Here’s a quick update on the various boat projects going on at the moment.
The new line-controlled genoa cars have been installed. The new block and tackle for the outboard motor lift, that has an integrated cam cleat, has been installed. I’m upgrading the blocks for the backstay adjustment, and will be using a Garhauer fiddle block setup that has a cam cleat for that. That hardware should be here next week and will be installed then. I’ll post photos of the three installations soon.
The ama retraction blocks and lines have been installed, but I still have to install the Spinlock PowerCleats for the two lines. The colder temperatures have been making working with epoxy tough, but the weather this weekend should probably be good for that. I also plan to add Spinlock Powercleats for the two furling lines.
I’ve got a friend making up the new hardware that will allow me to lead the halyards and control lines aft from the mast. As part of that project, I’ll be adding a boom vang to the boom brake. The hardware should be done sometime in the next two weeks.
Another friend is making the new panels that will mount on the navigation console, that I’ll be using to add the inverter AC panel. That project is on hold at the moment though, until we get the boat in the water. The VHF and the new inverter will be installed at the same time. We’ve already moved the two AGM starting bank batteries from the navigation console, to the compartment under the companionway. I’m currently investigating how to increase the house bank size.
I’m hoping to get the cockpit hatches installed this weekend. I’ve also got some gelcoat work to do. There are some nicks and gouges in the gelcoat, as well as some repairs to the head compartment that I have to work on. When I was down at PCI a few weeks ago, Will gave me some gelcoat to match the interior and exterior of the boat, so the color should be fairly close at least.
The masthead steaming/foredeck light has been installed. I still have to finish wiring the mast base end of the cable with a plug, install a through-deck connector and wire it into the lighting switch panel. That will all happen once I’ve got the boat in the water and the mast up.
One other project I should be finishing up this weekend is the new opening portlight that opens into the galley. It was installed in the port side of cabintop bulkhead in the cockpit, where the instruments used to be. Since I upgraded to the TackTick wireless instruments last year, I decided that cutting open the area the Raymarine ST60s were located in, and installing a port would be a better option than glassing over the holes that were there for the ST60 displays. This still meant I had to mount my two TackTick displays.
The way I did it should work out quite nicely, and I think is an excellent solution. I bought a Beckson 5″ x 12″ opening port, and the two TackTick displays are mounted to the port itself, and are effectively in the same position as the old Raymarine displays were, but the port can be opened for ventilation when at anchor. I should have this installed this weekend, and will post a photo of it then.
I am hoping that the boat will be launched on Sunday or Monday. Most of the remaining projects are pretty easily accomplished with the boat in the slip.