A few years ago, in belated recognition of my advancing age and finally overcoming denial about my decreasing strength and stamina, but still wanting to continue sailing, I started thinking about downsizing from our IP 380 to something smaller, perhaps something around 30-32 feet LOA. So I looked at a bunch of different boats at the boat shows, read reviews in the sailing magazines, even visited a few dealers, but nothing offered the features, style and comfort of our 380…
After some more thought I decided that we would keep Priority, our IP380, but upgrade it with an eye towards decreasing effort and increasing comfort.
Last year we added a new Lofrans Tigres windlass which has enough strength to pull the boat up a mountain. At the same time we added a Sidepower Bow Thruster to make it even easier to maneuver the boat in an out of slip and off the dock. Following Drew Sunstein’s suggestions we mounted two type 27 batteries under the forward berth, just over the bow thruster to supply both the windlass and bow thrusters, putting the batteries in parallel with the 4 battery housebank. All 6 batteries would charge as a single unit, but the instantaneous current draw of the thruster or windlass would mostly come from the two batteries up front.
It works as planned.
This summer I threw caution and money to the winds and added many new features.
• I replaced all the batteries (the housebank batteries were 10 years old, and I decided to start fresh this year with all new batteries)
• I added a Magnum MS2812 inverter/charger with battery sensor and remote control. In part I wanted to take advantage of all the battery capacity I have (a total of nearly 570 Amp-hours) so I could run the microwave and a Keurig coffee maker while at anchor or even underway (remember, I’m talking comfort) and in part because the original, 16 year old Charles charger 30 amp charger is way underpowered for the current battery capacity. The Magnum has a 125 amp capacity charger!
• I added a Raymarine 18” HD radar and a Raymarine a95 Multi-Function Display (MFD). I also added a RMK-9 remote to the MFD to create a hybrid touch and knob system just like the e95 system that Raymarine sells (for $500 more!).
• I worked with the nice folk at NavPod to design a pod that would hold the MFD, remote and my old B&G instruments.
• I had new helm rails built to hold the new Navpod. I used a design brilliantly created by Norm Pierce and perfectly executed by Kato.
• I mounted the radar on a stern pole, also built by Kato. By the way, Terri and Keith, the owners of Kato are a pleasure to deal and talk with.
The new radar standing proudly on its stern pole (there is a nice nonsuch just in front of us in the yard at Tidewater)
The new Navpod. The Raymarine a95 is in the center, the RMK-9 remote is just below to add knob control to the touch screen. My old B&G instruments are nicely positioned around the radar
With the new helm rails, which positions the navpod forward and slightly above the compass, visibility forward (presence) is maintained. But I will be increasing the height of the helm cushion so Molli will also be able to see forward (which actually was a problem for her even with the old arrangement
• I installed an AIS transceiver (Si-Tex) and antenna splitter (S-Tex). I had been receiving AIS via my matrix VHF 2100 radio, but wanted to be seen as well as see. Of course the AIS displays at the MFD at the helm.
• One very nice thing about the Raymarine MFD is that it acts as a WIFI hotspot, streaming its screen (and controls) to any wifi device on the boat (In my case, an iPad, iPhone, and Nexus 7) so you can, for example huddle up under the dodger and still see the display back at the helm….very nice on a cold, rainy night!
• I finally had a remote oil filter installed, with the remote filter placed at the rear of the engine compartment, just above the muffler and under the aft bunk. I can now actually see and touch the filter at the same time…makes oil and filter changes a relative pleasure!
• I replaced the 16 year old Raritan PHIIE head with a shiny new, and comfortable, Elegance head made my Raritan.
• I replaced the 7 year old Lectrosan sanitation device which was starting to get cranky (I came to find out, in conversations with the nice folk at Raritan Engineering, that the expected life of these devices is about 7 years, which has been my experience}..but they are a lot easier, and a lot cheaper, to replace than a holding tank..and I haven’t used mine for about 12 years. I added a 3 way valve so I can switch the waste to the holding tank if and when I sail in the Keys
• While I was at it I replaced all the sanitation hoses on the boat. Some of them were original (i.e. 16 years old) and were becoming smelly.
• I replaced the lifelines which were original with the boat and had way too many rust streaks. Seco South knew the dimensions of my old ones and sent me the new set in about 2 weeks. I decided to go with bare steel wire and actually think it looks nicer than than the white plastic coated wires I had before.
• I had the nice folk at Annapolis Performance Sailing put together two jacklines made of the new synthetic line to attach to the padeyes in the cockpit. They put a braid over the line to resist UV degradation so I can just leave them attached.
• Finally, I had the bottom painted again (this time I chose Petit Trinidad SR, black) and had Propspeed put on the propeller.
All of the work, with the exception of the lifelines and cockpit jacklines, was done by the guys at Tidewater Yacht Services here in Baltimore and they did outstanding, highly professional, work.
We are now just a week away from the start of our latest voyage south, heading again for Dinner Key Marina in Coconut Grove. Once again we will be in flotilla with Hayden and Radeen (and perhaps others) and I could ask for no better company.
We will be spending the next week putting food, bedding, and clothes on the boat. I’ve already changed the oil and oil filter, changed the fuel filters, and even changed the transmission fluid (although I’m not at all sure that is ever necessary). The water and fuel tanks are full, and I’ll once again fill two 5 gallon diesel jugs and put them in the lazerette as backup.
One big change this year is that Molli will be joining me on the trip, at least as far as Charleston, which should increase the enjoyment of the trip considerably.
Robert Brown, who helped me bring the boat back to Baltimore from Miami last spring will be joining me in Charleston and we’ll be heading offshore to Miami, continuing our most interesting discussions as we go.
It is a joy to travel with you both.
ReplyDeleteHayden and Radeen