...the refit keeps moving on. We lost a full week due to Mark having to be out of town but hey, they pay him for these little jaunts so we try to take it all in stride. We like the refit to keep moving forward but a paycheck is necessary for this to happen right now so a week behind schedule? Schedules are for airlines and even they aren't capable of sticking to one. Keep on keeping on...
We've reached a point where we can start whipping the engine compartment into shape. It, like every other hidden bit of the boat was a mass of poorly routed hoses and random add ons taking up twice as much space as necessary. Since Ceol Mor is an aft cockpit boat, we do not have the luxury of a big engine compartment so making this area as tidy as we can is a priority. We have an old faithful Perkins which should out live all of us but in order to make that happen, we have to be able to tweak and coax her into chugging along with early and often maintenance. Having the engine be as accessible as possible will be appreciated the first time we have to do some engine trouble shooting and repair at sea. Notice I did not say 'if', I said 'when'. It's inevitable so it makes sense to plan ahead.
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| Before |
So the old hoses which ran every which way, were unsupported and had mismatched hose and bar sizes have been replaced, rerouted, clamped, checked and organized. The old filter installation which compounded the clutter due to having separate sea water and fuel filters for the engine and generator have been replaced by a single seawater filter and manifold which supplies both the engine and generator.A dual fuel filter and manifold has been installed to supply the engine and generator. Mark designed and built the fuel filter assembly which includes valves for fuel polishing and online filter replacement and selection. Everything is labeled to identify valve function and position for various operating modes (no guessing!).We have installed new sound insulation through out the compartmen
t.
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| After |
If we ever do have to repower, it will seem like a piece of cake after all of this!
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Kitty loves nothing more than helping with the boat. She is our quality control inspector.
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It is all worth it.
ReplyDeleteIt is all worth it.
I promise you. I promise you.
We will have the windvane installed within the week, and then, I swear to god, we are done with major boat projects. We won't even know what to do with ourselves.
Maybe we'll wash the boat for once, but seriously, all the hard work, some day you won't be doing all this work, you'll be out there sailing, exploring, adventuring, and kicking back. You can do it. I know it!!!!
A little over a year Charlotte, a little over a year...
DeleteIt will fly by. Eyes on the prize. Eyes on the prize. I had little stick it notes and taped up signs with affirmations on the boat.
DeleteMy. God. Everything that man makes is a piece of art. That is bloody gorgeous. If you will have to trouble shoot at sea, and you will, it may as well be artistic troubleshooting.
ReplyDeleteSometimes Mark's need for order and perfection can be maddening. Sometimes, its something to just marvel at.
DeleteWell, see, I don't live with him, so I can just stand back and gaze in wonder. How does one develop a brain like that? I submit that one doesn't. One is born with it. Or not, as the case may be. I can only hope that our systems work as well as yours do.
DeleteOh and yes. When I say we will 'be done,' well, if Mark saw our boat, he would just laugh. Mark creates masterpieces! (And you do too, Cidnie.)
DeleteI'd have to agree, that is a beautiful piece of work.
ReplyDeleteThat reminds me, I need to clean out my Racor filters. I have the same kind and they have quite a bit of "stuff" in it.
What is your set up like?
Deletesingle hose Fuel supply -> Tee the separates to two Racor 500 filters (with priming bulb for each) -> Tee that combines back to one line behind the engine -> then through the engine fuel lines.
DeleteIt's pretty simple. I have a close valve on each filter so I could probably clean one at a time. Due to the discovery of a fuel leak after launching, I got a 3gal day tank so I can still use my boat on the lake. I can already tell the engine likes the cleaner fuel it's getting.
Diesel engines are pickier eaters than even toddlers. ;)
DeleteNice work, but do you guys ever actually sail your boat?
ReplyDeleteSoon, very soon. Not as often as we would like but that is kind of the downside to a complete and total refit. Boats undergoing refit generally aren't sailed. We are taking our children offshore. To do so ina boat that was not safe and reliable would be completely irresponsible.
DeleteLooks Fantastic! Reading the comments above about how you only have a year left makes me excited as well. Every so often I get a wave of joy when I realize that time is still moving, hell it's already August and we are gearing up to move on the boat about this time next year. Oh My God, it's really going to happen. Keep moving along, and I hope to get even more excited about your departure the closer it gets.
ReplyDeleteSOmetimes I feel like it will never get here, then I realize that Mark is leaving work this winter to work full time on the boat. School year ends in May and the boat should be finished a few weeks after that. If it wasn't for hurricane season, we could leave in less than a year. My feet are so itchy I am seriously considering trying to convince Mark that chugging the ICW to NOLA in September in 2014 would not be the worst idea ever. I love NOLA and hey, there are some peeps we'd like to see. ;) Hang out for a few weeks, chug to Pensacola. Visit for a week or two there then SAIL SOUTH in October. Now to get Mark off the idea that sailing into headwinds for a week in Oct. would be a better learning experience than giving the kids a couple of weeks on the ICW to adjust before sailing to the Keys....
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