The Adventures of Pine Knot

Where in the World is Pine Knot?

Pine Knot at Her Home Marina

Pine Knot is now berthed at her home marina--Blue Dolphin Yachting Center--in Seabrook, Texas.  We're making preparations for a fresh bottom job and new varnish coats for her brightwork.

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[Pine Knot in Seabrook, TX]

Time for a Bottom Job

 
July 26, 2011

[Travel Lift about to set Pine Knot on the keel blocks and jack stands]

My friend Vic and I moved Pine Knot over to Pepe's Yacht Service at Clear Lake Marine Center for new bottom paint. Vic has used Pepe's several times and highly recommends his work:

• Pepe Duran (281-467-3804)

We decided to have Pepe move Pine Knot's boot stripe up a few inches. The original boot stripe was a little low, especially near the stern. I think Pine Knot will look better with a bit more bottom paint showing along her waterline. 

 
[Pine Knot on the jack stands ready for pressure washing]

Changing the Stabilizer Zincs

My nephew, Ben III, and I went to the boat yard on Thursday and replaced the zinc anodes up inside the TRAC stabilizer fins.  I ordered a set of zincs for the fins from BoatZincs.com.

I was sure happy to have Ben's help since replacing those zincs requires removing the stabilizer winglet tips and reaching up into the fins about 16 inches through a 2-1/8" tube with an Allen head wrench.  Hitting those bolt heads at the tips of the stabilizer shafts is a real trick.

 
[Stabilizer Zincs]

We worked out a plan to use two 10" socket extensions and a fender washer inside a 21" section of 2" PVC pipe.  The fender washer, placed near the tip of the wrench, was just a bit smaller than the pipe diameter and served as a guide for the wrench.  I don't know how other people do this job, but our method worked like a charm!

The fender washer guided the wrench-head right up the PVC pipe and right onto the bolt head. The new zinc fit just inside the PVC pipe and it was simple to slide it up the pipe and tighten the new bolt.  Amazing!

August 3, 2011

The boat yard called and Pine Knot is ready to be launched.  Louisia drove the car over to Blue Dolphin Marina while I drove Pine Knot back to her slip.  Looks like they did a good job with the bottom paint and new boot stripe.

 
[New Bottom Paint and Boot Stripe]

 
[Ready for Launch]