Life on
If only it would last
forever :-)
Part 6 from 01-07 to 01-13 2008
Carina is my home –
absolutely and in every sense of the word, - maybe irrevocably? I always make her nicer. She is small and
sometimes uncomfortable, but she is mine and I like her. I constantly make her
better, nicer. I started to do this in May with the drawings in the cabin, or
maybe I started to do it three years ago in my grandfather’s garden?
I have to examine myself very thoroughly,
because what I show of myself is probably not me
anymore.
I slept late this morning, but later with the
help of auto-stop and a bus-ride I reached Lautoka in
pouring rain. After a short time spent on the Internet (1 hr. = 1 FD) I met Zaki. We went to a few repair shops to get an estimate to
repair the shaft. Had a few beers (4.5 FD) and then had a few pictures
developed (19FD).
Sweet stuff from
In the afternoon I smoked a “suci” (local
cigar) with the guys. Navy, my friend, is going to be a father today so we
drank a little kava too.
In the evening I took a bus to the city and met some friends there. The
get-together started as a beer drinking party, but at the end it developed into
a marriage proposal and a long bash that lasted into the morning hours. I don’t
understand why these people drink so much? Although I start to understand why –
nobody took the time to teach them how to handle beer drinking. Maybe I should
do it?
When we had a few beers in the city even that
became extreme. We stopped by at Cave. This happened on Monday and on
this day there were only whores around (10). This became a rather interesting
party. The women’s
dances were comical, but mostly they were not.
At 5 in the morning I started to go back to the city. They said that at
that time it was not too safe to travel, but to me the safety issue is better
here in
Maybe to understand
2008-01-08 (day 472)
The morning/ dawn in Lautoka is a marvelous experience. For breakfast I stopped at a
bakery and bought a pastry for1.5FD and after that I took a bus back to the
marina.
Somebody asked me why people invite me to different places? There might
be a number of reasons and maybe the most important is that they think I am an
interesting person. People are looking for somebody who is interesting and have
new ideas. I do not know what makes somebody interesting, but I hardly meet up
with interesting people.
Because of the rain the tap water is lousy, so if that happens I drink bottled water. If I did not do it then I
would usually come down with stomachache. I have quite a few bottles of water
left over from different places The neighboring ship’s
captain gave me 4 mutton sausages, which I fried and ate for supper. This was
my best supper in the past month.
I watched a few DVD in the evening and after that I went to bed.
After spending a short time on the Internet I went to the
Some people even asked how do I do the dishes.
Well, next to the boat there is a shower stall, which I use as a storage place
and from here with a water hose I transport the water where I do the
dishwashing. I do not pay for electricity.
It comes from the pier and the cost would be 3FD/day, but my friends are
my security and they do not put my boat’s name down on the checklist.
I took a bus to Lautoka where Dan’s Outboard
is. I bought an 8 HP engine’s main shaft for 60FD. I bargained it down from 80FD. David was very
kind ad even invited me for a kava. I am sure that he made some money on this
deal. I have to shorten this shaft from 80 cm. to 42 cm and then I have to have
somebody to mill a few ribs into it. I am looking for a shop for this and I
found it. David’s brother-in-law did it in his machine shop. It took him 2
hours and the charge was 30FD.
Lunch: Fish and chips and kasava for 1.2FD.
The cheapest eatery in Lautoka is a Chinese place. It
belongs to a Chinese family. The place is not too clean and the food is just
about never fresh and the portions are small, but I like the place. This is
where I go all the time!
I bought a few things: 200 g. coffee 12FD, soft drink 1.2FD, chips
0.6FD, onion 1.4FD and DVDs 4.5FD.
I went to a place where they manufacture PVC tubes. I need a 41 mm diameter tube to strengthen
the mast. I found it but to be sure I asked for a sample, which I got. This way
I can check if it fits.
In the afternoon again I took a bus ride back to the
Supper: scrambled eggs with onion and biscuit. The biscuit is enough for
a month.
Evening: Beer drinking and Skinny invited me for a soup,
we talked with a few friends and after all this watched DVDs.
I have arrived at
In the morning I went to the
1.
Grinding
2.
Primer APCO + 199 sealer
+ 603 thinner – two coats (10 minutes waiting between coats and use sandpaper
between coats). Topcoat APCO + hardener 343 + 604 thinner.
After drying it for a whole day the boat can be put in the water, but
before that she has to be treated with algae eliminator. I put on two coats of
that.
The factory was in Lautoka, next to Tavakuvu village. I was there before and I was familiar
with the surroundings. Here I can get the necessary materials for half the
price I would pay somewhere else. Lio offered to
help. He would do it for 4FD/ hour. This is his trade, but I do not think I
would need him.
I purchased a few things like
vegetables (1.5FD), a dozen eggs (3.95F), a beer (3.5FD), Fruit for 1.2 FD,
cooking oil (2.5FD).
Evening: cinema in the Club, then I watched a DVD on the boat. It was a
quiet evening.
This morning I connected to the Internet in a coffee shop, and then I
hitchhiked and walked to Navy. His child has been born not long ago and I was curious
how things were going.
In the afternoon I talked about my mast’s repair with Hans. He gave me
lots of good pointers. Then I talked with Paul and shown him Carina. He
suggested a simple wind-steering method. He said to tie the pole of the
wind-rudder’s sail to the wheel. He is not the first in this. When the boat
moves then the wind-rudder’s sail catches the wind and moves the wheel from its
previous position.
After 4 in the afternoon it started to rain, but that happens every day.
I made up a few e-mail addresses for a couple of local friends, to Sam and
The sailors slowly return, because the holydays are ended, but the
majority will wait till after March.
Supper: scrambled eggs and toast.
During the night I downloaded Hungarian books from the Internet, and
that lasted a few hours. Thank you Andras,
now I can read in Hungarian again and after two weeks I could even talk with my
family.
The morning hours were spent with packing and inspecting. My mast-light
fixture gets wet so I have to insulate it again. Early afternoon Bobby and I,
next to the nearby hotel’s swimming pool and under a beach umbrella, started
brainstorming about finding sponsors. He helped a lot. I do not know why, but
he understands me.
In the afternoon I went scuba diving with Paul. He tried to fish with a
spear gun but without success. The visibility was not too good and it was
raining.
In the evening I had supper with Paul. The super was “bulgur” and roast
beef with beer (the meat was given by Bobby who had too much and had to be
eaten).
Paul invited me to sail with him on his 42 feet long trimaran
to the northern islands – to Savusavu. The boat’s
owner would meet us there. So this would be a boat delivery service, but there
is no rush. I’ll see how it will develop.
In the evening: Internet
Around 9 in the morning Paul woke me. He came over to check up on me.
Yesterday I have told him that he has it too good in this world and that this was
his problem. He kept thinking about it and came to the conclusion that I was
right. I do not like to butt in people’s lives, but sometimes I just tell them
my opinion thinking that I may help.
For lunch I had canned halibut with onion.
In the afternoon I had a conversation with Hans. He knew so many
entertaining stories that those deserve to be remembered so one of these days I
might write a few down. He has sailed the Pacific for more than 30 years. He is
a true hippie with long hair and earrings (see the picture gallery). Later
Bobby helped me write letters, which might attract sponsors. I don’t know if I
ever will find a sponsor that wants to help me in the long run, but I’m sure I
won’t give up. In the afternoon Paul and I, watched a Harry Potter video on his
Yacht Then in the evening we went to a club and had a beer (3FD).
I was on the Internet until dawn and after one and a half year I was
able to speak with my grandfather.
Ideas for the engine’s shaft
repair – details (1. week)
“ A broken shaft cannot be
repaired (see enclosed picture). The lower part of the shaft diameter measures
12 mm, the upper part 14 mm. The length of the lower part is about 186 mm, the
upper is about 225 mm, the ring is about 13 mm, and that makes the entire
length about 424 mm. It has 10 ribs below and 11 ribs above. According to my
thinking it is best to buy a longer shaft, (644 mm being the shortest) hoping
that the dimensions of the lower part equal to the original (has to be
confirmed!). The upper part of the shaft has to be shortened and the ribs
milled in.” /M. István
to engine mechanic and to Yamaha
“With our colleagues we came to the conclusion that it is possible
to shorten the shaft, but after the cut we cannot give documentation on how to
mill the ribs. We do not know those people in the Japanese factory who could
get documents about this process. These things probably are not for publication
anyway. Not even for us. Therefore if the ribs could be
milled (copying the original rib placements), the absence of the accurate heat
treatment description makes it difficult to imagine that material hardness will
be adequate. Then if the completed shaft is already heat-treated then to
mill the ribs the shaft has to be softened again, then after the milling
process heat-treated again. This could raise the price significantly. It is
cheaper and quicker although not so “good looking” to cut the shaft into two
with precision cutting tools and then do the welding. I do not recommend
working with this piece on a lathe because the material is hard steel. If the
quality of the material is adequate and the shaft is completely straight the
part will last for a long time.
If the weld does not come out perfectly it still not so
bad as a crooked shaft. A crooked shaft can cause assembly problems and strains
the material that can cause breakage again. The approximate price of the new
shaft is 19 000 (FT). Unfortunately, since it comes from
„The way things stand welding seems like a necessary thing to do.
1 How is it possible to make sure
that the two shaft pieces will fit together at the time of welding (need to
make a jig). One cannot be sure that there is a lathe
or tool that can hold both shaft pieces well and accurately. I suggest building
a jig according to the enclosed diagram.
2.
What would be the best method to weld a broken shaft
together? According the enclosed diagram a bearing puller might help to pull
off the ring. If that is done then fit the two shaft pieces together and mark
them.
3.
With a grinder or a hard-edged knife shape a gutter
that is necessary for welding. With the jig mentioned in point 1, and with AVI welding join the two shaft pieces together.
Then using a file or a grinder remove the uneven
protrusions left from the welding process. Smooth the inside of the previously
removed ring, then heat it to 200-300 deg. C (best to use electric or gas
heating device), then quickly refit it to its original place. Maybe it would be
worth while to spray the narrower shaft piece with silicon grease.” /M. István/
“The problem is that Yamaha put together this design including the
engine and the necessary documentation for some other manufacturing company.
For a short time a company in
“The bearings are placed at 3 different points on the shaft: on the
crankshaft, at the water pump and at the lower gear. These three points
determine two straight lines and their enclosed angle should be zero. If for
some reason this angle becomes larger, then the bearing (brass bushing) at the
center is stressed which weakens the material and maybe that was the reason for
the break, or maybe something must have happened the last time this engine was
put together. This has to be carefully watched. The drawing that you now have
will help you quite a bit so print it out.” /M. István/
Many thanks to P. Feri for his useful advice and also many thanks to the
people who represent Yamaha in
translation:
Károlyi-wa6ypp//