Tom
January 28, 2010, Port Ginesta

Another electrifying entry. I just replaced all the 5W bulbs of the interior cabin lights with 9-LED bulbs. Each one consumes less than 0.5W, i.e. ten times less than before. An important battery saver when you're sailing or at anchor. The bottom right picture is the light with LEDs. Compared to the original light (bottom left) the big difference is the direction of the light beam.
Don't bother buying LED bulbs at the chandler in your local marina. They will cost you easily 50 euros per bulb. Instead have a look on eBay. You will find hundreds of LED bulbs at prices as low as 6 euros per bulb. Just make sure you're purchasing the ones for the right voltage and with the right fitting. The Centurion 32's interior lighting are all BA15D fittings.

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Tom
January 9, 2010, Port Ginesta

I know. Part one of this story was written more than 4 years ago. The tidying up of the electric wiring behind the cabin switch panel just had been postponed in favor of more urgent projects. After last years installation of the new engine and the incorporation of the small new Volvo Penta electronic control panel, the switchboard looked like a mess, not to speak of the spaghetti wiring behind the panels. That's what I've been working on over the last couple of weekends. I rearranged the complete electric wiring, threw out the 12V-DC-to-220V-AC inverter (in 5 years I hadn't used it once), cut out and varnished a new plywood panel and installed 3 new waterproof switch panels. A total of 18 switches, 3 of which still free for future expansions.
More projects will follow this winter...

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Tom
December 15, 2009, Port Ginesta

This morning I had the honor to receive David Merlot and his wife Nadine on board of Iris. David helped creating the Wauquiez shipyard back in 1965 and worked over 40 years in the construction of all the Wauquiez models. Now he is to be considered the number one expert on the Centurion 32 and provider of original plans and spare parts.
As an early Christmas present, David made me an offer I couldn't refuse for a whole new set of 6 quality portholes, which he casually had with him in the trunk of his car... It seems I have an extra project for this winter...
Thanks David and Nadine. Merry Christmas!

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Tom
December 7, 2009, Port Ginesta

All you Wauquiez fans out there, spend some time visiting this new site Wauquiez Forever set up by Charles-Henri, son of our legendary boat builder. A lot of nostalgic photographs to be found there!

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Tom
November 16, 2009, Port Ginesta

This is worth mentioning in my blog. Recently, a new society of pleasure boaters was founded in Spain. Its objectives are the promotion and protection of Spanish sailors, in particular in our continuous war against the absurd bureaucratic legislation. Of course, I joined this club.
www.anavre.org

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