Power of Friendship

Bob H. · Post by **Bob H.** » May 1st, '14, 18:15

Guys please keep our Bertram Brother Harry Babb in your thoughts and prayers, he should know
That we all have his back. I for one could not ask for a better friend. I share your pain and would do ANYTHING
To help you through this.
The record rainfall of this week took its toll.
BH

IRGuy · Post by **IRGuy** » May 1st, '14, 18:31

Bob...

Please let us know what Harry and his family need.

scot · Post by **scot** » May 1st, '14, 18:53

Harry..

It made me sick to see these pictures, ANYTHING I can do to help, just call.

mike ohlstein · Post by **mike ohlstein** » May 1st, '14, 18:54

Sheeeeet

Kevin · Post by **Kevin** » May 1st, '14, 20:09

I am sorry to see that Harry. I know you will triumph in the end.

John F. · Post by **John F.** » May 1st, '14, 20:44

Wow Harry. Just awful

CaptPatrick · Post by **CaptPatrick** » May 1st, '14, 20:58

Terrible sight indeed...

Tony Meola · Post by **Tony Meola** » May 1st, '14, 21:25

Oh man. Harry let us know what we can do.

Rocky · Post by **Rocky** » May 1st, '14, 22:21

Oh no. That is terrible news.

bob lico · Post by **bob lico** » May 1st, '14, 22:27

OMG ,harry i throught the storm was north of you . What can i help you with?

Harry Babb · Post by **Harry Babb** » May 1st, '14, 22:37

Its been an interesting couple of days.

Tuesday evening I took my parents out to celebrate their anniversary. About 6:30 it started raining.....and wow...did it rain! ! ! On my way home from dinner I went by the "River" to check on DeNada, she was floating just fine and based on history there was no reason for major concern.......that turned out to be a very bad decision.

People that live on Fish River tell me that at 12:30 AM Wednesday the river was high but still well within her banks.

I woke up at 2:30 to a very intense period of rain accompanied with thunder and lightening. At 4 AM I made the 15 minute drive to the "River"....thinking that I may need to move her out of the boat house and put her on anchor if the water was getting to high. By that time it was all over. Most roads to the river were impassable and water had risen to a record high......even higher that recorded durning hurricane Danny in 1997.

Wednesday at lunch time I went to the river where a young man gave me a boat ride down "Honey Road" to our lot. The water was 7 feet deep in the yard and there was no sight whatsoever of DeNada. Wednesday afternoon late we launched an aluminum boat and rode up to our boat house. Still no sight of DeNada. We drove in the boat house and I leaned over the side and with my arm in the water armpit deep I could feel the canvas top. Until then I was hoping that the ole girl possibly broke away from her berth and was floating down the river......but that was not the case.

This afternoon, my friends and I successfully raised DeNada .

Tomorrow we will move on to drying out the engines and removing the Genset and getting back to where we were on Tuesday afternoon.

I really thank you guys for your concern support.

I will keep you posted on progress.

Thanks again

hb

Tommy · Post by **Tommy** » May 2nd, '14, 05:34

Harry, so sorry you have to deal with this, but thankful everyone is OK. Looks like the water pressure blew your bow hatch off. As bad as the photos of Denada are, seeing the group of friends lending a hand is equally positive. As Bob and the others have said, your friends here on the Board stand ready to help.

MarkS · Post by **MarkS** » May 2nd, '14, 05:54

Awe shit Harry! That's painful to look at!

Joseph Fikentscher · Post by **Joseph Fikentscher** » May 2nd, '14, 06:49

That looks painful. Luckily there was no one injured. If there is anything we can do, just ask.

Regards,

Joe

bob lico · Post by **bob lico** » May 2nd, '14, 07:04

Salt water or fresh water?

Carl · Post by **Carl** » May 2nd, '14, 07:06

Harry--so sorry!

A Horrible sight, even worse knowing it is yours.

Need something, please let me know.

Carl

Harry Babb · Post by **Harry Babb** » May 2nd, '14, 08:03

Bob wrote:Salt water or fresh water?

Freshwater. Fish River is a spring fed river.......Very fresh and Very muddy in the time of floods.

I found my buddies 40 acre farm in my bildge. This time of the year farmers are plowing fields......the field runoff carries lots of mud to the river.

We cleaned for over 2 hours last night and still have a long way to go

hb

PeterPalmieri · Post by **PeterPalmieri** » May 2nd, '14, 08:16

So sorry to see this Harry.

randall · Post by **randall** » May 2nd, '14, 08:30

like everyone...... sorry to see this. everyone who ever owned a boat always has this in the back of their mind. sucks when it becomes a reality. at least its fresh water.

bob lico · Post by **bob lico** » May 2nd, '14, 08:49

Harry here in NY cleaning engines would be a whore . Epa would lock me up so i would have to remove engines where youare we can flush the engines. With diesel fuel and transmission fluid.till clean amd roll her over with injectors out.as soon as possible drain the fluid from gears i wish i was there to help you.!!!

spencer · Post by **spencer** » May 2nd, '14, 09:40

Harry , man that just made me get sick to my stomach,

She will be fine she is in good hands

CamB25 · Post by **CamB25** » May 2nd, '14, 10:09

A nightmare...I wish you good luck getting it restored.

Cam

Charlie J · Post by **Charlie J** » May 2nd, '14, 10:19

aah crap harry, I am sorry, never like seeing that
let me know if I can do anything to help

Bruce · Post by **Bruce** » May 2nd, '14, 10:58

Sorry Harry. Can't say how many times over the years I've been called to do just what your doing. Still never made it easy. But it can be done.

First is flushing the engines and get them running and heated to normal operating temp to burn off any trapped moisture asap and fresh oil circulated inside the block. Don't just pickle them and let sit till another day.

Change gear oil and while engine is running, cycle gear. Get that fresh oil circulating. The bright side is they weren't running so you don't have a oil/water goo mix that is a killer on crank and cam journals.

Dug · Post by **Dug** » May 2nd, '14, 11:08

Damn man...

I have tears in my eyes.

Please tell me what I can do. If you need anything. Boat or otherwise. If I can, I will.

I'll pm you my cell.

Dug

Rawleigh · Post by **Rawleigh** » May 2nd, '14, 11:47

Oh God Harry!! I had no idea it was that bad!! We lucked out on this storm and went between the two waves of the storm. Both east and west of us got it bad!! Let me know if there is anything we can do!

bob lico · Post by **bob lico** » May 2nd, '14, 11:59

Bruce what do you do in florida with fuel in tank? We pump it ourselves but pay 1.78 per gallon to dispose (and you need tranfer tickets to show EPA.) then the bastards just mix with # 6 bunker and they sell it to schools and factories to burn.

Rocket · Post by **Rocket** » May 2nd, '14, 12:02

Harry, I guess the good news is you know that boat inside and out. I hope you are adequately insured and can have someone help out with the heavy lifting. That must be brutal, but I know that you can withstand this negative event with your positive attitude. Sorry to see those pictures.

Bruce · Post by **Bruce** » May 2nd, '14, 15:14

I have a guy who pumps it out into his tank, then runs it thru a bank of filters and sells the cleaned up fuel to off road use.

AndreF · Post by **AndreF** » May 2nd, '14, 15:55

Damn Harry! So sorry.
Focus a year down the road....is what I do (did).

bob lico · Post by **bob lico** » May 2nd, '14, 16:52

Bruce that is covenience answer to the problem now lets apply this to harry. he can put weight like a few guys in back of boat open rear of tank were pick up is put hose down to bottom with regular car electric fuel pump he can pumpdown until water stops coming out and diesel just starts coming out take a couple of gallons out and he is good at that point then connects pump to engine side of raccors and take out another 10 gallons and ruby red fuel is flowing ,change raccors and remove cummins engine filter and replace .in theory no water should have seep into fuel injection pump because he did not roll then over yet.

Harry Babb · Post by **Harry Babb** » May 2nd, '14, 21:21

This afternoon I removed all of the injectors, the aftercoolers and the turbo inlet casting.......pumped out the engine oil and started charging the house batteries.

Tomorrow I will check the gears for water, change the gear oil and contiune to clean and prepare to run both engines (without the aftercoolers and on Jerry Jugs) and bring them up to operating temperature.......then change the oil again and run them some more.

More later......

hb

Joe E · Post by **Joe E** » May 2nd, '14, 22:32

I'm sick looking at the pictures, boats are like family. Let us know if there is anything we can do to help. Joe

Russ Pagels · Post by **Russ Pagels** » May 3rd, '14, 08:12

Harry ,sorry for the loss, but your bringing her back very fast good luck. as every one has said we will help where we can...Russ

Mikey · Post by **Mikey** » May 3rd, '14, 11:48

My express prayers are with you. At least you know what to do and how to do it. Better than the turn-the-key-and-go, clueless crowd. If I were closer I'd grab my bucket and mop and ride.
We're all thinking about you and saying little prayers.
Better days ahead!

Harry Babb · Post by **Harry Babb** » May 3rd, '14, 18:22

Both engines are running.......without "Aftercoolers" but running none the less.

Found an 8" long Ell living in the bildge......was scooping up MUD! ! ! and scooped him up in my hand.......at that moment I was ready to give away the farm.....

Tomorrow I change the oil again and start cleaning the fuel tank and remove the Genset........

More later

hb

Bob H. · Post by **Bob H.** » May 3rd, '14, 18:30

Nice work Harry, I can see your smile from here,glad to hear them both running. save that eel
Great live bait!!
Blue water ships store in Foley, Alabama will have a frequent and familiar face...
Miss Joanne will understand..;) BH

Bertramp · Post by **Bertramp** » May 3rd, '14, 19:59

Harry....glad to hear that engines are running. Hang in there buddy.

scot · Post by **scot** » May 3rd, '14, 21:50

Good deal Harry. You got to them and flushed them quickly, they should be fine. I bought my Ford 3000 diesel tractor sitting in a field with the engine full of rain water, 2 weeks later it was running like a champ, and still does. De Nada will survive!

Pete Fallon · Post by **Pete Fallon** » May 4th, '14, 02:12

Harry,
Sorry to hear about the boat. If you need anything give me a call I can't do much with only one working leg, but the moral support is there. Make sure you call your insurance company as soon as possible, if you have insurance. And get a surveyor that knows what a 31' Bertram is and what it costs to repair. The positive thing is that she was in fresh water and your engines are okay.
Pete Fallon

gplume · Post by **gplume** » May 4th, '14, 04:59

Harry-

Been off line for a while, so missed the post from Bob......awful,to see da nada in those pix. Makes me sick. Don' t have much to add over whats been said.....Best of luck on the rehab. You're in our thoughts and prayers.

Giff

ianupton · Post by **ianupton** » May 4th, '14, 06:47

Awful sight. So sorry for the horrible situation.

Ian.

Rocky · Post by **Rocky** » May 4th, '14, 19:55

Way to go Harry knew you could getm running in time. I hope things get back in shape for ya soon!

Stephan · Post by **Stephan** » May 4th, '14, 21:20

Harry!
I just saw this post and am so saddened for you. Not a moment's hesitation you can set it right but sorry for the time and energy to do so.
Keeping a good thought for you.
Stephan

bob lico · Post by **bob lico** » May 4th, '14, 21:53

Harry do you know how to remove package from aftercooler?i am just am away.

Harry Babb · Post by **Harry Babb** » May 4th, '14, 23:12

Bob wrote:Harry do you know how to remove package from aftercooler?i am just am away.

Bob......the Aftercoolers are in my shop.....end caps removed.....and the bundle is on the table....tomorrow I will clean them and reassemble pressure test and then its back on boat.....

Pumped the fuel tank today.......we hoisted the bow of the boat really high and tilted her to the Port then pumped off about 20 gallons of Watery fuel.....then good clean "Red Diesel" started flowing. Hooked up the fuel lines and started both engines......ran them until they were good and hot......changed the oil and filters.......Tuesday reinstall the Aftercoolers run them up to tempt again and change the oil for the final time..........lots of work and not nearly as much fun this time as it was the first time......but by the end of the week I will most likely have the engines squared away........still have to deal with the starters and alternators.....

hb

Rocket · Post by **Rocket** » May 4th, '14, 23:52

Harry, you are awesome...go get it done. I really love the "no quit" attitude, it would be so easy to be pissed off and bitter, but really, you are just fixing things and I love that...Go get 'em Mr. Babb

bob lico · Post by **bob lico** » May 5th, '14, 06:42

Ok harry some people have trouble disassembling aftercooler ------- not harry he is a master! Harry i should think you will have no proplem with starter, altenator immense in fresh water .

Gert van Leest · Post by **Gert van Leest** » May 5th, '14, 15:05

A nightmare......I wish you good luck getting it clean.

good luck !!

Gert

Pete Fallon · Post by **Pete Fallon** » May 5th, '14, 21:16

Harry,
A couple of suggestions before you start putting her back together again. See if you can find someone in your area that can make you some fiberglass panels. When I was building boats back in the early 2000's I had the guy's lay up 6 sheets of 4'x8x' 3/8" core matt with one side gel coated white and one sheet of 4'x10'x3/8" core matt. We had a couple of 4'x8' glass topped tables and a 5'x10' table, you can also use a Formica topped table. We had a chopper gun also so it went real quick. Can't remember how much they were per panel but it wasn't that bad.
I used them in the cockpit sides(you can get both side panels out of one sheet 24" x8'), the transom piece was the 10' x 24" piece. The rest I used in the cabin headliner's, 2 in main cabin and 2 in V berth, and left over pieces for the head compartment overhead. Also used them for under the cabin side at dinette table area. The left over scrap was used inside the hanging lockers and under the galley locker. You will not have to deal with fabric headliner, you can pressure wash everything inside the cabin, with the exception of the V berth hull side liner. I don't worry about ripping the overhead with gaffs, fishing rods or anything else that needs to go inside the cabin. Easy clean up and your existing teak trim can be re-used to cover the edges in the cabin, you will have to make some new pieces in the V berth overhead, but you can get away with out any trim in the V berth area if you make tight cuts with your pattern. I know you've got a lot of work ahead of you but the core matt panels are the best way to go, no plywood to rot or get moldy, easy to work with using a cut off wheel and looks great when finished.
Pete Fallon