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 Great Lakes Shipwreck Preservation Society

Dedicated to Preserving our Shipwrecks and Maritime History
"From Prevention to Preservation"



HomeR/V Preservation Work Weekend 2011
GLSPS R/V Preservation Work Weekends
and
Boat Launch June 4 & 5, 2011

Photos below by Randy Flacksbarth



R / V Preservation Docked at Spirit Lake Marina


R / V Preservation Departing Duluth for Another GLSPS Project


The GLSPS has their own research vessel to use as a dive platform to facilitate most of our Underwater projects.  If you have a boat, you know how much work it takes to maintain it.

We are performing three major upgrades to the Boat in 2011. 

1. Brand New platform with new aluminum ladder for easier boarding with dive gear and a much greater safety margin.
2. Sound proofing both Diesel Engine covers for less engine noise in cabin area while cruising.
3. Installing a new 110 volt shore electrical system for more convenience and safer 110 v service to all of the boats appliances.  It will also be great (and safer) to use a portable generator on board during the projects.  A new Marine inverter will also be added soon. 

This is why the GLSPS would like to invite any of the members or friends and companions to join us during the two scheduled weekends to prepare the boat for the upcoming season of dive projects.       

(See "2011 Projects" on left side of this Page).


Please contact Ken Knutson, Bob Olson or Phil Kerber if you are interested in helping us work on the boat this spring.  Or, Register online by clicking on any of the dated links below.

The first weekend in June and after the initial launch you will be able to join the GLSPS for a shakedown cruise on the Scenic St Louis River.  (Bring your Cameras).




If you would like to join us in helping prepare the R / V Preservation for the season on any of the weekends, please click on either link
below to register on the weekend (s) that would work the best for you.  Or, contact Ken Knutson, Bob Olson or Phil Kerber by phone.  Our phone numbers are listed in the "Contact Us" field of the GLSPS Website.
 

If you would like to join us for the Launch and BBQ cookout, please click on the link below to register.
(We will need a head count to order food).


I hope you will be able to join us for a great time!!


GLSPS Board of Directors and Committee Chairpersons


____________________________________________________________________________


Tasks that need to be performed:

1. Prepare and add a coat of white gloss paint to the top of the boat.
2. Paint dark blue areas of boat. 
3. Paint other parts of the boat where needed.
4.
Prepare and paint both rudders.
5. Prepare and paint red water line on port side.
6. Prepare and paint back deck floor.
7. Replace outside loud speaker / haler.  (Purchased new speaker, mount  on mast).
8. Install folding and locking mechanism for ladder.  
9. Wash all Curtains inside salon area.
10. Carpet clean and vacuum.
11. Install new exhaust / water discharge pipe on starboard engine.
12. Pressure wash paint  and other 
debris from outside of boat.
13. Install 110 volt Service. 
14. Install Engine cover sound proofing.
15. Check water pump to dampen exhaust for Scuba Compressor.
16. Install oil absorbents under both engines and transmissions.
17. General check over per shake down cruise list. 
18. Prepare for Insurance required Boat Survey.

19. Service fresh water system. 
20. Replace CO sensor, bilge heat sensor and digital clock batteries.
21. Install the new dive platform and new attached aluminum ladder.
22. Prepare both engines / change oil in both engines and fuel injection pumps.
23. Change all fuel and oil filters. Treat fuel with conditioner
24. Check cooling system fluid condition and change if PH is not within normal range. Treat with conditioner if needed.
25. Check lube in steering gear.
26. Check chain tension on steering gear under helm, lube chain as needed.  
27.
Prepare waste system (Head, toilet) for use.
28.. Clean bilges, remount and test bilge pumps.
29. Repair leaking auto oil changer hose leading to starboard engine. 
30. Install both propellers.  (We have a new back of SS cotter pins). 
31. Remove port side engine fresh water pump to replace packing on input shaft.   
32. Install all electronics and test. 
33. Prepare paperwork for Captains to use. 
34. Secure sounder  transducer wiring through transom.
35.
Inspect all fire extinguishers  (2).
36. O2 tanks will need hydro's by 10/11  (We will send them out for hydro's over the winter season layup).


 
A few weeks before any Project starts we service and prepare the Scuba Compressor for the season.  If anyone would like to help with this task, and learn more about the servicing of scuba compressors, please contact Phil Kerber to volunteer one night after work during the week.  The date we serviced the compressor to get it ready for the season was June 29, 2011.

Tasks Performed on Compressor:

1. Changed oil in 5 HP Honda gas engine.
2. Changed oil in compressor with Human consumable oil.
3. O2 Cleaned all lines and filter canisters and repacked filter with new air cleaning components.
4. Installed new CO Detector inline with filtering system.
5. Cleaned outside of compressor of debris.
6. Repaired water muffler PVC piping and made a new stand.
7. Checked belt and its tension.
8. General check over.
9. Fill sample air bottle to send out for testing the air quality.


__________________________________________________________________________________________________________


R / V Preservation Report


5-02-2011

Sent the first email blast to the membership to invite any of them to join us in preparing the R/V Preservation of the summer Season.  On the front page of the GLSPS Website, scroll down to the bottom and click the link of the weekend you would like to join us.  Then click on "Register Now" to help us prepare the boat for the season or save your spot on the boat for the BBQ and Cruise.

Report by:  Phil Kerber


5-16-2011

Sent an email blast out to the Membership to remind those that would like to help prepare the RV Preservation get ready for the season.  We also stressed that it was very important that you register for the weekend so that we would know who was coming to be able to assign the member to a task and to make sure we had enough free lodging. 

Report by:  Ken Knutson.


5-12-2011


Bob Nelson ordered engine cover insulation for Preservation for added noise reduction.  Bob Olson ordered electrical supplies for the 110 Volt wiring for the boat.
Order Scuba Compressor parts / CO detector add on. 

Report by: Phil Kerber.



5-17-2011


Ordered oil for both Diesel engines.  Gathered new filter pack for fresh water system.  Ordered scuba compressor parts.  Purchased bag of stainless steel cotter pins for prop nuts.  Ordered bag of oil absorbents.  Purchased gasket making material to repair leaking oil hose to starboard engine.  Ordered packing for front shaft of fresh water pump on port engine.  Purchased Misc paint and hardware to complete new platform.  Can of lube for steering chain under helm to lube and prevent rusting of the chain.  Checked battery supply, need to order more AA batteries. 

Report by:  Phil Kerber


5-21 - 22 , 2011  Boat Work Weekend


Completed Tasks:

1. Service fresh water system. 
2. Replace CO sensor, bilge heat sensor and digital clock batteries.
3. Install the new dive platform and new attached aluminum ladder. 
4. Prepare both engines / change oil in both engines and fuel injection pumps.

5. Change all oil and fuel filters.  Treated fuel system with conditioner.
6. Check cooling system fluid condition and change if PH is not within normal range. Treated with conditioner
7. Check lube in steering gear.

8. Check chain tension on steering gear under helm, lube chain as needed.
9.
Prepare waste system (Head, toilet) for use.
10.. Clean bilges, remount and test bilge pumps.
11. Repair leaking auto oil changer hose leading to starboard engine.
12. Install both propellers.  (We have a new bag of SS cotter pins). 
13. Remove port side engine fresh water pump to replace packing on input shaft.   
14. Install all electronics and test.
15. Prepare paperwork for Captains to use. 
16. Secure sounder  transducer wiring through transom. 


R
eport by:  Phil Kerber.




Work Weekend On the R/V Preservation 5-21 to 5-22-2011
Pictures by Steve Daniel


5-23-2011 Sent another blast email to the Membership to invite them to join us to help work on the R/V Preservation the weekend of 5-28 to 30, 2011.  No additional response from any of the membership at this time!!  Perhaps at the last minute a few may join us??

Report by: Phil Kerber.


5-28 - 30, 2011  Boat Work Weekend:


Completed Tasks:

1. Replaced outside loud speaker / haler.  (Purchased new speaker, remounted on Radar mast).
2. Wash all Curtains inside salon area.
3. Install new exhaust / water discharge pipe on starboard engine.
4. Install Engine cover sound proofing
5. Drinking Water filter wrench mounted in bilge next to filter canister system.
6. Some painting completed but delayed by rain again.
7. Vacuumed and Cleaned Carpet in the entire boat.

Report by: Bob Olson


6-1-11

Wednesday Bob O and Ken Knutson traveled to Duluth and finished painting critical areas of the boat before it launches the weekend of June 4 and 5.  Paul Imsland also completed a few painting tasks and stayed up at the Marina an extra day to finish the final coats of paint.  

Completed Tasks:

1. Paint dark blue areas of boat. (Gunnel area).
2. Painted second coat on new dive platform.
3. Started touch up Painting on top / roof.
4. Measured inflatable boat
(dingy) for new hold down strapping.

Report by: Ken Knutson


6-4-11

Saturday morning we finished a few odds and ends before the scheduled launch at 12:30 PM. 

Completed Tasks:

1. Bob O, finished mounts for new inflatable boat attachment straps.
2. Ken Knutson finished the wiring and water proofing for the new load speaker.
3. Steve Daniel finished some touch up painting on the boat.  Including re-staining and re- varnishing of some wood trim on the boat.
4. Phil Kerber cleaned the entire forward compartment / Head.  Including cleaning out anything that didn't need to be on the shelving.  Cleaned all accumulated mildew.  We are now going to put accessories on the starboard side shelving.  Food and perishables with First Aid, AED and O2 on
port side shelving.

6-27-2011  (A few weeks later when all the wiring parts were delivered)

1. 110 Volt shore power wiring was completed.
2. Installed 1000 watt Marine Inverter.
3. Replace cooling system temp sensor on starboard engine.


The launch went very well.  After the Marina staff lifted the boat and placed it in the water, we did a thorough check for any possible water leaks, (which there didn't seem to be).  We motored the boat out to the river for a shakedown cruise.  It ran great and was much quieter that in the past, since one of our upgrades this year was sound proofing the engine covers.  Everything was going great until about a mile out we noticed that the starboard engine was getting a little warm.  We shut it down and while still underway Bob O and Phil K diagnosed the problem.  We found that the fresh water pump wasn't pumping water through the heat exchanger which cools the engine.  We then cruised back to the dock and pulled the pump off to discover that the brass center of the impeller that is vulcanized to the center, tore loose.  So the shaft and bushing were spinning within itself and not pumping.  We had a replacement but it turned out it was the wrong impeller for that pump.  We then drove to Lake Head Marina and picked up the correct impeller and gasket.  The shaft looked a little worn so we inquired about that as well.  The shaft would have to be ordered but is fine for this season.

We assembled the pump and installed it on the engine and ran it to make sure it is pumping and had no water leaks.  Everything checked out and were now ready for the BBQ and cruise the next day.


6-5-2011

Sunday came and we prepared the boat for departure by 10:00 AM.  It was a great day to BBQ and cruise with the super weather that was presented to us on Sunday.  WHAT A GREAT DAY FOR A CRUISE!  

We cruised North on the River to the Duluth Harbor and then to Lake Head Marina to take on the first tank of fuel for the season.  Then we departed on a tour through the  Duluth and Superior Harbors.

We cooked out on the boat while underway.  The food was great and so was all 14 folks that joined us for the cruise.  All but one person that registered for the cruise was at the dock by 10:00 AM.  So, we changed the plan from having the BBQ on shore to the boat.  Later we picked up the last registered person when he called us on his cell phone, and boarded at Lake Head Marina.

The boat ran great throughout the rest of the cruise.  It was so quiet we could actually carry on a conversation in the cabin area while underway.  We could now hear the 2 way radio and have a conversation on our cell phones as well.   

Thank you again for the great times we spend with our friends, colleagues, associates and supporters of the GLSPS.

A good time was had by all!


 
Phil Kerber - GLSPS President
Bob Olson - GLSPS 1st Vice President Co Boat Chairman
Ken Knutson - Boat Chairman


     
  Report Completed 6-28-2011