What's That Saying?

Busier than a one legged man at a butt kicking contest? Yeah. That would be Mark. A butt kicking contest in Sub Sahara Africa with 80% humidity. The man deserves accolades not just for keeping the refit moving forward, but doing it in extreme weather conditions. Man, it has just been stupid hot and poor Northern European Mark has been sweltering in the belly of the boat making daily progress, though that progress can be measured in inches a day. Did I mention it has been really hot? Ok, there is my yearly complaining about the heat done.

After our mini-cruise last summer, Mark decided to rip out the plumbing and rectify what can only be described as a huge freaking mess topped with a bit of random chaos. So you want to check the fuel level in the tanks? Grab that handy dowel rod, maneuver your way through THIS :

open an inspection port, thread dowel into the opening and guess. Even better, try to do it while the boat rolls and pitches. Seems a something a bit less like "yachting" and more like something from Bobby Ray's Redneck Yacht Club*. ( I am from the South. My Dad actually has a cousin named Bobby Ray and while he is not a Redneck he comes from a long line of them. It is my heritage, I know Redneck Engineering when I see it and this is a fine example of it).

Its not just trying to discern the fuel levels that was a challenge. Doing any kind of troubleshooting or maintenance was just about impossible. We had no schematics, 12 diesel lines for each supply configuration from the 2 tanks to the engine and generator, 4 selector valves for engine and generator supply and return, unidentified and unsecured lines running here and there, multiple electrical cables running every which way, an water drain line with a gate valve whose purpose was a mystery, water and drain lines and air conditioning tubing just sort of shoved in there and even better, the condensation line from the ac was allowed to just drain into the boat interior which caused water to pool in various low lying areas as it meandered to the bilge which caused the teak and holly sole to swell and bow. Seriously. A HUGE FREAKING MESS.

Nice labeling, huh? So yes, it has taken almost an entire year to get this sorted. To be fair, we had other projects (such as the master cabin) that distracted a bit but finally, finally it looks as if we are ready to hook the diesel lines up to the fuel filter system Mark completed at Christmas. Christmas. The man deserves a medal.

No Mark project would be complete with out a schematic. I tease him about his obsession with them, but honestly I do not know how people manage to troubleshoot systems without them. If it all goes pear shaped and I need to track down an electrical or plumbing problem, even I- a bear of little brain can do it. All I need to do is open up the handy boat book and voila! There is the schematic I need for whatever system needs attention. We are never going to sell Ceol Mor but if we did, I would tack on another 5k just for the schematics. :) A first time boat buyer would scoff, an experienced one would say "What a bargain!".

And so after months and months of careful and painstaking work. This is what the under sole area now looks like.

Everything is labeled and has a diagram to show which direction is open, which is closed. The 12 diesel lines have been reduced to 7 and are labeled. 4 valves have been replaced with one 6 port valve. We have added a fuel pump. The dowel rod has been retired and we now have THESE tank level sensors installed. All the water lines have been replaced and secured as well as the AC lines. The electrical runs have been routed through ducting.The diesel fill and vent lines have been rerouted to give greater access and for the finishing touch, a light has been mounted so that when you need to work in this area, you can actually see what you are doing/ Phew.

Let us once again admire Mark's handywork. Its not just a refit, its ART.

Now if you will excuse me, I think I really owe Mark a beer. Or 3. Seriously.