1981 Cape Dory 30’ Cutter Refit - Libby

[OceanSailor]

Hello to all!

After crossing the Atlantic on an Alberg 29’ I have recently purchased my own boat and am currently keeping the vessel at Moose Island Marine in Eastport, Maine.

The boat was previously named ‘Royal Scot’ and I am the 4th owner.

Engine -

I have the old MD7A removed as a rebuild was quoted at over $5000 and I got a much newer and hardly used D1-13 going in. The replacement engine has only 200 hours and I will remove the transmission and fit with a Hurth ZF V drive.

Engine bay

2190E97D-BA0E-40AB-B250-07939B8D4425.jpeg (1.73 MiB) Viewed 714 times

D1-13

3E967EC3-B677-4B97-8452-44034BC9F346.jpeg (1.76 MiB) Viewed 714 times

Systems -

I have gutted the vessels electrical system and plumbing. The new engine has a hot water recirc system and the old foot pumps will be replaced with electrical pumps and a shower head will be installed.

Cabin and electrical

54AE358D-2212-44E2-8821-13D75F8F88AE.jpeg (1.15 MiB) Viewed 714 times

Electronics -

Will be using a B & G chartplotter and 4g radar. Also will install a fishfinder.

Instruments -

Will be using B & G vulcan displays with a multi transducer.

Autopilot -

Raymarine Evo-100 Wheelpilot system with digital rate compass will be installed.

My biggest headache at the moment is getting the cabin lighting stripped. I am banging my head against a wall trying to get this re-run. Most of the electrical is fused to the interior using hoops of fiberglass. This has been a tedious removal but I’ve managed to free up the cable. What I can’t free up is the cables that run from the cabin lighting.

Another issue is a wind instrument cable that has a neoprene shell that seems to be wedged inside the bulkhead that seperates the main cabin from the head. I’m wanting to strip things the right way and trying to avoid leaving stray cables in the headliner, bulkheads etc. Has anyone stripped these systems?

I am also at this point toying with the idea of rechargable led cabin light fixtures. I would also like to add some fans to the interior. Looking to make some headway on this asap. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Maine_Buzzard]

I was never successful in pulling lighting or mast wires between the liner and cabintop.

I suspect they glued the pieces together and sealed the wires at inaccessible locations with mad glee.

My VHF coax and steaming/spreader triple wire ran from above the sink to the access cover in clear view in the cabin.

Lighting wires were tolerable, and a terminal block above the battery switch cleaned up the ratnest.

[Maine_Buzzard]

And swap out the stuffing box hose and fuel tank while you can!

[John Stone]

I cut the headliner out of my boat. So I am familiar with what’s between the liner and the underside of the deck. There was no conduit for lighting wires as I recall. But, in various places there was adhesive mastic between the liner and the deck. I assume the mastic was applied when the liner was placed on the upside down deck. Then, I suspect, the whole thing was attached to the hull. In som places the wiring was embedded in the mastic. You are not getting such a wire out. You’ll have to use it or cut it and run another wire.

[OceanSailor]

Can you please post pics of your finished headliner?

[John Stone]

I don’t have a specific headliner photo handy but I posted two photos below that show it reasonably well. The new headliner is an improvement over the original one piece molded headliner. The hardest part was removing the original one piece fiberglass molded liner. With the headliner out of the way, I was able to insulate the underside of cabin top and side deck with Armaflex AP foam. Made a huge difference in keeping the boat cool or warm as the situation requires. All the panels are removable by section so I have complete access to the entire underside of the deck.

[mpm]

what is the headliner material ?

source ?

[John Stone]

MPM
I made it from 1/4” BS1088. Below is the link on how we did it. Scroll 3/4 way to the bottom to find the info regarding the head liner.

http://www.farreachvoyages.com/cabinsid ... rhead.html