The NEW Generator is DONE

I can imagine that YOU might not be able to spot the NEW Northern Lights 6kw generator in this neat modern engine room.  It's the big white clean looking thing in the left of the frame. 

$10,000 boat dollars.  It can power all the electrics on board.  

Everything, both air-conditioners, the water heater, microwave, TV, coffee maker, all outlets @ the same time.  (if you visit i can air-condition your 'suite.')

 After the new generator was installed they worked on taking out old 'dead' wires.  Wires that connect to nothing and probably haven't for many many years...  I got two large garbage bags full of old wire.

Today as i went out to run errands - to West Marine for parts, i met a guy digging through our dumpster.  He had both my bags of old wire.  I dont have to try very hard to see the sad truth, or need much imagination to know that "I'm throwing away money."  duhhh  

For next weeks project, i bought a new: Blue Sea ELCI, 120 volt, 30amp double post, auto polarity reversing breaker panel / box.  Cheap?  well, no.  About $430 boat dollars.  It's to be able to cut the shore power off.

Another Day in the trenches

We got the Generator back into one piece but didnt quite get the wiring finalized.  The Breaker Box seems to be stumping the band...  Tomorrow we will do some re-wiring in the box and start the generator.  We are one step closer.

 New RED gas warning light

 Rod doing some re-wiring

Rod added two alarms: High water and Low Battery

The electric part of the Generator

sv Prodigal still in Construction Mode

We have finally gotten the Pedestal finished.  All the wiring is done and the switches work.

My NEW Northern Lights Generator being re-assembled in the engine room.

Rod inside my Lazarette working on my aft light switch.

A Week of Electricity... can you feel it in the air?

The $1.5 billion Powerball jackpot -- the largest lottery prize in history -- will be split at least three ways.

The winning numbers were 08, 27, 34, 04 and 19, and the Powerball was 10.   The odds of winning the record jackpot were 1 in 292 million.


What are the odds that i was 'almost' the 4th split?  What were the odds of me NOT getting ANY of the numbers right?  50-50.

I played Boating Lotto this week.  I gambled that the wires run to my lights at the spreader were "not good."  so Rod and i ran all new wires.  When we pulled the old wire from the mast - we found multiple splices INSIDE the mast on every wire.

Rod made lots of notes about which switch ran which wire.

I hope YOU either win the Lotto or fix your lights!  

from s/v Prodigal.       -skip

Big Boat Work Day

The Canvas Crew from North Canvas came out and measured for my new Full Enclosure.  First they measure and sow the heavy canvas top. (a Bimini)  Once the Bimini is attached they use lightweight plastic to stretch out for measuring and creating a pattern for windshield and complete "sun room" around the cockpit.  It will be warm and dry all winter.  

Thanks Tom and Ben.  

Eric and Davy, from Y.E.S. (Yacht Equipment Service) came out to replace my old Generator. Imagine a ship in a bottle situation.  We have to take it apart to get it out, so we can re-build the new one in it's place.  (now think 35 year old oil, gunk, grease, and slime dripping as you go.  Are you imagining it weighs 377 pounds?  So i got to help some with the 'heavy lifting.'  We got it apart, out and off the boat without injuries.  Great job Eric and Dave.

Boat Work in 2016

Boat work continues.  I have one crew working on the Canvas.  A second crew is replacing the generator.  A third crew is working on replacing the Ports.  The Riggers are almost finally totally complete.  Rod has been the last week helping with the Electrics.

There is no rest for the wicked.        -Skip

The old wiring was in need of some 'fixing'.  Rod Duncan is helping with this.

In the process we discovered a broken stanchion and had to take it out to be welded.  

(first remove the bow pulpit.  all the bolts are way up under in the hard to reach area)

Massive Thanks to Rod and Dave for all their great help on Prodigal.  

We are several steps closer to sailing away into the wild blue yonder...    

I couldn't do it without 'a little help from my friends.'

Then you put the Pulpit back on and insert the new lights and wiring.  While this is happening Captain Dave Damm moves his boat to get some work done on his prop.

Finally you can relax and talk about the next thing on the list!  (the never ending list)