Planned future trips on Barracuda will involved more time offshore so we have been doing a major upgrade of boat and equipment to get her ready. This blog entry is a list of things that have kept us busy during the winter. Thanks to the team at Craobh Haven Marina for their help in getting through this refit.

Communications
- Wi-Fi booster installed for better on-board Wi-Fi in harbours
- Back up VHF aerial mounted permanently on arch with quick connect by VHF for use in the event of loss of main aerial
- Iridium Extreme Sat phone installed with external aerial linked to RedBox for e-mail compression
- On-board printer

New Safety Equipment
- Ocean Safety 6 man life raft &+24hr grab bag
- Seabrake drogue - for severe weather management and back up steering device
- Upgraded safety equipment specified for ocean crossings to meet ARC requirements
- New Crewsaver Ergofit 190 OS life jackets with AIS MOB beacons installed
- New 2nd manual bilge pump below decks to allow for manual pump out without need to go on deck in emergency
- Upgraded first aid kit

Steering
- Rudder bearings replaced - maintenance
- WindPilot wind vane self steering - saves on power and provides back up to Autopilot

Water
- Osmosea watermaker installed to improve water capacity and offshore comfort (showering)
- Water filter now in use to remove chlorine when filling tanks to eliminate impact on aluminium systems
- Fresh water foot pump installed in heads to reduce water and power consumption

Power
- New D400 wind generator (Aerogen6 had reached end of life)
- Upgraded control system for Solar panels and wind generator to improve efficiency and system safety

Hull
- Keel pin and bearings replaced
- Water tanks epoxied internally for long life, corrosion avoidance
- Mastervolt isolation transformer installed to isolate the boat properly from the shore power supply and minimise corrosion potential when in harbours

Sails and Spars
- Additional winches added to help with cruising chute / ParaSailor
- Bowsprit strengthened
- Cam cleats added to mast to improve foresail pole handling
- Mast and sails fully inspected and maintained
- Better mast climbing equipment
- New Dyneema main halyard and old halyard moved to topping lift - this gives us main halyard back up

Engine, Propulsion and Stern Gear
- Twinned primary fuel filter for easy switch over if filter blocks (memories of diesel bug on the Rhone)
- Prop fully serviced, and back up fixed bladed prop fully ready to run

Navigation
- Aquasignal LED tri-light on mast to save power and comply with regulations
- Electronic charts, paper charts and pilot books for new areas

On-board living
- USB sockets installed for easy charging in cabins
- Victron power invertor installed for running 240v devices (limited to 375 W)
- French sockets replaced with British sockets to avoid need for adaptors
- Caframo fans now in all cabins for comfort in hot weather

Tools and Spares
- Improved spares inventory
- Improved tool kit
- Major clear out of what is onboard and extensive re-org of tools, spares, etc....

Ground Tackle
- Better anchoring capability with addition of 65m x 18mm Anchorplait rope