Work Trip #2 (Phase ll continues)

The entire month of July has been set aside for the next work trip. The trailer and truck are packed with mainly wood, tools, sanding and painting supplies. The goal for this month is to primer and paint the areas still emanating smoke smells, do the last of the heavy smoke damage cleaning, and build out the shop space as funding becomes available. 

Penny sleeping away the trip.

Wood waiting to be stacked inside

 The main salon filled up again. Most of this will be stored in various lockers while the tools and wood will remain utilizing the main salon as temporary shop space.

Eric in the beginning stages of a lot of interior wood finishing. Behind him is a large stash of aluminum ducting that will eventually be sold to a recycling center.

Mary will be cleaning the captains quarters as her first job. Very heavy smoke damage. The shower is first on the list.

Phase ll Progress

DJ has been very busy this month with the electrical system. Lots of progress in setting up the battery banks, inverters and running heavy wire cables. We had to remove three old batteries from the engine room and once again our crane has proven to be indispensable. Two of them weighed 120lbs each and the third was 170lbs.

This is a hatch under the setee cushion on the aft deck leading into the engine room. Its the area where Penny is sitting in the last photo of our previous post.

The new battery banks were put under this stateroom bed. This is the guest stateroom.

A layer of dri-deck went in first. This will keep the batteries slightly elevated for better heat dissipation.

16 beautiful batteries!

This is the night stand that was mounted next to the bed. DJ cut a nice wire access in the side as well as in the wall. The night stand will go back once everything is in place.

Beautiful! Everything hooked up and ready to go. The only thing left to do is make wood spacers and tie-downs.

DJ cut out a section of wall next to the stairs and into the overhead in the laundry room. This was to create a locker for the smaller 1500 watt inverter (secondary inverter... This will run the fridge and freezer) and the locker will hold the main DC 24volt distribution system. The locker access will also be a vent for air circulation.  He had previously stacked the dryer onto the washer, removed all the smoke damaged shelving and tore out the shelving along the wall. There will be a lot of storage space after we finish painting in July.

You can see the holes for the amp power switches that will face down and be accessible from the overhead in the laundry room. The copper tubing in this photo will be going away.

  
The 1500 watt inverter mounted on the top of the locker.

Nice job DJ!

 

5 of 6 switches installed and looking good!

Starting Phase II

Eric and Mary have just returned from delivering a load of supplies to the boat. The week was spent sorting and storing supplies, ordering batteries, inverters, rope and laying out plans for the future wood shop and various renovations soon to take place. DJ now has most of the electrical supplies, components and equipment to begin Phase II. He will be renovating the electrical system as well as various smaller jobs to prepare for Phase III which will be building the wood shop and renovating the forward cabins. 

Eric and Mary are hoping to move aboard permanently later this year. Once the electrical system is straightened out it will be time to put our small boat up for sale and prepare for the move to the big boat. Eric is also straightening out some health issues with the VA before moving. The vessel needs a lot of work still to prepare her for departure and to perform her duties properly and safely for the many years ahead in the mission field. Please keep our work and calling in prayer as we trust God to meet all our needs.

Lots of heavy duty wire along with a powerful manual bilge pump.

 Scrap building materials of plexiglass, micarta, starboard, etc...

 Air hoses, fiberglass, shrink wrap for wires, etc... 

 More building materials.

 Everything getting stored in a few of our

 numerous storage compartments.

 Storage for now in the cabins that will be renovated.

 Eric and DJ bringing the drill press on board with the boom crane.

 Man handling the drill press into the main salon.

 The drill press will have a home in the future wood shop.

 600ft of 1 1/2" rope

 Lowering the rope into the aft lazarette.
We are seriously loving this crane!

 The main salon back in shape for a short while.

The back deck scrubbed and cleaned. Penny approves!

There Are No Roads...

Do you know how groceries get to the store? By trucks! And trucks get the groceries at depots where other trucks have brought them from farms. And trucks need drivers...qualified and dependable drivers. But more importantly, drivers with their trucks full of goods need roads to get where they are going.

In the South Pacific, where there are literally thousands of islands, there are no roads connecting them... only water.

Water surrounds them and separates them. Some are separated by a mile or two, others by hundreds of miles. Some of these island nation groups have at least one large island with area large enough for an airport and shipping port to receive all sorts of goods for regular supply or to act as a hub of distribution in times of natural disasters. Some of the smaller islands are large enough for a tiny airstrip... many are not. They are dotted and scattered, some close enough to larger islands to receive regular visits from government and supply boats. Some, however, are so remote they may only get a visit from a government boat once a year. Most of these governments are very limited in resources and if the boats are in need of repair it can take months to fix or get parts. Some are never repaired, which means some of the smaller islands may not receive the small amount of help that they have come to depend upon.

While during disasters the supplies to help these communities can be made available from other countries such as Australia and New Zealand, they can only be brought as far as the larger islands, and this is where the disconnect happens. The recent March 16^th hurricane in Vanuatu is a prime example. It is a monumental task to get resources to the aid of people who live on the opposite side of this island and also those within its interior regions. As you can see from the map of this area, that is pictured above, it is very difficult to get resources and aid to many of these islands.Small boats and small aircraft can only carry so much and are very limited. It can take weeks to get aid to many of these people on the closest islands and even longer for the ones furthest out in that particular chain. People run out of food and water, while they are living with the devastation that surrounds them.  Sadly, many can die as a result of injuries or disease simply because no one can reach them in time.

The resources are there, the rescue and medical teams are there... the lack of adequate transportation is the problem. Fortunately, our vessel is the perfect fit for this need. This area is in dire need of vessels such as ours, large enough to carry necessities but small enough to navigate the varying depths of water that lie between the islands. This vessel is essential and can mean the difference over time between life and death directly and indirectly for countless thousands.

Quick update: Prepping for Phase II

DJ and Eric are in the planning stages for redoing the electrical and plumbing systems. DJ is drawing up a new design to simplify both systems and make them as energy efficient as possible. The ministry will be purchasing the needed components shortly and shipping them to the boat. There are items in the storage units in Sanford that will also be needed for these upgrades as well as tools, equipment and wood items for beginning the wood-shop and will be transported by U-Haul. Eric and Mary will be planning their trip with the U-Haul as soon as Eric can get a week or so off from his job here in Sanford.

Due to the nature of the work we will be doing in the South Pacific we need to be as self- sufficient and self-contained as possible. Our goal is to remain on the move, doing as much work as possible, for as many people and islands as possible, for as long as possible. The simpler the systems, the easier they will be to maintain.

Phase l is complete!

Phase l is now complete. Mary has just returned from an intensive three week cleaning and DJ is staying with the boat to continue other projects. 

Phase l included Smoke damage cleanup in the galley, main salon and aft stateroom and tear out of the forward area which include two small cabins, head with shower, laundry room and the crew quarters. 

The crew quarters were gutted completely as the damage from the fire was extensive. It will be rebuilt as an on-board wood shop. The other two cabins and the head with shower were salvageable and will only need heavy cleaning, floor and wall coverings (paint) and new overhead. Some modifications will be added to serve our purposes better.

 

The washer and dryer are in perfect working order and the laundry room walls will be painted, a new overhead installed and some modifications will be added.

The aft stateroom cleaned up wonderfully and is only in need of a new overhead and carpeting. The staterooms down below and the stairwell will most likely be the only place with carpeting. All other areas will have some form of non-skid or rubberized coating. 


 

The galley had medium to heavy smoke and soot damage but cleaned up very well, the surfaces are pitted but this is not a problem as the vessel is a work boat and we are more concerned with function than looks. 

The wood all throughout the galley and main salon will only need refinishing. This is wonderful news as a lot of time and money has been saved. We were concerned that much of the wood surfaces would have to be removed and re-skinned.

Also in the galley: the stove, refrigerator, microwave and dishwasher cleaned well with a lot of work. The stove and refrigerator are in perfect working order. The dishwasher has yet to be tested. The microwave doesn't work and will have to be replaced.

The main salon cleaned much better than expected. The walls are vinyl and we thought they might have to be torn out as they were heavily covered with smoke and soot. After several testings of cleaning products we finally found one that did the job very well. There is still some mild staining but it is so much better than it was. It will receive a new overhead and non skid floor covering. Right now I will be using scatter rugs to cover the plywood flooring to protect us from wood splinters.

The forward stateroom, lower helm and captains quarters will be cleaned next trip. They are all in very good condition and have only medium smoke and soot damage throughout.

DJ is now working on refining the electrical, plumbing and A/C systems. There are many small repairs throughout and he is starting to address these as well. At this time Eric and Mary are considering the next trip to the boat which will be to bring supplies from the storage units in preparation of building the on-board wood shop. For now the boat will remain where it is in Louisiana but may be moved in a few months to Tampa for closer access so that Eric can work on it during weekends off from his regular job.

More progress photos here!

Update! Exciting News!!

We have now included a page about our ministry vessel which was donated in December.

*** 

Answer to a hostile email...

So, just received a very hostile email from someone I have known at a distance a long time. No names but I feel I should address some huge misconceptions about what we are doing!

First off, we are not running a scam in the name of religion to live a life of luxury and ease aboard a large yacht.
This is just another step in a long chain of work we have been quietly involved in for over twenty years. We have been involved in the supply and aid to peoples in the south pacific all these years. A mere handful of us, never more than five. This is just a huge step up in what we have been involved in.
As for this vessel being a luxury yacht the hull started it's life being built as an oilfield supply vessel which was indeed finished out as a yacht. The fire she experienced has changed much of that now. We will be rebuilding a working vessel designed for supporting many activities. If some are offended because there are granite counter tops and stainless appliances she came to us, free of charge, that way. No donated money has or ever will be spent on luxury items. In fact what truly impresses me about her is her equipment, not her appointments. I don't want luxury, I want solid, dependable and safe equipment which she has.
As for the notion that the south pacific is an earthly paradise where we will be living a life of ease this is also a fantasy. The people there can be wonderful and there is much physical beauty. But there is also a lack of even basic health care in the more remote areas. High child mortality rates. Human trafficking, abuse of women. There have been civil and tribal wars. Mosquito borne diseases, water borne diseases. Lack of basic sanitation to prevent disease. Illegal drugs making inroads. Rising sea water, deforestation and sinking lands are destroying the ability to grow enough food and due to how lands are traditionally owned relocation can be very difficult.
Transportation is a problem in many of these areas. Airstrips are not possible in many places. Small aircraft are limited in weight carried. Helicopters in a salt water environment are very, very expensive to operate. There are thousands of islands in this part of the world and precious few boats dedicated to this kind of work. Often boats that are in bad repair or very undersized to be safe are being used locally and yes, folks have died using them.
All these and more are harsh realities for many, many people. Can we solve all these? No, we can't but we can solve some of it and are determined to try. On top of this I, and my family, are unapologetically Christians. I have seen and experienced too much to be anything else. I believe in helping the poor, the infirm, those experiencing injustice. I also believe that everyone should have a chance to hear this message of hope which so transformed my life. If this is offensive to you please, feel free to unfriend me, write me off, whatever, but that will change nothing we do.
Why not help people here you ask? We have, and still do. But if you have ever visited any of these places you will see needs that make those here pale in comparison. Further I would ask those who feel this way are you helping here? If so, thank you and may God bless you. If not, please consider doing so. I have seen how much some basic effort can change the world. Just try! Don't depend on the government to solve the issues.
As for getting rich by scamming people and taking money from innocents this one surprises me I admit. Our ministry bylaws put a very tight limit on any salary we can earn. Well below the poverty level in fact. And that would only be available if ships costs and ministry costs were covered first. We have never received a penny for anything we have done in all these years and have put thousands of our own into it. If I was in this to make money I must be doing something terribly wrong!
I fully expect to spend as much of my life as I can helping and bringing aid to the poorest of the poor in remote places among the islands of the south pacific and Asia. I have no plans for retirement unless physically unable to continue. I surely won't have any financial gains from it all.
So there it is, hopefully laid out in plain language for those who want to know. Those who know me well can verify all of the above. Those who would like references, I'd be glad to provide some. Wish to talk more? Contact me and we'll set up a time. God bless you one and all.

Eric