new switch panel

to say i'm pleased with it would be an understatement!

The switches fit perfectly, and the resettable breakers the same....

bloody marvellous!!!

As much as I was pleased with my hand made version, I have to admit that this looks substantially better... and shifting to breakers and away from car style blade fuses will surely save heartache in the future.... and it gets rid of those nasty ebay switches on the old panel, and replaces them with nice quality ones that are suitably rated, and won't keep failing

boring blog update number X

..sorry, forgotten how many boring varnishing posts ther are now!

But today I did.... some more varnishing.

oh, along the way, I fetched a new bit of glass for the mirror.... so that's ready to fit next time i'm on board, as i've put the final coat on the wooden frame.

The forepeak door is now ready for the final matt coat, and i've finished the matt coat on a handful of the trim pieces... 

I certainly know how to live it up!!!

As an attempt to have something to talk about other than varnishing, I also ordered a couple of gas fittings today too. Currently, the gas pipe for the cooker terminates correctly in a through bulkhead nozzle, but its in the wrong place. I put it in temporarily so that I could use the cooker... but have now identified a much better place for a nozzle, that will hide the pipe from damage much more effectively. I am alsotaking the chance to fit a gas tap in the galley at the same time, so that I can isolate the gas without having to go the gas locker.

Yet another job... but it's OK... its already on the list!

bits and pieces

I've been steadily collecting various bits and pieces necessary to continue making progress... my switch panel, that i've already mentioned, is about to be despatched.... but i've also got a few other odds and sods...

1] A bag of 200 12mm teak plugs to hide the screws on all the nearly varnished trim

2] A 12mm drill bit to enlarge the screw holes for aforementioned plugs

3] The necessary speedfit bits to fit the galley and heads taps

4] A new, sharp chisel to tidy up the teak plugs

I've also been racking my brain as to how to make the small amount of cable that can't be hidden, nice and tidy.. there are bits for example, to the light in the centre of the ceiling in the heads.. they can't be buried without substantial, expensive demolition and reconstruction... instead i'll run the 8" of wire externally... but it still needs clipping up tidily.

The ordinary cable clips are substantially too large.. the smallest I can find are for a cable at 3.2mm diameter... and mine are around 2mm... however, a ton of googling unearthed a source for p clips designed for clamping wires down on a circuit board... ie just like a normal p clip, but smaller!... these are only 9mm long, and take a cable from 1.5 to 2.2mm... perfect!

I also had to source a bag of stainless screws to mount them.. again, they needed to be tiny... I found some of 6.5mm length, and 2mm thread diameter... ideal, but in a bag of 1000!!!!... at least they were only a tenner for the bag.... anyone need some tiny A4 self tappers?

And finally, just to maintain the dull streak... more varnish applied...well on the way!

door

another dull varnishing update.... second coat on all the trim

and first coat on the door into the forepeak.

Forepeak door will need a good flatting off before the next coat, as I was a little generous with the varnish on the sides, and ther are a few 'drips' on the underside that will need removing once dry... but still good progress. In the meantime, I've sourced the replacement doorhandles... not cheap at $99 each when you need 4 of them, plus a $55 delivery charge as they are coming from the US...but they they are the right ones, that fit the existing round holes for the catchment, rather than having to route out for a square fitting... and even then, the square ones aren't much cheaper... the cheap ones are made from rubbish material, that will corrode in 2 minutes flat, and also are not easy to find for a thin marine door.

shiny shiny... mmmmm

Few more bits of varnishing done... watching the weather... hopefully touch dry before it rains!

rain stops play

With a decent weather forecast, I set up the various bits of wood trim on some old battens in the garden to keep them off the patio, and started varnishing... just half a dozen in, its started to spit with rain, and with more obviously on the way, I had to bail out and move all the trim inside. sahem, as it would have been nice to get the first coat on.. but not the end of the world.

In the meantime, I have ordered the new switch panel. The dimensions proved to be correct, but I did think to add the ships call sign, MMSI and Part 1 number as well... so should look great. I have got all the switches and breakers for the panel, so will get it made up when it arrives in a few days. The only thing I wondered about was lighting, as the switches are unlit, but have come across the following, which I will add if neccessary... http://www.amazon.co.uk/White-Motorcycle-License-Plate-Light/dp/B008U0WBKY

Final bits of (good) news... while hunting for something else this evening, I found the missing bit of trim, so now have a full set... result!

winches in...

...and the clutches too.... and all the bolts below ground back to get them behind the headlining.... hoorah!

That was to prove enough for me.... took until 14:00, and that seemed like an opportune moment to stop and head for home... 

very pleased with the progress over the last few days... the list, despite having a few extra items added, is still shorter than previously... here it is...

1 galley light wiring

2 forepeak light wiring

3 matts cabin light wiring

4 wiring for anchor light

5 spot lights wiring

6 put in plastic pipe to forward heads

7 fit galley taps

8 fit ubend on sink to avoid bent pipe

9 remove copper pipe to aft heads

10 fit plastic pipe to aft heads

11 fit aft heads taps

12 mount aft heads

13 sort aft heads pipe work

14 wire up fuel gauge

15 wire up water gauge

16 fix table down

17 secure pipework

18 secure cabling

19 varnish remaining trim

20 varnish mirror frame

21 replace mirror glass

22 refit mirror

23 refit forward heads trim

24 secure cable in forepeak

25 rewire forward nav lights

26 get switch panel made

27 make up panel

28 rewire switch panel

29 paint white on sofa

30 paint white in coffin

31 paint white in forepeak

32 refit step in forepeak

33 varnish head door

34 refit door on heads

35 varnish forepeak door

36 refit forepeak door

37 size hatch strut bolts

38 source new strut bolts

39 remove and clean struts

40 remake hatches

41 rewire to aft cabin for lights

42 rewire to aft cabin for stern light

43 rewire to aft cabin for heat exchanger

44 rewire to forepeak for heat exchanger

45 replace engine

46 run pipework for heater

47 fit heater

48 fit exchanger in forepeak

49 fit exchanger in saloon

50 fit exchanger in aft cabin

51 mount cooker

52 remake gas pipe to galley

53 fit new manual pump in galley

54 revarnish sole boards

55 recover headlining

56 remount headlining

57 mount 240v plug in cockpit

58 seal up pedestal

59 mount pedestal guard

60 fit wind instrument sender

61 fit VHF aerial

62 fit tricolour

63 fit new steaming light

64 runs wires down mast

65 fit wind gen on mizzen

66 fit solar panels on dog house

67 strip interior of doghouse

68 varnish interior of doghouse

69 fit turning plate to mast at gooseneck

70 fit reefing lines

71 replace topping lift

72 run windlass wires back to cockpit

73 fit windlass switches in cockpit

74 replace connector on bow windlass

75 shorten davits

76 fit hydrovane

77 fit watermaker

78 wire up watermaker

79 fit SSB

80 wire up SSB

81 fit aerial tuner

82 wire up SSB aerial

83 fit cockpit tent studs

84 remove and refurb cockpit teak

85 replace windows in saloon

86 refit curtain tracks and trim

87 make up new curtains

88 recover seats and cushions

89 revarnish saloon table

90 remove old lifting rings

91 refit new lift rings

92 secure batteries

93 clip up wiring in engine room

94 remount pipework for drains and autopilot

95 refit autopilot parts

96 rewire autopilot

97 fit new ensign staff

98 paint bilges

99 fit instrument pod at helm

100 fit new plotter

101 fit VHF remote

102 revarnish cockpit door

103 strip aft cabin

104 revarnish aft cabin

105 remove aft cabin headlining

106 replace aft cabin headlining

107 remove aft cabin curtain rail

108 replace aft cabin curtain rail

109 make new aft cabin curtains

110 fit new shower

111 fit pipework for new shower

112 rewire for shower

113 fit sump pump for shower

114 fit pipework for shower drain

115 fit clock, barometer and clock

116 mount book shelves

117 fit new spotlights

118 fit autocompass back up

119 remove galley fittings on wall

120 fit flouro light in galley

121 wiring for galley lights

122 rebed all trim plates on decks

123 silicon bead round dog house windows and lowers

124 refit trim pieces over wiring

125 remake cupboard interiors

126 fit bowthruster

127 reseal fridge hole

128 fit hinges and catches on last two doors in saloon

129 strip salon steps

130 varnish saloon steps

131 add grip strip to saloon steps

132 varnish light mount discs

133 fit speakers for radio

134 fit new whale pump

135 empty engine room cupboard of junk

136 add engine circuit to calorifier

137 remove old charger

138 remove old electronic compass

139 empty forepeak lockers of junk

140 paint forepeak lockers

141 fit new catches for hatches

142 fit new handles on doors

143 fit compass holder

144 fit binocular holder

145 fit pencil holder at chart table 

146 fit cigarette socket at chart table

147 fit battery monitor at chart table

148 fit ipad mount at  chart table

149 wire up stereo

150 fit stereo aerial

151 fit NMEA mux

152 fit USB connector for laptop

153 fit new sails

154 fit stack pack on mizzen

155 fit stack pack on main

156 fit brackets for rear of cockpit tent

157 service winches on mast

158 remove spare mast winch and boom winch

159 service genoa winches

160 make aft hatches flush

161 service aft seacock

162 fit new liferaft

163 fit hydrostatic release

164 mount white flare near cockpit

165 fit high powered torch in cockpit

166 refit lifebouys

167 refit throwing lines

168 secure anchor in bow roller

169 fit LEDs in internal lights

170 fit LEDs in nav lights

171 fit light in engine room

172 mount float switch properly in engine room

173 mount bilge pump properly in engine room

174 refit open door catches

175 refit hatch catches

176 clip up windlass wiring

177 remake and fit trim for dorade vent in heads

178 fit new vent on deck

179 shorten guard wires

180 add rope to guard wires

181 secure all stanchions properly

182 refit cockpit doors and catches

183 refit tonnage plaque

184 fit bell

185 fit oil lamp

186 wire up compass

187 wire up deck light

188 reseal gaps in teak decking

189 touch up exterior varnish

190 remove old radome

191 fit new raydome

192 fit radar reflector

193 fit windex

194 fit new through deck on aft coachroof

195 fit new stern light

196 fit new stern light through deck

197 rewire engine room fan

198 securing strap for gas bottle

199 stop valve for gas in galley

200 fit danbuoy

201 wire to aft cabin for cig socket

202 fit cig socket in aft cabin

203 paint cockpit

204 refit trim panels in cupboards

205 varnish trim panels in cupboards

206 refit formica panels in saloon

hide and seek on a boat

You'd think it would be hard to hide on a boat wouldn't you.... well on Phoenix you'd be wrong.

Or at least, I found a few new places to contort myself into today that would meet the criteria.

So, I was initially removing the old copper pipe to the forward heads... an easy task you might imagine. Other than the builder clearly decided that that nasty old pipe should be put well out of sight... so far out of sight that it hadn't seen the light of day in 35 years. This therefore involved crawling into spaces below the sole boards (the floor boards for any landlubber readers) into the space referred to as the bilge for very good reasons... now on Phoenix, this is a decent sized space... enough for a human being in their entirety... but only if they are a practiced contortionist. Once suitable hidden in the bilges, I then had to wield a hacksaw to cut aforementioned pipe... and then finally, extract in manageable sized segments. I only lost several pints of blood in the process, with a few to spare.

Not satisfied with this exercise, I then had to refit the new plastic pipe. Into the same dark recesses.

Only, it also treated me to magic tricks. 

Pushing a pipe through a hole in a bulkhead would be a simple task one would imagine. Only, in this case, it magically failed to appear on the other side. At every bulkhead.

The first pipe caused a couple of hours of swearing. The second, with a remaining hole now half the size at each bulkhead, caused somewhat more.

I did lose, I believe, the same pints of blood again.

But don't think it was all over..... the final laugh was still yet to come.

The pipe work was destined to terminate at taps in the forward heads. To fit the taps, I clearly needed to remove the old taps first. But, the nuts that secured them were corroded firmly into place. Use of ever more ambitious tools failed to budge them, culminating in a 18" long wrench and a hammer... and no success.

So, I had to resort to a technique that can only be described as hellish. The tap's undersides with the offending nuts, were in a small cupboard below the sink... into which I managed to squeeze my head and shoulders, with a pair of safety goggles.... and an angle grinder. Imagine just how deaf I was for 20 mins afterwards, and the sheer volume of grinding particles that managed to find their way up my nose.

But, hell... the new taps are in, and just waiting on some fittings to connect them to the new installed pipework, and we'll have running hot and cold in there... wahoo!

Along the way I did manage a few other tasks too... I finished remaking all the bolts and nuts under the coachroof and recessing them properly... and then ground off all the bolt tails with the angle grinder that caused so much grief in the cupboard.... I also painted a few square inches of the coachrood ready for the winches and clutches to be fitted tomorrow.

So, all in all, another day of fine progress.

prepping for the headlining

Not a bad day pf progress!

It seemed by lunchtime, that I'd not got much done, but when I stepped back, actially, i'd achieved quite a lot... the starboard side 'tubes' in the dog house were ground back and sanded first

and then, I spent quite a lot of time 'repairing' the coach house roof under the dog house with marine filler, ti make it smooth enough to paint. While I won't paint all of it yet, I do need to paint the bit that goes under the winches and clutches, as I don't want to have to remove them again, otherwise the headlining can't go in yet. So after a lot of qork their, with filler and sanding, I was finally able to decid where to mount the clutches and winches and drill the holes for them.

The red tape is simply there to keep any moisture out overnight. It took quite a while to decided where to mount them... I needed to factor in a sensible winching position, fair rope leads to avoid friction, the position of bolts below and avoid fouling other things such as lights... the classic measure twice, cut once!

Next, I started removing the bolts from the previously mounted deck organisers and cutting holes in the ply backing in the headlining before refitting them... this moves the nuts out of the way and will result in a much neater headlining installation...

The bolts before

The bolts after

FInally, I mounted the gyro compass, which needs to go as close as possible to the roll centre of the boat, and hence is in the main saloon.. and led the wiring back to the engine room, where the balck box that is the brains of the autopilot will live... that took a while!

So, not a bad day overall.

getting more stuff done

Onboard again, and productive. Yesterday afternoon, I managed to wire up the light above the chart table which is a neat combined red/white unit, and then, something that will help a lot, wired up the light under the doghouse, so we'll be able to see where the key goes when we get back onboard in the dark!

Today, i'll be wiring up the galley light and forepeak, grinding back the new 'tubes' in the doghouse, and then starting to shorten and cut off the bolts through the coachroof so that the headlining can go back in. If I get chance, I will also trial fit the clutches and winches.

So, not the most exciting blog entry, but at least their is genuine progress to report.

and they're done

all the wooden trim pieces are now sanded!

Sore fingers from using sandpaper and wire wool on the fine detail...

When I come back from the boat, i'll bring the varnish back, and then they can start to look shiny!

....actually it'll be gloss varnish, matt varnish and thinners. The final finish will be matt, but you achieve that by putting several coats of gloss on first, with increasingly lower levels of thinners in them, and then just the final coat is matt... that way you get a nice flat finish, plus the matt looks 'deep'... can't wait!

and more sanding

for the dedicated blog follower, you'll be pleased to know that I have completed another 5 trimpieces tonight... just 8 to go.

forgot how much I love sanding...

...yeah... like hell!

After the excitement yesterday of getting the headlining panels out, I thought i'd continue today with the wooden trim pieces that go between them.... there are quite a few of them, and they all still need varnishing... well most of them... boy do I know how to live an exciting life!

The first challenge.... finding all the trim... they were spread around the house and garage... all located bar one... its either on the boat, or i'll be turning the house upside down!

Anyway... 9 pieces back to bare wood.... 13 to go!

switch panel

I think i've mentioned previously that the switch panel I made was OK, but the switches have proved unreliable. Consequently, I needed a new panel.

I've designed one using some proper software, ready to accept some much better quality switches, and was about to hit the 'go' button when I bottled it, and decided to double check my measurements!

So that's another job to do once on board.... and as much as I was pleased with my hand engraved panel, a properly designed and machine engraved one will look very nice indeed.

Also, I've taken the opportunity to put proper resettable breakers on the panel, rather than the automotive spade fuses that I have currently got.... makes life a lot easier should one blow!

headlining

I've stuck a surplus chartplotter and bits on eBay, and the funds that will be raised are going towards getting the new headlining... 

I did however, need to work out how much headlining material to buy.... its not cheap, so taking some time to measure up makes sense!

Hence, i've got all the panels out of the garage, and laid them out and measured them...

It was a good reminder of how they were laid out anyway!

It appears that this lot are about 7m linear of the material... or at least will be if I can get away with about 1" of material turned back on the panel, which should be sufficient.... if not, then I can only get 2 panels out of a width, so would need a LOT more!

I will order 10m, as it gives me some spare, plus, I will still need to do the aft cabin.

I can always order a bit more if needed at a later date.

Before I refit the headlining, i've still a few jobs to do... such as a few wiring jobs, finish fitting the clutches and winches on the coachroof, and fit the gyro compass (the wiring runs under the headlining)... but i'll prioritise those tasks... in particular, in order to fit the winches and clutches, I need to paint the coachroof in the cockpit with 2 pack, so will do that nearly first.... but then have to grind back the newly fitted 'pipes' for the ropes before that... its like doing a jigsaw puzzle!

so, what's to be done?

sigh.... its still a long long list.

I've created it in excel, and marked the things that have to be done before we can get out of the marina, and even that subset is quite long!

However, I have my mojo back, and am ready to crack on.

For the next visit....

First things first, I want to finish pulling out the remainder of the old copper plumbing, and get the new plastic stuff in... the old copper material is green and corroded, and is just plain horrible... every time you even touch it, you end up green....  I do then need to clip the plastic piping up... currently, event the stuff i've already put in for the main galley is just laying loose in the bilges. One of the advantages of the plastic pipe though  is that basic pipe clips can be screwed to the woodwork, and the pipe can be made secure and neat is very short order.

I also want to finish pulling through and terminating the wiring... much is done, but there are a few places that aren't yet completed such as the light above the galley, chart table and the windscreen wiper... probably a dozen things in total... but until its done,. its another job that will stop me refitting the headlining.

Finally, i'd like to wire up the gauges... both the fuel and water tank gauge are installed in the panel, but need wiring up.

That should be enough to keep me going!

ladies and gentlemen, apologies for the slight delay....

...but i'm back!

Yes, its been a while... i've been off doing some silly long distance triathlon thingy... but that's all done, and i'm back on Phoenix full steam ahead.

Today, I only have the one day, due to a diversion to Harwich to pick up C after she's spent weeks gallivanting around Europe... ah, the luxury of youth and no responsibilities!

However, its been a productive day... myself, SWMBO and M have spent the whole day scrubbing... we've all got fingers worn down to the bone, but the decks looks fab!.... lovely clean teak, sparkly white fibreglass... yeah!

Back on with avengence!