March 18th update.....With pictures

The mast has been removed and all rigging checked, no further damage was found. The mast goose neck was removed for re-bushing and new correct length bolts. The bolts were found to be too short with the threaded portion inside the castings; this is what had caused the castings to wear out. The mast was re-wired, new TV and VHF antenna installed and the lightning rod extended by 200mm so it is now taller than the VHF antenna!!!  The mast is now back on the boat awaiting final rigging tension. As we will need lifting again for the transducers and earthing plate to be replaced, the rigging was not fully tensioned  as we will need to remove the head sail furling gear in order for us to fit in the lift rig.

All the damaged electronics are out and at this time all the old multi strand B & G / Raymarine wiring is being removed to make room for the new Raymarine single wire “Back Bone” . We will have all the latest Raymarine equipment complete with touch screen chart plotter, wireless auto pilot control and colour instruments as well as new Icom VHF & HF radios.

The boat is now mostly 240Volt. It was found to be easier to do this than try to get new 115Volt stuff out of the USA. Even the onboard generator has been converted to deliver 240V. The Air conditioners will still run on 115Volt as I bought a converter from the US before departure for this very reason, much cheaper and easier than converting them to run on 240V!!

So if you think it is hard living in a house when the builders are there doing your additions, try living on a yacht when all the electrical and electronics are being repaired/modified/added to !!!

Mike J