Everyone knows that boats need work. It’s just a matter of finding out what needs doing, and then listing them in order of importance. First, decide what the most important tasks are; we call these show stoppers. Our list has been shortened already as we have been working away at completing these jobs so we can get off the dock. Just because we bought a motor boat does not mean we want to sit at a dock. Besides it’s pretty chilly up in North Carolina and we are ready to move!
Our list
Bow Cleat – The Starboard bow cleat needed re-bedding. This is a two person project. Someone (meaning me) has to climb into the anchor locker to hold the wrench over the bolt while someone else (meaning him) unscrews the bolts from the deck. Actually, the anchor locker was a lot bigger than some of the many other bilge compartments and lazarette cabinets I’ve previously been shoved into. Fast forward through the 30 minute drive to West Marine and boom! We are back at the boat with the new hardware. We applied two sheets of fiberglass cloth to the inside of the cabinet. Once that dried, the holes were filled from the top deck with West System and Colloidal Silica. Once that is completely dry, we re-drill and re-bed with 5200.
Sampson Post – Pretty much same as above. Re-bedding is re-bedding.
Anchor Light – Simple enough. Order online, and insert. Turn on the switch and Voila! Let there be light!
Fuel Line – Eeek! This is a tricky one! Hatteras has a fabulous owner’s manual that show in-depth drawings of all the systems including the fuel system. It’s a 43 year old boat with copper fuel lines that have managed to get pin holes in them. With a can-do attitude and a lot of trial and error we replaced a few lines and think we have nailed it.
Engine Maintenance – Being cut from the same cloth of good ole’ Captain Ron we are fans of the motto, “If anything’s going to happen it’s going to happen out there.” Yet, we still prefer to prepare ourselves for what might happen by going through the general maintenance on the engine(s) before we set out on a trip. In the past few days, we have replaced all fluids and filters, installed new impellers in the water pumps and have scrubbed everything in the engine rooms. We have degreased from top to bottom so that if we should develop a leak we can spot it fast and trace it easily.
Ground Tackle - From the anchor well, we pulled out all the rode, measured and marked the line using a super simple method of stretching the line out on the side deck. We used zip ties to mark the lengths beginning at 50’ and then every 25’ thereafter. This is our get us home fix, in the long run we plan to have all chain rode.
Needless to say, we have been pretty busy, but we are seriously enjoying every minute of it. The boat makes for a super comfortable live aboard while working on all these projects and it sure is nice to cross things off the list as we go!Not to mention the pure satisfaction of a hot shower at night after a long days work, another bonus we’ve enjoyed since making the switch! (Our last boat not only didn't have hot water, it was only sea water operated by foot pump, seriously folks. We kept it simple.)
