Paint, autopilots and plumbing in a diesel cooker...

So progress report for this week. My mate's been working away in the aft cabin and here is how things look so far. One of the big problems with the aft cabin was how dark it got during the winter months - cue brightening things up a bit. There's still more coats of paint and trim to be fitted, but it's definitely an improvement.

The wheelhouse was also due for a lift in tone, so it's now white from the waist up. I'll be looking forward to all the work finishing and the crap being put away.

Next on the list has been fitting the autopilot. Plumbing up the compass part was done last weekend and ended up with wiring everywhere, but this weekend required fitting the rudder sensor (the black "arm" in the photos). That connects to the steel rudder steering arm and effectively tells the autopilot where the rudder is at. Doesn't sound very complicated, but boy howdy, did it take some time to get it all connected up. The bilge is also showing some signs of grease and a bit of surface rust, but once all the work's finished and before setting sail, I'll do a full clean and repaint of the lower regions.

We've also made the decision to ditch the power-hungry electric galley and go for a Dickinson diesel cooker. One came up on the ol' Ebay that had barely been used, so it's being delivered next Friday and I set about sorting out all the plumbing parts today. Now, I'm including these next two images to put into perspective just how much work a simple thing like fitting a cooker is. Not only was there the time taken to make the money to buy the cooker, but the 6 day bidding war that ensued. Here's how Dickinson say the installation should be done:

And after spending yesterday finding the right diesel day tank (and then subsequently find it for half-price at a boat jumble today - I bought it today btw), here's the design I worked through today and had to order part-by-part in order for it all to work.

That doesn't include the two days it'll take to fit and test it next weekend either. Anyway, I'm not complaining - it's just remarkable how much unseen work is required to get a simple thing done on a boat project.


So that's it for this week. 36 of the last remaining 72 items done, 18 due to be done this next weekend (1/2 Feb) then the last few items the weekend after. That is IF the new sliding windows arrive. Apparently the window manufacturer have changed their glass supplier, so it's now a waiting game for the new parts......

Sail testing is also scheduled for w/c 15th Feb - it's half term here so if the weather plays ball, it's off to get some sailing in. Fingers crossed.