... Well,
Despite being 'pre-qualed', the buyer was not able to get financing. Or more correctly, not able to get the Financing they wanted :-)
Seems they are not able to make that mental bridge between getting a 15 year loan vs. being able to only qualify for a 30 year loan and paying THAT one off in 15 years..
Oh Well, as they say it ain't over till the Fat Lady Sings. In this case - the Fat Lady is going back to the buffet table instead.
Arg.
Friday, April 24, 2009
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
A Big Step
We may be getting ready for that first Big Step towards our Great Leap.
Hopefully writing about it here won't jinx it, but we may be looking at an offer on our house today.
It's kind of scary for me to think about. Not the selling of the house, but the actual moving and the time it will involve. Daughter Casey is planning a wedding for May 30, so that makes my next 6 weeks HYPERbusy!
Kristi
Hopefully writing about it here won't jinx it, but we may be looking at an offer on our house today.
It's kind of scary for me to think about. Not the selling of the house, but the actual moving and the time it will involve. Daughter Casey is planning a wedding for May 30, so that makes my next 6 weeks HYPERbusy!
Kristi
Thursday, April 9, 2009
A little bit of a distraction
This week I attend Storage Networking World, SNW in Orlando Fl. This is a twice yearly trade show for my 'trade'. It was good to see folks I know face to face again, and good to feel the energy of 'the trade'. Myself: I attended for two reasons:
1) Continue to network and make contacts for potential Jobs.
2) I am Vice Chair of the SNIA's GSI (Storage-Networking Industry Association - Green Storage Initiative), and attended to represent GSI as well as act as host for a member from the EPA as they are looking to extend ENERGY STAR to enterprise class storage.
This is a great area, in that current energy costs have come to the point where data centers are able to justify ROIs for investment. It also is an area where there can be confusion. GSI's goal is to help with that, through education as well as standards development. If you care, read more here: www.snia.org/green
It was good to see folks, I did meet a few folks I do not talk to regularly, and no: no one is hiring :-)
And for my fellow SNIA members who might be reading this --> in case you missed it: (No, this is not me, but is rather memorable)
1) Continue to network and make contacts for potential Jobs.
2) I am Vice Chair of the SNIA's GSI (Storage-Networking Industry Association - Green Storage Initiative), and attended to represent GSI as well as act as host for a member from the EPA as they are looking to extend ENERGY STAR to enterprise class storage.
This is a great area, in that current energy costs have come to the point where data centers are able to justify ROIs for investment. It also is an area where there can be confusion. GSI's goal is to help with that, through education as well as standards development. If you care, read more here: www.snia.org/green
It was good to see folks, I did meet a few folks I do not talk to regularly, and no: no one is hiring :-)
And for my fellow SNIA members who might be reading this --> in case you missed it: (No, this is not me, but is rather memorable)
Friday, March 27, 2009
Lets make some Power!
One of the advantages of doing a rather extensive restoration is you get to make a whole new set of mistakes (err, design). This includes the systems, and in this case the Energy system. I have based Viking Star around a DC boat: All the lighting is DC, generators, DC. Pumps, etc. All DC. I DO have a large Prosine inverter to power the refrigerator and a hair dryer, but most the effort is in DC.
We have two total separate DC systems. Each with their own battery, charger, alternators, and usage. 100% isolated and redundant with the ability to cross connect if needed. One system is dedicated to the main motor - starting and instruments. that's it. I can optionally power the Nav instruments from this system. The other system, the House System, supplies most everything else, and in normal operation the Nav needs are powered from the house.
Though I have designed the house system to allow for up to 5 days at anchor on battery alone (and recharge in 5 hours of motoring), there might be a time I need to make some power independent of the main motor alternator. Here is where my 'DC Generator' comes in.
For this, I am assembling a system consisting of:
Kubota EB300 diesel
Leece Neville 200A Alternator
CAT pressure pump for water maker.
Here is a photo of many of the main components - over the next months I hope to put these into some that works, and will BLOG the results as I go.
Motor: Kubota EB300, from E-bay
Alternator: Leece Neville 4900 Series 200A large frame alternator - Ebay
Pressure pump: CAT 311 - Find of a lifetime!
Spindle: Kubota 19501-8451-0 1-7/16" x 3.5" - Kubota
Pulleys: Surplus Center supplied
Some comments on key parts:
Alternator: I am using a large frame 4900 series Leece Neville. This is the same alternator used on the main motor for the house alternator, and are tuff guys. This is a bit different then other folks have used in that it is a larger frame alternator and I expect no issues with heat nor longevity.
Pump: CAT 311, took a LONG time to find one of these without paying lots of $$$
Spindles: Kubota has lots of parts to put on their motors; issue is finding out about them and getting PART NUMBERS!. After talking up the local supplier, I was finally able to just sit down with the books. One can order pulleys, spindles, lots. Here are some spindles I found in their parts book:
19501-8451-2 1-1/2" x 3.5" PTO shaft
19501-8451-0 1-7/16" x 3.5" PTO shaft
14972-8451-2 1-3/16" x 2.17" PTO shaft
14943-8441-3 46mm x 90mm PTO shaft
I actualy ended up with the 1-7/16" shaft, as that is what the company could see on their books. Do make sure to take care of all the digits, they all are important! Also make sure you have the correct bolts from Kubota - they have a shoulder that is sized to fit into the holes of the PTO adapter. Ones from Ace Hardware might not work as well :-)
Pulleys: I ordered mine from http://www.surpluscenter.com/, good prices and I think will work as well as any others.
Going to focus on the Generator portion 1st, and will add the water maker later. Watch for more postings on progress over the next month.
We have two total separate DC systems. Each with their own battery, charger, alternators, and usage. 100% isolated and redundant with the ability to cross connect if needed. One system is dedicated to the main motor - starting and instruments. that's it. I can optionally power the Nav instruments from this system. The other system, the House System, supplies most everything else, and in normal operation the Nav needs are powered from the house.
Though I have designed the house system to allow for up to 5 days at anchor on battery alone (and recharge in 5 hours of motoring), there might be a time I need to make some power independent of the main motor alternator. Here is where my 'DC Generator' comes in.
For this, I am assembling a system consisting of:
Kubota EB300 diesel
Leece Neville 200A Alternator
CAT pressure pump for water maker.
Here is a photo of many of the main components - over the next months I hope to put these into some that works, and will BLOG the results as I go.
Motor: Kubota EB300, from E-bay
Alternator: Leece Neville 4900 Series 200A large frame alternator - Ebay
Pressure pump: CAT 311 - Find of a lifetime!
Spindle: Kubota 19501-8451-0 1-7/16" x 3.5" - Kubota
Pulleys: Surplus Center supplied
Some comments on key parts:
Alternator: I am using a large frame 4900 series Leece Neville. This is the same alternator used on the main motor for the house alternator, and are tuff guys. This is a bit different then other folks have used in that it is a larger frame alternator and I expect no issues with heat nor longevity.
Pump: CAT 311, took a LONG time to find one of these without paying lots of $$$
Spindles: Kubota has lots of parts to put on their motors; issue is finding out about them and getting PART NUMBERS!. After talking up the local supplier, I was finally able to just sit down with the books. One can order pulleys, spindles, lots. Here are some spindles I found in their parts book:
19501-8451-2 1-1/2" x 3.5" PTO shaft
19501-8451-0 1-7/16" x 3.5" PTO shaft
14972-8451-2 1-3/16" x 2.17" PTO shaft
14943-8441-3 46mm x 90mm PTO shaft
I actualy ended up with the 1-7/16" shaft, as that is what the company could see on their books. Do make sure to take care of all the digits, they all are important! Also make sure you have the correct bolts from Kubota - they have a shoulder that is sized to fit into the holes of the PTO adapter. Ones from Ace Hardware might not work as well :-)
Pulleys: I ordered mine from http://www.surpluscenter.com/, good prices and I think will work as well as any others.
Going to focus on the Generator portion 1st, and will add the water maker later. Watch for more postings on progress over the next month.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
The Stress Diet
The stress diet seems to be working once again.
During stressful times in my past, I have lost weight, seemingly without trying, often as much as 20 pounds. (One time I was helped by having a tonsillectomy, after which I could only eat Jello and popsicles for two weeks.)
This year, you could say we made a New Years Resolution, like many Americans, to lose weight. This was BEFORE the layoff notice. We would return to the eating habits we followed when we were in Europe for a month a few years ago. Since I do the majority of the grocery shopping, I vowed to buy more fruits and vegetables. We would eat less meat.
We had nearly a month of this with no changes in the way our clothes fit, or the numbers on the scale.
Then IT happened. Now Al has time to go to the gym, and he reports regularly his weigh-in results. He has lost nearly 10 pounds! And even though I HAVEN'T changed my activity level, I have lost 6 pounds.
Is it just the stress though?
OR is it that we have used ALOT of energy working on the house, hauling and painting, NOT sitting in front of the TV eating cheese and crackers? Is it that we gave up ice cream for Lent? Is it that I had to scale back my daily Starbucks order, and it no longer includes Lemon Pound Cake?
All I can say is that I do look forward to losing a bit of weight, on myself AND my husband! It will make life on the boat all the better. Al will fit the engine room better, and I will fit a bikini better!
Kristi
During stressful times in my past, I have lost weight, seemingly without trying, often as much as 20 pounds. (One time I was helped by having a tonsillectomy, after which I could only eat Jello and popsicles for two weeks.)
This year, you could say we made a New Years Resolution, like many Americans, to lose weight. This was BEFORE the layoff notice. We would return to the eating habits we followed when we were in Europe for a month a few years ago. Since I do the majority of the grocery shopping, I vowed to buy more fruits and vegetables. We would eat less meat.
We had nearly a month of this with no changes in the way our clothes fit, or the numbers on the scale.
Then IT happened. Now Al has time to go to the gym, and he reports regularly his weigh-in results. He has lost nearly 10 pounds! And even though I HAVEN'T changed my activity level, I have lost 6 pounds.
Is it just the stress though?
OR is it that we have used ALOT of energy working on the house, hauling and painting, NOT sitting in front of the TV eating cheese and crackers? Is it that we gave up ice cream for Lent? Is it that I had to scale back my daily Starbucks order, and it no longer includes Lemon Pound Cake?
All I can say is that I do look forward to losing a bit of weight, on myself AND my husband! It will make life on the boat all the better. Al will fit the engine room better, and I will fit a bikini better!
Kristi
Saturday, March 14, 2009
So, Whats up?
Well, Time just seems to keep moving. We are still working a bit on the house, focusing now on getting rid of stuff. It's funny how much Kids can drag into a house, and also how much they are able to leave behind when they move on. I just have to wonder if they have some sort of Stuff Multiplier, as it seems there is always more stuff here, there, and everywhere. Oh Wait, guess some of this stuff is mine. . .
Got the Project Car moved to a friend's house today and put it into a portable garage. Should be somewhat safe, but this is not the best way to preserve something. Oh Well, perhaps the kids will get a bug in them and want to start working on it again. . . Working to have a (what likely will be the first of a couple) Garage Sale next weekend. Hope to set up a few tables in the Garage and the 'dining room' for next Friday and Saturday.
House has been shown every Sunday. It IS getting traffic, result of aggressive pricing I am sure. And each weekend we seem to be able to draw one or even two active buyers. Will keep working at it.
On the Boat have been focusing on the Heater system - in addition to the Dickinson - Hurricane boiler attached to the existing base-board hydronic heating radiators. I am also working on the Kubota DC generator / water maker. Been getting some of the last parts ordered. Will post a future BLOG entry on this. I also signed up for a class in refrigeration at the local Community College.
Other than that, have just been taking day-to-day. I am hoping to be able to spend more time at the Boat once we get the G-Sale over with. After the Heater and Generator, likely will start working on the aft stateroom: Cabinets and Bed. (Need to order that new water Tank in preparation for that I guess!)
Got the Project Car moved to a friend's house today and put it into a portable garage. Should be somewhat safe, but this is not the best way to preserve something. Oh Well, perhaps the kids will get a bug in them and want to start working on it again. . . Working to have a (what likely will be the first of a couple) Garage Sale next weekend. Hope to set up a few tables in the Garage and the 'dining room' for next Friday and Saturday.
House has been shown every Sunday. It IS getting traffic, result of aggressive pricing I am sure. And each weekend we seem to be able to draw one or even two active buyers. Will keep working at it.
On the Boat have been focusing on the Heater system - in addition to the Dickinson - Hurricane boiler attached to the existing base-board hydronic heating radiators. I am also working on the Kubota DC generator / water maker. Been getting some of the last parts ordered. Will post a future BLOG entry on this. I also signed up for a class in refrigeration at the local Community College.
Other than that, have just been taking day-to-day. I am hoping to be able to spend more time at the Boat once we get the G-Sale over with. After the Heater and Generator, likely will start working on the aft stateroom: Cabinets and Bed. (Need to order that new water Tank in preparation for that I guess!)
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