Vira - Sailboat rebuild, Irwin Citation 34

 Fresh water plumping replacement Do not try to do better if it works! Short story, My boat 40 years old and all hoses are original. All of them Are hardened and start cracking. I do not want to wait until they bust. I made decision to replace old PVC hoses with PEX-A tubing.    Why PEX-A? It is pretty simple  "crimping" process. Connection are possible in pretty in hard to access places due to you can expand pipe in comfortable place and then install it. Beside price I would point other reasons: fittings are expensive but not so high as Shark bite, no metal collars (vs PEX-B) - no corrosion, expansion tool is not very expensive. It is easy to say - replace tubing.  In mind I imagine simple process - take off clamps,  connect PEX tube to old hose with some insert plug  and duct tape, and then pull new tube using old hose as guide. Simple enough. Right? Sounds like couple hours to do. In reality I spent 4 days to pull hoses and put PEX tubing.  Wh...

 Interior Front cabin almost done, trimming left to do and we will be good. Little bit boat yoga     Head walls sanding before front cabin neoprene walls in-liner installation (to eliminate unnecessary dust exposure). Thru-hulls  New bronze pipe-to-hose adapters installed. Yes it is rat nest, but boat in the water and i do not see way to redo it. Only one plastic adapter left Deck Front hatch re-sanded, re-bedded and re-assembled  <<< pictures will be later>>>

Interior Front cabin cleaning to be ready to install ceiling  and  sides cover/isolation. All internal gelcoat in v-berth area is lightly sanded and polished. now it looks almost like new. Sides... attempt to de-wax with interlux 202. As result made more mess than it was.   Made templates for all front cabin parts  Dry fit of  navigation station face plate. Desk countertop cut to install folding table hinges. That is it. Not much visible progress.

 Big weekend Standing rigging Backstay shackle elimination. Main concern was 2000lb shackle used in backstay. sure chain is not the best solution too, but at least it is the same strength as wire rope. Was: It is now. two plated and two 1/2" pins. Plates are thicker than existing chainplate. Water Fresh Water tanks test. Tanks filled to top lid, actually overfilled (up to height of lid top)  to make sure lids are sealed well. I did lids sealing different way. Big tank lid perimeter sealed with butyl tape, and fittings with 3M 4200. Small one with silicon sealer. Will see what will work longer.  Just several grades of white in brand new tank during the filling . I had some places where coating ruined, but it is just cosmetically inside the tank. Sceth to make humps to protect electric level sensors and make surface easier to sit on. Test went well, both tanks filled full, checked gravity transfer from bigger to filling small tank from big one.  Gray water, Holding tan...

  Things are done since  9/25 Cockpit drains replaced. Re-setup fixed window (it was not bonded well) Engine room ventilation hose and scoops mounted New VHF/AIS antenna and cable replaced  New LED spreader lights installed. Day Water tank leakage repaired (osmosis, leaking crack in a bottom) Main water tank repaired (bad osmosis and hole in bottom)  Both tanks re-coated inside with special portable water 2 component coating. New HDPE lids made and installed to both fresh water tanks to make water tanks safe. Water level sensor added to main and day fresh water tanks.  Stanchions repair finished, all filled with poly resin and rubber plugged from bottom, then reinstalled. New dynema lifelines installed. one piece still need to be replaced. A/C in and out collector boxes, air outlet boxes and duct work. Front cabin cabinet structure rebuilt around AC. Main sheet traveler re-bedded Cabin top winch re-bedded  Cabin top aft hatch repaired and renovated. (left w...

   Main water tank Done!    Before... I Opened the tank and found osmosis pox covered whole internal surface. I do not concern about  structural strength, but more see problem in chemicals may get in the fresh in the water, and surface strength to be able to keep 2 part coat layer. All frame looks like somebody just screw lid without thinking that any hole in the frame is potential leak later. I feel there was 3 different attempts to mount lid. And sure, water tank lid made from plywood (exterior plywood to be clear)  will not keep water virgin clear. And "cherry" on a top: DRILLED!!!  6mm hole in a middle of the tank bottom. More questions than ideas... Who? Why? What purpose? What was done. All "pox", holes in frame and hole in the tank bottom are sanded  filled and overglassed.  Also I added tape on bottom side edges. Internal surface covered with two layers of  special drinking water epoxy liner LiquaTile 1172. It is  only prod...

Interior Front cabin cabinet.  I remake new panels from plywood using original parts as template. Re-built cabinet around Air conditioner. Cabinet will get original drawers, teak trim and air intake grill to cover Air filter. '    Main cabin  Cabinets "bulkheads" Cut parts and tab vertical walls to hull sides and deck to keep them on place. Later I will add shelf to split port area. as well i am going to build NAV station around original table.       Lithium battery battery compartment. Built flat flour for the Lithium battery in the compartment next to original battery tray.  Likely will be able to put 5-th pack of batteries there.