Packing and Preparing and Powering

Eclipse is being packed and prepared for her extended voyages down the coast of the Atlantic Ocean to New York City and inland to the Great Lakes and Canada.  Space is limited on a vessel of this size so everything we carry has to be something we will use.  If it is a tool we are carrying, then that tool should be useful for MORE than one purpose.  Here we have one of our storage areas under the aft dinette seat.  A LOT can be stored in a relatively small area!

Aft Dinette Seat being what it is... a seat.

Food Storage under Seat!

 The bathroom (otherwise known in maritime lingo as "The Head"), has become a multi-purpose area as well.  It now serves as a sitting and dressing area with a large wall mirror.  It also is a repository for any and all hygenic and first aid needs.  Additionally, it holds a select collection of reading materials in the ship's library.  Additional books, reading material and maps (as needed) are stored in less accessible storage areas beneath the rear berth and may be appropriated and exchanged as needed.

The Multi-Porpoise Bathroom Area

The electrical configuration is done and I have successfully utilized all but one of my circuit breakers for the purposes of electrifying various portions of the ship.  The panel has switches that act also as circuit breakers and each switch controls a separate function or series of related functions onboard Eclipse. The panel also has an analog style voltmeter and, below it, a pair of USB ports and a 12 volt socket outlet.  Additionally, I added a second, rechargeable, handheld, marine radio that is waterproof, and floats!  This is a backup that will be useful for signalling the drawbridges and locks to open while remaining seated comfortably in the cockpit and without having to constantly drop down into the galley to grab the mic on the main radio.  It's also handy if the primary radio fails or if we get into trouble and we lose electrical power onboard for whatever reason.  I might have gone a little overboard when it comes to safety but it beats the alternatives if I end up overboard.  Above the electrical panel rests a 12 volt to 110 volt converter to power whatever we may have that requires such voltages.  Below the radio can be seen one of the squirrel fans that is part of the custom designed built-in refrigeration unit that I created in an attempt to help keep what food we may have that requires refrigeration, cold!  A carbon monoxide and fire detector are located to the right of the electrical panel and, below that, there is a spare solar charger that can be swapped out with the one currently in place and active in the power grid....just in case the primary fails and we need a new one in a rush!

Electrical Control Panel with switches, lights and knobs!

Eclipse has her radio mounted up above the galley.  To the right of the radio is an antique barometer that was my grandfather's, a custom clock that was entirely assembled from parts and finally, an indoor/outdoor thermometer with remote sensor.  This was another fun project!

Radio, Barometer, Clock and Thermometers, Oh My!

New Motor!  We sold the older 9.9 HP 2 stroke and purchased a new 4 stroke Electronic Fuel Injection model that is MUCH thriftier on gas consumption and a heck of a lot quieter.  It should prove to be more reliable than the older motor and we will be needing a reliable motor for all of the miles we will be doing!

New Tohatsu 9.9 4 stroke with Electronic Fuel Imjection