Getting down to the final touches before spring.

Okay, I'm getting psyched now, I know spring just has to be just around the dammed corner.  And what better way to celebrate than breaking in some new cockpit cushions.  I knew that getting to this point would be a milestone, and yea, it is.  Now, it's time to start a new chapter.  But, back to reality, the cushions were made by William Gardner Assoc. and did a good job.  I have had this boat for almost 12+ years and I thought I knew a little bit about it, but I didn't realize how non symmetrical it is.  It's like ever piece was custom made.  I tried to see if I could use the cushions on opposite sides and there was just enough of a difference, that it would look like the cushions just simply didn't fit .  But, with each one being 'an-individual', it works.  I'm ready for 80+ temps now.

And, this is a shot from another angle,

And of course the next warm day will be spent re-doing the non skid

And, you thought I was kidding.  Glad that I extended the cushions beyond the base of the locker lid.

Oh, and while I'm at it, here's a couple of the inside, making a new home for the new dishes, cool.  And, of course it starts with a template;

After only 9 years, it was time to replace the refrigerator

Back in 2006, I installed a CB40 under counter refrigerator from Waeco.  I bought one of these because I could slide it into the space where the old 'ice box' was located and not have to take any cabinets apart.  I originally mounted to compressor down low, then after several years, I fiber glassed in some tabs and mounted the compressor up nice and high.  Well, I think that that might have shortened it's life.  Either that or trying to run it hooked up backwards for a little while when I was redoing the electrical system.  Lesson learned, if you have an old boat, don't use the new safety color coded boat wire, use the old red-black color so everything matches.  So, after trying to revive it, I succumbed to the idea that I was going to have to replace it.  This time, I mounted the compressor down low, and did a much better job of it this time, and it gave me a chance to reroute some wires and hoses.  Here is the before shot, and a couple of during shots, and the after shot looked exactly like the before shot, so there's no after pic.  Of course the first thing I put in the frig, a bottle of rum to get cold.  Last night was a fun night of staggering around the marina looking at the new LED lights I installed sipping on a glass of rum, yum.

Outside cockpit lazarette locker, under all that stuff is the frig.  The original 'ice-box' was set up so that when you came to the dock to get a block of ice, you didn't have to cram it in via the inside hatch because there was a larger hatch accessible via the cockpit locker that allowed one to drop the block of ice right into the frig.  Ice in one side, food in and out from the inside of the cabin.  So, when I originally mounted to frig, I cut out a large corner of the big fiberglass tub that was there, and had to use the claw of a claw hammer to remove the foam.  Then I glassed in a shelf at the right height, and the new frig slid right into place.  Originally, there was no really good place to put the compressor, but this second time around was different, and now it's low, where it will be cooler, has air ventilation around it, and it protected from falling gear and people.

This is the battery box, it had to come out, but wasn't too hard, I had built it only a couple of years ago.  I know, no more than 4 wires per battery terminal.  It's okay, I used to be an electrician so that gives me leeway, right?

The above and below pics are from just prior to putting in the new replacement.  You have to tilt your head sideways, but you can see the shelf that I glassed in.  Okay, that's it, the show's over now.

Hull liner before & after pictures

Sink with foam and shelf liner, too dark.

New hull liner glued down, brighter, better.

Aft berth, before

Aft berth afterwards, still need to paint.

Even took out the fresh water flush tank and associated hoses, built some end stops to keep groceries from rolling too far, glued down some hull liner, now we have a nice storage locker.