It's still pretty cold outside but Cork is well on her way to ready for launch day on May 10th. I've been down working on her for the last few Sundays...those were the only days it wasn't raining! Sooooo let me see...where to start... I've been installing solar panels that I got on sale at Canadian Tire. They are 40 watt panels and were regularly $250 but they where on sale for $100 a few months back so I picked up a couple. I have a 400 amp/hr battery bank and with 80 watts of solar I doubt I'll have to rely on a marina for power. I should be self sufficient and able to anchor out while cruising with no problems. I don't have a lot of electronics... I have navigation lights and interior lights but I use lanterns for light inside... I like the glow of a lantern much better that a light bulb :)
I mounted the panels on the stern rails and attached them by using rail clamps. I'd read an article on the internet at www.pbase.com ( highly recommend this website) and this is how they had installed a single solar panel and it is quick and easy to do.
Below is a close up of the hinged rail clamp and the fitting I used for the panel itself.
I used 1/4 -20 X 1" SS philips head screws and nylock nuts to attach the hardware to the panels.
My next project was to install a tiller pilot and to begin I needed to install the power connection for the pilot. I chose to mount it at the engine panel instead of drilling another hole in the boat. Again it was pretty straight forward ..drill hole , mount electrical connector that came with the pilot and also drill a hole to insert the "pin" that holds the pilot in place when you attach it to the tiller for use.
The electrical connector is the small square between the two knobs. It has a " cap" that screws over the connector to protect it from moisture when it's not being used. I ran the wiring for it through the cockpit lockers and into the engine compartment and from there into the battery area which is in a locker behind the quarter berth.
My next project was to get rid of my holding tank and toilet and switch to a composting toilet. I removed the old "head " and the holding tank as well as all of the hoses associated with it and pitched the entire works into the garbage....good riddance!! I will not miss it!! This also gives me a lot of extra storage space under the forward v- berth so that is an improvement immediately.
I placed a 24" X 20" sheet of 3/4" plywood between the bulkheads and cut out the " privy" hole and mounted a toilet seat purchased at Rona. Under the hole is a bucket....also from Rona. The bucket gets a layer of Peat Moss and then every time it gets "used" you cover your "deposit" shall we call it...with a layer of peat moss. There is no odour ... and no need for a pump out ( saving some money too). When the bucket gets full you put the cover on it and place it outside beside your compost pile to "compost for a few months" and then you dump it on your garden...just like the farmers do with cow manure. Obviously you need two buckets for this process..one to compost and one to use while the other is composting. At $5 per bucket...it isn't a problem!!
This is not finished but I've got the plywood in and framing to support the weight of a large person. I'll make a jig to keep the bucket from getting tossed around and I'll close up the bottom so it " looks proper.....but that's for another day.... right now I'm beat and join to hit the snooze button... that was enough work ....till next weekend :)
See you on the water
Tom
S/V Cork
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