I see that once again it has been months since I have posted pix on this site. So many small details have been worked on, wiring DC and the 120V systems, the radios, the mast has been rewired, the running rigging has been ordered and received AND the new main has arrived from Doyle Sail Makers. I have glassed in the holes in the backside of the cabin where the old instruments had been and I took the courageous step and cut in to new holes one of which is 4.75" in diameter. My heart was in my throat while I was doing that job.


I rebuilt the turning blocks and car for the main sheet traveller and striped and refinished the cockpit comings, have yet to be re-installed. Currently I am closing three thru hulls on the port-side. One as the one knot-meter, the other two are for the head. In the future the boat will have a port-a-potty for dockside use and a bucket for off shore.




 

 

 

I wired the the bilge pump switch, previously it was actuated by holding the wires to the battery terminals. I also installed 2 batteries and the new wires and the selector switch.
While in the process of extending the fuel tank vent I discovered that the vent hose was not only too short but also not fuel grade and that the connector at the tank which was only "hand tight" was plastic!
I had new galley drawers made, 8' deeper, which will increase the storage capacity by about 70%! If I fill them up I better switch to plastic utensils so that the boat doesn't tip to starboard.
The other really big news is that the CG Documentation office has sent me an official vessel documentation number, this to me is very exciting news. There will be an official renaming party at the Boat Yard at Hampstead at the end of June. The renaming ceremony is to appease the gods of the winds.

Lot's of new work

Although the weather has been cool at times there have been some incredibly great days to work the boat this past December and January. I have gotten a lot of small projects completed, too many thing taken apart and put back together and even more things planned on paper.This is a list of some small projects completed at home or on the boat in the last couple of months followed by some recent photos.

Forward cabin
 

Navigation lights bow, Navigation lights stern, seal forward drawers, varnish tiller, anchor tie off ring ,back splash in galley area, , repair fresh water pump, replace water fill hose replace water supply line, replace sink drain thru hull, re-plumb icebox drain, cut in forward storage access opening under v- berth, cut in aft  storage access opening under aft pilot berth,  remove AC unit, winterize motor, winterize head, solar control panel mount in enlarger battery compartment, install engine raw water strainer, fabricate anchor locker cover and build and finish an enclosure for the AM/FM/CD Radio. 

 




  

Solar panel in expanded battery box 

Next projects include fiber glassing the four instrument opens seen below. The small one on the far left will be relocated near the round wooden dick to the right of the companionway. The new compass will be just above the large round disk on the left and the engine control panel is going at the aft port side end of the sail locker. The wreath is in storage.

side deck to be repaired

As if I am not nuts enough I went and got a very used and abused Walker Bay dinghy, it needs lot's more than just TLC, trust me. I am about to learn the black art of "Plastic Welding", more to follow.

Ships Log 12/7/2011

Have not updated this in a couple of months. The work is going slowly especially now that the days are cooler and shorter. Most of the exterior cosmetics are complete, the bottom only needs a final coat before launching, the decks and cabin top are finished. 

The cockpit still needs paint after finishing the comings and relocating the new compass and depth meter. I also want to move the engine control panel, but I will need some help to move the AC unit that is stuffed in the port side sail locker. Then all the hole can be glassed over.

The interior has been cleaned, messed up and cleaned again. Nav lights have been replaced and the main cabin lights repaired. The switch panel is pulled out, need to replace 2 switches and install the bilge pump switch. Wires have been run to the bilge for the new float switch. I still need to check the hoses for both the manual and electric bilge pumps. The fresh water tank has been drained, bleached, scrubbed and rinsed out. And the leaky sink pump has been repaired and needs to be reinstalled after I repair the water damage to the cabinet that abuts the counter top.. The old water tubing to the sink, the vent and fill have been removed and need to be replaced, all were covered in black mold.
I have glassed in a patrician in the locked that houses the engine intake to protect the thru hull. Also have glassed in a larger battery shelf to accommodate 2 batteries and a custom mount for the solar panel regulator. I also want to cut 2 more access ports, one under the forward starboard berth and the other under the aft berth.

The mast rigging has been checked and rechecked, most of the cotter pins replaced with a few left to replace. Running rigging has been measured and needs to be ordered, cut to length and splices installed. The VHF antenna and wire are set to install.

Week Two

Starting Monday, 8/8 thru Wed. 8/10 I had planed to shop for tools and supplies that I might need at the Yard and also work a little with clients. Thursday planned to hit the Yard but the morning got away from me and I had a lot of unfinished business.



Friday started a little slow but I was on the road at a reasonable time. Skis were clear and partly cloudy, at home. At the Yard it was very cloudy and getting darker by the moment. By the time I got the boat opened up and was trying to decide what to do next it started to sprinkle, then rain, the pour, the the wind picked up. So now the rain is almost horizontal and there are white caps on the puddles. I am now stuck in my truck and there is lightening ever where. I decided to move away from the boat with it's 40' lightening rod and drive up near the office. This did not seem like a great spot either as the office is on a hill that is the highest place around. Since it did not look as though the wether as about the clear anytime soon I drive to the nearest place for coffee, a BP/ Subway about 3 miles away. This boatyard in really in the middle of nowhere.
Lots of people were just hanging out waiting out the storm. There was a couple from Canada riding BMWs riding down the coast, headed for Myrtle Beach.
When I got back and the rain had stopped the wind was about nil so I figured this would be a good time ti unfurl the genoa and take it and the main off the stick.
I got a few more little things accomplished when about 1600 it started to get get dark again. Packed up my stuff, loaded the sail bags into the truck and headed home.
When I got within 8-10 miles of home the skies opened up for yet another monsoon.

Saturday I got about 95% of the bottom and one side of the waterline sanded. I was so covered in blue bottom paint that Max didn't know me.
After 2 showers and a bath the water was so blue that I couldn't see my toes.
Sunday I picked up some more sanding disc, finished the bottom and the waterline. I also managed to wash the entire boat and hose the dust off he bottom. Have fill a few spots with Marine Tex and she is ready for paint. Well paint after I repair or replace a couple of thru hulls.