New cushions! We thought the project daunting, but instead, it was actually a small part of our refit commitment. The key was to have a large organized workspace. Thank you to Debbie’s parents and their ping pong table. The new cushions are more comfortable than the tired old versions, and the updated fabric makes the cabin feel fresh.
Tag: sailboat
V-berth Insulation
A perfect job for last winter, the v-berth insulation project kept us working, and kept us warmer. Aside from cutting large sheets of material on the dock, we had an easy inside job. Once we decided on the materials, we finished in 2 days! After contemplating the options for too long, this was pleasant surprise! Continue reading V-berth Insulation
Propeller Aperture
The last steps of removing our inboard diesel engine were removing the propeller and filling the aperture. Both created a substantial drag; filling the area has enhanced Dawn Treader’s ability to sail in light winds. We are quicker to accelerate, and consistently achieve faster speeds. We are amazed with how our sailing performance has improved, and it makes voyaging without an inboard diesel easier! Continue reading Propeller Aperture
Video: Nesting Dinghy, 9 Minute Assembly
After adding our new Lewmar hatches, our dinghy is even more useful. It covers a Lewmar Ocean 30 that we almost always kept open on our recent Atlantic crossing. We created a video to show how junior can go from stowed to assembled in under 9 minutes. Continue reading Video: Nesting Dinghy, 9 Minute Assembly
Video: Atlantic Crossing 2016
Over the last 2 months, we have sailed across the Atlantic Ocean. We acclimated to living amongst the waves and wind during our two passages. The passage to Bermuda took 10 days, the passage to the Azores, 21. We sailed a total of roughly 3,000 miles (well more than that, if you count going backwards and zigzagging). As we sailed further away from family and friends, we captured short video highlights to share; we miss you all! Thank you Jason McIntrye and Junior Tutweiler, good music seems to make any video exciting!
New Chapter
Hello Everybody! It has been a while since our last post! Our major boat projects are completed and we have been sailing. We have crossed the Atlantic Ocean to the Azores. As we travel, we are thinking about how to generate new website content going forward. We have a backlog of project posts that need to be completed, and some new ideas. We are excited to be sailing and exploring, and we look forward to sharing ideas and experiences. If you have any ideas or feedback, please let us know!
Dawn Treader Video Tour by James Baldwin
Thank you James Baldwin (atomvoyages.com) for creating this video of the Dawn Treader!
Bucket sink galley
The bucket sink is versatile and moveable. In Dawn Treader, the first location was below the companionway.
Original sink and galley
Original alcohol stove was below counter hatch
Original location of new bucket sink, alcohol stove removed, Atom stove in place
After altering our companionway and building a new water tank, we got to work on the galley. We created 3 storage sections (where there was one) with watertight bulkheads.
Original hatch size
Resizing opening
Wide open single compartment
Cutting out a little more countertop
Divider bulkhead
Longitudinal divider
Dry fit of bucket sink
Filling holes
Painted!
Nice and clean, ready for hatch covers
Our simple galley design has made its everyday use clean, easy, and fun.
Painted countertop (Interlux Perfection). Open hatch, empty space for bucket
Bucket fit
Closed hatch with faucet
Sink (giant salad bowl) in place
Water filter and foot pump
Finished sink
Finished galley with Atom stove by James Baldwin
Moka pot and Ed Hose art!
Curry! We painted our table too!
Engine Removal – New Outboard
We decided to remove out Yanmar 3GM30F and its related systems in favor of a 6 horsepower Tohatsu Sailpro Outboard Engine. We haven’t had the need for all the power of the 27 horsepower diesel. We now have more valuable space and hopefully less maintenance! By removing the inboard engine we are now able to divide the aft third of the boat into watertight compartments. We’ll update more about that project later!
Our cockpit underwent construction. A new sol was put in (look for that post soon). We built a bracket for our new outboard mount out of aluminum, and we can’t wait to test it out!
Forward Hatch
In pursuit of our watertight cabin goal, we decided to replace the original forward hatch with a Lewmar Ocean 60 Watertight Hatch. We built a mahogany combing to mount the hatch on a flush surface, and to avoid splash when the hatch is in its vented position. At first this hatch was difficult to close. So difficult we thought it faulty. However, with strength and weight focused on the handles at their attachment points, we can now close it with increasing ease (thank you James).
sailing dawn treader 