Progress Update: January 21st

The shop is now operational! We still need to install the overhead, trim around ports, wiring, a few upper cabinets and shelving but will wait until the rest of our tools and shop equipment are brought from the storage units to the boat. 

Eric in our operational shop!By the way, all this new stuff is removable for access to hydraulic lines, electrical, etc.

The laundry room is almost finished as well! The overhead has been installed and floors and walls are painted. A really nice chest freezer was donated about a month ago and will stay in this room. 

A support wall will be placed next to the washer and dryer stack for stability and they will also be securely tied down. Shelving and lots of cubby-hole storage will also be added.
 

The laundry room overhead. These were cut, temporarily fitted and then removed for painting before the final install. There is access through panels to the ships inverters, wiring and a soft patch through to the deck above for removing and replacing the washer, dryer and freezer.

New flooring and small access hatches. The flooring was only replaced in the back half of the room where the washer and dryer will be stacked.

Eric sanding the old flooring

 Lots of new paint

Eric and DJ had an entertaining time figuring out how to get the freezer into the laundry room. They ended up cutting an opening in the floor above and will be installing a hatch and storage locker with removable flooring. This enabled them to lower the freezer and will serve as an access hatch to replace the washer, dryer and freezer when they need it. A win-win all the way around!

Mary finished cleaning the forward stateroom and has begun working in the forward crew quarters. 

This crew quarters is the next room back from the shop.

Orange cleaner is doing a fantastic job on the wall paper paste.

DJ continues to work on the wiring and electronics throughout the ship and in the engine room. *Eric added a few notes below

*"Sorry for the picture quality. We have no lighting on the lower bridge currently and the cell phone camera doesn't do total darkness well.
 
This is my son's major project right now. Since we have the new 24 volt system run here it's time to hook up systems. First of our 72 mile radars is back on line now. Getting navigation light wiring upgraded to 24 volts currently. A ways to go yet but shortly we'll be able to run.

Still have 2 VHF's, an SSB, ham receiver, second radar, GPS, lighting, AIS, etc. To go. Then there's the leak we found in the hydraulic steering, new steering cross-arm, upper bridge systems, and so much more...."

 "Some old stuff that DJ is removing from the engine room. Some is really old like that transformer and rheostat that was part of the 32 volt AC system that is now gone. Yup, 32 volts AC. First time I've seen one of those on the water!"

Mary's sister-in-law stayed a couple days with us and helped prep some copper wire for recycling and is also providing transportation for DJ to and from North Carolina. He will be doing the wiring on a smaller missions vessel that is headed to Papua New Guinea. The job may take two to three weeks and then he will be returning to continue work here. 

 Mary's sister-in-law and Penny!

 Mary and DJ

Prepping aluminum ducting for recycling

Eric and Mary are now back in Florida. They are getting closer to moving and being able to work on the boat full-time. As soon as enough funding comes in, they will rent a U-Haul to transport everything in the storage units. They will then get their small boat ready to sell and tie-up some loose ends. 

*Our prayer request still stands for a new place to dock the boat. The owner of the dock is getting a new vessel and needed his slip but his current deal fell through, which buys us a little more time. We are needing a very inexpensive ($500.00 a month) or donated slip (which would be tax-deductible) of 120 ft. which has at least 7 feet of water at low tide.