Dakota Crew
02/25/2012, Maple Bay, BC

Well....the projects are on going....it's winter so that's the best time to do them, I guess! Captain Dave is down on the boat contemplating the battery box and how he has wired everything up. He tirelessly explains the minute details to me....I do understand about 70% of what he is saying....which is better than the 1 or 2% I understood several explainations ago!
So far we only have 2 batteries- now with the wind generator and the alternator on the engine we have 2 ways to generate power. The Captain has installed 2 bus bars and 2 isolators....wires are connected to on or the other....yada, yada....positve, negative...voila....the batteries are isolated from each other but connected all at the same time! It's like magic....I'll have him post a picture that explains it better!
So....he's down there today to see if, with all this wind, the whole thing works.
I think he likes spending time on the boat and dreaming! I'll head back down there when it's time to do some none electrical, plumbing or mechanical work...in a word....when the 'pink' jobs start!
In the mean time.....a cute group of pics we found....it is so true.
Happy sailing everyone!

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dreary
02/16/2012, Maple Bay

This morning found me in front of the fire, reading about bloggers cruising in warm weather. Took the dog for a long walk in the rain and then headed down to Dakota to put the first coat of varnish on the floor, has been a long project, stripping old varnish and trying to save the original flooring.

Battery project next, how to wire in isolators and our wind generator, our engine and our heart interface. throw in a second house battery and I am getting in over my head.

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Dakota Crew
01/24/2012, Maple Bay Marina

Well, reading the various blogs has inspired me to look into connecting our facebook page with sailblogs.....I'm behind the times you know!
After many attempts and a few muttered curse words, between Dave and I, we finally figured out the buttons to secure the link. So please feel free to visit our facebook page and 'like' us. We are still mainly doing projects but it could be interesting anyways. I am one of those computer users that if it doesn't start with Step 1: turn on computer.....it will take me several trys to figure it out.
On going boat projects have been worked on by Dave....right now the remainder of the wood is being stripped and revarnished, fiberglass is being scrubbed clean and updated taps in the galley and head are being installed. This summer in Desolation Sound is going to be so much fun!
With the snow on the ground almost gone and the winter rains pounding down out there we are dreaming of sailing in warm, sunny places.

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Winter/Dakota Crew
12/22/2011, Maple Bay Marina

The new gauges have arrived and are already inserted into the new instrument panel. Dave has hooked up the power to them and the back light works...that'll be great when we need to see them at night. Next will be to actually contortion himself into the lazarette to install the panel and hook up all the new wiring....have I told you how clever he is?
Right now as I bake Christmas goodies he spends his days off down on Dakota stripping the old oil off the wood and varnishing with a high gloss varnish....it makes the wood gleam like glass.
We have until May to get Dakota back up and running and in to 'inspection' shape. As with both our works, we have already put in for our whole next years vacation wishes...mostly we got what we wanted and some we didn't....every year our seniority gets better and by the time we retire we will be able to get all that we ask for!
So, Dave has the month of May off and we will be hauling Dakota out of the water to inspect and paint the bottom and then get an insurance inspection. We shouldn't have anything to worry about.....Dave is a perfectionist when it comes to wiring/plumbing and general safety on board Dakota...thank goodness!
Until then we will keep you updated and informed about how the projects are going.
Merry Christmas Everyone!

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Dakota Crew
12/04/2011, Maple Bay Marina

There seems to be an endless list of things to fix and update on Dakota....years of neglect will do that to a boat. Dave has been working for over a year and it shows in the gleaming wood, the hoses that don't leak and the lights that now work. He has had to follow miles of electrical lines that take many different turns, splices and colours to various parts of the boat and sometimes lead to nowhere but end suddenly hanging useless in the bilge....
The instrument panel (as seen in the picture) is one of those puzzles. Most of the instruments didn't work and if they did, it was intermittantly! Dave followed the lines to a mass of wires balled up and stuck together with duct tape and wrapped in a plastic bag...did the previous owner think this was going to water proof the connections?
The panel was cracked and broken, with water leaking behind and getting into the instruments....and most of the instruments had holes and blocked drains, all leading to a massive corrosion fest behind the panel. Well, no wonder the things didn't work.
The whole panel was removed and a new one ordered and this is where Santa comes in....we are now looking at replacing all the intruments and gages. What did we hear in Sailblogs?...that BOAT stands for 'Bring On Another Thousand'? Man....it's true!
So, Dakota is dock bound this winter. We aren't happy about not being able to sail on the nice days, but Dave is happy to go down to the boat to work on projects. We knew it would take a few years to get her up to 'Bristol Shape' and I know this winter I'll lose my husband to the endless boat projects....boat widow again!
We are keeping the dreams of sailing in warm weather and exotic places alive by reading the blogs of everyone here living their dream at this time.

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Dakota Crew
10/25/2011, Maple Bay Marina

So ends our first summer with Dakota.We had a few great holidays this year...not without our usual 'dramas' but all went well and we always got back to dock with no injuries and the boat still floating.
Let's see what did go wrong?....a few hoses let loose filling the bilge with sea water, the heat exchanger stopped working, we had difficulty unfurling and furling the foresails, and the oven wasn't working...oh and we are still having trouble with the 'fridge. But most importantly what went right this summer....we had great sailing weather, we always made it back to the dock, we ate well even without the oven for a 5 day outing, we have met tons of new people at the marina...and even had a dock party, and best of all we are still excited about our boat and our 'retirement plans' of sailing around the world.
Dave has the wind generator up and working, the engine purring more like a kitten rather than an asthmatic tiger, the new propane switch is great...the oven works now, and more little things done that make outings more comfortable for me.
We've got her weather proofed for the winter and Dave has a list of things to do this winter...I am not looking forward to being a 'boat widow' but next summer when we are trying to plan a month sailing holiday we will have the boat more in the 'bristol shape' that the previous owner had told us she was in!
So this winter we will be attached to the dock but dreaming of sailing in warmer climates and reading everyone elses adventures on sailblogs.
Cheers!

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