Forespar's Point of View
Blogging About Life on the WaterCategory Archives: Uncategorized
Removing Corrosion
Removing Corrosion
White vinegar will effectively dissolve salt in the workings of marine hardware fittings. The part needs to be fully immersed in the vinegar for at least 24 hours (or longer depending on how much salt built-up there is) then flushed with fresh water and re-lubed as prescribed by the manufacturer. The mild acid of the vinegar can breathe new life into rope clutches, zippers, cam cleats, end fitting pistons and and a host of other common deck equipment. For tiller extensions and long twist-lock poles you can dam off a section of a rain gutter and fill it with vinegar (unless you have a very big bucket and a lot of vinegar!) so the pole is fully immersed.
This is where the old saying “If it doesn’t work, piss on it” came from. The uric acid from urine would free up frozen blocks, hinges and other deck equipment on the old sailing and merchant ships.
It is also good to pour vinegar into your head system about every month or so to help keep calcium deposits from building up inside of hoses and fittings. Fill the head bowl and then pump only long enough to draw the vinegar into the hose lines then stop and let it sit a while.
Voyage of Traveler
Traveler has now completed a three-year circumnavigation.
Traveler Postcard From San Diego
June 30, 2010
We’re back in the United States of America! After a very rough Baja Bash clawing our way into the wind and waves, against the current and up the coast from Cabo San Lucas, Traveler is safely in the Guest Slip at the Southwestern Yacht Club, where we are very much enjoying our stay. The club was recently totally rebuilt and is gorgeous.
Last night Barbara and I took the dinghy across the San Diego Bay to Joe’s Crab Shack for dinner then walked over to Petco Field to see the Colorado Rockies play the San Diego Padres.
After a whole world full of amazing experiences in 61 foreign countries on six continents over the past 36 months, it felt strange NOT to be in a third-world county. San Diego is one of the world’s greatest cities.
I’m having mixed emotions about the voyage coming to an end. To be sure, I am more than a bit travel weary and ready to return to reality. On the other hand, I will greatly miss all of the exciting ports of call and days at sea.
Tonight, at about 11 pm, we will cast off the dock lines for the last time and depart San Diego and motor through the night to Catalina, arriving there Thursday morning, and staying at anchor at the Balboa Yacht Club’s station at White’s Cove for two nights, Thursday and Friday.
On Saturday, July 3, we weigh anchor for the last time and cross the Catalina Channel, an easy 26 miles and the final leg of our 30,000+ mile, three-year, around the world voyage. We expect to arrive at the entrance to Newport Harbor at about 1:40 pm, where we will be joined by some friends in their boats as we cross our outbound track and complete the circumnavigation by docking at the Balboa Yacht Club for our Traveler Homecoming and Crew Reunion Party, beginning at 2pm.
Hope you can join us in the celebration.
Cheers,
Michael, Barbara and Brian
To read more of their adventure head to:
Voyage of Traveler
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Forespar® is the largest manufacturer of marine hardware in the western United States. With worldwide distribution to yacht owners, home builders and large local and international yacht manufacturers, customer satisfaction remains our highest priority.
Our California manufacturing facility houses a complete machine shop, plastic injection molding section, composite spar shop, aluminum spar shop with a 70′ paint booth, shipping & receiving and several assembly departments.
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