Winter project time

T

texasair

Member
Well, It will get down to near freezing here in Texas tonight, so the modifications start. Stripped down some of the interior to make ready for the messy cutting out of the bulkhead in front of the copilot.
The first mate tried it out on Terry's 22 at Guttenberg and liked it.

Picked up the formed aluminum from the fab shop and starting the layout of vent pickups and fill spouts and flanges for the fuel gages. Should have everything ready for the welder by next week. The new fuel tanks will be 35 gallons each and go in place of the existing tanks.

We have dozens of items on the list but the above 2 are the biggies.

Just 2 weeks out from knee surgery, so climbing in and out of the boat is a little slower than normal.

The local Academy store had the Pelican Kayaks like Pat and Patty let us try out at Lake Powell year before last, on sale for 129 so we got a pair.

Can't wait until spring.
 
Hi Tex,

Pretty ambitious so soon after knee surgery. There are a couple things I need to address on Wild Blue (windshield wiper motor and autopilot bracket replacement); I have the parts, but it's 38º out this morning! :disgust The boat is in the water at our dock, so it's going to have to warm up a bit before I go out there. 8)

Screaming hot deal on the Pelican kayaks. We bought one at Academy for $199 and had to hunt around to find one at that price (they advertise it, but seems it isn't always in stock at every store). Joan really likes that kayak - lightweight and easy to muscle around. You two will have a lot of fun with those.

Stay warm, keep us posted on what you're working on... and if you run out of projects, feel free to come down this way... I'll lend you a buffer so you can put a coat of wax on Wild Blue's cabin top. :mrgreen:

Best wishes,
Jim
 
I've just been making a project list for Carpy this winter.

Carpy is at Canvas Unique in Nashville, TN at the moment, being fit with new Canvas. The bimini will be more than a foot longer. The rear curtains will come back behind my motorwell shelf, just in front of the motors. It will make the aftdeck a much more roomy. Screens will be nice in buggy places. A new slant back travel cover will be nice for keeping her dry and tidy.
Pictures next week.

We made our first boaterhome stop on our way back from Appalachicola
at a Wall Mart in Dothan AL. In anticipation of more this, and some long distance travel (Lake Powell), I'm going to wire the rig to charge on the road. As usual the C-Brat chatter is very helpful here.

I'm rigging two kayaks on Carpy's new roof racks replacing the radar mast. The radar was becomming unreliable and the mast was causing clearance problems so, it is in the shed for now. I'm not sure if the factory anchor light will be tall enough with the kayaks. There was a broken LED at the top of the radar mast (another $100 reason to scrap the radar). Is there a LED bulb to fit the factory light?

I'd like to covert to LEDs in all the lights.
I need to add some storage in the berth.
I'll be using computers onboard for the first time this year. I have a space on the dash where the radar was so maybe I can rig something there.

Recent talk of the core infusion at the gas tank is causing me some concern. I'll have to check that out.

A boarding step is greatly needed. it's a mighty big step, and it seems to be the same both ways!
I'll be doing the usual fussing over most everything. Now that I can get Carpy into the shop (without the radar mast) it will all come easier.

We intend to do some snowbirding this winter. Back to the St Johns, also the Suwanee River, the cross florida canal through Lake Okechobee, maybe the Everglades? Looks like we'll head south around Feb 1. We're looking forward to a great cruisig year.

Bruce Cassal
 
The cutout is done. Sharon tried it in the forward seating mode and found it comfortable. Switches back to dinette with just moving the back cushion.
We redid out bunk cushions to 3 pieces for easier access to the new hatches so it will be easy to move 1 bunk cushion forward for her foot placement.

Photos of cut out and preliminary tank placement posted.
 
Carpy is back from the canvas shop with new duds for 2012.

I replaced the worn travel cover. This one has backing on the snaps, the old ones have been pulling out. Joe Tells me he used a stronger snap that will withstand the winds at road speed much better. The new Bimini and enclosure is more than a foot longer. It comes back behind the lazarettes and my motorwell shelf. It has a door panel and zips at the cabin roof for easier entry/exit. Nice for those big boy slips where the dock is 4 feet from the gunnel. I highly recomend Joe Thompson of Canvas Unique in Nashville TN. He has good attention to detail, is easy to communicate with and delivered at his projected price (although I think he did some extra work to make the things work better).

I have rigged a roof rack system I saw on the C-Brats. It is very sturdy and solid. After ordering some kayak roof racks and sending them back, I made made my own and I think the will work well.

Pictures are in my album under mods.

I'll continue on the list next week.

Bruce Cassal
Carpy
 
-Finish overhead teak trim on the chart shelf
-Make teak wine glass/spice rack
-Install one more hatch under V-berth
-Make book racks for the co-pilot seat & shelf in the V-berth

Mostly small storage jobs. I'm tired of disorganization and crap all over. I have the materials. I have the tools. I don't have the time. :x
 
Just about wrapped up:

Made wine and wine glass rack
Installed 1200 w inverter to run micro without having to start EU1000
New 70 gallon gas tanks, 35 gals each
Redid co pilot seating configuration
Installed 2nd spare tire mount for #2 spare
Cleaned and repacked wheel bearings
Changed lower unit oil on motor
Changed the EU 1000 oil
Installed 2 step folding ladder to replace one step ladder at swim platform
Mounted new Magma grill
Added tackle drawer under capt's chair
Redid on road charging to work off of trailer battery charging circuit on trailer connector. Taps into boat on the front deck through the trolling motor plug that already had 10 gage wire back to the batteries.

Added a few photos of the improvements to the album.

I need to do some buffing and waxing and we will be ready for springtime.
We have some great trips planned this year.
 
All the mods look great. You have been busy this winter. Those 70-gal. tanks will let you and Sharon explore the far reaches without the worry of getting fuel. We have added a few items to the Sandpiper:

Engel refrigerator cooler
Power cord from truck to boat batteries
Converted old Coleman stove to propane
Sea Eagle Paddleski inflatable
Roof rack for the inflatable
Drain connection for the water tank

Can hardly wait for spring and cruising time. We have a new addition coming, a new pup to replace Molly dog which we lost in December.

Rich, Judy and Tilly
"Sandpiper"
 
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