Progress Update: January 15th

 (Eric scraping wall paper adhesive) 

We are moving right along in the upper guest cabin!  
 
Progress Update:

• The walls in the cabin have all been scraped! After three days of scraping, Eric pinched a nerve in his back so Mary finished the rest of the scraping in two more days. It was a lot of work but had to be done.  

• The wall section under the port side window has been replaced with new plywood. We painted the backs of the panels on this section. The new 1/8" plywood 'skins' do not need any paint and this makes the work move more quickly.
• Two and a half walls have been completed. A pattern is built for every panel, cut and fitted. Then each area is coated with liquid nails caulking, the panels pressed in place, shot with stainless steel staples and then spackling over the staples.
• DJ has removed the smaller water heater from the stateroom closet. This will be installed under the stairwell up forward. It needs a good rinsing first. The brown, sawdust looking stuff alongside in the photo was drained from the water left over after removal.   
• The closet is pretty nasty. It will be cleaned after the removal of the old water heater brackets. They are welded in, so will have to be cut. New shelving will also have to be made. There is a lot of potential storage space!

Progress Update: January 5th

The weather has been far too cold for outside projects needing epoxy, paint or adhesives. We started an inside project and have begun working on the future upper guest quarters (used to be the captains cabin behind the helm station). 
As soon as the outside temperature warms up a bit, Eric will be back in the water tanks. He will go back and forth between projects as the weather permits.

Progress Update:

• The overhead in the guest cabin has been prepped and scraped
• The two floor hatches in the cabin have been inspected, prepped and cleaned. Future hatches will be cut to access the ample storage space underneath the floorboards.
• The wall section under the window has been removed to the insulation. There was an ongoing leak in the past but Eric tested the outside area and the leak is no longer there. We believe it was solved when Eric re-caulked the upper bridge deck.
• Scraping of the walls in preparation for 1/8" plywood is now commencing. The old wallpaper paste has dried to a crust and removal is not too difficult.
• The vanity stainless sink was salvaged out of the head and the smoke damage cleaned up beautifully!
• DJ re-installed the power outlet on the back deck, wired the blower fans and installed a new switch.

• The larger water heater has several new connections installed and is very close to completion. Once the install is complete, the old system will be taken off-line and removed. 
• The new engine room intake blowers are a big improvement! Quieter, move more air and best of all will run on ships DC system not the generator.

 

 
 
 

Progress Update: December 26th

In spite of weather restrictions and fighting the flu we were slowed down but still able to make some progress. 

(Eric installing the *new engine room intake blowers)

The next few weeks will be slower in progress as well due to Eric's side job. Both he and Mary will be splitting their time between ship projects and working on the side for their personal support. 

*A huge Thank you!! to James & Gina Nie for their donation of the new, engine room intake blowers!

 Refinished intake housing

Fans being installed

  Ready for wiring

  

Reinstalling the cabinetry.

 

Some cabinetry repairs

Progress Update: December 7th

'Many hands make light work'!

(Gina, Lori and Niki helping Mary get caught up)

Wonderful new developments and a much needed encouragement boost since our last update! While waiting for the epoxy to arrive in order to continue the work on the water tanks, we decided to deal with some rusty sections on the boom crane column. A cabinet with stone top needed to be removed in order to do this and the engine room ventilators needed to be replaced in the middle of the whole assembly. But God sent the cavalry just in time with the skillful and gracious help of fellow missionaries James Nie and wife Gina, son Colton, daughter Niki and Jared Waipouri of the mission organization 'Marine Reach Vanuatu'. Along with Jared and the Nie family, we also had the great company of the Nie's friend, Lori Brown, and our long-time good friend and supporter, Tom Burky. It was a seven day whirlwind of fantastic activity! 

We all had several great sessions discussing the future of medical outreach and humanitarian support for the Vanuatu, Solomon Island and Fiji area. God has really brought us all together at the right time to begin partnering together to fulfill a tremendous need in the area. Each of us is bringing a unique set of assets and skills into this endeavor and it is really looking like we will be working together a great deal to meet the needs there. We would like to thank Jared for his extensive knowledge of the realities of working in so many of these remote areas and coordinating with all the parties involved to make it happen through God's direction and grace.

James and Eric tackled the crane column.

Eric, DJ and Colton inspected the anchor windlass.

Colton assisted with the crane column and removing the old lettering from a very difficult to reach area on the top sides. He also created a wonderful video presenting the outer and inner areas of the ship.

DJ and Tom studied the hydraulic systems throughout the ship and got a large amount of information that is needed for beginning the rebuilding of a better system.

Gina, Lori and Niki helped Mary get caught up in cleaning several areas which will make daily maintenance easier for her. Their kind and heartfelt encouragement boosted her confidence that, yes indeed, she can perform the many tasks ahead of her and perform them well. So grateful!

We are so thankful for all the help the Lord sent and the wonderful encouragement toward future partnerships in the coming work in the South Pacific! Thank you Lord for Your wonderful blessings and mighty hands to bring forth your purpose!! 

Initial inspection

James gets to discover the joy of a needle gun.

Cabinet removed for complete coating removal.








 

 James finishing removal of old coatings.

New primer and paint.









 

  Colton riveting trim plates back in place.

Father and son installing aluminum trim.









 

 New engine room blowers will be going in here.

More paint removal on the crane base.

  Final cleanup for primer.

Primed








 

  Engine room blower housing getting old paint removed.

 Ready for blower installation.

  Old cabinet will be reinstalled after blower installation.

 One of the next projects, our windlass.

  Colton removing the old lettering with his father's assistance.

DJ and Tom discussing the hydraulic systems.








 

   Getting ready to fire up main engines

 so the crew can hear that great sound!

Gina and Niki (Lori was working in another section)

 Gina and Niki helping prepare

 the guest stateroom for Lori's arrival.