tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8501759687333743794.post3134667526523681089..comments2023-04-05T03:35:48.015-04:00Comments on Venture Minimalists: Filthy Filthy WorkSarah Leahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14737912410150608773noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8501759687333743794.post-76405778588285299312012-05-14T04:21:54.000-04:002012-05-14T04:21:54.000-04:00I did a similar bilge project to yours one year ag...I did a similar bilge project to yours one year ago on my Pearson Vanguard. After trying brushes and soap and solvents to little effect (everything seemed to be covered in black vasoline), a friend said get a pressure washer. I got walmart's cheapest at $99 and it was amazing. It lifted the peeling old paint and grease and left a close to paintable surface. I power washed every nook and cranny and painted all with white bilgecote. I got a cheap pump sprayer like you would use for insecticide from home depot and filled it with walmart's strongest degreasing detergent sold by the gallon in automotive. Spray everything down with soap, let sit and then pressure wash. Repeat as necessary. Worked like magic. At first I was afraid the overspray would soak everything in the cabin but surprisingly it did not. Very contained. It will save you so many hours. Good luck. MarkMark Seelennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8501759687333743794.post-29533670982411507472012-05-20T07:48:17.000-04:002012-05-20T07:48:17.000-04:00Actually we don't have refrigeration and have ...Actually we don't have refrigeration and have not for the last year. We may install it sometime soon, but it will run solely off solar. And it won't be run when it's not needed. Fuel is for coming into port, and emergencies like avoiding weather or rig failure. With today's technology, you can run a refrigerator, GPS chartplotter, Radar, and an Autopilot on a couple 4'x2' solar panels with MPPT Smart controllers, and easily carry enough battery power to last 2 days without the sun. "Free" electricity is the replacement for diesel. And not wasting power on things that are not directly life supporting is how we do it cheap.Venture Minimalistshttp://ventureminimalists.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8501759687333743794.post-69652700927845851652012-05-27T00:49:10.000-04:002012-05-27T00:49:10.000-04:00Don't have any illusions. NO ONE ever fixes ev...Don't have any illusions. NO ONE ever fixes everything on a boat!!!<br><br>Actually there is a superstition thta fixing evethything will cause the boat to SINK! I have the vast evidence of one case to support this :-)Mike Watershttp://www.venganza.org/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8501759687333743794.post-70247673259245231092012-05-18T07:09:48.000-04:002012-05-18T07:09:48.000-04:00Consider the effects of stowing supplies, especial...Consider the effects of stowing supplies, especially canned food, when you plan your ballast! Food prices in the Caribean are aboout 2-3X that in Miami and in the Pacific about 10X, and in Indonesia most of what you want is simply not available!<br><br>For (relatively) dry areas canned goods makes excellent "trim ballast" - heavy yet easy to move in small chunks as needed.<br><br>We left Miami with approx 1.5 tons of "consumables" on board - about 70% food, Panama with 4 tons (!) and Australia with about 2 tons .<br><br>We ended up adding bladder tanks for extra deisel or water in "wet" areas, Deisel especially varied from US$0.09/gal (Venezuela) to US$6.00/gal (Tahiti) - 1994 to 2000 prices, probably all X4 or more today. Typical prices were in the $2/gal range.<br><br>Prices in Asia (2003-2006) ranged from $0.50/gal (including brbe!) to $3/gal (fancy Yacht Club)<br><br>Many places (e.g. Tahiti) would let you have ONE "fill up" just before departure and the "duty free price" (US$1/gal in Tahiti back then). We were able to buy 360 gallons which lasted us almost to Australia. Don't forget that 80% of your diesel will be used for refrigeration!<br><br>Bottom line - you NEVER have enough stowage!Mike Watersnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8501759687333743794.post-5035874071363831052012-05-14T07:21:59.000-04:002012-05-14T07:21:59.000-04:00So much work, but I am so glad you are getting eve...So much work, but I am so glad you are getting everything is proper, clean, functional, working order. I know it will feel really good when all this is done and everything is as it should be. I love knowing that we are looking at the same stars in the sky - well - as long as you are in the northern hemisphere!Momnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8501759687333743794.post-40463045423611706402012-05-14T13:41:19.000-04:002012-05-14T13:41:19.000-04:00Thanks Mark, I'm going to wal-mart now.Thanks Mark, I'm going to wal-mart now.Venture Minimalistshttp://ventureminimalists.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.com