Electrical Wiring Tear Out

My Ham Radio buddy Doug, helped me pull out my electrical panels and clearing wiring out of the chart table area and adjacent bulkhead. We also removed the two isolation transformers. The goal being to move these panels to a drier location behind the companionway. 

My electrical panels. 

Labeling this and re terminating will be a chore. 

This is where the electrical panels were located.  I was afraid that water intrusion at these deadlights would cause an electrical fire. Now the question is what to do in this area?

Deck Leak

I found a deck leak in a drain above the aft head. This drain is used to clear  water off the deck near the companionway. 

I cleaned it up with a Dremel al will glass over it again with cloth tape. 

Exhaust System

I finished double clamping the exhaust hoses. One final job remains: to secure the rear loop to the transom gusset to prevent any banging sounds. 

I took this opportunity to cap the old exhaust through hull. If I get a generator I may use this again. Or it could be an exhaust for a second manual bilge pump. 

Main Hatch

I am grateful to have a friend like Ron. Ron worked on my boat today while I was helping another friend Dawson--tiling his bathroom for him. It was after 4 when I finished and traffic was too heavy to travel northeast to ECHO.  

Ron put some vanish on the beautiful hatch he made for me. I still might need a storm hood of some sort to keep water from working its way into the boat.  Ron suggested a canvas cover.  I am in favor of a rigid cover that can be removed. 

This hatch and my large forward hatch are my two trouble areas.  Last week Ron and I discussed ideas for improving that other hatch to reduce the amount if water that finds its way in.  That other hatch lets in too much light. It needs a canvas sun screen to limit the light that comes it at times. 

Ericsson 46 Sail Specs

I have found a few interesting sails for sale locally. Three spinnakers and one genoa. 

I am particularly interested in finding a mainsail with a longer foot. I could possibly take one with a taller hoist and get it cut down.  Minnie's used sails is the largest use sail market in the US.  I check there often. 

My specs are the same with the exception of the mainsail foot which is adjustable between 15'5" and 17'2".  I would subtract 3" from the max foot and say the idea foot size would be 16'11".

Wiring Plans

Most electrical fires on boats happen at the electrical panels due to water intrusion. I happen to have a dead light next to my panels and also a chain plate. While these are not leaking now. I expect this to be a problem area.  The solution is to move the electrical panels aft behind the companionway--to the driest part of the boat.  I plan to put the AC panel on the port side passageway leading to the port aft cabin and the DC panel to the aft starboard cabin--which will be my cabin most of the time. 

Wednesday, my ham radio buddy Doug will be helping be disconnect my batteries, take my wiring panels out, and remove my isolation transformers.  

My plan is to remove the two companionway bulkheads (one shown above--the other is obscured on the left side of this frame). and later on replace these with new ones, and reinstall the two isolation transformers lower and alongside each other, leaving room for my 3000 Watt Inverter/Charger above.  I may mount my second charger next to it or else use that space for a wiring DIN rail. Hopefully, there will be space for both.  I will also be installing two circulation fans to provide cooling for this space and a divider to isolate it from the engine space below. 

Wednesday I will also start number labeling the circuits and making measurements for cable runs that need to be replaced. I do not want to splice any wire except to connect wire to devices like fans or lights. 

To simplify things, I have DC sub-panels for each cabin (Forward, Galley/Salon, aft Port, Aft Starboard to size fuses to exactly match loads and protect smaller gauge wires. I will have a small breaker panel for the navigation area.  The main panel will provide switching for larger loads and smaller inverters.  Grounds will be connected by DIN rail for a neatly organized wiring system.   

DC charging will be done by the motor/alternator, Heart 3000 Inverter three stage charger for the house bank, and a 20 A three stage charger for the starter battery.  Solar panel and wind generator charging will each have their own controller hooked to a DC breaker. Both battery banks can be cross connected for charging or emergencies. 

AC loads will be controlled directly from the AC panel which will actually be two separate panels each connected to it's own dedicated  isolation transformer. This provides for redundancy. For example failure of either battery charger can be by passed such that all batteries can be charged from one charger. Heavy loads that the house battery bank and inverter cannot support will not be accessible whilst shore or generator power is not available. 

I will also need to work out how to connect a generator to both AC panels.  I am not sure if I will have a generator at this point. I do not want to sacrifice any interior space for a generator, so I will only consider a small generator that will fit in my aft starboard lazarette.  I may consider a small Honda gas generator if I can find a suitable space to store it and its fuel. 

Auto-Pilot Tiller Arm

A few quick photos of my autopilot tiller arm being bored out. I will test fit it in a few days.

This bronze alloy was tough stuff and damaged the bit used to bore the second hole. Both mine bit and again at my friend Carls machine shop. 

The second hole is for the Clevis Pin, collar and cotter pin that connect this to the auto-pilot ram.   I am debating cutting the extra length off the tiller arm. First I will see how it works and if the extra length interferes with the rudder stop cables.

Two pieces of plate stainless steel that will become my aft winches adapter plates came in.  I need to bring over the old and new winches for the bolt pattern on these winches. 

Tomorrow is a rainy day. I will be tiling a friends bathroom and most likely will take a day off from the boat.