Mods, we don't need to sticking Mods! What stinking dive boat???
Ok this is what’s been done to my “TaTa” so far.
The original PO added 2 house batteries to the starter wired in parallel with a Battery Charger and isolator hanging loose in the aft port seat locker with a single fuse box mounted in the space between the head and companionway. My mechanic wanted to toss the box over wetness concerns but I have left it so far because it has a battery tester. I still need to add that feature and it works for now.
The PO built onto the original factory (lampshade) wiring soldering on as he went. When I opened the battery box it looked like spaghetti. When I asked the PO what “that” was he said oh that’s a second transducer I was planning to add with a flip switch and then pulled it out. I couldn’t tell the difference it made in the reduction of the spaghetti and neither could my New Zealander boat mechanic!
So we removed all the non marine grade wiring and replaced it after creating a mounting board and added 2 Fuse boxes a lockable Perko Main Power Switch & Dual Battery Switch along with a receptacle for a 110V Shore line. Everything is mounted in such a way that it can be removed in mass from the locker. It all disappears under the seat and even my NZ boat mechanic agreed it worked out elegantly.
He still guides me but listens to what I have in my visions before shooting them down in flames. And mostly he still thinks I should buy a REAL Sailboat to create some of my more outrageous idea’s, but even he liked the through hull wet locker idea and has instructed me somewhat on the how too. I’ll buy a Real Sailboat next time. I really like the MAC65.
FYI either I have or we have done almost all of the work together so when I talk about doing something it might actually get done! Well what the PO didn't do anyway.
Safety is my middle name, or was that "can't do"?
Next the PO had wired a old single 500 bilge pump setting loose in the main bilge so we added 2 750’s using bilge wiring 1 mounted in the main bilge and one mounted in the transom area. I plan to probably add a third forward as I get to know the boat better but I probably will just add a wash down pump that can be used as a bilge pump in an emergency. The bilge pumps are on a separate fuse only circuit to allow them to work when the main DC electrical switch is off.
The PO added a Coleman 12V Refrigerator next the aft galley seat and removed the factory Galley face and then had made 3 black plastic pull to drawlers and a pull out trash can next to and forward of the refrigerator. He also added 2 electric water pumps (which we had to replace) in the Galley and Head. To this he added a dual burner alcohol stove custom fitted in the galley tile work.
PO rewired and ran both anchor and running lights on the mast using the forward DC panel. I plan of replacing this configuration with a LCD setup as posted in the Mod’s section and adding deck lights on the mast with collapsible spreaders as posted in Mods.
The PO added a stereo but left the speakers free place loose in the Settee/Galley area. I replaced the stereo (with a Jenson) and 2 interior / 2 exterior speakers mounted as shown in several other Mods and then added a Pedestal mounted remote control.
I replaced the VHF he had installed with a Horizon PS 2000 with dual microphones 1 mounted on the pedestal and on the starboard hull liner above the Settee. The black box is mounted on the aft exterior head wall and the Antenna is a fold down model mounted on the starboard aft Stanchion with a isolator for the stereo. I am still looking for a place to mount the Loud Hailer as my BM shot down my RADAR on Mast mount idea.
Others have suggested just such a setup here but he pointed out it wouldn’t work when the mast is down. So at some point I want to add an Arch, but I want to make it as a part of a full enclosure and to function as a kicker hoist. Talk about Monster Garage!
Next I added a Ray Marine A65 GPS Charter and Depth Sounder. We where going to add a oil based transducer under the galley but once ordered it didn’t work with an A65 after all so we are experimenting with using a stern mounted transducer mounted under the Galley shooting through the hull?
Speaking of shooting I also have a purpose made Mossberg M500 Marine Flare Device.
The PO as a “true” sailor ran all line aft to the cockpit as a single handed sailor. He also added CDI Furler foresail with an additional “Furlaker” (Spinnaker on a Furler) mounted off the Bow Stanchion. I have a fore sail sock but haven’t figured out how to deploy it single handed after adding one for the Furlaker.
I am sure am leaving things out but that’s the quick of it! Again any suggestions would be appreciated
I still want to add (maybe) AC Shore Power & generator with a second Battery bank a “real” Refrigerator, a real Shower (with hot water?) in head and on the transom, a port-a-potty pump out, an Arch & RADAR, Slip Stop rubber matting in the cockpit and to replace the carpet in the cabin, and a second Laptop based Navigation Station on the Settee (hence the 2nd Mic), bowspirit/pulpit electric anchor windless, but most of all lets not forget where to mount the Torpedo’s!
Oh my poor little Mac what have they done to you?
PS Thanks K9 and all for the suggestions and pictures!
PSS How easy is it to get from your boat into a dive kayak with your gear and then back again?
Perhaps to consider the issue from the point of how much boat modding to make it do something for which it wasn't designed vs. how to adapt dive practices to fit within the limits of the boat!
