New water heater and re-purchased a new split element 2024

 

This is an older picture but it is the same element.

 We purchased a new split element for our new hot water heater that we also purchased this last sumer. As we thought, we couldn't remove the old element from our current leaking water heater.

Satian varnish almost done 2025

    l The satin varnishing of hard to reach places and cubby's is at the finish line! This nav station project area was the last of the larger satin areas on the boat to be done. The previous owner had installed a battery selector switch here which we removed and we put a teak cover on the hole. A couple small easy access spots are left to satin varnish but is it. This about completes the interior varnishing of our 1978 Islander Freeport 36ft plan B sail boat.

Guitar holder mounted 2025

his little project was simply putting up a guitar holder. If the guitar is hard to get at it does not get played. It also has to be boat seaways friendly. Meaning it is not going to go flying in a blow with rocky seas. This fits that check box and ease of use check box. Now the old Bora fan screw holes will be a bit more challenging.

Dinghy chaps refit completed and new straps on cockpit shade 2025

      Debbie is finished with the dinghy chaps. We have a 10.2 Achilles dinghy which is about 12 years old and still in great shape. We store it out of the sun in hurricane season and have the chaps that Debbie originally made on it the rest of the time. This year the chaps got a major refit by Debbie re-stitching lots of areas and replacing and adding chafe.

Helm seat becomes work bench 2025

Here is another use for the helm seat, a work bench. I had to fabricate a couple pieces of teak and needed a spot to work.

Outside teak varnished 2025

    This year and forward we are having Chava varnish our teak on the outside of our boat. It is a once a year job and because we cover the grab rails a lot they are about a three year job.

First coat of satin varnish under nav station. 2025

 

   This is the first coat of satin varnish. The trim where the luvared doors go will be gloss. As you may know the gloss can cover the satin varnishing easily but not the satin, it will not cover gloss. It would come out looking a dull gray. Any way it is looking better than the pictures show.

Preparing under the nav station for varnishing 2025

Today I did some prep under our nav station. We have already done the hard part which was varnish the louvered doors.

Debbie is re-stitching and replacing chafe on our dinghy chaps 2025

Debbie is working on re-stitching our dinghy chaps and replacing some chafe on the chaps. A big job yet it needs to be done. 

First coat of varnish on bed storage area 2025

First coat of satin varnish on the stateroom under bed storage area. This in not the storage are under the matress. That is a separate area.

First and second coat on for stateroom Louvered doors area - 2025

We finished off the satin varnishing in our stateroom behind where our teak luvered privacy shutters go.

Preparing front of storage area under the bed for varnishing - 2025

 

 The storage area under the bed is the last major place on our Islander Freeport 36' sailboat plan B that has not been varnished.

Varnish prep in stateroom for shutters area 2024

    Did a bit of varnish prep in the stateroom today. Washed and sanded with #220 the area with TSP. Tomorrow a coat or two of satin varnish, then gloss will go on the upper trim. Chava took the privacy shutters to put more coats on them. I thought I better get my butt in gear and get this part done before the shutters come back!