Refit is still ongoing

The refit for Distant Horizon is still ongoing. There are several rather large tasks taking place at one time. Last fall, I decided to complete the work on Distant Horizon rather than doing a little each year. This was mainly due to my primary function as a health care proxy for both my mother and wife, which has consumed most of my time. As such, I have not launched Distant Horizon in two years. So, if she is going to sit on the hard, why not take the plunge?

Distant Horizon stored safe and secure

The tasks at hand are:

• Replace the old crazed Plexiglass windows with new stainless steel opening ports.
• Countersink and rebed all screw and bolt holes in the decks and cabin top.
• Replace a section of the starboard deck core.
• Replace a section of the cockpit sole core
• Fill holes where old propane hose came through the transom.
• Remove 3" ventilator and replace with a 4" ventilator
• Replace the  starboard Settee and Pilot Berth with two easy-chairs, a table and some cabinets
• Rebuild the entire galley area
• Clean-up existing DC circuits and add additional circuits; isolating the electronics from the DC power source
• Bring the A/C circuitry up to modern standards.
• Replace the bulkhead between the head and the salon
• paint the decks and cabin top
• paint new non-skid on the decks and cabin top

A good friend Jerry, helped me strip the decks. He spent a horrible summer sanding the decks under the shrink wrap. 

I removed the port-side cabin Plexiglass windows and built-up the cabin top sides to accommodate the new opening ports. Cut the new opening port openings.

Just before Thanksgiving, I fell from the top of the ladder, about 20 feet above the ground and landed on my back; breaking two transverse process bones from my spine, cracked both pelvis bones, broke my tail bone, and a rib. So, needless to say, I have not been as active at the boat as I had planned. The initial recovery was fast, but regaining strength has been taking much longer than expected.

My wife's health has been good. So, we decided it would be best to buy another boat that we can sail away this summer instead of waiting half the summer for me to complete the work on Distant Horizon.

In short, this story will continue, but once again at a slower pace than expected. I will continue to update this site as progress is made. For now, we are going to live our lives, cruising on our soon to be new boat. Once the purchase has been completed (mid-may), I will update this site with the new blog. One which will contain many more interesting adventures.