Six Months Of Cruising on a CD28

[2tocruise]

Andrew and I have now been living aboard our CD28 "Avanti" for over a year and have been cruising on her for 6 months. We've made a lot of changes, some of them good, some we would do differently. We have posted parts I and II of a six month progress report. Hope they give fellow CDers a few ideas and thoughts.

Check it out on our blog at: http://sailavanti.blogspot.com/

Link also available through the "members website" section

[hilbert]

Wow!, what a great blog of your adventures aboard Avanti. I am also impressed by the modifications that you have made (windvane, windlass, solent stay, new cabin interior, etc.). You have completed many of the projects that I have been puttering around with for far too long. Is there another blog that documents the work that you put in preparing for your voyages?

[Jim_B]

I'm interested in any details you can provide on the Portable Washdown Pump. I need a way to clean my chain and was hesitant to cuts holes for a permanant installation. Your portable/box pump is a great idea. Do you have any suggestion on the best way to build one? Thanks

[2tocruise]

I did it using one of the washdown pump kits, the one that comes with a pump, hose, nozzle, switch with fuse, and hose connections. In my case I used a Johnson Pump as it is what was most readily available, and cheaper than buying all the parts separate. From there I found the smallest rubber-maid container that would fit the pump. Cut a hole in the container to mount the switch assembly, then wire it to a pigtail that ends in either a deck socket connection or a 12V outlet. Cut additional holes and mount the screw on hose connection (like a garden hose) for the pump outlet. Run a short piece of hose from the pump outlet to the hose connection. The washdown hose and nozzle will attach to it. Cut another hole to allow the pickup hose to pass through the box and connect to the pump inlet. For the pickup hose I used 10 feet of bilge pump hose that terminates in a large plastic strainer.

I originally anchored the pump to the box by mounting it to a wood board and using 4200 to mount the board to the rubber-maid container. The 4200 did not stick well and has since come off, but with no impact to the functionality. I have no intention of trying to re-secure it, just try not to turn it upside down.

To set up the pump I pull out the intake hose, pump-in-a-box, and garden hose from the cockpit locker. The intake gets plugged intot he pump and dropped over the side. I fitted a 12v waterproof deck socket on the foredeck that provides the power. It takes a few seconds to prime, then I have constant seawater at 70psi.

[Gary M]

"I'll be back!"

Fair winds to you.

Gary

[Russell]

I am curious why you chose this over a more typical built in install? The 12v socket you installed on deck is about the same size of a washdown pump hose socket, so you didnt avoid cutting holes in the deck or cluttering the foredeck. And you can T off the head intake seacock to avoid adding a new seacock for a washdown. What am I missing that makes doing it this way worthwhile? Only thing I can think of is it makes it easy to use to double as an extra emergency bilge pump.

[2tocruise]

Part III of our mid-cruise checkup is now posted to our blog. We wrap things up by talking about our dinghy choices, and the biggest change we wish we had before starting our cruise. Check it out at http://sailavanti.blogspot.com/


To answer Russell's earlier question: The original intent was to have the wash-down pump wired to a 12V plug that would simply plug in; no need to mount the pump, run hose below deck, or wiring. However, we developed a small soft-spot in the deck caused by water entering around the base of the bow pulpit. It just seemed like an easy fix to mount a DC plug in the deck as we were drilling out the deck core up there anyway. And it was easier to run one wire (I was already in the middle of re-wiring the DC panel) than to tee off the head intake and run both wire and hose forward.

In the long run, I will eventually permanently install the washdown pump. In the meantime, it gives us a much better solution than a bucket, and took less than half an afternoon from box to working system.

[CD_Sailor]

... In the meantime, it gives us a much better solution than a bucket, and took less than half an afternoon from box to working system.

I am writing without benefit of having read all entries into this thread. Even so, I've found that a length of cordage attached securely to a simple cloth bucket works infinitely better than any fixed or temp-rigged washdown. It can't leak, it can't break your wallet, it doesn't use battery power, it doesn't leak below decks, it doesn't take deck space ... (need I continue)?

[jerryaxler]

You have obviously not cleaned 60' of muddy chain on a daily basis.

[Squid]

They have updated the voyage of "Avanti" on their blog. Currently in the Bahamas and cleared customs.

http://sailavanti.blogspot.com/

I am observing as the SeaEsta is about 24 months behind them... I hope.

[2tocruise]

We did in fact make it to the Bahamas! This winter is turning out to be much different than last year when we were wintering aboard in Annapolis.

I started a thread in the "Cruisers Corner" forum. I will try and post there when we update our blog for those following our progress.

Cheers,

Kelly

http://sailavanti.blogspot.com/

[Brian2]

Do you have any pictures of the boat as you refit it. I especially like the way you moved the galley amidships.

Brian