fitting the evaporator plate

I'd measured the freezer box, and the lid, and the challenge was that while the freezer was 32cm wide, the lide was only 26cm wide. Penguin advised me that there was a little give in the plate, so I ordered one with a 27.5cm side, and hoped that it would go through the lid. It did with a little 'persuasion'! The challenging thing then was bending the pipe work to go through the hole still... this involved some contortion.... and it was noticeable that the last 3" or 4" was hardest of all, with the copper starting to work harden. But, it all went in eventually. Drilling the holes to mount the plate was equally difficult, as the fridge isn't wide enough for a drill..... however, I did eventually work out that my cheapest electric drill is the smallest, and by making sure that the drill bit was right into the chuck, I cxould JUST get the drill in far enough to do its job. As the freezer internals are finished in a fibreglass shell, there was no way that a self tapper would work, so had to be drilled. After switching on, in about 30mins, the freezer has dropped below zero... and then I turned it off, rather than start building up ice on the plates to melt and sit in the bottom. I don't have a drain in either the fridge or freezer, so may need to review whether that needs addressing in the future. Further to this, I then put another layer of bin bags around the mast where it passes through the deck... its still leaking a little, and the replacement mast boot still hasn't arrived. Oh... last, but not least, I forgot to measure the pipe size for the heads and engine again, so still can't order all the bits for the lift out... but that's not the end of the world, as the summer lift out deals don't start until the 28th May, and so i'm not lifting before that, as it will save over £400.

Cold beer!

The Fridge/freezer is installed and working. Hoorah!

Drilling the holes for the pipework was challenging through 15cm of insulation... Not because its hard to drill through, but finding a long enough drill bit!

And then bending the copper tubes...

The compressor and pump proved easy to mount, but the wiring was a bit complicated with two thermostats, a fan and a pump...

But all done.

The water will eventually come and go via through hulls, but for now they're into a bucket!

So, we're starting to get civilised on board.

Freezer

Ordered the new Freezer/fridge system today from Penguin refrigeration.

What a pleasure it is to deal with a company who know what they are talking about, call back when they promise, and are friendly and helpful. Top marks to them!

My challenge was that the condensor panel that goes in the freezer is quite large and needs bending round 3 sides, and on top of this, the lid is a fair bit smaller than the freezer box.

Penguin asked me to sketch up the box and lid with dimensions, and send it to them. They replied within 10 mins with the panel added to my sketch, with suggested bends in the panel, and offered to bend it to the measurements free of charge.

They also advised on the optimum bend places to fit it to box, but also through the lid... Then to cap it off, suggested that if it didn't fit, to send it back, and they'd rebend it for me.

Can't wait for ice cubes!!!!!

Spend spend spend

Ordered the instruments, vhf and aerial this evening.

Gone for basic Advansea instruments, with an analogue wind gauge. They are NMEA 0183, but seem solid, and keenly priced.

Also ordered an NMEA mux so that i can take all the instrument info to the plotter and a PC in the future.

The radio is a Standard Horizon GX2100E, with a remote command mike. I'm a real SH fan, and think their quality is superb. Also having had a command mike in the past in the cockpit, i'd never be without one again!

The radio has built in AIS, so that will eventually feed to the plotter, but in the meantime, will show on both the radio and the command mike.

Finally, an aerial... Nothing flash.. Just a 1.1m stainless steel whip.

I was also going to order the new bilge pumps and seacocks this evening, but have forgotten to check the pipe diameters for the engine intake and heads intakes. I'm replacing three seacocks (the engine and both heads inlets) as they are below the waterline and currently stainless steel... They'll be replaced with DZR versions.

I've also got a few new fittings to add... The fridge inlet and outlet (which will also service the watermaker), and three outlets for new bilge pumps. I've decided to fit seacocks even on the outlets above the waterline... For the sake of a few quid, better safe than sorry.

The bilge pumps are monsters!

Two biguns, at 2000GPH and one smaller one at 500GPH... That works out at a system that all full chat can shift 16,000ltrs an hour!

So, besides finalising the measurements for the above, that just leaves the fridge/freezer to order in this round.

Once that lot is fitted (via a lift out along the way), then i've only got nav lights to sort, and then bar finishing the starter and alternator wiring on the engine and flushing the fuel tank... and seeing if i can get her started... and we could possibly have a small trip out of the marina!

Not sure what the starter and alternator will be like after their little 'ducking' last autumn... They were thoroughly rinsed and dried, but perhaps 6 months of corrossion will have taken place. Only time will tell.

Quite a succesfull weekend

Besides getting the gas system in, I managed to get another (final) coat of white paint on the forepeak bulkhead, and remove all the headlining and trim from the forward heads, ready to start stripping back to bare wood.

Will be ordering fridge, instruments etc next week, so not sure i'll be starting the heads anytime soon.... but who knows!

Gas at last

I've got the oven plumbed in... No leaks!

....so au revoir pot noodle... Can't say i'll miss you!

On board and not wet!

The leaking mast boot hasn't let much in... and all rain that has come in has been caught in a strategically placed pot!

Good job really as new mast boot hasn't arrived yet.

However, power appears to be a bit low... Not getting the full 240V.. A problem on shore... So kettle is taking 15mins to boil!

Slight change of heart on seacocks

Been doing some investigating on the seacocks fitted on Phoenix.

It appears they're Spartan branded, made in the USA. They're solid bronze, imminently serviceable and very very expensive!

In short, they are of the highest quality, can be lapped and greased rather like European Blakes, and at $775 each, made to last.

I think i'll perhaps try and keep them!

Nmea

Can get quite complicated!

Sorting out my network before i order bits.... Would appear straightforward at face value.... But then you discover that certain devices that have 2 ports can only be configured certain ways... Certain services need different Baud rates.... and certain devices only output certain info... So you end up with a complicated set of connectivity... Think i've nailed it... Hope it works!

Also, have ordered all gas bits today... Due to be delivered tomorrow... So should have a working cooker by the end of the weekend... Yah!

Fridge freezer

I've specced up for a fridge and freezer system, as we've got two cold boxes, so may as well make use of them.

There are various options for cooling a fridge... All use a compressor, but there are 3 different options for cooling the compressor... Air, water or water via a keel plate.

Air is the cheapest, but heat transfer in air is very inefficient, and not recommended for hot climates.. So it would work fine in the UK, but if our long term plans come together, would be very heavy on the batteries as we head south. Its how a domestic fridge or freezer works

Water is much more efficient, but needs a pump, plus holes in the hull to take water in and out... So i can install it, but can't use it until she's lifted and i fit seacocks.

The final option uses a second compressor to a special plate that fits on the keel. Its about the same efficiency as a standard water cooled system, but without the pump is much quieter and uses less power.

We think we'll go for the water cooled version and perhaps convert to a keel cooled version later as we can afford it.

The seperate fridge freezer is quite clever... The cold plate is in the freezer, and then a small hole between the freezer and fridge compartments is fitted with a fan to 'spill' cold air over to cool the fridge. Each is fitted with a thermostat to keep it at the right temperature... Neat huh?

This week's challenge

...is to spend a shed load of money on bits i need for the boat...

Includes:

New instruments with senders
New VHF radio
New aerial
Gas pipe
2 gas bulkhead fittings
Bubble tester
Two skin fittings and pipe for gas drain
Fridge and freezer compressor, holding plate and pump etc

That lot should add up to £2.5k - gulp!

A leak

No work on the boat this weekend, instead getting the family onboard to inspect progress and for a social gathering with a few friends (sore head territory!)

All is well onboard, but the mast boot has started leaking.

Actually its generous to call it a mast boot. Its more a lump of old plastic wrapped around the mast.

So new boot and some self amalgamating tape ordered this evening.

Hopefully it'll be dry next weekend so that i can fit it!

Which instruments?

Got to get Phoenix lifted before too long to replace all the seacocks... And while she's out, it makes sense to fit the new instrument senders... So got to decide which instruments before too long...

Currently thinking that i'll go with something pretty basic, rather than the modern colour sophisticated systems available as i can repeat all NMEA data on the plotter anyway...

Favourites at present are Advansea... I can get a complete set of three displays with all senders for £649!

That compares with £1200 for Raymarine or £800 for a Garmin system with just one display!

So, it'll be a busy time when she's lifted with (I think) 8 seacocks to fit below the waterline, and 4 above it, new senders, and all the holes to refill/resize with epoxy.

I'll also need to antifoul and redo the boot topping while i'm at it... Phew!

More white bits!

Some final white

Painted the final finishing white bits... Will need another coat.

Its 'contemporary white', and its just off white enough to look absolutely terrific!

First set of cupboard doors back in

Really pleased with the final finish, and the brasswork looks great!

And back to satin

The final coat of satin varnish on



A few bits still to do, but yesterday's 2nd coat still not completely dry in places, so will leave until tomorrow.

Now i can refit the doors!

Shiny shiny 3

Shiny shiny 2

Shiny!

Second coat on.... Its VERY shiny!

Its a good job i'm putting a satin coat on top, or you'd need sunglasses on to enter the forepeak!

Pics to follow.

Shiny shiny 1

Doors varnished

All 5 doors for cupboards and locker now resplendent in their third coat of varnish.

I've ordered new hinges, catches an latches... £85 for just the 5.... Going to be expensive when I do the saloon!

Didn't dry

Slightly cooler weather, so varnish didnt dry in time.

Satisfied myself by starting to prep the forward heads... And then came home and stuck another coat of varnish on the doors instead!