The pile is building

I've got a bit of a break on boat jobs due to family commitments, but she's out of the water shortly...

And the bits needed for while she's ashore are arriving steadily, and i'm slowly running out of floor space in the hall!

Finally, i've had to take a flyer on antifoul in terms of volume, and have opted for 7.5ltrs.... Hope its enough!!!

pumps and pipes

Have today ordered all the bits needed to fit the fridge and bilge pump through hulls. I've also ordered the 2 new bilge pumps needed. I've got large deep bilges, and so have gone for slightly larger bilge pumps. They are barely any more expensive than the normal small ones, and for the additional peace of mind, its seemed worth it. So we'll have the capacity to pump out 5,000 gallons per hour, or 17,000 Lites per hour if you prefer. This is of course theoretical capacity, and we will have a small rise to the outlet, so it'll be a bit less, so hopefully not too much. I've also decided to fit seacocks to all the through hulls for the bilge pump and fridge, even though they are above the waterline. Better safe than sorry. I have however, gone for cheaper versions for these, rather than the very expensive Bronze versions, that are much better at handling electrolytic problems, with just the fridge intake that is below the waterline in Bronze (and that's only tiny, so not too expensive). Along the way, i've managed to get the second coat of varnish on the doors for the forward heads. I'me not back on board until the following weekend, so hope to have them completed by then, to nicely finish the whole thing off.

And....

I've done the cabin sole in the heads with Ronseal Diamond hard satin finish clear varnish.

I've been advised to use an oil and wax, but concerned about it getting slippery when wet.

The Ronseal looks terrific, is easy to apply and dries quickly.

Now i've got to start thinking about the headlining too... Need to decide whether to use Ivory or white...

I also need to mend the hatch and stop another leak... Its fine with the cover on, but without it, there's a leak... And not putting the headlining in until that's sorted. My plan is to cut a sheet of heavy ply and bolt it into place temporarily while I bring the hatch home to remake. That'll also mean new catches and struts... Its only money!

On and on and on and......

A good weekend of progress...

The new mast boot is fitted, so that should be the leaks stopped...

And then on with the interior.

The final coat of matt varnish applied in the forward heads and the toilet removed... I then repainted the toilet plinth, and varnished the cabin sole in the heads.

And then finished off by reinstalling the loo and putting the first coat of white on...

So, the forward heads nearly done. One more coat of white and refit the headlining trim (which is at home waiting to be varnished, and will be done this week) and that's another cabin finished.

Finally, i removed some more varnish from the main saloon.

So, must keep plugging on.... Its feeling like progress!

Deadlines

I've tentatively set myself a date of 4th Aug to have enough done on Phoenix to get her out of the marina, but the more I think about it, the less likely I think I am to achieve it...

I keep adding things to the list of 'must do's' as I think about it... and the list is getting pretty darned long!
Its not a case of picking the things that will make it possible and bring ruthless... There are a ton of things that are essential, and i'll either run out of funds or time.

Examples i've recently added include getting an ensign staff and mounting it, new batteries (i'm pretty sure the old ones are a bit too tired), fitting an anchor light, nav lights, installing the VHF and aerial, new wiring for the windlass, draining and cleaning the fuel tank and wiring up the alternator, starter and gauges....

Not to say i wont keep trying, but confidence not high.

Sanding again

Great start on the saloon.... Half way down one side back to bare wood.

Heads ahead

The forward heads is back in bare wood.

I have also removed the toilet, which might be 'interesting' later!, so that i could take the sole (floor for the landlubbers) back to bare wood. I needed to do this, as putting the toilet back in will make it inaccessible.

So, varnishing starts shortly!

Target dated

I've always had this year written off in my head from a sailing perspective, but progress has been good, and now i've got a goal!

Our annual pirate weekend is set for the 4th August... A bit later than usual, so i've a fighting chance of making it our first trip...

Better knuckle down!

back on the varnishing

Well... at least the stripping! I still have a seat to do from the forepeak, so thats been taken back to bare wood this evening. I also brought home the various locker doors from the forward heads.. so did one of them too. The seat lid is the only thing i`ve found on the boat that is veneered, and in one corner it had just started lifting, so i`ve put a dab of varnish on it, and its now weighted down until it`s properly fixed back in place. Then i can start varnishing again! This weekend is looking like a weekend of varnish stripping again... hope to get the heads done and..... start on the main saloon. Lift out now in sight as well.... special offer starts 28th may, so will be after that... lots to do while she`s out of the water!