I'm jthomas1600, The Sailor Man! Toot Toot!

**jump5fan** · 05-13-2008, 06:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jthomas1600

It took 3 sets of mechanics and 14 hours to figure out we had a broken bolt and a bad gasket causing the engine to suck air which created the high pitch whistle we were hearing. Once the identified the problem it took 2 hours to fix. We were at sea on mothers day and busy yesterday so I still haven't called my mom for mothers day. I was able to call my wife on Sun. before we left and since I have to live with her I guess that is more important. I will try again to call my mom tomorrow. I guess I'll watch movies for the rest of the night (it's a tough job, but someones got to do it) and when the sun comes up we will do some outside work on the boat. That's if for now.

was that one of those things were you thought it is going to be a really big thing that had to be fixed but turned out to be almost nothing? i have no idea when it comes to boats.

jthomas1600 · 05-13-2008, 06:22 AM

Yea, a broken bolt and bad air intake gasket.

jthomas1600 · 05-14-2008, 12:25 AM

Well, it's early in my watch--I'll probably post twice today if we are still at the dock when I get off at noon. We have been at the dock for about 3 days now which is good for a number of reasons-every one gets caught up on their rest, we get caught up on repairs, also I get to play my guitar quite a bit--I can play it while we are underway, but if the seas are more than 2-4 feet it is difficult. It's hard to relax and play when you can't keep your ballance-I don't like playing sitting down.

jthomas1600 · 05-14-2008, 11:58 PM

Well, another day at the dock, the deck is loaded with cargo though so we will be heading offshore soon. Spent a good part of the day going through our safety manuals and associated paper work with our marine super attendant. We had crew change today. Our regular second captain got off and his regular relief was not able to make it so I have a capt. that has never been on this class of vessel before, so I may not get much sleep if we get busy. The QMED (Qualified Member of the Engine Department) is a nice kid I haven't work with in 6 months so it was good to see him when I woke up tonigh. That's all folks.

jthomas1600 · 05-17-2008, 03:44 AM

It's been a few days..a little too busy on the boat right now to update much. My wife got a promotion at work which is good but it means we have to figure out what to do about the kids--they're at that in-between age (9,11, and 13) where they're kind of old for a baby sitter, but I don't like the idea of leaving them home alot with out supervision. Am I being paranoid and over protective? I don't know. The wife and I will have to talk it out.

**jump5fan** · 05-17-2008, 05:23 AM

i don't think your being over protective. i think i would feel the same way if i were you.

jthomas1600 · 05-19-2008, 09:45 AM

Happy day for me. I've got a 19 year old son that has been strugling--he moved back to Oregon with his grandparents, got in some trouble, and hasn't been working. Needless to say, his mom and I have been praying nonstop for him. Well he got a job. It's going to be good for him to be active and get out of the house more (and have$$). Me, I've got more job than I need. The new Capt. on the boat is not letting me get much sleep. I am up every time the boat moves. His lack of experience on these boats makes me nervous. On the bright side at work I am almost half way through my hitch. 16 days to go. When I get home I will be taking my 12 year old to Houston to get his first guitar (for his 13th b-day) I'm excited about that.

jthomas1600 · 05-20-2008, 03:29 AM

Ordering boat groceries tonight- $1,024 for six people for 14 days on a messed up xl program. It takes a couple of hours to get everything everyone wants on the list and stay with in budget. To make matters worse, after all the work to fill out the order form you never know exactly what you're going to get. Will probably finish that, some other paperwork and then watch TV for a while. Some one brought 4 or 5 seasons of Smallvile, so for lack of anything more interesting I have been watching that.

JerRocks2day · 05-20-2008, 08:43 AM

Man. You are so lucky to get that many groceries. My mom rarely buys much of the snacks that me and my brother like. Oh well.

jthomas1600 · 05-22-2008, 07:47 AM

Well, we had crew change last night. The temporary capt. we had got off and one of our regular capt. came back so I am no longer stressing about being resposible for the boat 24 hrs a day. I have been playing my guitar every day, so that's good. Not doing as much reading as I'd like but I've got 2 more weeks so maybe I'll get some done still. My wife bought tickets this week to fly back to Oregon for a vacation this summer. Looking fowrard to seeing our oldest son who lives there and to see some old friends. It will be the first time my younger kids have been on an airplane so it will be an interesting trip.

jthomas1600 · 05-23-2008, 05:16 AM

I didn't realize how dull my job is untill I started blogging about it. I've been on watch for 5 hours and have done nothing but look at guitars and amps online. Well actually I started a myspace page and listened to some music as well. I am now listenint to Mike and Mike in the morning--a sports show on ESPN radio. After the sun comes up I think I will find a project to do--that should pass the time a little faster. Maybe I'll cook lunch for the crew as well. 12 days and counting till I go home.

**jump5fan** · 05-23-2008, 06:38 AM

do you have a link to your myspace page?

jthomas1600 · 05-23-2008, 06:47 AM

Not yet, I'll get on here in a day or two.

**jump5fan** · 05-23-2008, 07:20 AM

ok cool

jthomas1600 · 05-25-2008, 03:03 AM

We made a run yesterday--we left at 1300 5/23 and returned at 1200 5/24, we delivered cargo to two rigs and brought back a full load of cargo from the second one. The wind and seas were moderate, but the current was running pretty hard. When I came to the wheel house at midnight for my watch, we were just backing under the second rig to off load one lift and receive the back load of cargo. We worked for 1 1/2 hours and then the rig sent us on stand by while they detonated explosive down the hole-to fracture the rock so the oil will be easier to pump. After standing by they finished backloading and sent us to the dock. Still playing guitar every day wich is good. Watched School of Rock earlier tonight--kind of a corny movie but it got me more pumped to get home and buy my son his guitar.