Windlass decision...

Regular reader(s) may remember my inherited Simpson Lawrence windlass. Well that has gone to a keen shopper at the Pompano Nautical Flea market. The price was right (i.e. cheap) and it had a "Flee market" guarantee (i.e. I took the money and fled).

I have now narrowed my search for a windlass to the MAXWELL MARINE HRC Series Windlasses, the 12V/120A HRC 10-10, to be precise. I have always liked the Maxwell's and despite the fact that this is a brand new design it looks good. I managed to grab a quick look at the Miami Boat Show.


Image © Maxwell Marine

Any lurkers out the looking for a project Whitby 42?

http://miami.craigslist.org/pbc/boa/2Y229539780.html


It's not my boat.

Refrigeration decision made.....

The Boat Show is a great opportunity to get final information on major purchases. I had pretty much firmed up of the Frigoboat K50-AEO-with Aeo control and a Keel cooler. And a 200F flat plate evaporator.

After a five minute conversation with Rob Warren of Coastal Climate Control the decision and the deal was made. Both Rob and Gretchen are the kind of suppliers that you love to deal with. Rob answered all my questions and then a few that I hadn't even though about.

The fridge / freezer will be a spill over system.

More later.....

Miami Boat Show...

Just spent four days at the Boat Show, three days selling electronics for West Marine and one day squandering my own money . Will post more once I have recovered.

Atkins & Hoyle Ltd. Arches...????

Ignoring the hardtop/bimini section in the lower photo, are these archs too industrial looking? They claim that their arches are about 50% of a welded one (e.g. $5K for Wells).

I want an arch to support my Kato davits, hold a wind generator and possibly a solar panel or two.

Let there be light....

Three Alpenglow's installed in the main salon. Wow!

(Try and ignore the temporary wiring and the rest of the mess).



Light in Galley area;



Light over chart table;



Night light (red) over chart table.



The chart table light and the forward heads have red LED light in conjunction with the normal white Alpenglows'

MASTERVOLT Mass Combi Inverter/Charger

Inverter/Charger, 2500W Continuous Capacity, 5000W Surge Capacity, 100A Charger Output, 18.1"L x 12.5"W x 5.6"D, 24.3lb.

Arrived yesterday. Santa had it on back-order. Wow, its a thing of beauty and NOT small.

Dry fit;


I did have the dimensions when I was planning its location, but that's never the same as the real thing. It was originally going in the aft cabin hanging locker, but as its probably the single most expensive electronic/electrical gizmo onboard (read "does not like damp conditions") that idea was quickly knocked on the head. It is now going over the former chart table and will be behind a panel, but well ventilated and dry. If water gets up that high I will have other issues to contend with.

Keeping "Murphy" off the boat.....

Anyone who has a boat is familiar with Mr. Murphy and his law. I actually believe that he was an optimist because, immediately after "anything that can go wrong will go wrong", something that could not possibly go wrong, will also go wrong.

TIH came with a Flush Mount Water Regulator/inlet already installed;



Now I'm not a big fan of piping water into my boat, even at a reduced 35psi. I did, however, leave the system in place and will use it as a tank fill. Naturally I will "always" switch off the dock water after use and "always, always" when I leave the boat........ yea right. I have now installed this item on the dock to replace my faulty memory.



I simply dial in how many minutes I want the water to be on. Time will tell if it stands up but at $28 from Home Depot its not a major investment.

Sometimes things actually fit.......

This was the original setup under the workbench. A drawer and a drop down door. With the redesign of the chart table I needed somewhere to put the trash bin.



SSI Trash Access Door No 44214700, with a 21 Qt Rubbermaid® trashcan.






Sometimes things actually fit without major surgery and its always a pleasant surprise.