Refitting S/V Sudden Stops Necessary for Ocean Cruising

I spent 2 years refitting Stops to go cruising across the south pacific, a project I coined “wide blue yonder” to keep my motivation up, especially when I ran into many roadblocks installing American equipment on a French boat!  I tried to do most of the work myself to save on labor costs and also so that I would know all the systems intimately hopefully allowing me to complete repairs myself in the remote places I intend to visit. The only downside is that it took at least three times longer to do it myself which meant working every weekend for two years and nearly every night after work for the last four months to get the boat ready!

The best source for information I found was other cruiser’s blogs that described their refit projects in detail. I hope the posts below (which I am still writing as I get time) will be helpful for others embarking on similar projects.

Electrical and Energy Generation
– Designing and building new electrical system with 450AH house battery bank and monitor – Jan 2010
– Designing and building a 170W solar energy platform with MPPT controller – Jul 2010
– Installing a KISS wind generator – May 2010
– Installing a 80W Balmar high output alternator with smart regulator – Jul 2010
– Installing a Inverter – post coming

Engine
– Designing and installing a second diesel fuel tank – May 2010
– Installing a Racor 500MA fuel filter – May 2009
– Rebuilding the raw water pump – Aug 2008
– Installing a Kiwiprop feathering propeller – Mar 2010
– New shaft, cutlass bearing and dripless seal – post coming

Self Steering
– Installing a Monitor Windvane – Nov 2009
– Installing a Raymarine wheelpilot – Jan 2009

Navigation and Instruments
– Installing a Raymarine C80 Chartplotter and Radar – Nov 2008
– Installing new Raymarine ST60 wind, speed and depth instruments – post coming

Anchoring
– Installing a new Lewmar H3 Windlass – June 2009
– New Ground tackle for offshore work – post coming

Standing Rigging
– Replacing the rod standing rigging, furler and backstay adjuster – Mar 2010
– Installing a new LED masthead tricolor & anchor light – post coming
– Replacing all in mast wiring and masthead instruments – post coming

Running Rigging
– Rebuilding Lewmar winches – Jan 2009
– New “incockpit” reefing system – post coming
– Installing a Dutchman boombrake system – post coming

Communication
– Installing an  ICOM M802 SSB Radio with Pactor 3 Modem – Jul 2010
– Installing a Standard Horizon VHF Radio with AIS- post coming
– Installing a Brookehouse Multiplexer for sharing navigation data with a laptop – post coming
– Installing a Bullet wifi booster – post coming

Sails
– New sail wardrobe – July 2010

Plumbing
– Installing all new below the waterline thruhulls – post coming
– Installing a larger bilge pump, automatic bilge switch and bilge monitor – post coming

Safety
– Liferaft – Aug 2010
– Fire equipment overhaul – post coming
– Category 0 SOLAS flares – post coming

Other
– The bottom job – Jan 2009
– New Dinghy and Outboard motor – post coming
– New propane tanks and fittings – post coming
– Replacing the glass and seals in all hatches and ports – post coming
– Installing outside speakers for music system – post coming