Unfortunate surprise in the lazurette leads to a new project.

Today's rains prevented any progress on the above deck projects.  I did spend some time connecting the new stern anchor light and and re-connecting the wind generator in the electrical panel.

Mid afternoon, Mike from L&M Marine arrived with our Beta Marine order.

Have I mentioned that we ordered a new instrument panel and wiring harness from Beta Marine?  A few days ago in an effort to better access the wires in the lazurette we slid aside our propane locker and were appalled at the rust & corrosion on the back side of the instruments.  The entire housing for our oil pressure gauge was paper thin.  I am amazed the ignition switch was still working with all the corrosion on the terminals.

I'm guessing the area took a soaking during last fall's rough five day crossing from Wilmington, NC to the Abacos.

When taking green water across the decks an occasional stream ran past the cockpit combing and down the back side of the cockpit near the main sheet traveler.  This water likely found it's way to the backside of the instruments via an insufficient seal around the  instrument panel.

Well the old panel is now history.  Mike took the housing back to his shop to install the new panel.

When Mike removed the old panel there was no caulking around the housing.  To be sure we will remedy this when the new panel is installed.

Like any good boat project this is growing larger by the minute.  A new panel has new gauges.  New gauges require new sending units on the engine.  It seems the new gauges do not speak the same language as the old sending units.  Well new sending units require a new wiring harness.  Oh yes and while we are getting greasy lets replace and relocate the raw water pump.  And so goes the creation of an new list of projects.