August was a bad month for me in regards to getting boat jobs done. Just couldn’t find the motivation especially with the heat. But this final weekend I got focused and took care of some items even if most of them were just simple R&R jobs (remove and replace).
One job that I had been dreading was replacing the old toilet in the head (boat-speak for a bathroom). Boats use a similar system as you’ll find in an RV. A toilet leads to a holding tank. Which is then pumped out (either via a dockside service or via an overboard pump when you are out to sea). On older boats like mine which you have to pay attention to electrical usage is manually pumped (both from the toilet and from the holding tank out). The problem with mine was straight age. As boats “flex” structurally as they move all hoses are flexible. These hoses and even the solid plastic toilet can become saturated with the smell. There were also some items with delayed maintenance (the pumps need to be taken apart yearly and lubricated). Due to the age and permeated nature of the hoses, I just replaced all of them. Overall this was an inexpensive job and simple in how to do it. Working with smelly pipes though made sure I always had something else to do. I finally forced myself to do it this weekend, and for the most part was easy… The problem with working on sailboats is the lack of space. Manufacturer’s try to maximize “Living” space (looks better in your brochure), so any workspaces require that you either be a contortionist or a munchkin. Wedeking’s are neither. But in true Wedeking fashion, I have a sawsall… There is now plenty of space to reach in and route the head lines. Doesn’t look pretty but it’s behind cabinet which holds the pump to send the holding tank “fillings” out, so I’m thinking not many people are going to dig through that cabinet.
One of the reasons for the focus on the head issues was I decided to move up my move-in-date to today (3 weeks early). Having the luxury of an AC’ed apartment within walking distance to work, bars and restaurants meant I had too many excuses to not get to the boat and get some things done (Wedeking-speak for sweating excessively, getting dirty, grinding knuckles and working on your sailor like cursing skills). So I decided to move the vitals to the boat this weekend, cooking spices and computer, and get focused. I’ve been living the easy, soft and lazy life since coming back to the states; it’s just too easy to say “I did my 40 hours this week, I deserve some AC and a cold one… or three.
Also recently I bought new anchor line (200′) as I’m slowly (due to not having a trust fund) replacing all the lines on the boat. Most of the running rig is functional, but I just feel safer out on the water with lines that I know when they were last replaced, so there are no (or limited at least) surprises.
Boom Tent
I also purchased a boom tent. A boom tent is a sheet of material that goes over the boom and is tied to the outside edges of the boat. This provides shade to the mass of the boat and rain coverage to the main cabin hatch. Afternoon showers are common in Florida, so this allows me to leave the cabin hatch open while I’m working without worrying that the cabin is getting flooded. The shade also helps keep the cabin cooler. I’m still playing with the best compromise with keeping it so you can walk on the deck and the best arrangement to provide shade and rain protection so right now all the ropes tieing it down are a little rough. Once I get a configuration, I like I’ll work out a system of clips and straps to make it easy to take up and down, while looking better.
Some other items I took care of are stocking up on electrical supplies (wire and connectors) for a complete rewire of the boat electronics, some excellent tools, new fenders and tie down system (in the mail or UPS as the case may be). Now that I’m on the boat on a daily basis I’m working on increasing the number of projects I get done on a more regular basis. Also found out there is a local Home Depot that is only a $6 ride from here, Yea! Uber!
I’ve got a long weekend to start Sept so look for some things to “get done” next weekend.
