Author: Chuck

O’Day 22 – Rewiring the Electrical System Part 1 (Battery Storage)

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Measuringfor the placement of the structural support for the new battery

The original wiring on the boat was a mess.  I have ripped out most of the old wiring, and am in the process of replacing it all.  I also decided to replace the battery (I think it had one or two large batteries originally) with a small 35 Amp-Hour deep cycle AGM battery.  All the running lights and interior lights will be low-draw LEDs, so a large battery shouldn’t be needed.

The battery compartment and all the electrical switches are under the starboard settee.  I couldn’t figure out how the old batteries were originally restrained in the battery compartment.  There didn’t appear to be any place to connect a strap or any other restraining device.  So I am adding some support for the battery (with room for a second battery of the same size).  Yesterday I used epoxy and fiberglass tabs to connect three pieces of wood on the inboard side of where the batteries will sit.

Once all the epoxy has cured, I will run a 1×1 piece of wood across the inboard supports and one across the outboard supports.  The battery will sit between the supports, and I will use a strap to ensure the battery doesn’t move.

I am using fast-set hardener for the epoxy, so it should be ready for the next step this evening.

I am also working on constructing a new switch panel.  The old one had corroded to the point of not working. I have a hole cut for the panel and the piece of teak (I believe it is teak, but it doesn’t really matter) cut out.  This afternoon I will mark the cutout size on the back of the wood so I know exactly where all the hardware needs to fit.   I have the switches, fuse holders, and wire – so I should be able to finish the switch panel over the next couple of days.

I also worked on fiberglass repair on the starboard deck, alongside the cabin.  The wood decking core was wet when I bought the boat (years ago), and years ago I repaired the weak portion of the deck.  I had just never smoothed and painted the surface.  I’ll post pictures later today on that project.

Now for a quick dip in the (hopefully) not too cold pool.

Cutout under starboard settee for the electrical switch panel

Project Day

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The girls all headed to New York City this morning. I get the day to myself – a quiet day with the dogs. It is a perfect day to finish project that have been hanging out.

This morning I’ll do a little cleaning (the house and the workshop). I already did some fiberglass work on the boat (building a place for the battery) – I’ll post on that later. This afternoon I’ll mow the yard, and hopefully get some of the woodworking done on the boat. I’ve done most of the trailer work that I can do without getting more steel square tube.

Six Flags and a nice Swedish Dinner

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Family at Six Flags

Yesterday we headed to Six Flags New England for a day at the amusement park. We had a long, fun day in the sun – luckily it wasn’t too hot.

Tonight we had dinner made by Sofia and Linda, with dessert made by Rebecka.

Rebecka and I on the last ride of the day - "Scream"
Dinner after the park....
Rebecka making dessert.

A full house

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Susanna’s youngest sister, Rebecka, arrived from Sweden yesterday. That brings the number of Swedes in the house to four, outnumbering the non-Swedes for now (unless you count the dogs). It is quite crazy with both boys here and three guests – crazy, but fun.

We have two days with a full house, then the boys head back to their other house. Today will be a “take it easy” day – the boys want to invite friends over (so we can have more boys in the house than girls – the normal balance of things) and have Sofia and Linda cut their hair. Tomorrow will be Six Flags.

This weekend it will just be four Swedish women and me. I’ll lock myself in the workshop. And visit the Sawyer farm – fewer Swedes there.

Boat Progress (a little at least)

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Susanna's sister, Sofia, and Tucker inspecting the boat before the carpet is installed

Susanna and I have been making progress on the sailboat this weekend. Yesterday, Susanna cut out the pattern for the new carpet, and cut the carpet to shape.  I was able to drill all the holes needed in the new steel square tubing for the trailer (and prep the steel for painting).

Today, after a nice relaxing morning enjoying coffee on the patio with Susanna, I spent time on the trailer. The second wheel was removed and I cleaned and painted the fist coat of POR-15 on it.  I also removed the remainder of the old/rusted square tubing.  I spent some time painting the new steel, and cleaning the rusty old steel.

Susanna finished preparing the floor for the carpet, and just before lunch we were able to install the new carpet.  What a big difference.  Now to get new cushions (or at least one new cushion – we have one that sort of fits).

Tonight, if it cools down enough that I feel like working in the workshop, I will start milling more trim for the boat.  I have to make pieces to cover the joint between the hull and the deck.  I also need to make trim to cover the edge of the carpet, and some more trim for around the hatches…

Carpet installed...
Trailer in progress

Dinner on the Patio

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Dinner and a beer

We enjoyed a nice evening on the patio. The weather hasn’t been so hot the past two days. I have been off of work all week (okay, I’ll be back for a part day on Thursday). Susanna’s sister, Sofia, and her friend, Linda, were scheduled to arrive later in the evening.

We enjoyed a quiet day.  Or as the boys like to call it, “a boring day.” But we all needed a quiet day.  That isn’t to say that we sat around and did nothing all day (even though the boys like to think that).

Susanna got the house ready for her sister’s arrival.  It is nice to be able to relax and not have to stress about being the one in charge.  I just did the chores assigned to me… no planning or stress required.  I figured it is nice to have only one person in charge of getting the house ready, and I’m happy for it to not be me.

I made some progress on the boat and trailer.  In the morning Will and I went to Mid-City Steel to get new cross beams for the trailer.  I finished painting one of the trailer wheels (black paint looks much better than rust).  I even decided to take a little break from the chores and got the lathe out to turn some toys for Ben.  I still don’t know what I’m doing on the lathe, but it is fun to try to turn wood.

After dinner the boys and I watched the end of “Return of the King.”  We started the movie a couple of weeks ago, and it seemed a good way to end a quiet day.

Six Flags!

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Family Visit to Six Flags New England

Yesterday we headed north to Massachusetts for a visit to Six Flags amusement park.  We spent the morning at the main park, and the afternoon at the water park.

It was a perfect way the split the day. We were able to do rides before the full heat of the day – and cool off in the water in the afternoon heat.  Of course half a day at each park doesn’t give enough time to do all the rides…. but we have season passes so we will be returning several times this summer (starting with next week when Susanna’s sister, Rebecka is visiting).

Ben was finally tall enough to go on some of the bigger coasters.  He still wasn’t tall enough at 51″ to do the really big rides, but we were able to do more than last year.  The first ride we did when we entered the park was “Thunderbolt,” and old wooden roller coaster.  Ben hadn’t been on one that big yet, and the look on his face for the entire ride was of pure shock.  But he loved it, and wound up doing “Flashback” twice (he convinced Will to ride at the end of the day).  Flashback has a corkscrew and loop that you do first forwards, then backwards.  So in one ride, you are upside down 6 times.  They didn’t make them like that when I was a kid.  Or maybe they did, and I was too chicken to ride on them.

Flashback

A visit to Providence, RI

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Last Thursday Susanna and I decided to take a break from the house chores and the heat.  I was up in Providence for other reasons that day, so we decided to spend the night in the Hilton Providence.

While walking around Providence, we passed a dining establishment that had been on “Man vs Food.”  The boys enjoy watching “Man vs Food,” but haven’t seen the one for Providence yet…

Man vs Food

The story behind the sailboat

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The sailboat on temporary stands

There has been a sailboat sitting on a rusting trailer in the garage for many years now.  It is an 1973 O’Day 22 sailboat.  A relic from a previous life of mine – one of the unfinished projects that I kept through the divorce.

I’ve had the sailboat for nearly 10 years.  Or maybe 10 years, I don’t remember exactly when I bought it.  I think it was the year before Will was born.  But maybe it was the year after that.  I have never put it in the water.

So it sat in the garage.  The tongue of the trailer protruding into the driveway, an eyesore that went with the house.  The kids played in it.  It collected leaves and dirt.  Before sitting in this garage, it sat next to the garage at the previous house I lived in.

It was easy to make excuses on why it was never finished.  Having kids took up too much time.  Then the new house.  Then the divorce.  And so here it sits.  But in reality – it never got finished because it is easier for me to start projects than finish them.

It is a perfect sized boat.  It fits on a trailer.  It isn’t too large.  But it is big enough to have a cabin that fits 4 people.

It is also going into the water this year.

I am pretty sure of that.  Not because all of a sudden I’m good at finishing projects.  But it has now become a family project.  Susanna decided she was tired of it sitting in the garage, and she wanted to go sailing this summer.  So with a little encouragement from her, the boat is making progress.

The boys and I have lifted the boat off the trailer.  We have started progressing on the inside of the boat, and I have started working on the trailer.   The goal isn’t to make the boat perfect, but to get it in the water.  This weekend we will dig out the sails and see what kind of shape they are in.

It helps having someone around to keep things on track – and encourage me to finish things.  It is much more fun to work on projects as a team.