A Happy Start To The Year!

Despite the appalling weather and excesses of the holiday period we've managed to get a surprising amount of work done and plans are now well advanced for a very active couple of months that should get the Contessa something closer to shipshape than the stripped out hull that she has been until now.

The really boring stuff seems to be behind us now that the preparation is done and all the lockers are painted out. It's much more interesting and satisfying to be putting stuff into the hull than forever taking it out. The pile of equipment left by Father Christmas has now shrunk as parts are progressively fitted and the shell becomes more like a working yacht.

The shore power installation is now virtually complete with most of the kit fitting neatly into what was the pilot berth and is fast becoming a storage locker for big stuff like the inflatable tender. The consumer unit is accessible (but out of the way) when the RCD blows, and switches for the power supply and water heater are easy to reach. The power supply (complicated thing!) is at the far end which would be difficult to monitor if there wasn't a remote controller that's going to be located in the navigation area. There's sockets in the galley for the kettle and plenty underneath the berths for heaters and the inevitable hair dryer.

The engine compartment is looking much healthier in Danboline grey rather than soot black and ready to do the job with the fuel and water filters now in place. The shiny insulation should finish it all off but that's not going in until the engine is in place once more to keep it in pristine shape.

It's been rather pleasant working inside the Shed whilst the weather has been so relentlessly wet even if a bit antisocial. The yard has been relatively quite, I can only guess that it's only owners that would work over the holiday period and who would want to do that outside in these contains! There was a bit of company for a few days when Dale and Alan (The engineers) worked on the Hayling Ferry between Christmas and New Year; apparently it's the only time its not in commission.