Jim: A lot has happened

Life has been very busy since the last post, but a lot has happened on the boat. Here are the highlights:

Richard from MTS in Deale did a fantastic job on the electronics package. Everything is installed except for a battery switch we had to order. The new inverter works like a champ, the plotter, radar, autopilot, and all the wiring are completed. All that is left is the check ride. I highly recommend using Richard if you have any electrical needs. He will be taking the Winter off and heading south in his beautiful sailboat "Cody". She is fresh out of the barn with a new paint job and other improvements. If you see him in your cruising grounds, flag him down and pop open a cold one. He is one hell of a nice guy. If your interested in having him do some work for you, he can be reached at mtsusa@hotmail.com. Thanks to Richard and Ryan at MTS.



The old Nav Station.


The new Nav Station. I still have to build in the sides to it. That is #237 on my list.

The fuel system is finally completed with the addition of a booster pump to help the generator get its fill. Both engine and genny are running smoothly.


The old 162 gallon iron tank under the main cabin floor boards. After cutting the fiberglass frames, I drained 45 gallons of diesel fuel out, cleaned out the two inches of sludge and I cut the tank out with a saws all and a grinder. That was fun.


The tank top gone. Still had to cut the baffles out.


The new 40 gallon tanks bolted into the old tank bottom. I secured them with epoxied wood and fiberglassed the frames back in place.


The new fuel filters can be switched if one becomes clogged.

The new water system should be ready next week with 140 gallons of water in four tanks. We have three sinks, a 12 gallon water heater, a two gallon accumulator tanks and a 5.7 Gallon per minute water pump. Two Vacu-flush toilets also run on fresh water. I just have to install the galley faucet and connect the aft head faucet and then I am done. (Did I really just say that?)



Water pump and accumulator under galley sink.

We have had many other projects going on but I will include them in the next blog.

Cheers,