- Really a huge watercraft to operate. Much more intensive to dock/drive at the slip. Getting back in the slip Saturday was not so bad, but Sunday had a cross-wind that made aligning with the slip a challenge. The channel at St. Alban's Bay is so narrow I need the whole thing, which led to some waiting/station keeping. There's a little bit of playing chicken, but because I'm bigger than most others they seem to back down...so far.
- Sucks a ton of gas We must have used 20-odd gallons this weekend on some fairly low-intensity cruising. Planing speed is a gas guzzler!
- I now see why prop/skeg work was recommended, the boat doesn't track true at speed, but I'm not sure if this is just drag/alignment side effects or more or less normal compensation to wind, current, etc.
Pretty much everything works as expected, but there's a list of shit that needs sorting out already.
- This shouldn't be my main obsession, but the dumb spot light is still bugging me. I cleaned the switch connections and got the down control back, but the light won't light. I checked the power at the light and it was OK on testing, but with a bulb won't light. Replaced the bulb same thing, checked the power yesterday and get no light. Back to more intensive testing.
- Water system -- leaking air in the lines and making water flow irregular. This will be a PITA to sort out, but maybe it's something simple like a leak in the filter or a clogged filter. Have to pop the hatch to investigate and that's not possible on the water with people.
- "New" (as of Sunday) belt squeak on the port engine, need to check the belt tension. Hopefully it's not a pulley or a water pump. My uninformed guess is belt tension adjustment "break in".
- Galley main fridge is dead. The replacement model is $750, which is steep, kind of holding off on that as the drawer fridge works, but need to keep DC fridge on as it is DC-only. Trying the marina out as a replacement source just for the PITA part of it all, but it looks to be a dead easy swap out.
- Center isinglass zipper that was fixed is backwards. There's some small chance I just put it the overhead canvas piece backwards, but the snaps align when the side glass is in and I don't think flipping it 180 degrees is possible or will help.
The good news stuff:
- Generator works fine -- ran it quite a bit this weekend for testing. Louder than I'd care for -- "annoying" my wife says, but it is what it is. She thinks we should be able to run it all the time, but doesn't understand the power load on the batteries and the need for microwave, AC and grill. Really will need to sort out the battery monitoring stuff long term.
- AC works fine -- ran that as well.
- Replaced the cabin lighting with new LEDs. All very bright and run cool. Dumped old LEDs and two halogens in the process. Much improved.
- Stereo works acceptably.
- Added two battery powered CO detectors (one is supposed to be AC/battery backup). No CO detection at anchor with generator running.
- Dash electronics all work, including the smartcraft gauges and sensors, including GPS speed, air and water temp, and depth, although depth doesn't seem to sample that fast.
Still on the radar screen:
- Main cabin TV replacement with something DTV compatible. 50/50 the antenna setup works for DTV, but it's worth a shot.
- Battery monitoring -- ammeter and Balmar gauges. Kind of pushed back due to complexity of wire runs, mounting and the generator.
Right now the water, belt squeak and the dumb spotlight are the priorities.
Longer term, thinking seriously about a custom screen enclosure with a sun shade top/extension, possibly with a screen front. The camper canvas will not be practical due to lack of ventilation.
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