Preparation for Cruise 2000

Here's what we did to turn our weekend cruiser into a boat ready to be a home for 4 for a year-long cruise. Some of this you can actually see in the photos! We did every bit of work ourselves except #20 which will be done at Great Lakes Marine in Wisconsin.

(1) We serviced engines and generator, replacing oil, fluids, checking all belts and hoses, tightening/replacing all clamps, replacing zincs, replacing impellers, replacing fuel and oil filters.

(2) Adjusted packing glands.

(3) Checked all bilge pumps, cleaned and installed new diaphragm in manual bilge pump.

(4) Stocked engine supplies: spare belts, hoses, fuel filters, oil filters, oil, coolant.

(5) Stocked tools and supplies: cleaned and oiled all tools, added new deep-set sockets and breaker bar, added new vise grips, stocked wire, connectors, electrical tape, duct tape, wire ties, hose clamps, assorted stainless hardware, penetrating oil, various grades of electrical wire, 5200 and silicone sealant, WD-40.

(6) Removed toilet hoses and flushed/cleaned, replaced Y valve, made provision for shutting down the pump-overboard valve (Great Lakes requirement).

(7) Replaced varnish on exterior teak with Cetol.

(8) Repainted all window frames and hatch frames with black polyurethane.

(9) Buffed and polished all isinglass with Meguires.

(10) Ground tackle upgrade: new 250 foot 5/8 nylon rode for existing 25 lb. Danforth on 25 feet 5/16 HT chain, acquired used 45 lb. CQR on 100 feet 5/16 HT chain + 250 feet of 5/8 nylon, replaced all shackles and thimbles, replaced seizing, spare 250 foot 1/2 nylon rode, checked 15 lb. Danforth, 1/4 inch chain and 1/2 inch rode. Mounted new CQR on bow roller.

(11) Added 10 inch stainless stern cleat (through bolted, back plated) for
stern anchoring.

(12) 2 new boat hooks.

(13) 6 new dock lines - 25 ft 5/8 3 strand nylon (from old anchor line). Several new 50 foot lines are in the lazerette for locking..

(14) Safety: 2 new life preservers, painted with the boat name, new flares, new 12 gauge meteor flares, added a carbon monoxide/smoke detector to berth area.

(15) interior modifications: new shelves in kids berths, hanging hammock in main berth, turned hanging closet into pantry, new cabinets in salon, new settee (built by us, in birch, stained teak).

(16) galley modifications: new toaster oven, 2nd refrigerator (total of 7 cubic feet of refrigeration), new mount for propane barbecue (in cockpit) additional storage for cookware..

(17) electrical modifications: new 1000w inverter, rewired battery connections, replaced 8D starting battery and serviced 2, 8D house batteries. Two new group 27 starting batteries for generator (one is emergency reserve).

(18) dinghy: new West Marine 9 foot dinghy, dinghy davits installed with backing plates, rebuilt 8HP Nissan dinghy motor, 3 1/2 gallon external tank, 3 gallon gas can.

(19) communications: new VHF in salon (2 fixed mount VHFs on board), 2 new FRS handheld radios, marine SSB receiver.

(20) Hull: new bottom paint, all through hulls disassembled and serviced. Rudder posts re-bedded, rudder shafts repacked, main shafts repacked (TBD in boatyard).

(21) Comfort: cockpit enclosed with canvas and isinglass, cockpit floored with stay-dry rubber mats, new chairs, new cushions, flybridge isinglass repairs.

(22) Navigation: charts for the entire voyage, cruising guides, new hand bearing compass, new waterproof 7x50 binoculars, new waterproof 1million candlepower spotlight, cleaned and serviced all navigation lights.

(23) Entertainment/Business: cell phone, cell phone modem, wireline modem connections, cabin wired for 10baseT LAN, docking stations mounted for 2 laptops, new CD player in flybridge with waterproof speakers, new speakers for CD player in salon. 12 volt DC TV/VCR installed in salon..

(24) Personal: passports for everyone, all funds moved into investment accounts, limited power-of-attorney signed with investment advisor, facilities made for direct deposit from investment accounts to bank accounts upon a phone call from us. Arrangements made with accountant, arrangements made with home agent. Mail forwarding arranged.

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