Newsletter
We are now finished with the planning of the interior,
nothing has been changed on the interior plan since the summer initial plan,
except that the forward head will be storeroom instead, for sails, cordage,
sheets etc.
The next thing was to make a plan of the different systems
we want onboard.
Plumbing, heating/air-conditioning, electricity and the
various appliances we plan are:
Plumbing will be done according to Steve and Linda Dashews
book "Offshore Cruising Encyclopedia"
read this book it is one of the best we have seen on the market.
The heating is planned to be a waterborne Webasto
system, independent of engine waste heat. The engine waste heat will be incorporated
in the system to utilize it when the engine is running.
Electricity will be 12 volt DC and 220 volt AC. The 12 volt
system will be provided from a deep cycle battery bank, plus a separate battery
for engine start. The batteries will be charged by an alternator mounted on the
engine, or by a high quality charger that gets its
power from shore or the genset.
The 220 volt system will have its source mainly from a
diesel power genset, secondly from shore power. An inverter (or two) for short
periods of 220 volt use will also be fitted.
Appliances will consist of an electric two burner ceramic
top and an electric oven combined with microwave. In case of total electrical failure we will use propane on two burners fitted beside the
electric ones.
The fridge will be electric automatically able to switch
between 12 and 220 volt depending which system being used. The freezer will be
a 12 volt holding plate system with the new high tech insulation plates from
The next thing is a washing machine. It will be a combined
washer/dryer. We know that the dryer is not efficient in the tropics but prefer
to install one nevertheless. We will also be sailing at higher latitudes.
A water maker is a must for us. This item will be powered on
220 volt. We can sustain for longer periods without one due to two hull shaped
bottom tanks of 450 litres each. The yacht was originally equipped with 4
freshwater tanks, one is taken out already (a stainless steel tank), an extra
hull shaped bottom tank under the planned head in the owners cabin will be used
as holding tank. An additional tank for gray water will be installed in a space
over the keel in front of the engine.
Sea-Otter that has been outdoors for more than two years is
now safely inside for the final works.
Before lifting her inside we
machined off all the paint and gel coat below the waterline to be able to
inspect for any damage or cheap repair. We have found both. Nothing
serious, but in need for professional repair in small areas. This is
something that one cannot see on a survey, not even Lloyds
survey team, which we used, detected this.
Before anything else, the yacht will be
"chemically" cleaned inside. The water and waste tanks will be
recoated inside, the holding tank with a special resin to withstand its
contents and odour. The engine will be lifted out and overhauled. The plumbing
and the whole new electricity system, through deck fittings will be fitted before
the insulation work starts. The last thing to go inside is the new woodwork
interior.
The wood work of the interior is planned to be of white ash. We prefer that to the old fashion teak. The ash gives a brighter colour and it is essential for us, as one said "if you are living in a cellar then it has to be a nice one".
