The Projects... who says you don't work when retired!

Interior Projects

12/29/07 - OK, now that I have the boat it's time to get her into shape to move aboard and go cruising.  The first thing on the list was to clean her up, wash all of the glue and gelcoat overspray off and just kinda check out her nooks, crannies, pieces and parts.  Part of the clean up was going over the engine and transmission with a cleaner to remove all of the factory dirt, tape up the belt and pulleys and then spray the whole thing down with heavy duty Corrosion X.  I've found in the past that this hour long task will do more to keep the engine looking new than just about anything else.  Don't forget the engine mounts, these are usually the first to show signs of corrosion.

01/01/08 - I packed up the roller Screecher to send back to Dave Bierig so that he could put a Sunbrella sacrificial edge on it like the roll up Genny has.  The way the sail comes from the factory, you're supposed to take it down and stow it when it's not in use.  I was warned that the sail wouldn't set well in 3 to 6 knots of wind because of the extra weight of the sacrificial panel that I was installing.  Me - "Sail in 3 to 6 knots worth of wind... Ha ha ho ha!  That's funny!"  "This boat has a diesel engine ya know..."  I'm now in the process of looking for a sailmaker that I feel can properly install a Dutchman System into the main.  I want to get rid of the Lazy Jacks and have a mainsail that flakes properly when dropped.  I know... personal preference!

01/02/08 - When going through the boat with Will at the factory, I noticed that the plumbing under the aft port berth was a virtual rat's nest. It was so bad that it made it hard to get at the air conditioning seacock.  A few feet of 1/2" reinforced water hose, a little patience and I now have relatively clear access to the seacock.  While I was at it, I tackled the bilge pump hoses (the bilge isn't supposed to get any water in it and, in fact, didn't on my last Gemini.) that are coiled in the storage lockers under the settees.  I just cut them off and installed quick release couplers.  Now I can stow the one bilge hose in a more appropriate place than the food locker. The other one was just long enough to cut up and redo the rat's nest around the AC seacock.

 01/03/08 - I wanted to coat all of the interior teak with satin polyurethane.  The factory normally puts several coats of teak oil on the wood but, over time, this gets real dirty and dark.  With satin poly, you have that nice rich low luster look but with a virtually maintenance free, non-staining, non-mildewing finish.  I started by washing down all of the teak several times with acetone.  I removed all of the doors and drawers and all of their hardware.  These items went home and into the garage for 4 coats of polyurethane.  Taping up the interior teak, that is permanently attached to the boat, took 12 long tedious hours.  I was very careful with the taping, and it paid off.  There's no poly except where it should be, on the wood.  I should be done reinstalling all of the teak by the end of this week and will probably have close to 100 hours in it. 

1/21/08 - The 2 large cabinets, under each side settee, have curved and uneven fiberglass bottoms.  I cut templates out of construction paper today, and I am planning on putting down a 1/4" exterior grade Luan ply and a raised (3 inches) panel of Luan to even out all of the bumps and curves.  This should give me a nice, even, 2 tear storage area that I'll cover with glued down, thin non-slip rubber.  While I was at it, I made a template for a shelf in the forward head locker and divides for the chart locker (to divide the storage space into 3 spaces for the computer, logs lists and manuals and small daily use items.  

1/25/08 - This project went pretty quickly and did more to upgrade the usable space than anything else that I could have done, and it really didn't add much weight.  I used "Great Stuff" foam to level, support and glue down the plywood and then I caulked with an adhesive caulk.  Finally using spray industrial adhesive, I glued down the thin non-skid white rubber.  A little touch up paint, and it'll look... well... GREAT!

1/24/08 - I froze my butt off bringing the boat South in December because the reverse cycle AC unit was freezing up in the heat mode.  I trouble shot the AC unit with Tom down at Mermaid in FL, and it was determined that either the unit was leaking Freon or else the reversing valve was intermittently sticking.  Mermaid is sending me a carton and packing to ship the unit back to FL.  Better now than during the sailing season.

1/28/08 - My Hella reading lights finally arrived so I installed them  and am really happy with the gooseneck lights in the master cabin.   These lights are amazingly bright and make reading a pleasure.  Best of all, they only burn 6W.  The reading lights in the salon I'm not sure about because I haven't yet had a chance to use them at night.  They are MUCH smaller than the gooseneck lights yet use the same bulbs and are supposed to have the same light output... we'll see.  However, they do fit nicely on the teak pad next to the Hella fans.

1/28/08 - The VHF!  I'm sorry but I have to bitch about this.  The first thing that I did on the last Gemini that I had was remove the VHF that was factory installed. I replaced it with one that had the option of a remote mic.  The radio is placed at the electrical panel which is convenient place for the factory to put it and is really not a bad place for an interior VHF.  The problem is that I'm a firm believer in having VHF at the helm.  Not a handheld but a full power, loud speaker unit that can be heard above engine noise and used without leaving the helm. 

I commented to the folks at the factory (last time) about how nice it would be if they used a VHF that had the option of adding a remote station at the helm.  Icom, Standard and now Uniden all make a radio that falls into this category; and all, but Uniden with it's new wireless remote mic, are priced fairly comparable to the Raymarine VHF that comes equipped on the Gemini.  The units are no harder to install and don't cost more. A new Gemini owner would just have to buy the remote mic, run the cable and install the plug.  This is about 1 hours worth of work and a hundred bucks... an easy and worthwhile upgrade... but no such luck.

I'm bitching because I had to buy a new VHF radio that has the optional remote mic capability.  Now I get to toss out the brand new Raymarine VHF that came with the boat or else hang out at the corner West Marine, "hey buddy, yous wanna buy a practically brand new VHF radio for cheap?  It was only used for 5 days by an old guy bringing the boat back from the factory... No REALLY!"  What more can I say?

2/03/08 - Today I tackled the job of moving the central bow cleat and installing the windlass.  The bow cleat was installed on fresh gel coat with 5200.  Even being very careful, I was unable to remove the cleat without ripping up a bit of the white gel coat.  So before I was able to do the fairly simple install of the windless, I had to put down 2 coats of gel coat and sand with progressively finer grit wet/dry paper (up to 1500 grit) to make her look like new. 

I bought the same Lewmar Profish Freefall windlass that I had on my last boat.  It worked well, and the company is very attentive to their customers.  Because it's a freefall windlass; not only does it drop the anchor quickly, but it uses very little current at a time when you're about to shut down the engine.  The install was simple having to run just 2 - #4 cables between the batteries, fuse, solenoid, wireless receiver and windlass.

When I bought the cables for the windlass, I also got cables for the high output alternator kit, that Peter Kennedy is sending me, the watermaker that I'll install later and the solar panel. (The #16 wire performance cruising installs for the solar panel is severely undersized for my 130W panel.)

2/12/08 - I'm turning the starboard aft stateroom into a pantry like so many Gemini owners do.  This is a little more complicated than I first thought.  All of the walls and lockers are single skin fiberglass.  For the lockers, I made templates of the side using construction paper then transferred those to 1/4" Luan.  I was then able to screw shelf cleats on from the backside and place them on each side inside the lockers.  I then cut the shelves to fit tight and, voila, they look like the grew there.  Putting up the wire racks, on the wall that backs to the refrigerator, took a bit more effort.  I had to make a 1/4 plywood "wall" and cover it with a piece of foam backed vinyl from the factory.  Then, before attaching it to the fiberglass wall using the same screw locations that the factory used to install the single skin fiberglass wall, I put 1/4" blue board behind it and sandwiched it in-between.  When I attached the wire racks, the screws gripped on the ply and any screws extending beyond the ply buried into the blue foam as apposed to sticking out of the fiberglass wall next to the fridge.  This looks factory finished and works great!

2/13/08 - I finally got around to finishing a couple of small projects.  There was a locker behind the head that looked silly filled with shampoos, soaps and other tall items because there was better than a foot of space above them.  I solved that by inserting a shelf and now that locker holds all of those items as well as spare TP etc.  The head doesn't really have a convenient place for a small trash bin... Oh wait, yes it does... in the HUGE recessed toilet paper holder.  Some construction paper templates, Starboard, screws and patience...voila... ooops, I said that before, no I'm not French this is errr... a"freedom" bin... yeah, that's the ticket... sorry...

The air conditioner came back from Mermaid with the reversing valve replaced and a pinhole freon leak fixed.  I installed it and after a week of running, it works great!  I'm getting 93 degree air out of the vent with 57 degrees at the intake and 44 degree water.  Not at all bad!

2/15/08 - Upgrading the electrical for liveaboard cruising can be done a hundred different ways depending on your preferences and bank account.  Here's what I'm doing.  First off, I traded out the 3 group 24 batteries that came with the boat for 3 military grade Odyssey PC2150S "dry cell" AGM batteries.  My research shows, if the specifications for these are accurate, that I should get about 240 usable amp hours (not that I need that much...), the fastest recharge acceptance rate and the longest cycle life while weighing in at only 225 lbs. 

I've installed a Xantrex Truecharge 40+  battery charger to take care of the batteries at the dock.  I will be installing a Balmar 60-YP-70-SR high output alternator with the ARS-5-H regulator and two temp sensors to power them underway and a Kyocera 130W solar panel for when I'm at anchor.  To monitor all of this, I will install the Xantrex battery monitor.

The interior incandescent light bulbs have been replaced by LED Sensibulbs from Sailors Solutions.  Their output and color match that of the former halogen bulbs but they don't generate heat or use anywhere near the electricity.

3/21/08 - Wow!  It's been a month since I've entered anything here, but I've been working my proverbial butt off.  You have to remember that I'm only putting the big items on in this section when, in reality, most of the time is spent on the little items.

Since my 2/15/08 entry, I've installed the Balmar 60-YP-70-SR high output alternator with the ARS5-H regulator, the Xantrex battery monitor and the wireless remote control for the windlass. I've ordered the 130 watt solar panel and Xantrex C12 regulator. 

I installed snaps on the forward most large window and the two overhead cockpit windows for white Phifertex covers that my canvas guy is making. He is also making solid canvas hatch covers. 

I peeled the carpeting off of the bow locker so that I could grind down the fiberglass. I added several layers of glass, as well as some aluminum, for the bow eyes that I'm installing for my anchor bridal.  This was NOT a fun job!  Grinding fiberglass in a 3 foot tall locker when your body is the full width of the locker and blocking the escape of all of that glass dust... whew!

Speaking of carpeting... I bought some nice floor mats and runners from Shaw carpets, cut them to custom fit the different areas and sent them off to a company recommended by Shaw to do the factory spiral edge binding.  When I got them back, I used spray adhesive to attach the nonskid to the back side.  They look and work great!  Very plush and comfy underfoot.

Some of the little jobs, that were time consuming but not worthy of mention, were the different water leaks both from the fresh water system and the rain.  The air conditioner stopped working a second time and had to be removed and sent back to the factory.  The galley sink faucet was too short and shaped wrong so I found a faucet that had the right shape, cut it off and epoxied it over the stump of the old one.  Size issues didn't allow for replacing with another whole faucet assembly.  I made a plastic cutting board into a cutting board/dish drain rack and made slide holders to secure it at the top of the galley settee locker.  I installed and glassed the "Official No." to the hull in the wine cellar.  I removed all of the interior doors with the exception of the head.  In the head I removed the plexiglass door.  I found it took more time to dry that off than the couple drops of water that actually make their way to the head without the door in place.  This reduced the weight of the boat another  20+ lbs.  The added benefit being that there's room for another 24' towel bar and, with the dark door gone, the head looks much bigger.

The mainsail FINALLY came back from the sailmaker with the Dutchman system; and it had to be installed, rigged and fine tuned.

Oh, I almost forgot, the easiest job but one that has paid back the biggest dividends, was the queen sized 3" (not 2") memory foam topper from Sam's Club.  It fit perfectly with no trimming, and it makes for a mattress that's more comfortable than the one at home all for $129!  Now that's a deal!

BUT, FINALLY... the interior portion of the boat is done.  Well... as done as any boat ever is...  In the next week or so, I'll be going from room to room cleaning any errant "stuff" off of where it doesn't belong. (i.e. gelcoat and adhesive overspray etc.)  Then I'll get some final pictures for this section of the Web page. I'll also post a short walk through video. (Remember that the interior will still have tools stored in the rear cabins and will still be equipped with old towels, sheets etc.)  Decorating can wait till I'm truly finished or have some spare time.  I will then start on the exterior projects. (A much shorter list, I assure you!)

Exterior Projects Mostly...

4/15/08 - I know... I promised more interior pictures and an interior walk through video, but the weather got nice so I've jumped ahead with my exterior work. I installed the solar panel on the davits, the outboard bracket and the propane grill. 

Thanks to the owners of my last Gemini for talking to me about using some reasonably priced (5/4"x6"x6' - $15 + ship!) white plastic lumber for the outboard mount.  I doubled up 2 pieces with an aluminum corner extrusion on top and u-bolted it across the port stern handrails above the steps.  It's strong enough for a 15hp outboard and has enough room for mounting the grill!

To be continued...

**I'll be cruising the Bahamas for the month of May so there will be no more updates until the first week of June**

6/09/08 - I'm back and will update now with some of the exterior projects that I got done before leaving for the Bahamas last month.


6/12/08 - OK...  I know that I bitched a bit about the VHF choice above, but that issue is NOTHING compared to this!

I didn't think much about the anchor roller bracket until last month when I anchored out in a little less than totally calm water.  I had winds in the low teens and about 1 foot waves for the evening. Nice...no big deal. I slept like a log.  After breakfast, when I pulled the anchor, I saw that my new 1/2" 3 strand anchor line was almost cut in half.  What the...!!!

It turns out that the stainless steel pieces of the anchor roller are die cut and have EXTREMELY sharp edges everywhere except the little portion that was bent back at 45 degrees.  This portion protects the rode when the rode is going close to straight down.  In other words any time the wind is strong enough to push the Gemini back even slightly on the anchor rode, the rode is rubbing on the VERY sharp edges of the stainless.  This is TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE!  On a boat your achor is literally your life insurance.  I don't know why this was installed on this boat in this fashion, but the fix was easy and not expensive.  I removed the bow roller bracket from the boat and the rollers and shafts (bolts) from the bracket and took the bracket to my metal guy.  He broke one side off of the bracket, bent the whole forward part of each side back 45 degrees and re-welded it all back together.  I then took a side grinder to all of the edges, just to make sure, and re-mounted the roller bracket using flush 3/8 countersunk bolts (my metal guy had countersunk the holes that had been used by the 3/8" hex head mounting bolts so that I could use flat head bolts then mount a thin strip of Starboard on top.) so that the chain wouldn't be knocking all of its galvanized metal coating off on the Hex head bolts that had protruded 3/8" above the bracket bottom.  Sheeeeeeesh!  This is just SO unacceptable... I don't get it...
 

I tried to get out on the cheap by buying a Manson Supreme, as apposed to a Rocna, for my main anchor.  Both anchors have very good ratings and basically look the same.  Over the last few months, I have not been able to get the Manson to really set well once.  Not once!  I wouldn't even have considered buying a Rocna after my experience with the Manson except for the fact that I got the chance to use one while piloting Vicks 55' Cat thru the Bahamas this spring (See "The Tour Guide Cruise" on the Logs page).  After using only the Rocna (no 2 anchor Bahamian moor for us!) during my month in the Bahamas on Vick's 55' cat, I sold my Manson and got the Rocna.  I can't believe it!  The anchors look the same, but the Rocna has set first time every time so far (just like on Vick's).  I've even anchored in the same places that the Manson dragged.  The Rocna bites instantly.  There's no discernable boat movement as you pull the anchor into the bottom.  In fact, don't back down too quickly or you might rip the front of the boat off!  Diving on the anchor (not a pleasure in murky NC waters) has shown that it's completely buried with only the chain leading back to the boat.  Who would have thought that two so very similar looking anchors would perform so very differently. --------Late addition--------7/13/09----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------(Some person sent me a message on Fat Chances page saying that I must have used too little scope or not enough chain with the Manson because the anchor worked for them.  (Before I go into my diatribe... even if I had anchored wrong with both anchors, the fact that the Rocna always stopped the boat as if the chain were wrapped around a tree and the Manson just slid along the bottom would be an even better recommendation for the Rocna!  Now for the diatribe...) Please... I've been anchoring properly for over 25 years all up and down the eastern seaboard and I always I use a minimum of  7 to 1 scope with at least 100' of chain and actually, usually over 7 to 1 scope cause I anchor in very shallow water and have the room to put out all of my chain.  And yes, I include my bow height above the water in the scope calculations.  Furthermore, with the Manson and the Rocna, I anchored not only the same way, but the same places as well.  As I said above, the Rocna grabbed like nothing I've ever seen before (it always tries to rip the bow of the boat off if you're backing too quickly) where the Manson dragged every time, bar none.  If your results differ and you like the Manson I'm happy for you, just like I'm happy for all of the CQR lovers out there.  Whatever works for you is what you should use.  The bottom is different in different locations.  I'm merely posting my results for the locations that I anchored in as honestly and concisely as possible.  As per, I wouldn't buy a Manson to save my life and I ended up selling it for a few hundred dollar loss only months after I bought it).   Your results may vary...-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 
The other exterior project that I did was most of my canvas work: hatch covers of Sunbrella, forward window cover made of Phifertex and one made of Sunbrella.  A Sunbrella window cover for the pilothouse window and a Sunbrella eyebrow canvas for the same window. White Sunbrella cockpit "skylight" covers. (I should have made them out of Phifertex also.)  This did a lot to keep the boat comfortable during the last week of 100 degree temperatures. 

This week I got and installed the last of the Dutchman system parts. I'll be working on the transom shower and foredeck freshwater washdown systems starting next week.

7/16/08 - The transom shower and anchor washdown system have been installed.  Some more canvas work has been completed.  I glassed in 2 shelves in the large lockers behind the centerboard cases.  The largest job was glassing several more layers in the port bow.  I  also put in an aluminum reinforcement strip just like I did on the starboard side.  This was done to allow me to safely install bow eyes in each hull for my anchor bridle and spread the load out. 

I glassed in a holder for my large Fortress anchor into the forward sail locker and I finally found spray paint that matches the gelcoat in all of the interior and exterior lockers. (They're different.) The interior match was found at Ace Hardware and is Krylon "Satin Touch Design" 3510 Ivory Satin.  The exterior lockers very close paint match is Kilz Original in the spray can.

Oh!  I got some of Vickie's art up.  I had to return the 2 pieces, after having them framed, to get non reflective glass installed.  But they're up and look great under the new Hella gooseneck lights that replaced the smaller, not as nice, Hella reading lights that I first put in.

Yesterday I quieted down the Mermaid AC unit.  This was done by installing a rheostat for the blower fan (purple wire in the wire harness leaving out of the bottom of the electrical unit) and cutting short pieces of tubing and wedging them between different metal parts. Very nice!  The final piece of the AC redo was moving the thermostat out of the highest (hottest) part of the boat where the sun shown on it all day.  I moved it to wall above the port aft cabin where it's reading a more realistic interior temperature. The bonus with this location, because the unit is now at eye level with no seat in the way, is that it's easier to read the little LCD screen when you set the programs or temperatures.

9/09/08 - I hauled the boat last week so that I could get the bottom done.  My timing was good for getting the boat out of the water for Hurricane/tropical storm Hanna.  I'm painting the bottom with 6 coats of Interlux epoxy barrier coat, then covering that with 3 coats of Pettit Ultima SR.  Oh, I raised the bottom paint 6" to do away with the brown tannin stains that all boats get on the bottom 4" - 5" of the hulls (this makes the hulls look narrower and sleeker to boot.  Nice!)  I also installed the Marelon brine through hull and a 3/4" Marelon seacock for the Spectra watermaker. 

Over the last couple of months I installed a 300W true sine wave inverter for the laptop and vacuum.  I also installed a 10 dB exterior Wifi antenna from Digital Antennas as well a .5W Wifi amplifier to make it easier to access email etc.  I installed a Sirius radio receiver for entertainment and news.  I aligned the diesel engine, torqued the head, and adjusted the valves.  I installed REAL vents for the water tanks that are in the front of the cockpit less than 5' from the tanks and don't have any dips or kinks in the hoses that would keep them from working properly.  I raised the bed in the "pantry" 1.5" so that the top plug in the water tank could be used for the vent and the side one could be used for the water feed from the watermaker.  This also give me a little more room for the parts and pieces that make up the watermaker that are mounted below the front of the bed.

I had several good suggestions for mounting the Spectra Ventura 150 watermaker from guys in the Yahoo Gemini group, but I didn't like the idea of taking all of the components apart and cramming them under the bed and into the small locker.  The installs that were done that way certainly worked, but my sense of order, not to mention ease of maintenance mandated that I do my install my way.   I have easy access to all of the parts as well as a good visual in case of any leak.

Hmmmm... I know that I've done more than what's above but I just can't think of them just now...  Oh yeah, I installed whistling fuel tank vents so that one knows when the tanks are full without spilling fuel.  I also installed a full width shelf in the starboard aft lazarette to put 3 fuel jerry jugs underneath with room left over for some water jugs and above this shelf is plenty of room for all of our diving gear.  In the port lazarette I installed bungees to hold the oil change vacuum pump, the dinghy inflation pump and the manual bilge pump.  SS hooks in both this locker and the forward locker for dock lines and clamps in the forward locker for the boathook.

09/25/08 - I changed the oil in the engine and outdrive now that they have been properly broken in and replaced both with Amsoil synthetic oil and lube.  Love this stuff and have used it on all my previous boats except for "Cat Pause"  (sorry George!). 

The rig was tuned using a Loos rig tension gauge.  This weekend I'll go out an test the Watermaker to make sure that it's functioning correctly and then it's just a matter of provisioning the boat before we can leave.  P.S. When I tested the Spectra, the watermaker was putting out almost 8 gallons/hr in the brackish waters of the Pamlico river.  Very easy to use and service.

Review after the first 3 months of cruising and living aboard.

Man, what can I tell you, after 25 years of outfitting boats to cruise the Bahamas and East coast , I really got it right this time!  All the systems work in synch with each other and all have at least lived up to, if not exceeded, my expectations in every way. 

A few examples are warranted.  The Rocna anchor is by far the best that I have ever used.  No if's and's or but's.  Yes I love my Spade but not nearly as much as the Rocna.  The Spectra watermaker doesn't leak, produces 6.3 gal/hr at actually a hair less then 1 Amp/gal.  The Odyssey Batteries charge faster and more efficiently than any batteries that I've used before.  I still haven't needed to draw them down anywhere near 40% let alone the 80% that they're garenteed for.  This means that I should get about 12 to 15 years out of them.  That doesn't sound realistic but so far they've stood up to all of the hype that they're advertised with so...?  With the fridge running on propane and not drawing on the batteries, all of the lights being LED's or fluorescent, the daily load is more than taken care of by the solar panel and the Balmar high output alternator with the little bit of motoring we naturally do.  The only time this is not true is when we've had guests that use water with reckless abandon.  Fortunately, we usually motor a bit more than usual during these times because, having guests, we are unable to pick our weather and sail to all of the points of interest so our extra electrical usage is more than recovered.  The design of the pantry has worked exceedingly well, allowing for a huge amount of storage plus the quick and safe procurement of any item needed no matter what the time or sea state.  The engine driven heater and full cockpit enclosure has meant warm intracoastal travel when it's too cold and rough to go offshore.  No leaks anywhere!

I've had some minor problems that were easily taken care of as well as minor failures that needed professional help.   In the former category I had drawers that needed a bit more sanding in order to slide easily.  In the latter category; the fridges electronic control panel went bad and had to be replaced in FL before we crossed; the WIFI amplifier from Radio Labs had some unacceptably crappy software and was replaced with an 500mw Alpha One from Engenius.  Finally one problem that I'm dealing with while here but will take care of when back in the US is the roller furling for the Screecher.  The line is SO small that it goes towards the top of the spool and jumps the grooves and aluminum bars that are supposed to hold it in.  Once it does that you can't roll the Screecher back up.  There's room for a thicker line on the spool so I'll install that.  Plus Schaffer makes a line guide that attaches to the spool and I think that combination will solve my problem.  As for now, I'm stuck having to go forward and guide the line as it rolls up on the spool will the sail is opening... Not such a big deal since you use the Screecher in predominately light winds.  The Lewmar windlass has quit working and Lewmar said send it to them for repair or replacement (3year warrantee).  The windlass is back, no charge and it works great!

I hate to sound like I'm patting myself on the back but, for me to be pleased with all of the systems, installs AND their interaction really says it all.  This boat really works well for what it was designed for.  Living aboard and cruising the Bahamas and East coast.  Next year that'll include Cuba and Central America!

Yeeha!

Oooop's I spoke too fast... The boat is sold!

Click on the picture for a larger view

You can see the protective Sunbrella cover on the edge of the Genoa, but there's not one on the Screecher...

What?  A bilge pump hose in the food locker...

A lot of teak on this boat...

This isn't even all of the teak that I took off.  I ended up having to do a second run on the rest.

1/4" exterior Luan, foamed in place and calked.

With the rubber non-slip liner... flat... nice!

These lights are perfect as they address the sliding window covers and the wiring issue.  Now that I've used them for a few nights of reading I'm extremely happy with the light output and function of these light.

Small Hella lights next to the fans...

They work amazingly well although now that I've had a chance to use them, I wish that I had mounted them higher.  These have been replaced with the long stem Hella's like in the Master.

The new Icom VHF fits nicely in place of the Raymarine, is hooked to the GPS/

Chartplotter as well as the remote mic.

A full function, full power, loud speaker remote commandmic2.  Looks like it belongs there doesn't it?

I'll use the factory supplied Danforth and rode as a stern anchor and replace tit with a Manson Supreme (Sounds like something ordered from Taco Bell but really... a great anchor.)  Wrong the Mason sucked!  See below...

False wall installed with wire racks attached in the new pantry.  Looks like the original but the screws don't pierce through the original single skin fiberglass wall.

The bottom has 4 of the tallest bath items I could find.  It's hard to use ~2'  of vertical room efficiently... even with the shelf there is still excess space over top of the bottles.

A perfect place for a small custom Starboard trash can.  It took me about 2 hours to cut and build the bin and then about 4 more moving bits and pieces around so that it would actually fit, work and look sort of "factory."

I store my charts flat under one of the mattresses so I decided to divide the chart locker up into 3 sections.  The big one for the laptop, the small one for junk and the medium section for the log and manuals

This is one of the small easy jobs that I usually don't comment on.  I removed the teak bungs and screws to flip the frame and door so that it opens towards the galley for easy access.  This is the pantry after all.

Shaw carpets makes these extremely plush, short nap area rugs that have the colors needed to compliment green settees and all of the interior teak.

The solar panel swivels enough on the high rail that there's adequate adjustment if one had nothing else to do but aim the panel at the sun...  Me, I rarely touch it.  You can see the motor mount over the stern steps.

The motor mount with more than enough room to mount the grill.  As I mentioned on the Cat's Away Web site, the new Magma Newport grill is awesome!  I've used it in well over 30 kts of wind and had no problem with it blowing out or not cooking the food.

The new bend in my bow roller bracket so that I don't cut anymore anchor line!

Flat head countersunk bolts hold the bracket on without tearing the galvanized zinc off of my chain like the original hex heads did.

Phifertex on the front window and Sunbrella on the hatches.

White Sunbrella in the cockpit to keep the sun off.

The new shade cloth covers the whole back and keeps the afternoon sun down to a dull roar.

This picture is terrible, but it's supposed to show the new pin position with the stainless tab that keeps it locked now that the window base was cut an inch to improve access to the chartplotter.

Vickie made me prints of two of her hand painted silks.  The originals are much larger but these are sized right, look great and add both color and personality to the boat

One of the glassed in shelves.  The rubber mat is from Lowes and keeps things dry if small amounts of water leak in from the centerboard fittings during rough sailing.