Institute of Maritime History

After the high of getting "Patty" started last month, I spent the long Thanksgiving weekend tearing into "Selma", stripping her down and removing the cylinder head.  Let's just say it wasn't quite as clean inside as the port engine.  I knew I was in for something more "interesting" since I've never been able to turn the crankshaft with a wrench like I could on the other one.  So I was rewarded with some "pumpkin pie" rust in cylinder #2.

starboard bare block

My apologies for the long interval since my last entry, but I haven't really had any *visible* progress until this week.

I've been working on the port engine ("Patty"-- the starboard one is "Selma") since March.  This included removing all the engine components including the cylinder head.  I was prepared to do a complete overhaul, including pistons, sleeves, rings, etc. but I discovered that would require pulling the engine, which I hadn't planned to do. In any case, once removing the head, the pistons and sleeves looked clean enough not to need that attention.

I've been remiss again-- haven't updated this since last fall.  But I've been busy all "winter"  (Hardly a winter we had this year-- no snow and only a handful of freezing days.  But, who am I to complain!)

First, I finished the under-waterway compartments.  Here's a couple pictures of the completed product (except for paint).starboard waterway complete  

port waterway complete

A lost Caravel lost in the sands of timeThe year was 1612, proudly three small ships were being keeled, three years later a turn of events will mark them in history. Little is known of the changes or modifications of what is referred to as the "Latin Caravel" similar in design to two of the three ships that Columbus sailed across the Atlantic to discover the New World in 1492, but changes in the course of the years did evolve.

It's been almost a year since my last entry here-- sorry!  Work has progressed on Ballena Blanca, even though I almost uniformly forget to take pictures of the results.  Finally, here's somewhat of a progress report.

Permanent slip

Ballena Blanca launched today!  all wet

We did decided on a red stripe for the boot-top... here she is a with a little bling last month:red stripe

It is Thursday morning (I think) and I am taking a few quiet moments to get set for the day. 

Starting off Monday afternoon with 400 Scouts, we have had 2000-3000 youth and adults go through the intro to Scuba area each day.  I am located in the Exhibits tent that they go through on the way out.

Topside sanding's done, so I broke out the paint this weekend.  It was only about 95 degrees-- why not?  I managed to get primer and 2 coats of Brightsides on the starboard side.  The port side and transom will have to wait a few weeks.

Here she is, taped and ready to go:ready for paint