No matter how well equipped the boat you buy, every boat remains a project boat. There are always additions, upgrades and changes to be made in order to match personal preference and of course there is the endless maintenance required.

The default approach for any repairs or upgrades on Ocean Blue has always been to follow the DIY-route. While many boats out there appear to have the luxury of limitless budgets, ‘Blue definitely isn’t one of those boats and the DIY-route is definitely one way to stretch the pennies a little further.

The other reason, perhaps even more important than the cash, is the fact that the skipper who works on his own boat is perhaps better able to deal with breakages at sea by virtue of the fact that he should know his vessel a little better? That’s the hypothesis at any rate.

Some of the wished-for projects and upgrades have been on the list for quite some time. Some may eventually get done, others may remain on the list of infinity forever……..

Current projects:

  • Windvane self steering
  • Cockpit dodger
  • Secure all under-bunk hatch lids

 

Completed upgrades:

  • AIS receiver
  • Navigation
  • Relocate the fuel filters
  • Sea-water tap in the galley
  • Washboard stowage
  • Move engine start and decompression to cockpit
  • Wooden bungs for all through-hulls
  • Hand-held VHF to complement fixed VHF
  • New Solar Panels, house batteries and charge controller
  • Move inverter and charge controllers to better protect from potential water damage
  • Mainsail cover and lazy-jack system
  • Replace forestay [June 2016]
  • Mast steps installed
  • Jackstays
  • Preventer
  • Non-slip flooring at entrance to quarter berths
  • Docking – bow fender
  • Self-tailing winches
  • Rig the third reef and reroute the lines. Ditch the cheek blocks.

 

List of Infinity:

  • Combined throttle/gear-selector control
  • Solent stay
  • Self Steering solutions
  • Fore-deck Hatch: Reverse opening direction, maybe replace with something sturdier?
  • Aft-deck Hatch: Can be lost at sea when opening. Secure to ship!
  • Companionway washboards: Lock in place when in position, permanently attached to boat, cockpit storage.
  • Bunk Covers: Secure in position.
  • Bilge Floors: Secure in position.
  • Emergency tiller & rudder plan. Check and service rudder, pintles etc
  • Cockpit drains: Enough? Fast enough drainage?
  • Stern Gland: Plan if leak develops?
  • Bilge Pumps: Secure handles, gasket material.
  • New GPS/AIS enabled ship’s VHF
  • Satellite phone backup?
  • eMail solution. -> PredictWind.com & IridiumGo !?
  • Solar Panels: Remount on more substantial frame.
  • Batteries: Gel? Mount and secure against capsize.
  • Replace all standing and running rigging.
  • Inspect chainplates.
  • Spare mains’l?
  • Rig second fore-stay for hank-on sails [Solent stay].
  • Service mast steps.
  • Check boom and gooseneck.
  • Liferaft or suped-up sailing tender?
  • EPIRB
  • Spray Dodger
  • Cockpit Shade
  • Cockpit splash covers
  • Asymmetric spinnaker or cruising chute
  • SS backing pads for main winches
  • Spare hank on sails
  • Additional water tankage More plumbed in tanks or containers?
  • Beef up / Replace the coach roof wooden hand rails
  • Anchor Windlass – MANUAL
  • Lee boards/cloths
  • Remove and plug the ‘gas drain’
  • Veggie hammocks
  • Tie the washboards to the boat
  • Radar?
  • Underwater epoxy putty
  • Misc board & hware to plug holes
  • A good selection of blocks, shackles, line and hardware to repair and jury rig anything.
  • Plan for if the tiller breaks?
  • Plan for if the main traveller support breaks?
  • Replace the main electrical panel.
  • Rewire the boat.
  • Pot holders for stove.