For the past two months, various electrical systems and miles of old wire have been ripped out of Wilparina. Watching this progress made me wonder if this seemingly endless stream of old stuff erupting from the boat would ever stop, and whether the process would reverse. Would the pieces ever go back together again? Yesterday, I pushed yet another dock cart full of chopped up wire and hoses to the dumpster. Well, at last we're on the verge of reassembly.

As soon as the varnish is dry, the new circuit panels will be installed. Then the boat's electrical systems will start going back together.

The Balmar 100 amp alternator is in pretty bad condition. It's been removed and is going to the shop to be rebuilt.

Electric Dave procured remote battery switches and cabling and will now start putting the batteries in order. Gone is the Big Red Battery switch. This is being replaced by compact little switches located right on the electrical panel. We also need to install proper boxes to hold the eventual new batteries in place.

It's not just electrical work that's been completed. Dave pulled out the old bilge pump hose that was an assortment of hose lengths cobbled together, and ran a nice new hose - it's all clean and neat.

The old Henderson Mark V manual bilge pump was removed last week. I wasn't able to find any parts for it on the Internet, neither could the guy at West Marine. But the guys over at Sexton's marine store were able to find a rebuild kit and it's on order.

We also have a Johnson Flowmaster, 5 GPM, variable flow demand water pump ready to install.

One of my duties this week is to paint the aft mechanical compartment.

It's coming back together!