Anchor handling

 The OVNI has two identical anchor rollers in a stout extension of the stem, with reessed channels for the rode, which leads to the recessed vertical lofrans electric windlass and a large chain locker.  

Sakura had suffered a bent anchor roller flange on the starboard side, and a badly bent roller pin.  These were rectified in Oct 2023.   

The selden sprit (likely the cause of the bent flange) was removed and replaced with a factory sprit, and the bent roller pin was cut out and replacements were made by Turbo Machine in Curacao.  (Very good shop)  The roller itself was brought home and the bent shaft was removed.  As can be seen below, the roller had taken a ‘set’ and was bent.  

Fortunately, said set was reset after leaving the roller compressed in a vise.  Dimensions are below.  70mm dia, 73mm width, 12mm axle.  

Refit work completed as of May 2024

Rudder and Centreboard

• all bushings, axles and hydraulic cylinders relating to the rudder and centreboard have been replaced with new parts supplied by Alubat in France. 
• all cylinder pins replaced and installed with tefgel
• system flushed, fluid replaced
• Spare pins made for fixed end of both cylinders. 
• Spare seals, fuses for hydraulic pump purchased.
• worn Pivot pins replaced at pump.

Heads and plumbing

• New Raritan PH2 superflush heads installed Oct 2023
• New Osculati Olivia Faucets 17.019.00  Oct 2023
• New Raritan rubber sanitation hoses, Oct 2023
• forward head sink drain hose replaced per survey recommendations.  
• Missing strum box replaced in fwd shower.  
• All pumps are working, all electric (Jabsco) pumps have at least one spare and several rebuild kits.  
• Plastimo manual bilge pump spares aboard

Galley

• Converted to propane Mar 2023
• 2 new composite propane tanks added,
• Propane hoses replaced mar 2023
• Thick rubber matting installed in propane lockers 
• new force 10 2 burner range installed Mar 2023
• new Dickinson BBQ purchased Mar 2023
• UK receptacles converted to Euro std. OCT 2023
• New 220v appliances: toaster, rice cooker - Oct 2024
• fitted cutlery drawer and new 18-8 flatware, melamine tableware, yeti mugs, salt and pepper mills. new stainless commercial cookware, coffee grinder etc etc  galley now outfitted to a high standard.

Rig, deck and hardware

• new Alubat bowsprit purchased. Selden unit removed.  Oct 2023
• Z-Spars vang rebuilt as new (install May 2024)
• new garhauer cabin top clutches at boat for installation 2024
• New Z-Spars mast-base blocks purchased to replace owner-added blocks.
• new halyard winch buttons at boat.  Per survey
• bent anchor roller pin removed, two replacements made, spares built.  Now fully renewed and operational 
• Fortress FX37 purchased, with 20m chain plus 50m 7/8" rode. Fortress  FX 25 there also, with 10m chain and nylon rode, these two are backups to Rocna/chain bower anchor.  
• All 8 GEBO hatches stripped and all acrylic lenses replaced along with any hardware Oct 2023, sumbrella covers for all hatches made, lenses are now protected in storage.  
• Fixed Deck lights replaced with new plexiglass May 2024
• Signifcant quantity of spare GEBO hatch parts and spare hatch lenses are aboard. .   
• Profurl Genoa furler rebuilt and installed May 2024  Spare bearings, seals, and grease aboard. 
• several lifeline stanchions replaced, new New lifelines currently being fabricated.   (May '24)
• New running rigging shipped to boat for May 2024 

Canvas/Fabrics/interior

• Dodger refurbished, new windows with shade.  (Oct 2023)
• mainsail lazybag refurbished.
• Bimini canvas refurbished.
• Interior curtains replaced with new.
• broken door catch replaced
• GEBO mosquito screens for two main cabin hatches purchased
• Sunbrella covers made for deck hatches.
• Spare LOXX fasteners and installation tools in inventory.
• Extensive "bosun's kit" for sail and fabric repair now aboard.  

Power

• Victron Automatic isolation transformer added  (galvanic isolator removed)   Oct 2023
• Victron multiplus 1600w inverted/charger added (Victron Centaur 60A charger removed)  Oct 2023
• Victron Orion DC:DC charger at boat but not installed. Oct 2023
• Victron CerboGX and Multiplus 500W 125V inverter installed May 2024
• IEC style receptacle added in cockpit locker, and in galley as above) Oct 2023
• IEC 220v receptacles replaced all UK standard.
• substandard DIY AC wiring replaced
• New (Ground lifted) hubbell shore power inlet to be added Oct 2023
• 2ea 230 AH Lithium batteries delivered OCT 2023, to replace AGM house bank. (consider a third, after relocating start battery to p/s cockpit locker.)  Oct 2023
• wiring and curcuit protection of batteries brought up to standard, 
• All interior lighting replaced with LED, May 2024
• SEA-GEN damaged bracket and pin replaced, replacement cable on order.

Electronics 

• Fusion stereo, b&G wwireless wind and air mar dst810 installed May 2024
• Standard horizon GX1850 dual station VHF installed
• NMEA2000 network installed, labelled.  Cables secured and protected from chafe.
• wiring inside nav station revised, labelled, simplified and secured.  
• switching and panel layout revised and simplified to maximize intuitie operation and reliability.
• Fuse blocks added at Nav station for reliability and ease of troubleshooting.
• zeus3 7” helm chartplotter purchased, to be installed Sept 2024
• Wind instruments replaced, per survey.

Other

• All part and model numbers and inventory fully documented, including all equipment, spares, tools. 
• New Makita 18V tools, Grinder, Jigsaw, ROS, two drills, oscilllating saw.
• Comprehensive range of hand tools also aboard consistent with self sufficency.  Mechanical, wood, metalworking electrical.  
• Spare pumps, seals and various fasteners, electrical and other materials and rebuild parts consistent with self sufficiency are now in inventory on board.  
• All lines and spare rope documented, inspected and whipped.  Worn or otherwise unserviceable line discarded.
• Comprehensive ditch bag assembled in ACR ditch bag.
• EMS level first aid kit added to supplement already comprehensive first aid supplies on board.
• Musto offshore HPX drysuit and Musto offshore foul weather gear aboard.
• Offshore "big game" fishing gear now aboard. 
• MMSI numbers registered, EPIRB to be reprogrammed fall 2024.

Next: (August 2024)

• Replace running lights with new Hella USCG LED (aboard, awaiting installation) 
• replace running rigging  (ship for April 2024) 
• EPIRP reprogrammed.
• Install new gas detector/heat sensor
• certify fire extinguishers.
• see also 

Updating the heads

Sakura's plumbing fixtures were definitely showing their age and the heads were updated as of OCT 2023 toilets, hoses and faucets all installed.  Wall sconce lighting only requires replacement.

Raritan P101 superflush heads, Osculati 'Olivia' shower/faucets.    

Update - end of June 2023.    

The mounting decks for the replacement heads are complete and ready to be installed when I’m next at the boat.  Definitely overkill but satisfying to work with no time pressure, and to incorporate the epoxy saturation of all exposed surfaces, radiuses and chamfered holes and edges, stainless T-nuts etc.   I tried to mimic the factory’s relieving of edges as closely as is reasonable but it is clear that the parts were originally tweaked to fit the existing space and that this will be required when installed.  I used metric hex-head screws rather than Philips or slots, as a a hex key is better suited to the confined situation.  

Prior posts.

The space in the forward head lends itself to a composting toilet, however it is only this head that is configured to discharge into a holding tank.   I elected not to add another project to the list and will defer a composting toilet to some point in the future.     

I elected to replace the RM69 manual toilets with Raritan P101 "Superflush" compact toilets, and found an excellent supplier in marinepartssource.com.   I had these shipped to Curacao, intending to install them in June 2023.   After I removed the old toilets quickly realized that new mounting decks were required, so I trial fitted the new toilets in place, traced the base location on the old decks and brought them home to serve as templates. 

I used 3/4" G1S plywood coated with MVS410 epoxy, Wilsonart "Frosty White" 1573 60 laminate.   3M Super 77 spray adhesive (really good contact cement) was used to bond the laminate to the plywood.   I finished with some teak to trim the exposed edge as was done originally.  Rather than mount studs protruding upwards to secure the toilet, I will install M6 stainless T-tuts from below and will secure the unit with machine screws from above.   Better approach I think.

I will replace the existing 1.5" PVC sanitation hose with quality rubber hose like Raritan SFH, and will feed that and the flush water hoses through radiused, epoxy-coated holes in the deck.  

Below shows Laminate trimmed slightly oversized, and epoxy-coated plywood ready to be glued together with the 3M spray adhesive.   

Laminate glued and trimmed.  Deck panels, old and new.

Oops. Don’t ask. Related DIY repair.  

Teak edge strips fitted and in the process of being glued with epoxy and biscuits. At this point someone may point out that epoxy might not cause the biscuits to expand as they are designed to do with water-based glues.    Am well aware of this.  I decided to use biscuits as tenons, with thickened epoxy, instead of the factory approach of screws and a plugged hole, which had discoloured due to the screws corroding.

Teak trim gently clamped, excess epoxy wiped off with alcohol.

Galley Range replacement and and propane conversion

Images below shows the comparative size of the new Force 10 range vs the original.

Sakura's orignal ENO 0420-0823 galley range was ready for replacement, as were its hoses and the rusting "camping gaz" tanks aboard.  

I connected with Force 10 marine in Vancouver, and managed to chat with Brian Clark - ex-owner of Force 10, who has sold his company to ENO, a much larger French company, also in the marine stove business.   Lucky chat, very expert guy.  

He gave me the lowdown on ranges, sizing conventions, competitors' strengths and weaknesses.   After dutifully suggesting the latest ENO equivalent, he recommended upgrading to a Force 10 model# 63256.   This is a taller Euro Standard unit vs  the original ENO Euro compact unit.  While  the  ENO range is more budget-friendly than the high-end Force 10, the latter offers 2" greater height inside the oven.    I'd certainly have missed that.  

The euro standard (vs the original euro compact) range is taller due to its larger oven, and the gimbals must be mounted around 1” higher.  Shims were made to accommodate the size difference.  The range swings freely, with no modification to Sakura's joinerwork required.  (the gimbal mounts on the Force10 range need to be shimmed between 1/4” and 3/8” total, so half of that each side.)

Plumbing

The force 10 manual states the following

The gas fitting on this range is a 3/8” SAE 45 male flare fitting located in the back on the lower left as you are facing the front of the unit. For gimbaled installation there must be a minimum of 24” (610mm) of flexible hose to allow the unit to gimbal freely. Test all fuel lines and connection points for leaks with a soapy water before use. Do not attempt to locate leaks by using an open flame. An optional 8mm Nozzle adaptor fitting is also available (Part # 87155)

The 8mm copper tubing can be flared to accommodate North American style flare fittings.   I was able to use a SAE flaring tool to flare the metric line.   (1/4" ID flare is very close to the 6mm ID of the 8mm copper line)  The transom stowage locker uses a Panzer gauge PG9 plastic gland where the copper line passes through the bulkhead.   This fitting was broken as many seem to be on the boat, and was replaced.  

April 2024

https://www.cdivalve.com/products/solenoid-valves

AFC models 121 or 151 seem most appropriate as they are rated for up to 312psi.   Tanks can be as high as 200psi.   Some recommend that the solenoid is placed before the regulator (it then protects the regulator).  Sakura is not currently outfitted this way.

Solenoid appears to have 1/4" NPT fittings.

Standard Flex Hose fittings are 3/8" flare fittings.

The whole thing is neatly packed (at a price) here:

Trident 1300-7705.3-KIT

and with a gas detector, here:

1300-7761-KIT

https://tridentmarine.com/product/12-vdc-marine-gas-control-detection-systems/

And a competing setup - here

P-2BNV-R

https://www.fireboy.com/propane-detectors-and-controls/#1610422079793-6b186418-e2dadc20-847a

October 2023

!

Tanks

Viking makes composite tanks in Norway. Cheaper than aluminum, no rust, lightweight, easy on the paint. Pretty too.   Cool stuff. Two 17lb tanks please, they'll fit in the transom lockers.

Safety considerations

I will fit a solenoid valve into the stowage locker in future.       

I was able to get both North American style Viking tanks filled in Curacao, so a smooth job all ‘round.  

Earlier post:

This sort of thing is an intriging option!

https://drinkpod.com/products/cheftop-pro-dual-induction-cooktop?variant=43779654025469

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005002594063449.html

Update:

The force 10 manual states the following

The gas fitting on this range is a 3/8” SAE 45 male flare fitting located in the back on the lower left as you are facing the front of the unit. For gimbaled installation there must be a minimum of 24” (610mm) of flexible hose to allow the unit to gimbal freely. Test all fuel lines and connection points for leaks with a soapy water before use. Do not attempt to locate leaks by using an open flame. An optional 8mm Nozzle adaptor fitting is also available (Part # 87155)

I am all at sea about the fittings reqired to adapt to 8mm copper, and whatever was there before...

Propane/CO/Bilge Detector

Found this unit on Amazon, at significantly less than through most marine channels.

https://www.mtiindustries.com/product/surface-mount-fume-fire-and-flood-detector/

The Fuel

As the boat was originally equipped with lighter-than-air camping gaz, some upgrades were required, specifically the appropriate hoses, regulator abd fittings but also a solenoid and bilge sniffer.

https://www.practical-sailor.com/boat-maintenance/propane-leak-action-plan

The copper hose is a euro-standard 8mm diameter and apparently propane tanks fittings have many standards, so, effectively none.  

Tanks have come a long way.

Viking makes composite tanks in Norway. Cheaper than aluminum, no rust, lightweight, easy on the paint. Pretty too.   Cool stuff. Two 17lb tanks please, they'll fit in the transom lockers.

https://www.vikingcylinders.com/