Since February 2015 we’ve completed many, many projects. Although our boat was ready to cruise the day we bought it, it’s my belief that all boats are project boats. We also found we have a pretty high standard for a place we consider our home (spending a lot of time in), and wanted confidence our boat would keep us safe in remote areas (like the west coast of Vancouver Island).
This list is by no means complete, but summarizes most of the big projects and some of the smaller ones.
Last Updated: January 2020
Note: These projects were all on our first boat (C&C Landfall 38). Our 2nd/current boat is newer and didn’t require nearly as many projects, although there were still some big ones (Lithium electrical system upgrade, davits, etc).
Big Projects:
- Rebuilt transmission (hired)
- Installed new depth/speed triducer and Raymarine i70
- Installed masthead wind transducer (hired)
- Stripped and Cetol’d handrails
- Replaced head plumbing
- Dropped rudder and had two voids filled and the top edge fiberglassed (hired) to stop leak
- Rebuilt steering system – new Edson radial drive, cable and chain
- Replaced stuffing box with PYI dripless shaft seal
- Replaced cutlass bearing
- Replaced below-waterline hoses for cockpit scuppers. Replaced scupper drains.
- Replaced rotted interior walls under aft berth
- Repainted galley cabinets and shelves
- Installed rigid boom vang
- Installed flexible solar panels on bimini + solar charge controller
- Rerig (Dec 2016 – Feb 2017)
- A month of planning and research
- Inspected Navtangs
- Assembled new compact strand wire forestay with Hayn HiMod terminals
- Installed new Harken furler
- Replaced masthead VHF antenna and cable
- Repainted the mast collar and mast step
- Replaced masthead sheaves for main halyard and genoa halyard
- Rebedded 6 Navtec U-Bolt chainplate linkages
- Replaced v-berth headliner (plywood backing board cut to template, with Sailrite fabric glued on)
- Below-decks Autopilot: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3
- Replaced the 4 cabin windows (acrylic)
- Rerig Part 4 (Dec 2019): Replaced lower spreaders [LINK: Project summary coming]
- Stripped teak toe rail and painted with Cetol
Smaller Projects:
- Removed numerous unused and old electrical wires and terminals
- Rebedded backstay chainplate, inner forestay, propane box frame, deck tie downs and other hardware
- Rebedded 5 deck fill ports
- Marked anchor rode lengths
- Cleaned/lubricated all winches (6)
- All new halyards and sheets
- Rebuilt manual bilge pump and replaced hose
- Reconditioned Sigmar diesel cabin heater
- Repaired and epoxied leaking anchor locker lid
- Installed new hatch gaskets for galley + head (leaking)
- Designed / installed lazy jacks
- Engine: changed oil + filter, coolant, impeller, cleaned air intake filter, replaced primary and secondary fuel filters
- Engine: Installed new hose on raw water pump to make it easier to access the impeller
- Engine: Installed vacuum gauge on fuel filter
- Engine: Installed two new motor mounts
- Replaced broken battery tie down clasps
- Installed CO detector
- Resealed lazarette rim due to leak
- Installed 12V DC charging plug at nav station and a USB outlet at helm
- Disassembled and inspected autopilot drive wheel
- Removed old marine blower from transom compartment
- Made new wood supports for the helm seat
- Replaced old hull liner in 2 cabinets in galley
- Replaced rotted wood base under cabin heater exhaust flue
- Replaced house (2) and starter (1) batteries
- Replaced failed battery combiner
- Rewired fridge compressor
- Replaced radio/CD receiver
- Installed propane tank adapter for grill
- Lots and lots of cleaning
Small Boat Purchases / Gadgets We’ve Found Useful: