Walkabout is sailing again!

[Bill NH]

After a 4 month rehab, my Voyager 26 WALKABOUT is sailing again!  I call it a rehab as I'm somewhat reluctant to use the term "restoration", but anytime you take a grinder to the INSIDE of your boat it definately qualifies as a re-something...  Walkabout had been neglected in Florida for many years, during which time the portlight seals all failed, leaked, and the cabin interior suffered from extensive rot and delamination, so the first tools of choice were a sawzall, prybar and grinder.  But the interior is back together and the ports all cleaned up and rebedded, along with a new fuel system (tank, racor, hoses, etc), electrical cleanup and long overdue maintenance on the 1 cyl Yanmar...  Needless to say it's great to be out from under the temporary shelter and on the water!  I've posted a few photos of Walkabout in a gallery to share my excitement .  Even though the project list is still long, I'm now free to work on her somedays, and other days just decide to go for a sail!

[AdriftAtSea]

Congrats... what other projects do you have planned?

[Zen]

Congrats!

[Bill NH]

Still on the list are, among other things, a roller setup to carry my delta anchor on the bow, and improved cockpit locker storage for lines, fenders, etc.  Walkabout was built with longitudinal stringers but no lazarette bulkhead or locker dividers, so the after 7 feet of the boat is basically one big locker.  I'm still sketching up the permanent bulkhead and "semi-removable" bins with gratings that will compartmentalize things a bit.  Plus a host of little things from LCD nav lights to finishing painting out the bilges...  But the sailing season is so short in New England that most of these will become fall-winter-spring tasks.  The focus so far has been on repairing damage and making Walkabout seaworthy, to get her in the water this summer.  From here on in it's primarily maintenance and improvements...

[AdriftAtSea]

I have been doing a lot of work on my boat, and understand how you feel.  The LED nav lights are really nice.  One of my spring projects was a brand-new ground tackle system. 

Milk crates and other plastic storage trays are great for use on boats, since they are relatively resistant to water, mold, mildew, and can take a lot of abuse.  I've gotten my hands on a bunch of the trays that CocaCola uses, and have them lining my anchor locker and a few other places.  They allow the gear to sit and dry out, even if there is some water standing in the locker.