Upgrades

Replacing the Cockpit Canvas

December 1st, 2022 by Marilyn | Comments Off on Replacing the Cockpit Canvas

Replacing the Cockpit Canvas

The original cockpit canvas (that is, the canvas at the time of our purchase) didn’t fit well and was starting to fail. So we decided to make some design improvements and construct a new one.


Portlight Problems and Solutions

August 4th, 2017 by Marilyn | Comments Off on Portlight Problems and Solutions

Portlight Problems and Solutions

Our boat has 10 portlights, 5 on each side of the cabin. We learned on our recent passage to Hawaii that they are leaking. There are multiple reasons why.


Prop Analysis and Replacement – Part III: The Second Axiom Prop

July 28th, 2011 by Van | 1 Comment

Prop Analysis and Replacement – Part III: The Second Axiom Prop

We hauled out on July 21st, hoping to “haul and hang” for an hour to pull off the old Axiom and put on the new one, but with the nagging fear in the back of our minds that we should have replaced the white metal bearing during our haul out in June.


Replacing the White Metal Bearing

July 26th, 2011 by Marilyn | Comments Off on Replacing the White Metal Bearing

Replacing the White Metal Bearing

Nicholson 38’s do not have a cutlass bearing, they have a white metal bearing in a stern tube. This works well as long as you keep it well greased, and that’s why there is a stern tube greaser integrated into the stuffing box. But after 37 years, the white metal bearing was worn enough, you […]


Prop Analysis and Replacement – Part II: The Axiom Prop

June 22nd, 2011 by Van | Comments Off on Prop Analysis and Replacement – Part II: The Axiom Prop

Prop Analysis and Replacement – Part II: The Axiom Prop

Axiom made the new prop in just under three weeks, and UPS got it here in just five days. What an amazingly flat world. 


Prop Analysis and Replacement – Part I

May 28th, 2011 by Van | 1 Comment

Prop Analysis and Replacement – Part I

Prop analysis for the Nic 38


Trying out our new North Sails

April 20th, 2011 by Marilyn | Comments Off on Trying out our new North Sails

Trying out our new North Sails

Yes, it’s true – we bought new sails! Though our original plan was to try to make our own sails – we decided to go with the professionals. I’ll give a review of how everything went.


Adding a Fuel Polisher

June 7th, 2010 by Marilyn | Comments Off on Adding a Fuel Polisher

Adding a Fuel Polisher

A few months ago, we had our fuel tank professionally cleaned. We vowed to keep the fuel clean so we are not stranded by our trusty Perkins when we need it most.


Adding a Maintenance Bilge Pump

May 23rd, 2010 by Marilyn | 3 Comments

Adding a Maintenance Bilge Pump

This posting is about good ideas and bad ideas. Or maybe I should say good ideas with bad and good implementations.


Adding a Holding Tank

April 17th, 2010 by Marilyn | 2 Comments

Adding a Holding Tank

It was a major project to add a holding tank – it took about 4 months and touched so many areas of the boat. But it’s finally done, and I’m happy with the outcome.


Adding a Deck Access Port to the Propane Locker

February 22nd, 2010 by Marilyn | Comments Off on Adding a Deck Access Port to the Propane Locker

Adding a Deck Access Port to the Propane Locker

One of the things the pre-purchase survey turned up was that the propane locker did not meet ABYC standards, in part because it did not have access via the top of the locker. Instead, it had only side access, and difficult side access at that. So we decided to do something about it.


Remodeling the V Berth

February 1st, 2010 by Marilyn | 1 Comment

Remodeling the V Berth

Here’s a great project that we think will really make a difference to our cruising enjoyment. It all started with our efforts to figure out where to install a waste holding tank.


Topics of Interest

Chronological Log