of the boys. All too often we tend to exclude those cutting the checks from being part of it. Being there really did him a world of good. It also let the other guys working with me explain what issues we encounter (like yesterdays cut out of most of the steering system) and what processes need to be followed to really do things right. Having that back up adds so much more than if I just try to translate and fill in the blanks.
Though too cold to lay paint or even tape, we got a load accomplished. Removed every strainer off the bottom, sandblasted , and/or replaced. Got new steering parts in place for when rudders get done. Ran new trim tab lines. Ran new holding tank hoses and installed new vents. Did touch up on engine room vents when we did get a touch of warmer air. Tripple dooshed the bilge and engine beds. Opened every compartement and under seat storage, shot with mildew remover and let air all the way out. Sanded around the exhaust pipes and other spots where we had a little bit of uneven build up of bottom paint... Got the starboard side compounded and even started the wax there.
Ran a bit of polish on the aluminum until I slipped and kinda fell out of the tower. Hit a couple rod holders on the way down, tore up my jeans, but landed right and as far as I can tell no busted bones or life threatening injuries...

[Robja]

CASTLE DEEP full of inlaws and outlaws vs BOATYARD working on the boat.

you made the right choice

[Deep C]

I truly am a workaholic... I love my family but that crap gets so old so quick. With this ongoing job I can see the results. We truly have the worlds slickest 43 Viking... In fact I'll even stack her up against any newer 45.... I'm thinking a repower in the next year or so and this boat will be newer than new boats...

Its fun to take pride in ones work. Yes I'd like to fish more than we do. And we will as we're nearing the end of our renovations and upgrades lists. We still get out some between bouts for now and I'm happy... The boss is happy and that is what it really is all about.

[Docked Wages]

Any Pics?

[Deep C]

Been posting some during each phase of restore since we got the boat. Kinda got lazy this summer and didn't post many then but I do have. When this yard trip is done I'll have a bunch...

Last years thread...
New Boat

Yard two was basically a doosh and dab quickie with a couple quick repairs to stuff we broke in the islands...