Progress Update: April 17th

(Eric beginning work on under-bunk box project)

• The under-bunk, main salon storage box is completed! This will provide a safe place for clamps, the small drill press and belt sander. There is more room for other tools as well. 
• The water maker is up and running after being pickled for over 6 months. We now have the ability to create 24 gallons of pure water in an hour. This was a very important project and we are very grateful for the relative ease in getting it running again. Eric went through the manual with a fine-tooth comb and carefully implemented each step with success. 
• Eric has begun working on the deck nonskid in sections. Each section will be prepped with sanding and a bit of caulking repair if needed and then re-painted. The first coat of paint receives a thorough coat of non-skid sand and once the paint dries, the excess sand is swept up with the shop-vac. Then it receives two more coats of paint. Good non-skid is a safety issue on a boat and can save from dangerous slips and falls. It is especially needed underway to provide secure footing in rough weather. 

Progress Report: March 28th

(Eric installing 2nd bookshelf)

• Eric just finished a rebuild of the deck box/mast step. He says, "Finished the deck box/mast step rebuild, repaint and nonskid job. Now it's a safe and easy trip to deal with the mainsail halyard and some good storage for dingy gear. It was pretty dark and nasty with mildew and some rot inside and the nonskid that was there was pretty much worthless. I like my feet to stay planted where I put them out on deck!" Job well done Eric!! It looks great!
• The 2nd bookshelf is completed and installed. This one was made especially for navigation/chart books and guides. 
• The 60lb CQR anchor has received a new coat of galvanized paint and is ready for use.

Progress Update: March 11th

 (Eric making fiddles for tool shelves)

• Closet shelving for extra tool storage is finished. We really want to keep as many specialty tools as possible which will enable us to tackle a lot of different jobs. Eric is carefully sorting through years of accumulation. 
• The first set of bookshelves are finished and installed in the aft cabin. They are a gorgeous combination of Mahogany and curly maple! We have a lot of specialty wood Eric has been carrying around for years. There are several more areas throughout the boat to put bookshelf storage. We are trying to utilize as much space as possible. 
• The weather has finally warmed up enough in the evenings to stop the bad condensation. Mary has begun in-depth cleaning to remove mildew and concentrating on permanent storage. 

 Prayer request:

• A lot of wisdom is needed to tackle the storage unit and get the mission vessel ready for use. We don't want to leave behind important items or hang on to non-essentials. 

Thanks for praying!!

 

Progress Update: February 15th

• The reconfiguration of the windlass battery box is complete. We saved money by using two batteries that were already onboard and added a 12v to 12v charger and double battery switch. This will allow us to boost the power to the windlass for really deep anchorages when we haul up a lot of chain.
• The new Groco head is installed! The plumbing had to be redone and was a bit challenging but everything is now working perfectly.  
• The tool storage area is almost finished! New shelving and repainted lockers are almost ready. We will begin final organizational placement shortly. The weather is still causing very wet condensation problems and has held us up but we hope to be past this barrier in a few weeks. The hull stays dry at night with temperatures above 50 degrees. Below that we battle condensation! Our current location being in southern Louisiana, hopefully the colder nights will be over soon. 

Progress Update: February 1st

(New gear oil)

• The anchor windlass gearbox has been scraped, primed and painted. The motor has been rebuilt and reinstalled. 
• Eric has reconfigured the battery compartment that runs the windlass. Instead of one battery, there will be another for back-up and a switch will be installed for battery selection. A new charger for the batteries has been ordered and is on the way. 
• Moving the control box to make room for the second battery has resulted in more painting. This will be completed in a couple more days.
• The mainsail cover is back on with a new zipper and longer cinch straps. Re-configuring the lazy jacks took some time but everything came out fine.
• Mary continues to scrape and sand the outer teak as weather permits and Eric fixed another leaking port.