Carver Owners Forum

Granite guy had a few setbacks, and I told him it is ok, I am in no rush, yet!
He was going to come this weekend. We live on the island in Saint Joseph, and the marina we keep the boat at is next door. This weekend was the Blossomtime Parade - a 3 hour event. The road leading to and from the island is blocked off for the parade route for about 5 hours. As a result, no counter-top work this past weekend.

So I replaced a few more of the plastic through hulls with stainless steel ones, ran some more wiring for the electronics, and helped wife with the last two side curtains for the bridge canvas.

That job is also set back a bit since I have used one of those 19.99 canvas snap setters for the very last time. I ordered a new heavy duty Press-n-snap tool, dies, and a bunch of snaps, along with a forged steel hole puncher instead of the wpos 15.00 one. I am tired of using those things they call tools. Cheap junk! So now I have a small fortune invested in snap tools, so I am quite certain my neighbors will all borrow them when it's their turn to replace snaps! I expect rental payment in scotch and cigars!

I have a plan for this weekend, but I won;t say what that is until I actually do the work. It seems that what I plan to do doesn't get done as planned. Let's just say I am moving it closer to splash!

A word of advice on loaning out tools, don't.
But if you do anyway mark the tools and write down who you loaned them to, sure beats trying to remember where you left them.

I only have honorable friends.
Ya, right.
But actually, I've been very lucky about it. i haven't lost any tools yet to forgetful borrowing.
I think I "lost" one of those big white bags of mostly kid's pfd's to a neighbor though. I'll have to remind him

Well, got all the granite set down, but it was too cold again last weekend to set the pieces together. But they are all where they belong. I think my counter guy will be around next weekend to finish it up.

Order the new carpet for the inside from Migala. Also getting all new cockpit and bridge carpet.

All we have left on the canvas is the back door to the bridge. I am so glad I bought the real press-n-snap tool and a real forged steel hole punch. What a breeze using a quality tool instead of that stamped steel junk. I HIGHLY recomend spending the 110 bucks for a Press-N-Snap tool by Hoover and a real hole punch.

Counter top guy done!
Glued all the pieces together, and I installed the TCC Kitchen Center

Awesome!

Here's some updates.
Bridge canvas is done.
Bridge carpet done.

Pulled distributors again, ran the oil pumps just to make sure I had good pressure, reinstalled and time with an ohm meter. Should fire up on the first crank.
Also some pics of my neighborhood at sunset.

Pulled the valve covers off. Mind you, these engines sat for 10 years without ever running.
Take a look.
I ran some oil down the pushrods, into the rockers, flooded the springs and seals, closed them all up and ran some old GM Breakin in Lube/ZDDP supplement just in case.

Started mounting and hooking up a Pioneer head unit, 6 cd changer, ipod connect, XM Radio set up.

Wow, they look brand new Fred. Very cool.

So, this is what we came to today - new carpet has been installed!

I worked on installing batteries and putting power to the boat for the first time in 11 years. Nothing smoked! Everything seems to work, including all the new lights and other things we replaced.

Ran another bus feeder from the breaker panel to the bridge and install another fuse panel. This will be for the VHF, the hailer, and the bridge stereo equipment.

I turned on the GPS/plotter/finder and it seems to function and pinpointed my location. Turned on the radar and it's fine as well.

So far, so good, and nothing screwed up.

Wife worked on making the sunpad cover today; tomorrow I'll haveb to install the snaps. Then she goes on to making new drapes.

Some pix as we opened the boat to new carpet:









Now it's time for some Epica cabernet and a Cigar on the porch.