Day three of condo living and I’ve managed to spend more time on the boat than ever. So much time in fact that I haven’t had a condo shower or a shave all the while. I’ve managed a couple of swims which is basically the same thing as a shower though, right?

Amazingly the project list we set out for this little three day affair is nearly complete. I need some parts for a couple of projects, but they are basically done. Basically. We need a new bilge pump for the shower. I’d bought a brand new one way back in time, but didn’t take into account that the water needs to be pushed five feet up before it leaves the boat, and this pump is not strong enough. Easy fix and then the bathroom shower and toilet renovation will be complete. Nice. All that is really left in there after that is tile for the countertops.

What else did I do today? I repaired some wood on the bowsprit so that nobody will step on it and fall through. Because the bowsprit is generally not a good place to fall into the water from. I finished that outdoor fresh water hose and it is awesome. It sprays half the length of the boat. It’s going to be hard not to overuse that. I installed a bus bar fuse holder in line for the windlass, though the fuse I bought was the wrong size.

I Simple Greened all the bilges again. The big clean though was reserved for the very back of the boat in the rudder shaft/autopilot room. That room, or closet I guess, was pretty grungy and was smelling a bit like a dirty closet would if it was never aired out. Something we need to start doing a bit more often. Smells pretty now though.

And then I attacked the engine. I’m installing lines to set the hot water heater up to be heated from the engine water. Seems simple at first glance, but it never is. I needed to remove the end cap from the exhaust manifold so that my welder can drill and tap a hole to take a hose fitting. The second fitting goes to an already tapped coolant drain fitting that is right next to the alternator. I’m not sure how that is going to work as the alternator is really in the way.

Anyway I was working on that end cap, holding my breath that I wouldn’t strip any of the bolts when I realized that to get at one of the bolts I was going to have to remove the expansion tank as well. No big deal, just two little bolts, but I still get nervous any time a project gets a life of its own. Eventually something is bound to get stripped, or break in half, or get dropped down a tiny crevice where it shouldn’t be. But today that wasn’t the case. Everything actually went smoothly. It’s all torn apart, I’ve got the part I needed off and ready for Salvador to take away, and since my Dad is visiting in a couple of days anyway, there is no big rush.

So I have to say that I am feeling pretty happy right now with all the work that was done these past couple of days. The boat is going to be much more livable and enjoyable when we take off next time.