Recently a friend asked me what work I’ve done on my boat. Here’s a list of the various upgrade projects that I’ve either done or am in the process of doing on the boat over the last two years. The ones with the asterisks are works currently in progress.
Main Hull and Bottom
- Installed Jacklines on port and starboard side of main hull
- Soda blasted, barrier coated and bottom painted hull with multi-year anti-fouling paint
- Upgraded ground tackle to two ten-inch cleats, six-inch bow chocks, bow roller and manual windlass—primary anchor went from a 12 lb. Danforth to a 33 lb. Rocna
- Added ama retraction lines with Spinlock PX powercleats for line control
- Replaced mast step with modified one with halyard block attachment plates for leading halyards aft
Cockpit
- Installed hasps for locking cockpit lockers
- Added sheet bags for genoa sheets
- Installed fuel/water separator to fuel line for outboard
- Installed fire extinguisher to port-side companionway rail
- Installed a bridgedeck, which is used as an in-cabin storage locker
- Upgraded motor lift to six-to-one tackle with integrated cam cleat
- Installed new hatch in cockpit floor to create small storage locker*
Cabin
- Replaced the drop boards with heavier Lexan ones.
- Installed drop board retention pins in the port-side dropboard track
- Installed deadbolt for locking cabin while staying aboard
- Added two solar-powered ventilators
- Installed fire extinguisher to compression post
- Installed CO detector
- Added Hella Turbo 12 VDC cabin fan to starboard bulkhead
- Added Camframo Bora 12 VDC cabin fan to navigation console
- Re-plumbed head to allow emptying of holding tank without pumpout facilities
- Installed opening port on starboard side of cockpit bulkhead, which also acts as instrument panel
- Build a new companionway ladder*
Electrical
- Upgraded house battery bank to two T105 golf cart batteries
- Replaced mast-top light to OGM Tricolor/Anchor/Strobe LED fixture
- Installed second 12 VDC accessory outlet
- Upgraded DC electrical system to include BlueSea Dual Circuit Plus battery switch and ACR to isolate starting and house loads
- Installed two switch panels—one for navigation electronics, one for navigation lights
- Added Inverter AC circuit panel
- Added Inverter-powered GFCI AC outlets
- Added masthead steaming light/foredeck light—this was needed to be USCG compliant under power at night.*
- Upgraded to an inverter/charger*
- Moved starting batteries from nav console to locker under companionway*
- Install two 130 Watt Solar panels and solar panel charge controller*
Electronics
- Added Garmin 192C chartplotter
- Added handheld VHF charging cradle
- Added iPod-capable stereo with cockpit and cabin speakers and cockpit remote control
- Replaced Raymarine ST60 instruments with TackTick wireless instruments
- Replaced original Raymarine 54 VHF with an Icom M504 with cockpit mounted command mic—this unit has an integrated hailer with automatic fog signals*
Rigging
- Added Dutchman boom brake with Spinlock PX powercleat for line control
- Upgraded lazy jacks to four-leg system for better sail control
- Added shock-cord mainsail furling system
- Upgraded backstay adjuster to four-to-one fiddle block with integrated cam cleat
- Leading halyards aft*
- Installed Spinlock PX Powercleats for Genoa and Screacher furling lines*
- Installed line clutch for mainsail halyard and outhaul—still have to install three more line clutches*
I believe this is a complete list of the changes that have been made to the Pretty Gee from a stock Telstar. Most of the changes and upgrades were made as part of making her safer, more seaworthy, and easier to handle as a long-distance, single-handed cruising boat. Some, like the ventilators and the inverter/charger were to make her more comfortable to stay aboard. Many of these projects have been mentioned or documented on this blog.