[PUP] Nordhavn 40 improvements for FUBAR and beyond

[Scott Bulger]

I got a question from another 40 owner asking what I did to prepare my boat
for our upcoming 2 year cruise.  I needed to organize my thoughts anyway, so
here is a brief summary of the improvements/equipment we have added to
enable our trip.

Mechanical

.  Engaged ABT to review TRAC stabilizer health, suggested improvements in
chafing areas, gave overall system a clean bill of health

.  Replaced failed Maxwell 2200 Windless motor

.  Attempted to improve manual retrieve bar for Maxwell 2200 windless,
marginal improvement

.  Purchased $2,000 in Lugger and Northern Lights spares from Hatton in
Seattle.  

.  Purchased rebuild kits for all critical pumps

.  Purchased spare raw water pump for Genset

.  Purchased spare prop, plugs, shear pins, fuel filters for Yamaha tender
motor

.  Added 2nd fuel tank with known good fuel supply in Tender

.  Replaced stainless cable on boom winch with AMSTEEL  synthetic line

.  Replaced tender with 10.5' AB RIB (Aluminum bottom RIB, motor + RIB
=200lbs)

.  Installed Weaver Tender Chocks on boat deck

.  Purchased Vacuflush rebuild kit

.  Measured and marked Anchor chain

.  Drilled primary Anchor to accept retaining pin for bow pulpit

.  Replaced Bosch dishwasher with NovaKool Freezer

.  Installed storage under master bed to hold spare parts

Electronics

.  Upgraded Furuno Chartplotter/Radar/Sounder from Navnet 1 to Navnet 2

.  Purchased West Coast and Central American CMAP chips

.  Installed redundant Furuno Autopilot (including pump, Fluxgate compass,
rudder position indicator.)

.  Installed redundant Navigation Computer

                .  12V Automotive Computer w ruggedized hard drive

                .   Dual Keyboard/Mouse, wireless and hardwired

                .  19" Nauticomp Display

.  Installed FLIR forward looking Pan/Tilt IR camera

.  Installed Redundant ICOM VHF radio

.  Replaced failing Loudhailer

.  Installed additional engine room camera (stern camera to be installed)

.  Installed Airmar ultrasonic weather station

.  Replaced VHF antenna with Digital Antenna 9db

.  Installed Dual mode VHF/Cell phone Digital Antenna

.  Installed Digital Antenna Cell amplifier

.  Activated Fleet 33 Inmarsat Voice and Data service

.  Activated Verizon EVDO service via USB720 modem

Misc

.  Purchased $1,700 in Charts from Bellingham Chart Printers (US West Coast,
Mexico, C.A. to FL)

.  Modified Honey bunk into library to store charts, books and manuals

.  Purchased a medical kit from Lafferties Pharmacy in Ballard WA, learned
how to administer shots and use an EPPI pin.

.  Installed wireless Bluetooth printer and scanner

.  Installed additional Dell laptop for redundancy

.  Installed Coastal Explorer w Miltec AIS receiver (and VHF antenna
splitter)

.  Purchased 2ea Dahon folding bicycles (custom bags for bikes and Tender)

.  Hired Bob Senter (Lugger) for 1 day engine room review (identified two
installation defects in boat cabling)

Entertainment

.  Installed Panasonic Projector and Screen (yielding 50" image in saloon)

.  Installed Sony 2.1 Surround sound w sub woofer (modified cabinets to
accommodate)

.  Installed KVH M3 sat TV w DirecTV service

.  Installed OPPO upscaling 1080i DVD player

 

I did all the work myself, except sowing the bike bags and Tender cover.  I
hired a woodworking expert from The Marine Artisans Group in Seattle to
complete the library shelf installation as my skills in the fine finishing
department weren't up to snuff.  In addition to the items listed we replaced
all the oil and filters, zincs, had the bottom cleaned, boat washed and
waxed and other maintenance chores.  Most of this has been done since
February when I quit my day job.  Since moving aboard a month ago I have
watched less then two hours of TV, but we have watched a few movies on the
projector.  By the way, the projector was one of my best decisions.  It far
exceeded my expectations!  Oh, re-reading my statement above, it would be
unfair to say I did this myself.  I have two very good friends, Tom Brownlee
and Jim Lewis, both of whom spent countless hours helping pull wire, talk me
out of stupid ideas and perform other bothersome tasks.  Having good friends
to help you prepare is invaluable.  Finally, my wife has been equally busy
planning two weddings with my daughters and preparing the boat from a
provisioning and accommodations standpoint.  With less than 96 hours to go
to  departure I'm still considering pulling the console apart one more time
to add some more components.  Crazy at this point!   Oh, we also sold a
house, two cars and it appears my Camano has finally found a new home.  

 

You know a key indicator that your close to leaving?  My key ring now holds
one key.  The boat key.  The other key belongs to my brother-in-law who has
a truck we have borrowed until Friday.  

If anyone would like more detail on any aspect of this work, just drop me a
note and I'll elaborate.

 

Scott Bulger, Alanui, N40II, Seattle WA