Water in the gas locker

Next job on the boat is to remove the water in the bottom of the gas locker.

There are a couple of design faults with the locker:

The locker depth is not sufficient to make a good seal when a couple of 13kg propane bottles are in the locker - so water gets in.

The drain holes at the bottom of the locker are too high so there is always an inch or so of water in the bottom.

As well as having water in the locker, its prescence has resulted in corrosion/rust in the locker base plate and also the water drips down into the bilge.

I dont want to drill a drain hole in the bottom of the locker as a torrential downpour could result in excess water in the bilge

When the weather gets better I want to inspect and paint the bottom of the locker to prevent further damage

As a temporary measure I have ordered a hand operated pump to remove the water from the gas locker.

Other jobs to do:

Get the toilet pumped out.

Replace the auxiliary switch panel (I already have a new fused one), a couple of the circuit breakers have failed in the current one. This may involve removing the wooden panel that the switch panel is mounted on - this needs to be hinged or screwed on - it is currently fixed and no easy access is possible to the wiring behind it.

Find and cure the fluid leak into the engine drip tray - looks like a coolant leak.

Improve the ballast distribution in the boat - still tilting to port.

Improve the internal locks on the boat.

Decide what I am going to do with the fridge - nearly new expensive model (Waeco), but, too power hungry (see above circuit breaker problem) and requires a mains hook up.

Add an extra leisure battery.

Fix my generator so I can use it on the boat.

Replace the hook up connector - open to the elements.

Get ready for the safety inspection in August 2010 - the mechanic at Stenson doesnt like my wiring!

As noted in the last blog - improve the layout or sell the boat