Deck Ape's Big Gringo House

[helge]

Very good tread. I was somewhat squareeyed, when page 17 was finally there.
Have you got a number for the total labourcosts ?
I found the numbers a bit high.

How much for the ceremony in march ?

[Deck Ape]

Gos and Helge glad you enjoyed the thread. Gos good luck with your design and build. Helge I really don't know what I spent on labor. I also found the costs a little high.

No idea on when the party is. It won't happen before my barbeque is built that's for damn sure. Will probably have a keg and we'll for sure have our own kareokae. Hope for something low key, but memorable.

And on that note, I'm off again- Long Beach bound. Cheers all.

[blackgang]

used to load oil in Long Beach for the Albany paper mill up river from Newport Oregon, we let a river tug have it at the bridge and we go to city dock and crew head for the bars for a week of drinking beer and waiting for our barge.

[Deck Ape]

Oooohh times have changed. Big zero tolerance signs at the gangway. Anyways, I'm kind of on the flip side of that as a barge tankerman. We pump the barge, and wait for the tug to take on fuel. Hey BG, did you know these tugs run on heavy fuel? Not too many tugs do that from what I hear.

Long beach is still better than most ports for us. The seamans center there has these vans, and they'll pick you up and take you where you want to go. Mmmm L.A. cheeseburgers and doughnuts.

[helge]

No idea on when the party is. It won't happen before my barbeque is built that's for damn sure. Will probably have a keg and we'll for sure have our own kareokae. Hope for something low key, but memorable.

So, you haven't moved in yet, I suppose.
We can't even use the bathroom, until the holywater has been sprinklet. Have a nice stint.

[Deck Ape]

Bump.

Thanks Helge, my hitch was okay. Due to go back tomorrow, unfortunately.

Well the Mrs. moved in a few months ago and I've lived here about three weeks. It's been busy as ever. Just got the phone yesterday. Here's the pics


Water pressure is almost too good. That's the charcoal filter, particle filter, pump and tank. And a limit switch inside the tank. I'll probably move it all away from the house sometime.



We built a little shop in one bay of the garage. Good Christ it's a relief to de-bucket my tools and have everything on shelves.



Mrs. DA was in charge of this, and it turned out pretty good.



We ran out of time again on this slow cooker. I'll do a thread on it (if it works).



And last but not least, this idea was not very good.




It was supposed to let air out of the top of the room, for convective cooling. It would have let in the beautiful sounds of Thai television as well.

Instead I opted for this.




Just you average wood vent, around 300 baht. I have one of these in the ceiling of every room and I really think they're working well. Anyone with no air-con should consider a setup like this. Paired with roof vents of an equal size they're gold. (installed them myself but need some help with the clean up).

Umm.. no party pics yet. The wife did a tamboon with just the monks and some friends, but this time home I had a full plate and limited funds. So next time I hope.

[blackgang]

Hey BG, did you know these tugs run on heavy fuel? Not too many tugs do that from what I hear.

I do know that some of the newer big Diesels do use a number of fuels and heavy oil being among them, what do you use in em, Navy Special maybe, and do you have to heat it to about 300Deg, before it will atomize? as I know nothing about using it in internal combustion engines.
How many HP are your tugs?
and you are in a ballgame that is completely different than when i was going to sea.

[Deck Ape]

Dunno about the HP, BG. The one I'm on now has controllable pitch props, though. The fuel is your standard smelly heavy fuel and they had to use a shoehorn to get all the purifiers, settlers piping etc. into a tugboat engine room. Also we now sail with three engineers (the Cat boats only had one).

I overlooked a couple of things in my post. I should have had a money shot of the completed house. (out of LOS now so maybe next time).

Also a heartfelt thank you to all the members who lent their advice and support.

[blackgang]

Most Tugs have had CP wheels and KORT Nozzles for sometime now, we did on the Dearborne Marine boats in the Gulf and north sea.
And always have had a guy in the engineroom to keep shit together and treasfer fuel to the day tanks and just general watch, make sure the flash evaps is making water.
I like to see some pics of those boats.
Hope ya get that TQ back this time, I used every bit I had making Hams this last time..

[blackgang]

Deck Ape, do you work for Crowley?
And is your rig ATB or ITB,, been looking and really do not understand how the hook like that and still be able to pitch and roll seperately without tearing the connection all to hell.
But anyway see that some is concidered 1 unit and some is 2 units.. Strange shit really strange shit.

[Deck Ape]

Here's an ITB --integrated tug and barge. As far as tankers they're being phased out as they're all old single hulls. ITB- tug n' barge basically welded together and the tug isn't very seaworthy without the barge connected.



I work on an ATB articulated tug and barge. The tug is connected to the 'notch' in the barge with 50 inch diameter round steel pins. The tug and barge roll together, but pitch separately like a hinge.

The pins are 50 inch diameter and are pressed into the notch of the barge with over 1,000 psi pressure. Depending on the sea state the bushings for the pins can be greased constantly with food grade grease.

Looking into the notch, the barge is on the right the tug on the left (pin is in the middle). There are 'ladder rungs' for the pin to fit securely into at any draft.


No, I don't work for Crowley but that's what is painted on the side of the boat. Reason for an ATB instead of a ship of similar size (small) ? The barge is 'unmanned' so the whole rig can run with 8 guys (11 with the heavy fuel boats)- less than half the crew of a similar sized ship. I think they are relatively cheap to build, too.

Here's my old boat at anchor in Anacortes, WA.

[blackgang]

Thanks Mike, Damn thats quite a deal, all new stuff since I left the sea and pobly since I left the states as I never heard of em before.
Sure will take less men and still under Jones act.
What unions is it under? I sailed under IBU, MEBA and SIU at different times, one trip even NMU.

[Deck Ape]

I think the ATB system has been around awhile. But these ones I'm on are the first on the West Coast.

The beauty in the picture was SIU, but we gave her to the IBU and as much as I loved her (and that run...scenery like that!) I couldn't switch unions myself.

[blackgang]

So OK, how large are they and whats the tonnage of these?

[JungleLife]

Just read through this entire thread and sounds like you've been through it with this project. An excellent result though and a very nice house. Hope you enjoy many years there.

[sharon]

I like your house a lot, it looks pretty good. Do you have more pictures? I'd like to see your complete kitchen if you don't mind.