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The Log of Ariel: Spring Commissioning

Since most of the spring commissioning was written up on the blog, there will be little here this year. Suffice it to say that Ariel got the usual spring treatment: hull waxed, engine oil changed, mast stepped, rigging tuned, and so on. She splashed some time in early June - I can't recall exactly. Once she was in the water my dad and I tended to a few details. We completed the new holding tank installation after waiting for a part, then installed a washdown pump and deck fitting for cleaning the rode and hosing Ariel down. We set off for our long-anticipated summer cruise on July 9, bound for Door County, Wisconsin.

Here's a little piece that I began writing in the midst of preparing for the cruise. Obviously work got in the way and I didn't finish it.

Let’s see. We said we were going to be out of here by July 1. Now it’s July 3 and we’re still finishing up little (and not so little) jobs aboard Ariel. What remains to be done before we can cast off the lines and head for the water? Hmmm…the washdown pump needs to be installed in the hanging locker and the lines plumbed. While we’re at that, the foot pump in the galley needs to be plumbed as well. Once Ronco Plastics delivers the elbow fitting needed for the holding tank, that will need to be installed to complete the holding tank saga. The hole I enlarged in the anchor locker bulkhead during my attempts to route the plumbing needs to be glassed over and filled. The cabin needs to be oiled. The rig needs to be tuned before we can bend on sails. The engine and transmission oil need to be changed. And we should probably change the number one fuel filter before departing. Food and supplies, of course, need to be bought and stowed, too.

With all that to do, what am I doing sitting here at 9:38 in the morning writing about it?! I suppose part of the reason is because dad’s not even out of bed yet. Bother!

3.21.06 - I ordered a new starter solenoid from Transatlantic Diesels this afternoon, part number DELSOL 197. Based upon their pictures, it appears as though that is the correct solenoid for my application. I tried to get a confirmation from TAD by providing them with the numbers stamped on the starter, but no dice. Apparently those numbers don't help for cross-referencing. Interesting. The price for the solenoid is $45. A rebuilt starter w/ solenoid runs $245 + $100 core. A brand new starter that fits the Perkins 4.108 can be had for $345. Nice to know.
Original starter - #1107587 8H 14. Certainly these numbers must be useful for something!
Picture from TAD website of starter model STA-6. I'd say this starter is nearly a dead ringer for the original.
Starter motor STA-7 is apparently a replacement for STA-6 and also available from TAD. If money weren't an issue, I'd be tempted to replace the whole thing and go with this baby. It's smaller motor would make the reinstallation much simpler.

3.20.06 - Doubly blessed is the man who gets his work done and has fun with his son.
Jake played hooky from the babysitter today and spent the day with me working on Ariel. We began by removing the bunk boards in the forward cabin to access the holding tank, which has been leaking despite our best efforts to seal it. The tank now sits in the backyard. I'll confirm measurements tomorrow and place an order with Ronco plastics for a new tank.
The second item on today's 'to do' was to pull the starter. Last summer it began giving us intermittent starting problems, which were easily solved by a firm rap to the solenoid but a pain nonetheless. I managed - with Jake's help, of course - to wiggle the starter out of place without disassembling too much. The whole process did require some contortions and blood, though. Once I receive confirmation from Transatlantic Diesel about the starter model, I'll order a new solenoid and get things back together.
Jake's contributions to the day's activities were precious. At one point, as my face was squashed against the header tank and both arms shoulder deep into the engine, Jake said to me: "You're Percy."
"What?!" I replied, completely clueless.
"You're Percy," he repeated.
"What?!"
Exasperated, he said, "You're Dirty Percy!"
Those with young kids likely know exactly who Percy is; he's a lovable - if not always clean - engine from the children's program Thomas the Tank Engine. Admittedly, my grease-covered arms and hands did make me look a lot like poor old Percy.