Scattered Projects

My focus continues to dwindle!  I am all over the place.  Need to concentrate!  Aw what the heck, just enjoy the ride.

As previously mentioned, my next two major projects are to install plumbing and the sole (floor) for you land lubers!  Until then, I am trying to complete projects that will create dust or debris.   I want to clean the "bilge" areas before I install the plumbing hose, so it is nice and sanitary.  To that end, I need to finish the headliner and trim work.  I have completed the beadboard liner in the port berth and nearly competed the starboard berth and head, when I ran out of material.  It is now on order to finish.  Then I can install the teak trim.  Until then a few odds and ends.

I installed the two ignition switches for the outboards.  I need to "tap" into the start wire to run the engine hour meters.  The engine control unit shown above also has a safety switch that requires the throttle to be in neutral to start the engine.  So at this point, I will not bed any of the instruments, etc until all of the electrical components are working together.

I was originally going to mount the engine hour meters directly above the ignition switch, but the bulkhead is too thick.  I will likely just mount them on the electrical panel door.

I also purchased an AC Selector switch, (the white nob), which will allow me to switch between shore power and a generator or some other auxiliary source of power.  These switches cost over $100 new, but I found one at Minney's, my go to boat salvage shop, for $10!

I mounted both the AC switch and the 30 amp breaker on a board as shown.

Took this picture tonight to show the 2 cabin lights I installed.  It came with G4 type incandescent bulbs, but I switched them out with LED bulbs that I bought on ebay.

The cabin lights have a white and red bulb and I was able to find a red LED as well.

Moving back to the inside.   This is a shot of the port forward berth with the cabin light fixture.  This is the existing light fixture original to the boat.  I also switched the festoon incandescent with a LED.  All the lights, including navigation, deck lights, etc. will be LED.  BTW, this is a good shot of the berth area with the headliner and trim installed.  Just need to clean it up a bit and it is ready for a foam cushion!

This is the corner right above the port berth area.  The trim piece is hiding where the two pieces of foam backed liner meet.  I am attempting to bend the trim piece to conform.  I wet the wood and will see if I can bend it enough to conform to the contour.  If not, I will have to cut it in 2 or 3 segments.  I have a piece of trim pushing it up.  We'll see.

While, I was installing this trim piece yesterday, I had another OOPs moment.  After drilling the 3 screws in, I decided to walk to the outside to make sure they did not go through the fiberglass...You guessed it!  Now I have 3 holes to fill and touch up with the rest of my other "imperfections"

I ended up fiberglassing a piece of 1/2" plywood in the corner to accept the screws.  This picture is after that was done.   Cest La Vie

Settee Varnish and Lower Headliner

I decided to tidy things up and vacuum the dust in preparation for a couple coats of varnish on the settee. Also finished installing the beadboard headliner in forward berth areas.

Here is the port forward berth area.  I will trim off the headliner with teak molding at some point.  The added ports make it nice and bright in comparison to the "before" photo below.

Quite utilitarian!

This is the starboard forward berth area.  I will finish painting over the baby blue at some point.  I just purchased an access hatch that I will install on the bulkhead in the back so I can access the dead space area behind the refrigerator.  At this point I am contemplating putting the condenser in that area instead of in the storage area below.

The following photos were taken today after 2 coats of varnish.  The first coat was cut with about 25% mineral spirits and the second coat was full strength. I will likely put at least 2 more coats, but likely later. Starting to look good! The bare sole distracts from the vision.  Speaking of the sole, I am seriously considering using plywood, stained to look like teak with laid in fir strips to resemble holly.  I saw this done on a boat forum and it looked awesome, and at a fraction of the price of the real thing. Just need plenty of epoxy/poly on all sides to water proof it.

Looking through the helm port window.  On the right hand side, you cans see that the electrical chase is mostly finished.

Looking from the galley area.

And from the port side.

While the varnish was drying, I moved to the outside to install the mainsheet traveler on the arch.  I used the original track and car with some new blocks. There are 8 "tabs" that were welded to the tube intersections for attachment points.  I put a double block with becket on the car and a triple block on the boom to create a 6:1 purchase. The main sheet will run along the boom to the mast and down and around to the helm station.