Saturday, February 9th

Because our battery bank was a piecemeal collection including batteries that survived the flood, Carter decided to upgrade the whole pack. 8 brand new Trojan T-125 where the biggest batteries that would fit in compartment.   Once he got all the old ones out of the battery compartment below the flooring in the hallway, we cleaned up the floor, and repiped the water supply from the port and starboard bilge tanks. The pipes were very deterorated so he epoxied new PVC connections right to the concrete bulkhead. This also gave us several more inches for the battery compartment.

Then he began planning a better setting for the batteries.

Eight batteries in the salon and Radar is not happy. What is all this stuff doing in my playroom?

Carter layed down a layer of 40 mil PVC liner followed by cedar shims to level the batteries.

Then he changed the layout of the batteries to get them all level and space them out as much as possible o help them cool off quicker.

 Then wired them up with all new terminal connections.  Nice job.

 

Meanwhile, Radar entertains himself by scaling the bank trying to get to some invisible...something...in the water.  He got seriously dirty this day which required a bath.

He actually did fall in once!  He's such a clod!  LOL

But we love you anyway!

While Carter worked on his battery project, I began setting up my sewing center on the settee in the corner of the main salon.  It's cramped but works.  My plan is to start my own little enterprise making personalized tote bags.  Between the Sailrite sewing machine and my new Husqvarna sewing/embroidery machine I can make just about anything from covers for boat accessories to purses, to totes...and then personalize them.  PS...I'll be taking orders soon!  LOL

I've also been working on a storage system for provisions. 

This is extra food storage under the bed.

With the installation of the heavy duty actuators, all the original canopy posts are pretty much obsolete so today we cut the last one down. Carter and I are discussing how we can use the stubs for handrails.  This was an exercise to see if we like it.  We will definately lower the rail and we'll see how this turns out in the end.

I'm going to end this post with a picture of an osprey perched atop his newly constructed nest

high up in the trees in the woods behind the the boat.

 

See you again soon!