But it’s a start at the project list. It feels smaller than last year, so maybe I’m actually accomplishing something.
I have a spread sheet where I am planning the projects and upgrades for the next 2-3 years; this is a partial list. Only those things labeled as “Winter 08/09” and “Spring 09” are included.
Most noticeable in it’s absence is a complete upgrade of the electronics on board, as well as the addition of some wind power. The electronics overhaul was supposed to happen over this winter, but well plans change. While our personal position has not been made especially precarious by “these troubled times” it seemed prudent to not drop a huge chunk of change on something discretionary. Especially since the other stuff works (albeit not the way I want it to) and we’re not planning to cross any oceans in 2009. Also with electronics it never hurts to wait if you can, for example by the time I get around to replacing radar HD & digital radar should have the hinks worked out of them, and maybe even gotten a little cheaper.
Delaying the wind is directly tied to the Electronics Upgrade. I plan to dispose of the giant open array radar tower installed on the aft port quarter of the boat and replace it with a Radome either up the back stay or into the rig. Today’s Radome models offer better resolution and range than the monstrous thing spinning around on the end of my boat. Until the radar tower is gone though, I don’t have a permanent place for a wind generator.
This project is definitely happening, but it will require a massive amount of research on components, designs, and vendors. I’ve even discussed the feasibility of doing most of the installations myself – which I would see as a big win both financially AND from a long term maintenance perspective since I will then know where the bodies are buried. My teachers seem to think I’m technically up for the task based on what they’ve seen of my work, and I would always have a “Life Line” to call if I got stuck I think. So those upgrades are on the horizon, but don’t expect a lot of long winded rants and diatribes on those topics until close to the end of the 2009 sailing season.
- Re-caulk teak deck; AT LEAST the raised deck parts of the deck and cockpit complete for 2009.
- Figure out why I the SSB barely works. It’s probably me, not the radio.
- Add a small electric bilge pump hard wired to 12V house
- Fix the oven control knob (yes, this should take 30 seconds…in theory)
- Fix the oil change and 2nd emergency bilge/fire pumps
- Repair/Replace the manual bilge pump
- Install last two solar panels on the dodger.
- Move the propane tanks back to the propane locker, add a solenoid before I blow myself and my boat to hell.
- Add a salt water washdown to the anchor locker; freshwater is too precious to waste on nasty bottom mud!
- Install cabin fans in the cabins still without; switch installed ones to 24V house power
- Clean all the rest of the crud out of the lockers, lazarettes, under floor compartments that I still haven’t gotten around to doing
- Replace cables and repair Davits
- Clean out engine room and re-seat the floors catwalks properly.
- Fix the trim & caulk on the head countertops
- New curtains (this is SO not my job!)
- Fix some chips in the hull (I can do that now!)
- Get a new life raft (maybe)
- Replace caulk in galley counters
- Add a salt water washdown for the anchor rode
