Summer Projects - New Batteries, Instruments and More Progress on Hard Top

We've been busy with three big projects this summer - new batteries, 2 new battery chargers and battery monitors and all the wiring that goes with it; new instruments and wiring; and finishing up the hard dodger and bimini top.  The 2 new battery banks, one 12 and one 24 volt, are complete and all the big loads are fused.  Bryan worked hard on that project and he is very satisfied with the results.  It all looks great - neat, orderly, labelled and everything is functioning well.  He also pulled a new backbone cable for the the NEMA 2000 instrumentation system.  I went up the mast a couple days ago to install the ultrasonic wind instrument on top of the mast.  I'll post the video as soon as I do the editing.  So now we once again have depth, boat speed, and all kinds of weather indications, which we've been missing.  We've also been working on various smaller projects such as new radios and book shelf in the nav station; cleaning, sanding and oiling cabin floor boards and general organizing and pitching junk that has accumulated over the years.  We managed one trip to Put-in-Bay for the 4th of July which was very fun and relaxing with great sailing on the 4th of July to PIB and another great sailing day the next day to return to Sandusky.  We enjoyed the company of my sister Betsy and brother-in-law Bob and we wished we could have spent more time at the bay.  Otherwise, we've been working, working working! Good thing we both like working on the boat.  We had one set back in our refit efforts - we discovered a leaking keel bolt.  OH, NO!  We will have to haul the boat out in early September so that we can have the keel removed and assess the situation.  It could be a fairly easy fix, or...  If the keel bolts are bad, we will have to ship the keel to Mars Metal in Canada.  The stringer that the bolt is recessed in will also have to be assessed to determine what kind of repair may be necessary.  Oh, boy, it's always one thing or another with an old boat.  Again, good thing we both like the "old boat lifestyle"!

Above - old compartment in nav station for the old radar CRT and radios 

Above - two new radios and book shelf. Bryan will add a bar across the books to keep them in place. He's "thinking about it" to come up with a simple, functional design.

Above - refurbished floor boards.  There are 31 total floor boards made of solid teak slats.  It was quite a project hauling them out of the cabin and onto the dock for treatment with the 2-part teak cleaner, sanding and oiling.  It took us three weekends and some work during the week to finish them. 

The new hard top dodger fitted to the boat.  Next step will be to paint the bimini top and dry-fit it to the boat.  We would like to finish all this before hauling the boat in September. 

We added a cut-out above the companionway to eliminate the head knocker that was on the canvas dodger.  It usually took 2 or 3 good knocks before one knew to duck when going down below.

The metal frame was designed and built by Bryan and then welded by a local guy.  The bimini will be mounted on the upper supports.

Above - old 24-volt battery bank.  The bow thruster, refrigeration and winches are powered by the 24-volt system.

New 12-volt battery bank with the one old engine starter battery two fuses for the main panel and the Automatic Relay Control.