“The Adventures and Follies of an Amateur Boat Re-Builder” October 1, 2013
Starr is now back home at Salmon Bay Maine Center (SBMC) in Seattle. We have been cruising Starr since September of 2000, traveling to the South Pacific, Europe and, Jap…
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Starr Refit Blog #1
Starr Refit Blog #1
“The Adventures and Follies of an Amateur Boat Re-Builder”
October 1, 2013
Starr is now back home at Salmon Bay Maine Center (SBMC) in Seattle. We have been cruising Starr since September of 2000, traveling to the South Pacific, Europe and, Japan. Starr has spent the past two years cruising in the Hawaiian Islands, with our Homeport at Waikiki Yacht Club. After all these years of cruising, Starr needs an extensive refit and a complete painting of the exterior.
After cruising more than 60,000nm the single main engine, a Cummins NTA 855, rolled past 10,000 hours a month ago. It was time for Starr’s insurance renewal and our insurance company required an engine analysis before they would extend the $50,000 machinery inclusion. We had a top level Cummings mechanic do a thorough analysis, including a sea trial at wide open throttle, and his report was that the engine is like new; he has seen Cummins 855’s run for 35,000 to 50,000 hours if well managed. I love that Cummins engine!
After our arrival after crossing the Pacific from Hawaii in August, we cruised in British Columbia for several weeks before returning home to Seattle. We pulled into SBMC on September 12, and immediately started stripping Starr of all exterior hardware, deck boxes, tenders, etc in preparation for Starr’s refit.
Starr upon arrival at SBMC
The refit includes the following: (you can skip going over this list unless you’re a boat nut):
| 2ft.Stern & 5ft.Overhead extension |
Deck |
|
Fly Bridge Table- relocate slide or new design |
Deck |
|
Anchor & Chain- galvanize |
Deck |
|
Deck Drains- improve |
Deck |
|
Moisture-test the starboard house core at the deck drain |
Deck |
|
Teak- add to main deck and swim step |
Deck |
|
Double Horn Cleats- add |
Deck |
|
Glendenning Power System- add to stern & bow |
Deck |
|
Hardtop for Flying Bridge- add |
Deck |
|
Engine mounts– check or change |
ME |
|
ER Air Dampers for both fire & storm |
ME |
|
Fresh Water Vents & Gauges- upgrade |
ME |
|
Generators- add sound down mufflers |
ME |
|
Grey Water Tank Vents- improve |
ME |
|
Inverters and Chargers- new |
ME |
|
Lower stateroom fresh air system-improve |
ME |
|
Air handlers, Compressors & Pumps- new |
ME |
|
Trac Get-Home Hydraulic system- add |
ME |
|
ME Voltage Regulator- upgrade |
ME |
|
Hydraulic Windless Remote Controls-add |
ME |
|
Black Water Vent- add new |
ME |
|
Fuel tanks- clean |
ME |
|
Fuel Transfer Pump- rebuild |
ME |
|
Stabilizer Fins- upsize 12sf to 16sf |
ME |
|
ME Hot Water Heat Exchanger- add |
ME |
|
Airex Cameras- add |
WH |
|
Irridium- new |
WH |
|
Navigation Computer- new |
WH |
|
Autopilot- new |
WH |
|
Radars- new |
WH |
|
PH Stidd Chair & Settee- recover |
WH |
|
ABT Thruster controls- new |
WH |
|
Windshield wipers- replace |
WH |
|
Alarms: ME, Generator, Exhauts etc.- upgrade or replace |
WH |
|
Flir (Forward looking Infrared Camera)- new |
WH |
|
Overhead Instrument Panel- improve access |
WH |
|
Overhead Compass- ? |
WH |
After 2 weeks Starr was bare-naked and ready for haul out.
Removing a part of the rail
The empty deck
Our 3000 sf warehouse was looking pretty full, with all of the “stuff” we removed from Starr, including an abundance of spare parts. Needless to say, a good amount of what came off won’t go back on board.
Thank goodness we have a warehouse for storage at SBMCRailings and trim
More “stuff”Thank goodness we have a warehouse for storage at SBMC
More “stuff”
I’ve been struggling about whether to extend Starr from 75 ft up to 80 ft and have been working with Steve Seaton, the original designer. The issue is that Sharry and I want a more comfortable back deck eating area, out of the sun and rain. We also want a rail that is low enough to see over comfortably when sitting. The current rail is as high as 38 in.
Fine Dining on Starr
Starr as the current 75 ft
Starr extended to 80 ft
We have decided that the 80 ft design just didn’t look right; Starr is only 18.5 ft wide and she looked too long and narrow, so here is what we are doing:
Cutting down the aft rail by 4 in, and adding 5 ft to the top deck overhang for sun and rain protection.
Top deck overhang
Adding 2 ft to the bottom, so that the 30 in integral swim step will now be 54 in.
Extending the swim step 24 in
I also am modifying all of the deck drains, which I’ll talk about in a later entry.
Today is October 1, and my pal Randy Madison and I started cutting down the rail and cutting out the stern cabinets.
You might not want to watch this part!
Randy ready to cut down the rail
Part of the stern rail cut down
The railing totally cut down
The stern cabinets
The stern cabinets are mostly gone
The upper deck is cut
The piece of the original deck we cut off
I’ll try to keep up with postings so you can follow the process.
Don
Next week’s adventure:
Steve D’Antonio’s will fly to Seattle to do a survey of Starr. OMG what is he going to come up with?
“The Adventures and Follies of an Amateur Boat Re-Builder” Starr Refit Blog-#1 – October 1, 2013
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“The Adventures and Follies of an Amateur Boat Re-Builder”
Starr Refit Blog-#1 – October 1, 2013
Starr is now back home at Salmon Bay Maine Center (SBMC) in Seattle. We have been cruising Starr since September of 2000, traveling to the So…
Arrival!
August 21, 2013Latitude: 48deg00 N/Longitude 125 deg 49WTatoosh Island, entrance to Straits of Juan de FucaTotal Nautical Miles run:Seattle to Japan, via Hawaii, Micronesia and Guam – 8999nmCruising in Japan for 1 year – 1766nmReturn from Japan to Ha…
Arrival!
August 21, 2013Latitude: 48deg00 N/Longitude 125 deg 49WTatoosh Island, entrance to Straits of Juan de FucaTotal Nautical Miles run:Seattle to Japan, via Hawaii, Micronesia and Guam – 8999nmCruising in Japan for 1 year – 1766nmReturn from Japan to Ha…
Arrival!
August 21, 2013Latitude: 48deg00 N/Longitude 125 deg 49WTatoosh Island, entrance to Straits of Juan de FucaTotal Nautical Miles run:Seattle to Japan, via Hawaii, Micronesia and Guam – 8999nmCruising in Japan for 1 year – 1766nmReturn from Japan to Ha…
Arrival!
August 21, 2013
Latitude: 48deg00 N/Longitude 125 deg 49W
Tatoosh Island, entrance to Straits of Juan de Fuca
Total Nautical Miles run:
Seattle to Japan, via Hawaii, Micronesia and Guam – 8999nm
Cruising in Japan for 1 year – 1766nm
Return from Japan to Hawaii (non-stop) – 4066nm
Cruising in Hawaii for 2 years – 2096nm
Return from Hawaii to Seattle 2459nm
TOTAL 19,386nm
Coming Home: Tatoosh Island
We just entered the Straits of Juan De Fuca, exactly 4 years and 11 days since we departed Seattle for Japan on August 9, 2009. Today is the 14th day for this passage from Hawaii to the Pacific NW. It’s been a great voyage, but we aren’t ready for it to be over. This morning on my 0600 watch, I could see a beautiful sunrise on our bow and at the same time watch a full moon go down at our stern. We still have enough fuel left that we could turn left and make a quick run up to SE Alaska, but I think not. The water temperature is 30 degrees lower than when we left Hawaii, 55 degrees now as compared to 85 degrees in “Paradise”. Our fuel burn has been just a little over 1gal/nm, and we have only run our generators for the first two days for air conditioning. Our little 175amp Leece Neville Main Engine Alternator has easily handled all the boat electrical needs including the washer and dryer (with the help of the Victron Inverters and 2000 amp hours of batteries), I’m not complaining. We are fortunate that we saw a lot of debris, but it never was a problem. It’s been a great passage.
Don
It’s been a boring passage, and as I’ve said many times before: “Boring is Good”. We have been very fortunate that after the first two days, we have had mostly moderate seas and winds. Yesterday was perhaps the most beautiful day on any passage we have made, so far. I wake up in the morning to a day that is calm, and sunny, the sky is blue, and the ocean swells look like little mounds of reflective glass.
A Sea of Glass
As dusk falls, the sea becomes a mirror for the light of a full moon. The whole world is incredibly beautiful, and I am feeling the peace that comes from a successful ocean passage.
Our first sign of “homecoming” is the sighting of the pale blue line of mountains on Vancouver Island, which grow taller and taller as we approach the entrance to the Straits of Juan de Fuca. We haven’t seen real mountains for a while. Just before our arrival at Tatoosh Island, a pod of large ocean dolphins rush to welcome us, playing off our bow, moving back along our hull to surf in the bow waves, and then to the stern to play in our wake before heading off to their next adventure. I am startled to see seaweed floating in the water and realize that this is a part of the ocean that I have been missing; and missing the smell of the salt water, which was absent in Hawaii and Japan. This heady, pungent perfume is also a part of our welcome home to the most beautiful cruising grounds in the World, the Pacific Northwest.
Sharry
Sunset
Moonrise
A full moon lights our way Home
1351 nm under our keel from Kauai
August 16, 2013Latitude: 39deg.12 N/ Longitude: 143deg, 56 West1094nm to Anacortes1351 nm under our keel from Kauai
We are seeing a lot more debris from the Japan Tsunami.
This morning I made a small course adjustment to go around what looked like a sm…
1351 nm under our keel from Kauai
August 16, 2013Latitude: 39deg.12 N/ Longitude: 143deg, 56 West1094nm to Anacortes1351 nm under our keel from Kauai
We are seeing a lot more debris from the Japan Tsunami.
This morning I made a small course adjustment to go around what looked like a sm…
1351 nm under our keel from Kauai
August 16, 2013Latitude: 39deg.12 N/ Longitude: 143deg, 56 West1094nm to Anacortes1351 nm under our keel from Kauai
We are seeing a lot more debris from the Japan Tsunami.
This morning I made a small course adjustment to go around what looked like a sm…
