Broken Tools & Progress...

The V-Berth lowering is in full swing... at least until my jigsaw broke.

I removed the 1 1/2" Groco seacocks and they are available for sale, (I will ship), but they are still in need of cleaning. I painted what will be storage spaces and will seal all the thru-hull holes all at once, (I have two more to remove and I will post on that project at the appropriate time).

After framing the lowered V-Berth and adding an extended bulkhead up front, I was about measure and cut all the 3/4" plywood for the decking and my jigsaw broke... not the blade, but the jigsaw itself. So... I closed the boat and headed home.

Home Depot tomorrow for a jigsaw and West Marine for epoxy stuff.

Pics below.

Fair seas and God bless!

"No Turning Back Now..."

Every now and then I make a decision to do something and then realize that "something" was bigger than I thought. When that happens, sometimes you can turn back... sometimes you can't.

Lowering the V-Berth is one of those jobs that, once you start, you can't turn back.

First, I had to get the old holding tank out of the boat. (Now, despite the fact that it had been pumped out months ago, it still contained about two or three gallons of residual waste... Yippee)! I measured the tank and the only way to get it out of the place it was secured was to turn it up on end; I was NOT willing to do that. There's no telling what would have happened with the old hoses and the last thing I wanted was two or three gallons of wastewater on me or in my bilge. Since I was going to lower the V-Berth anyway, I removed a piece of plywood to make room for the tank's exodus.

I was careful when I cut the lines to bag and tape each one, but somehow, old stinky waste still leaked out of hoses that should have been dry a long time ago. (This may be a witness to the high seas I experienced on the last night of my passage to Carrabelle).

Yuck!

Leaky, stinky, mess!

Finally the tank was free and I lifted it out with great care and no little effort, (at 8lbs. per gallon, it was a little work). I was slow and deliberate like I was handling Nitroglycerin. With my weak stomach, both could easily blow me up in a couple of different ways.

I carefully lifted the tank out of the cabin and then lowered it to the ground with a couple of ropes. I'm pretty sure the tank was the original tank installed by P&M... it smelled like it. (BTW, I love my Nature's Head composting toilet).

Once that part of the job was done, I still had/have a lot of work to do. To lower the V-Berth, all hoses and eventually, two large Groco Seacocks, and the fiberglassed tabbed plywood have to be cut out. Lot's more work than it initially looked like... no turning back now.

Look closely...
the berth will be cut down to the black line
drawn all the way around.

Two Groco Seacocks for sale... :)

Obviously, I need to buy some Bilgekote!

As you can see, there's no turning back now. I'm hoping to have the old V-Berth cut out completely by the weekend and begin installing the lowered V-Berth with all new hardwood plywood next week. (I don't know why I do this... my time predictions NEVER work).

I'm not completely sure how I'm going to set this thing up. I want liveaboard comfort coupled with maximized storage. (Is that possible)? This should be interesting.

Fair seas and God bless!

Carrabelle Beach & The Saint Lucia Refit...

Today, I officially started what I call the "SL Refit." (Saint Lucia Refit).

That list consists of a number of things that must take place with a number of things that I want to take place. There are many things on the SL Refit list that are also listed on the Punch List page. Though many of the items on the SL Refit list are not necessary, I want them to be completed for my own comfort level and because I'll have very little time for boatwork once in Saint Lucia.

Here's the list as it is now: (I'll include it on the Punch List Page as the Saint Lucia List).

1. Lower the V-Berth (includes removing holding tank)
2. Convert Port Settee to Booth with Table
3. Rework Companionway Hatch (leaking)
4. Rebed V-Berth Hatch (leaking)
5. New Seals to all Port Holes (Some Leak)
6. Double Bilge Pumps
7. Eliminate Unnecessary Thru-Hulls
8. Add Two (2) 125 Amp Hour AGM Batteries
9. Install Inverter
10. Install Shore/Gen/Inverter Switch
11. Wire DC side of Refrigeration Unit
12. Install Wind Generator
13. Rework Aft Lazarette
14. Replace Chain Plates
15. Inspect/Replace necessary Standing Rigging
16. All Running Rigging Completed including Staysail w/o Staysail Boom
17. Install Boom Lift
18. Install Bulkhead Compass
19. Install Tiller Autopilot
20. Install Rocna 35 lb. Anchor
21. Dodger Installed
22. Remove Teak Cap-rails and Fiberglass Hull to Deck (Check this link)
23. Topside Paint with Name on Bow
24. Bottom Paint
25. Life Raft (2 or 4 Man)
26. 7.5 Ft. Dinghy Installed

Now... all these things have to be completed within the next 330 days. (I'm sure the list will grow and shrink depending on time and motivation).

Since I'm in the Panhandle and I will actually have some aspect of seasons and cooler weather in Fall and Winter. I will save all the outside jobs for Fall and Winter.

Today, I readied the V-Berth for holding tank removal and then, the lowering of the V-Berth. This job will probably take three to four weeks if I stay at it every week day.

Out of curiosity, I took a drive down to Carrabelle Beach today to see what it was like. It was as if I stepped through a time portal and went back to Old Florida. I loved it. Today, it was rainy and dreary, but a future visit is in order... especially since you can take your dog. There will definitely be another Fuji Beach Day.

Fuji at the Beach in Port Saint Lucie - November 2014

Fair seas and God bless!

Annie Gets a "Pick-Me-Up"

When I arrived at the boatyard today, (after finding an extension ladder to allow me to board the boat), I discovered that Annie was not level bow to stern. Her bow was about six inches lower than it should have been and that produced a problem; her side decks were filled with water, about two inches.

Westsail 32's are designed with rather large double scuppers, starboard and port, just forward of the cockpit. As water accumulates from heavy seas or rain, the water runs down the side decks, hits the large scuppers and flows overboard. Because Annie's bow was so low, the rain just accumulated on the side decks.

When I went to the office to inform them that such a positioning on the hard was not going to work out, the yard workers admitted that she was a little nose-heavy and agreed to correct the problem today. They were true to their word and Annie got a "Pick-Me-Up."

Tomorrow, I have an appointment that will prevent me from beginning work, but Friday, I will commence with cleaning Annie out and starting a number of projects that need to be completed before her 2000 mile sail to Saint Lucia a year from now. 

Here's some pics...

Notice the waterline and the obvious slope forward...

Now her nose is up... (She should be proud)

Fair seas and God bless!