I like KISS solutions......

Keep it Simple Stupid has pride of place on any boat, IMHO.  It might not always seem so from some of my projects but I do try. 

The lenses of most deck hatches will eventually craze in the tropical sun.  In an effort to slow the process we tend to cover them with canvas covers.  I have never found these to be long lasting (even with sunbrella) or particularly user friendly.  Then along came the Outland Brothers;

http://outlandhatchcovers.com/index.htm

KISS

The little black dots on the top of each are twist lock fasteners which allow easy removal of the covers.


I have no link with the company but I like stuff that does what it says on the tin.

I'm an iPad fan.....

I'm a big fan of iPads on sailboats.  They have a multitude of uses.  I will always have a dedicated GPS Plotter at the wheel because they are more robust / waterproof  but for planning etc. the new iPad stuff is hard to beat.

My original Mk1 iPad has now been replaced with a Mk4 for my daily use and the Mk1 has been donated to the boat.  It has been mounted on the Nav Station panel using the WALLEE iPad mount

The cable connection will be tidied up any year now.

Eventually I will have a WiFi system onboard transmitting navigation instrument data.  The technology is improving every year.  This is DMK app displaying wind speed, boat speed, wind angle and depth.   Nice...... 

Navionics charts of Biscayne Bay on the Navionics App.

Vessel lights on the COLREGS app.

And the list goes on....................................................

First post from onboard TIH

Christmas brought me the The Wirie^AP:  Long Distance WiFi and Access Point.

Now installed onboard TIH, works great.

Holding Tank location

Half (well maybe more) of my problems on TIH are finding the optimum locations for equipment.  I spend a lot of time on older boats that have undergone many upgrades / additions / refits over the years.  Much of this equipment has been installed by "professionals" with no consideration for access to fittings or the ability to overhaul the item itself.  On one boat I delivered the cooling water impeller could not be replaced without lifting the engine.

I have been faffing about, for ever, with the location of the holding tank and the hot water tank.  The decision about the holding tank has finally been made.   This will remove one option when I make the decision about the hot water tank.  

Chain Locker......

 The W42 has a pretty nice chain locker (see above).  It is divided into two parts, the starboard side for chain (which on my boat does not drain) and the port side for rope (which drains into the bilge via a channel under the forward water tank).

One problem that I have encountered on a number of boats (including 2 W42s') is that the chain tends to pile up and jam the naval pipe (the drop pipe from the windlass).  This requires you to go into the vee-berth and push the chain down in the locker in the middle of weighing anchor.   This is not fun in a crowded anchorage or when single-handing.

An interesting solution has been adopted by the crew of Windtraveller a lovely Brewer 44;

http://www.windtraveler.net/

I have yet to decide what to do but I am open to ideas, including the one above.  Keep in mind that I have just removed the bow water tank.  I did this mainly to gain access to the hull in order to bolt on the lower fitting of the bob-stay for the new bowsprit.   I may incorporate this lower locker as part of my anchor storage.

This has now given me a large area which I plan to shelve and use for storage.

Work Bench lights

One of the easiest upgrade on any boat is to change out old halogen or incandescent lights for LEDs'.  As TIH had no lights installed, LEDs' are an easy choice. Except for the Alpenglow lights (which are low powered fluorescent) all the lights on-board will be LEDs'.

You have to do some research, however, as there is a big difference between the earlier LED lights and later developments, ditto for cheaper LEDs' versus more expensive ones.

I chose the West Marine Platinum Series LED Dome Lights with Rotating Bezel Dimming Control.  Two all white and one Bi-Color for night use.

Settee

 Moving along with  projects...

Settee in main salon;

The top of the settee is made from 3/4" teak and holly ply that was left over when the previous owner has all new deck boards made (currently living under the bed in my apartment).  

The front of the settee is made from one of the pieces which originally boxed in the main mast in the salon.

The seat is 24" wide.  Hopefully I can keep it as wide as possible.  After seeing how often I bang my leg I will decide on the final width and trim the outboard edges.  Both ends will be angled.