T&T: Fw: copper conical sealing washers

[Larry N. Brown]

> Larry,
>
> Can't help you with the web site address, however I can sympathize about 
> the 'forgetting' side of the problem.
>
> Good Luck
>
> Ken Tucknott
> Trista Gray

As some on the list might know, Cigano's been on a mini-shakedown cruise for 
the last couple months. Outside of the transit time, we were mostly tied up 
on the "west wall" of Bear Point Marina in Orange Beach, AL. Or should I say 
LA- Lower Alabama? Delightful place except a bit rolly. I think I mentioned 
that we purchase a Magma roll stabilizer and it was extremely effective. Two 
would have been better but our starboard side was on the dock.

Yesterday, we ensconced ourselves behind our place in Louisiana and started 
culling through the mail. I figured the connie seals would be seriously 
packed to prevent distortion but I was wrong. They were in a priority mail 
envelope I just discovered.

To recap their utility in life, any flare fitting can be damaged by 
mishandling. The male face can be dropped, scoring the surface and make it 
susceptible to leaks. Aboard Cigano, I use  3/8" x 45d flare fittings for 
the hydraulic steering system, RO watermaker and propane.

At the suggestion of a listee, I ordered several connie seals and a tube of 
blueberry juice. Leak lock by Highside, Inc., Gulfport, MS through Grainger. 
Ordered the connie seals through 
http://fittingsandadapters.stores.yahoo.net/coppergasket.html   Belt and 
suspenders. Haven't had to use them yet but I feel just a little better 
having them on hand.

We have 5/8" braided nylon dock lines which are easy to handle for transient 
docking but miserable for semi-permanent docking. We got quite a few 
Bayliner wakes which put severe strain on the mooring lines. When we 
prepared to cast off, they were almost welded because of the heat produced 
by friction. Amazing. Although I still like the user friendly nature of the 
5/8" braided nylon, Permanent lines of 3/4" 3 strand would be better.

Chain snubber. When Cigano was in the yard, I had a SS plate with a big eye 
installed just above the water line forward for the snubber. Didn't use it 
until recently. Had unseasonable winds all during the initial days of our 
shake-down cruise. Just through laziness I left the anchor rode on the 
Maxwell VRC-2500. Got a lot of tugging in wind and wave. One day I was 
trying to lower the anchor and noticed the windlass slipping. I tightened it 
down with the appropriate tool and it functioned perfectly afterward. I 
quickly spliced up 25' of 1/2" three strand to my SS devil's claw and I have 
been dutifully using it since.

Regards,

Larry and Teri
M/V Cigano, 47' Prairie Sundeck Cruiser
Lying: 64 Cypress Road
          Covington, LA