Stripped Down Into Full Project Mode

Today we stripped down the decks and cockpit area in preparation for two projects

C'est la Vie looking a bit naked with her deck hardware, turtle, dodger, gallows, and bimini gone.

The dodger, turtle, cabin handrails, and deck hardware succumb to the need to paint the cabin trunk.  Our plan is to refinish the cabin top and sides down to the non-skid on deck.  We will address the decks out to the toe rails and the cockpit later this year.   We created a photo album to document this project... Paint Cabin Trunk - Spring 2013 

turtle and trim off the cabin top

The more we can clear off the decks the easier the job and the better the finish.  Clearing deck fittings and hardware also gives us a good excuse to make some additional improvements - refinishing wood trim, replacing the broken head hatch with a solar vent, properly attaching the handrails with through bolts, and properly bedding every screw or bolt that enters the deck.

Meanwhile back in the cockpit, we removed the bimini and gallows crosspiece in preparation for installing two 80W solar panels.

test fitting the panels to figure out the best position.

The addition of a photo-voltaic (PV) system to C'est la Vie has long resided on our wish list.  Thanks to Ben V., an friend and co-worker who's previous profession was solar installations, for providing the expertise to jump start this project.  We ordered two Sunmodule 80W panels and a BlueSky Solar Boost 2000E charge controller from altE. The size of the panels was a compromise between energy production and mounting space.  I'm certain many cruisers are faced with the same delimia... want / need bigger panels, but lack suitable mounting options.

We created a photo album to document the PV project... Solar Power - Spring 2013

We will continue to add photos to the albums and updates here on the blog as our projects evolve.