23rd November 2022 – I wasn’t expecting it, but the bilges were dry. I think it dried out because of the wind. This weekend I will seal the leak in the hatch. Not sure when I’ll be able to continue on this little boat…
Priority 1 will be making a proper access to the engine room.
11th November 2022 – I checked the Stern and noticed there was some water in the bilges under the engine. Quickly I discovered, and honestly had it it in mind already, the hatch for the batteries is leaking. It was something I welded last year when I had nearly no time….
I bought a hover, since I ran out of them. They do break after a while if you start using them for oil.
Bilges are dry again!
30th September 2022 – I’m planning on using the Stern for a project at the end of the month. I started the engine, but with a nearly flat battery it took some charging time to start. In the end it started an ran nicely. What do I love Lister engines!
I was never happy with the floor I had made in the wheelhouse and the result today was obvious. I ended in the living room, head first… Another item on my todo list for the next couple of months.
3rd July 2020 – We mainly cleaned the outside of the ship and most of all the roof of the wheelhouse. I connected the solar panels to the wiring in the ship and moved the VHF antennas. Since I mounted a metal support for the search lights, the antennas could no longer be collapsed in case we were passing a low bridge.
2nd July 2022 – The day started relaxed by mounting the curtains in the living room and sealing the windows in the bedroom. Then I started welding the brackets for the solar panels, fixed the railing and mounted a small wooden mast. So far so good.
I raised the solar panels and wanted to weld the bolted frame to the new supports. About ten seconds later, solar panel one started cracking into thousand pieces…
Slightly frustrated, I removed everything and made a new smaller frame for one panel…
And I must admit, one panel is looking better then the two that were squeezed into the roof.
28th June 2022 – I filled the gaps between the windows and the walls. I used cheap silicon, but fille the whole gap to make sure it is solid and watertight if it would ever leak. I will do a finish with a more expensive silicone one the cheap one is dry.
21st June 2022 – I finished the joint of the windows in the living room and taped the desk of the kitchen and the windows of the bedroom. If it wasn’t for a visit of an ex colleague, I might have gone a bit further.
19th June 2022 – I’m finishing the windows in the living room, so I can mount the curtains. The waterpump is connected, so when I fill the watertank, I should have water from the tap. The last light from the bedroom is connected to the 12v circuit. To finish my evening, I mounted a picture of a sailing boat. It was hanging at the entrance of the Watergeus in a previous life….
18th June 2022 – I added some jubilee clips to the flexibles and did a test. Everything dry! I’m getting better in plumbing. I also managed to do some of the 220v electricity. Let’s see how that will work…
17th July 2022 – I started working after 21 o’clock, it was still very warm. I managed to connect the fittings with the flexible pipes. Now I only need to tight everything up.
I made a rubber around the sink. Only not sure about the colour. Maybe I should have taken grey instead of black.
16th June 2022 – With over 30°C outside, it was hard to work. Anyway, I wanted to have done something so I drilled two holes, one in the sink to mount a tap and one in the hull for the waste water of the sink. It became warmer and warmer so I went to the shop, spending one hour measuring and checking what pieces I needed. It is the first time I came home with the right pieces and I didn’t buy to many!
If I hadn’t forgotten the teflon, the whole plumbing would have been finished in the kitchen…
14th June 2022 – I adjusted some t&g so the the doors of the cupboard in the kitchen can open again. I measured the size of the battery to check if the new battery will fit. While doing so, I discovered several lose wires. They are now taped against the wood, instead of just being loose against the metal hull…
I drilled a hole in the roof of the wheelhouse so I can pass through the cables for the solar panel, GPS and extra VHF antenna.
11th June 2022 – To warm to work today, still having trouble with my hay fever, I have to be careful what I do. Sanding machine, hover, compressor with nail gun and a saw were loaded aboard. Maybe next week, if time and weather are fine, I can finish the cupboards of the kitchen.
The cupboard of the kitchen contains plumbing, electricity and wood work. But once it is done, I will win a lot of space in the wheelhouse.
9th June 2022 – After several months, nearly half a year, I finally managed to get some time to work on the Stern. I hadn’t been aboard since February and was nicely surprised to see dry bilges, no humidity or mold.
I did some outside cleaning and had a look at the wheelhouse. A lot needs to be done, but where to start. Well I mounted the AIS system.
18th February 2022 – A bit late, after the last couple of days having got a lot of wind, I decided to put a few more straps on the wheelhouse, solar panels and masts. I also removed the flags from the gangway. Let’s hope everything stays fine.
