It works!

Well folks, here's the really BIG news:
After two weeks of busted knuckles, scraped shins, bruised knees and long strings of salty language, we finally have Queequeg in reasonably good working order. She's by no means livable yet. There's a lot of cleaning to do and of course the floor still has to be rebuilt but...here's a list of what we know actually WORKS:
Radar
GPS
Refrigerator
Fresh water system (new pump)
Hot water heater
Bilge pump (new pump)
and...drum roll please...after replacing the alternator and the starter, changing the oil several times, bleeding the air out of the fuel system...are you ready? Yes! It's the ENGINE!
Thursday, I hooked up a garden hose to the water intake, gave the engine a few turns by hand to make sure everything moved, I perched myself in a safe spot in the engine "room" (I use the term loosely), told Bev to hit the starter and BOOM! A puff of gray smoke from the tail pipe and a startled yell from Bev and chug, chug, chug the engine started running!
Our one big worry in taking over this boat has been the engine. Remember, it's a 30 year old boat and it sat full of rain water for two years. It was always a big question if the engine would ever run again, but, thankfully, it not only runs, it even sound good. (If I'm any judge of diesel engine sounds.) It idles smoothly at the proper speed and revs up just as smoothly.
So now it's really starting to look like we have a boat.
As soon as we get back from our little excursion to Key West (see update on the Walkure blog) we will put in the work order for the yard to replace the cutlass bearing and paint the bottom. Then we will "splash" the boat and sail her down to Boot Key Harbor. We're still not sure exactly where she'll end up (in the harbor itself or down Sisters' Creek but at least it won't be 10 miles away as it is now. Our trips back and forth between here and Driftwood Boat Yard have involved either taxis or borrowed cars, so having the boat a dinghy ride away will be a relief.
Just to be sure, we tried the engine again on Friday and sure enough, it started right up.
When we get back from Key West and get ready to launch, I'll have some pictures. Up till now we've been too busy concentrating on getting the boat ready for launching. Now that some of the pressure is off, maybe we'll get some photos.
Look for an update in about two weeks.

Getting started

The adventure begins...well at least the "fix the boat" part.
We arrived in Marathon two weeks ago tomorrow. The first week was spent dodging heavy rains and generally getting settled in. Last week we started working on Queequeg.
We were a bit dismayed to find that there was water in the boat again. Not nearly as much as before; just barely to the floor boards. We have now installed one solar panel, a new battery and a new bilge pump so that won't happen any more. We will have our work cut out for us in finding all the ways water gets in the boat on dry land. at least we know none of it leaks back out through the hull!
I've also installed a new battery monitoring system and an automatic charge relay. I removed the old AC battery charger as it had turned to a mass of rust. I now have extra room in the engine compartment so I won't be busting quite so many knuckles working on the engine. Those old chargers were HUGE!
Part of the week was spent tracing and replacing some of the wiring. What a tangled mess! Some of the systems were wired up directly to the batteries, bypassing the breaker panel. Not a good idea. Some of those wires had been destroyed by the water and had to be replaced anyway, so I rerouted them to the panel. We now have lights, refrigeration and navigation instruments all functioning.
Bev has been hard at work giving the boat thorough cleaning. After a week, she's barely done with the forward stateroom. Between the flood and the bugs, the boat is quite a mess. We're still not sure, but hope that we can salvage the cushions as there is no money in the budget for new upholstery.
The bimini and the dodger needed a little sewing, but they are now up and functional.
This next week will be devoted to getting the old Yanmar diesel engine started. When last I left it, it could turn, but I didn't get the fuel cleaned out or the starter motor working. This week I'll clean the fuel system, install the new alternator, test and/or replace the starter, change the oil - again - and then see if the old kicker will start.
There is a "T" connection on the water intake that will allow a garden hose to be hooked up while the boat is on the hard. That should allow water to pass through the engine while test starting it before the launch.
Stay tuned for more updates as the work progresses.

Ted Irwin update

I just heard that Ted got out of the hospital on Friday. He is talking about new boat designs, so that is an encouraging sign. He still has a long recovery ahead, physical therapy, etc.
Glad to hear you're on the mend, Ted.

What's it worth?

Getting a free boat is sometimes more trouble than it's worth, but I think in this case it will be well worth the time, effort and money to fix it up. Take a look at this 1980 Irwin Citation (again just reverse the interior and it's a 40 MK II) and look at what it's selling for:

Irwin for Sale

Yes, it will be a lot of work to restore, but in the end we'll have a real asset.

Whew!

Now here's a little something to think about. An Irwin Citation 39 (identical to Queequeg except for interior layout) sailed from Connecticut to Australia!
Not that I'm quite that ambitious, but it does prove what the boat can do.
When he started out, he passed some of the same places (Dismal Swamp, Elizabeth City, etc.) where Bev and I have been with Walkure.
Here's the link to the story:

USA to Australia!

Ted Irwin update

The latest on Ted Irwin:

"Dear Friends of Ted,

I was updated about Ted Wednesday at the hospital. He was alert, joking with the company of his daughter and close friend Peggy, and he talked about the accident as best he could remember. Ted was on his yacht in Key West with his son Trey, and son-in-law on the hook, they had been diving for lobsters. One of his guests was arriving on the docks around midnight and Ted got in his dingy with a flash light and headed for shore. He noted a power boat heading at him and tried to warn them with his flashlight, but due to the angle of the bow of the powerboat, they did not see him and smashed into him throwing him across the dingy, but fortunately not overboard. He was knocked out and laying in the dingy. The crew of the powerboat did attend to him and towed him to the docks where emergency crews were waiting.
He was eventually flown to St. Petersburg Bay Front Medical Center where he was attended to. He suffered a fractured pelvis which required four hours of surgery, broken ribs and some internal bleeding. The surgery was successful and Ted was told he would have a few weeks ahead for therapy and rehab. A bit black and blue and some tubes in and out. He is good spirit and for all of us who know Ted, I will tell you he still has that great boyish grin and smile, and it was a welcome site today. Meanwhile, those who would like to send a card and best wish’s:

Michael Theodore Irwin
Room 532
Bayfront Medical Center
St. Petersburg, Florida 33701

Please no phone calls at this time, maybe in a week.

Thanks to all who kept Ted in their thoughts and prayers

Regards from Gene"

Ted Irwin in hospital

Ted Irwin, designer of Queequeg, is in the hospital after being run over by a power boat! Here's an email I received from Gene Gammon, Ted's old partner:

"I was just informed that Ted Irwin is in ICU at Bayfront Medical Center in St. Petersburg.

I can find no details in any Florida news but a friend, Tom Casey of Blue Water Sailing mag., was informed by Charlie Morgan this morning and was confirmed.

Apparently he was run over by a powerboat in Kew West at night while going ashore in his dinghy. He was airlifted to Bayfront from the Keys.

Please pray for Ted and hope for the a good and speedy recovery.

Will update all as I learn more.

Regards,

Gene Gammon
www.irwinyachts.com

Please be careful on the water!"