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.