New Batteries and more

Hello everyone,
Another month.  Another set of jobs completed.  Since the preceding blog we have:-

• Fitted four Harken 1968 locking double foot blocks in the cockpit (to handle four lines per side - jib sheet, staysail sheet, reaching sheet and boom brake).
• Neil (the shipwright) installed a large shelf and sliding doors in the old pilot berth on the starboard side of the cabin.
• Removed old batteries and their mounting boxes, creating a large stowage space under the quarter berth.
• Rebuilt the "larder" (saloon table/locker unit) to house new batteries, prompting a name change to "the power station"
• Installed and connected four new Lifeline 105Ah AGM batteries, giving us 315Ah of house battery capacity.  This included all-new wiring to the engine and the instrument panel.
• Fitted BEP Battery Isolation Switches and Voltage Sensitive Relay.  The latter automatically charges the start battery from the engine before switching to charge the house bank.
• Fitted a Xantrex TrueCharge2 40Amp battery charger for use when in marinas (like now!)
• Our new staysail / storm jib is now enroute to us from UK Halsey in Fremantle.
• All new mooring lines installed on-deck gear stowed - cyclone preparation.

Here are a few pictures....

New sliding doors on starboard side in saloon

New batteries and isolation switches

New Lifeline AGM batteries

It's now hot and humid in Darwin.  Thank goodness for air-conditioning!  Last night we had a violent thunderstorm appear overhead.  I woke up about 0.5m above the bunk.

Still plenty to do on the job list, but most of the expensive interior and on-deck work is now done.

Hope all's well where you are!