Conducted Weekly Engineering Maintenance
Changed coalescing filters and bag filter
Removed #3 AC bilge pump for repair and replaced with pump from #2

The following is a list of items that need attention:

Repair bilge pump and install in #2

There are other items that need to be addressed but at this point they can
wait until winter unless someone comes along that is looking for something
to do. I am putting together a list of winter tasks and will post it for
review.

Happy steaming,
Fred

Conducted Weekly Engineering Maintenance
Changed oil absorbers in coalescing tank and around engine
Pumped Sanitary Waste Tank
Replaced burned-out light bulbs

The following is a list of items that need attention:

Repair #3 AC bilge pump

They will be addressed as resources allow. Terry and I try to get to the
boat every Wednesday morning about 0900-0930 to do the routine weekly
maintenance and take care of any problems that need to be addressed. Anyone
is welcome to join us. Let me know your interest and availability.

Happy steaming,
Fred

 Be sure to join the Steamboat out of Excelsior this weekend as we are EXCLUSIVLY serving Big Island Park! Bring out the family and the Picnic basket to the boat and enjoy a piece of history that is impossible to drive a car to (well with out driving on water)! Check out the Schedule schedule for this weekend! Also, bring a camera and be ready to submit them to us! Just send e-mails with images to my e-mail address AJandKara@gmail.com !!! Then I will upload to the blog next week!

Take it Easy!

~AJ

The Electric Boiler Feedpump blew a couple of fuses and Mike finished the
Sunday run with the duplex pump. Dave Peterson found that the pump turned
freely and did not appear to have any grounded wiring. He replaced the
fuses, checked the current and found everything fine. We are not sure why
it tripped but are considering changing the heater overloads (see NOTE from
Dave).

The Waste Oil hand pump has been repaired. I am curious as to how repaired,
etc. Please let me know.

Terry and I were at the boat Wednesday morning and performed the following:

Conducted Weekly Engineering Maintenance. See attached (needs some
revision)
Changed one condensate filter
Changed the Oil filter bag
Changed oil absorber pads in Oil Separator Tank
The vent fans were relocated in holds #2 and #4 (see NOTE)

The following is a list of items that still need a attention. They will be
addressed as resources allow. Terry and I try to get to the boat every
Wednesday morning about 0900 to do the routine weekly maintenance and take
care of any problems that need to be addressed. Anybody who is available is
welcome to join us. Let me know your interest and availability.

Fix problem with remote genset shutdown (still intermittent)
Connect Fireboy to cause genset shutdown upon initiation of fire
suppression system in hold #5
Lift boiler safety valve
Test run fire pump
Replace stanchion support that was located near hotwell pump (it was taken
off boat and are unable to find it)
Repair limber hole chains in #5 bilge (James)
Find leak in waste tank suction lines (Starboard tank is closed and port
tank will have to be pumped via head until fixed)(John Anderson)
Attempt to fix FW temperature control valve
Connect new shore power indicator light
Repair search light wiring and rotation

NOTES
From Dave: I confirmed with Fred last night that the motor running
over-current protection is not correct. This is the “heater” that trips the
motor starter if a motor risk situation occurs. The fuses that we blew are
intended to protect the wires and not the motor. The fuses are 15 amp and
the motor is running at 5.2 amps. The motor FLA is 7.9. It is now
protected to trip on motor overload of 11.65 amps. The standard protection
should be to trip at 9.8 amps. The present overload heaters do not properly
protect the motor. The overload should trip when the adverse condition
occurs. In that case we would simply push the reset bar.
These are easy to replace. The Grainger part number is 1H468 and the cost
is $21.11 for each and we need three.
The motor risk is a hard starting condition, stalled motor, single phase
condition or other electrical problem. One motor failed in the past and
could be rewound for a spare. A replacement motor is about $400. With the
correct overload heaters we should not have a motor failure.

The vent fans in holds 4 and 5 are not permanently mounted as they were
before so they can be moved if necessary. They are powered by the breaker
labeled “#4 VENT FAN” and should be left on all the time.

Happy steaming,
Fred

Thats all for this week. Check out our schedule and come on out to ride Minnehaha!
AJ

So an operation update. We had 4 crew training sessions this year and I must say that our skills are continuously improving every season. I can personally assure you (being that I train our line handlers and am a Captain myself) that we have a very safe operating crew on-board Minnehaha and we are THRILLED to have all our passengers aboard for a fabulous season packed full of history and of course fun! If anyone has Ideas on how to make our cruises more interactive I would appreciate the comments! Just click the top of this message and then scroll to the bottom of the page to leave me a note.

HAVE A GREAT SUMMER and stay tuned for more updates to come!

AJ

Minnehaha Launch!

Slide show of launch (with music):

Steamboat Minnehaha Launch 2010

Great turn-out for the launch. Thanks to all the great volunteers the
launch was the smoothest I have seen. The genset started fine, the
in-leakage was low enough that the on-board bilge pumps could handle it with
out help from the extra bilge pumps we had standing by. We had a few issues
getting the boiler up but nothing the crew couldn’t handle and we took it
over to the home dock. There were a number of items repaired, adjusted,
etc. I will only mention those that may be of interest or on-going:

Electrical connection box on dock began to smoke when boat was plugged in.
A temporary extension cord was run to a another outlet until repaired.
The vent fan brackets in holds #2 and 4 were removed because they
restricted access to the holds and could result in injury. They will be
relocated.
The pressure control valve that regulates steam pressure to the air-ejector
and FW tank heater doesn’t appear to work any better than last year.
Some of the bilge pumps needed attention but all seem to be working the
last time I checked. We will keep an eye/ear on them.
The timing on the main engine valves were adjusted; we will continue to
monitor that.
Freshwater pump pressure switch failed and was replaced.

The following is a list of items that will need a attention. They will be
addressed as resources allow. In the past Terry and I try to get to the boat
every Wednesday morning to do the routine weekly maintenance and take care
of any problems that need to be addressed. I presume we will continue the
same schedule. Anybody who is available is welcome to join us. Let me know
your interest and availability.

Connect Fireboy to cause genset shutdown upon initiation of fire
suppression system in hold #5
Repair dock wiring (George)
Tighten boiler inspection plates after a few thermal/pressure cycles
Lift boiler safety valve
Monitor engine bearing temperatures
Replace stanchion support that was located near hotwell pump (it was taken
off boat and are unable to find it)
Repair limber hole chains in #5 bilge (James)
Find leak in waste tank suction lines (Starboard tank is closed and port
tank will have to be pumped via head until fixed)(John Anderson)
Relocate #2 and 4 vent fans (George)
Attempt to fix steam pressure control valve
Connect new shore power indicator light

NOTE: I have been updating our “Powerplant Operations Manual” as time
allows. In the mean-time, the current version may be of interest to some of
you, especially the Engineers in Training. I will email a copy of the
current version soon. Feel free to print it or just review it on the
computer. It is rather long so I may have to send it as an attachment to
more than one email.

I also intend to update our Engineer list soon. Some on the list have not
been heard from for some time.

Happy steaming,
Fred

Hydrated Hull
Worked on Fireboy connection to Genset
Completed # 5 hold access
Began work on pre-launch checklist
Installed stationary blade on prop shaft cutter
Installed battery box
Reinstalled stern light

Saturday 5-8-10
LAUNCH (see attached Launch Checklist)

NOTE FROM BRAD:

Dear Minnehaha volunteers & supporters. It’s that time of year again to
launch the Minnehaha for the 2010 season. This year we are offering an
additional Wayzata 1 hr cruise and on June 19th & 20th all runs will be to
Big Island. it looks like a great season ahead. Hope to see you at the
launch this coming Saturday May 8th. We will get the Boat out of Barn around
9:00, there will be a grill going at Niccum’s.

Looking forward to getting the Minnehaha back on the lake,
Fred

Hydrated Hull
Tested crew radios
Worked on Genset remote shutdown and Fireboy connection
Installed Genset access step
Assisted with window installation
Began work on pre-launch checklist
Greased zerks on pumps and Bottom blow-down valve
Replaced interior siding near starboard breast cleat

Scheduled work for Saturday 05-01-10

Install stationary blade on prop shaft cutter
Complete connection to shutdown Genset upon initiation of Fireboy fire
extinguisher
Install battery box
Inspect waste tank suction for leaks
Fabricate and install genset access steps
Reinstall stern light
Replace stanchion support near hotwell pump
Repair limber hole chains in #5 bilge
Pre-launch checklist (see attached)

NOTES:

A reminder that this coming Thursday, April 29th, we will have the third of
our three class room training sessions at the SouthShore Community Center
beginning at 6:30pm. (This will be our final classroom session.) If you plan
to crew with Minnehaha this season you need to attend ONE of these sessions.
At these sessions the 2010 Addendum is being distributed for inclusion into
your Training and Safety Plan. This addendum includes much new information,
including detail regarding this year’s operating schedule. We have had a
good turn-out at the two prior sessions, but those that have missed need to
be there this Thursday. Again, full details of this year’s training cycle,
including underway re-qualification/training, are posted at our web site at
www.steamboatminnehaha.org.

Launch is scheduled for Saturday, May 8 starting at 0900.

We are unable to find the yellow Cleaver-Brooks manual (in a white 3-ring
binder). If anyone knows where it is, let me know.

Several Minnehaha “Powerplant Operations Manuals” have been loaned out.
Please let me know who has them. We have new “Engineers in Training” who
need them.

Attached is a list of Minnehaha Volunteer Engineers and their current
status. I will be removing those who are no longer interested in
volunteering. Please review and let me know if corrections are needed.
Keep a copy for your use.

Looking forward to getting the Minnehaha back on the lake,
Fred