Small Projects

I have been working on a few small projects lately. I installed a WiFi antenna today which will really help alot with getting Internet. I mounted it on the front corner of the bimini. It is then hooked to a 12 volt DC router that I mounted in the closet of the Vee berth. We now have wireless Internet anywhere on the boat. I have also been working on a new seat for Rosie. The original one was delaminating because the boat builder (I won't mention any names here) but his initials are Scott Dunsworth did not coat it with epoxy resin before painting it. I got it cut out, fitted, sanded and a coat of epoxy on it today. Tomorrow I will get another coat on it. Hopefully I will have it and Rosie panted by this weekend and be able to get here in the paper to sell. We would like to get an inflatable dingy instead. An inflatable will be more stable and take a bigger motor which will help alot when we are anchored out.

Making the new seat.

Cut out and sanded.

First coat of epoxy.

New 12 volt wireless router.

New WiFi antenna on the front starboard corner of the bimini.

New Davits

I finally got all the solar panels in. Everything looks like it is going to work out as planned, that is always a good thing. We now have 480 watts of solar power. We only had 160 watts on Morgan, but this is a lot bigger boat with many more amenities. I think it will be more than enough power. I plan to also build a solar water heater that will be mounted on the davits as well so we will have hot water when on the hook. We have two more large projects to do as time and money enable. 1. Haul out and refinish the hull. We will install a bow and stern thruster while she is out of the water. We will also install new fuel tanks at that time, so that will be the biggest chunk of change at one time. 2. I want to build a water maker so we will always have clean fresh water. I can build one for about $2K verses buying one for $5K. The other advantage to building verses buying is that you then know the system inside and out and are able to fix it yourself.

Lots going on

I have been back to the boat for almost two weeks now. I have been getting alot done. Thanks to having some work I was able to go ahead and do some things on Queeny. I bought two new starting batteries and built a custom battery box to house them. I made the box and installed it in front of the motor. Queen has a huge bilge, so I recessed the battery box into the bilge. Which does two things. One, it gets some more weight lower in the boat which is always a good thing. Secondly it frees up some floor space in the engine room.

New battery box made of 1/8" aluminum plate.

Fits perfectly.

I contracted a welder to build davits to hold Rosy, our kayak, and the solar panels. It did not turn out exactly like I had wanted as the welder does not know how to read a scaled drawing, but all in all I am happy with it. This weeks project will be to mount and wire the solar panels. Slowly but surely we are turning Island Queen into a cruising boat. It just takes time and money.

New davits with one solar panel.

 

Rosy and the kayak fit perfectly.