 |
| Thanksgiving 2023. |
Saturday, 18 November 2023
Saturday, 26 August 2023
Victron Monitor and Victron Solar Charge Controller
Following up on the last post I completed the monitor install. My first attempt at reading the output off my phone failed but when erased the Victron app and re-installed it everything worked. That was two weeks ago. Today I took out the out $40 solar charger (which had worked well) and put in the new Victron 75/15 which like the monitor communicates with my phone. Voila, worked right away and to my surprise my solar array (150 watts ) was putting out 20.20 volts. I'll follow it and put some of the stats on here.
The only remaining issue is connecting the starter battery (as opposed to the house batteries) to the monitor so that I can get a readout from it as well. Easy job. I'll take some pics and show details.
Thursday, 17 August 2023
Victron Monitoring
I finally finished the installation of my Victron BMV 712 battery monitor. The unit consists of two main parts. There is a 2" round display and a 500 amp shunt. I put the display to the right of the main panel door and the shunt is next to the house batteries.
I have made some wiring changes and now all loads in the boat run through the negative side of the batteries through which the shunt measures flow. By directing all loads through the shunt the monitor can accurately assess the flow of current in and out.
Sunday, 6 August 2023
August 5/23
Just a mid-summer update. All is well with the boat. I have updated some electronic equipment that I will discuss soon.
A few weeks ago another sailor and I took the boat out so he could see how it performed compared to his. We ended up sailing her extremely hard and all went well. I think he was quite impressed.
Yesterday Mary and I went out in light air and then got caught in a significant wind change that resulted in our pushing the boat to her limit with full sail. As usual she acquitted herself well and while we were quite tired after 4 hours on the water we were content that we had done well.
Tuesday, 30 May 2023
2023 Ceilidh Launch
This is our 7th season with Ceilidh and unlike Rubicon she is more work to launch and get prepared for the season but having the bigger boat is nice.
Although there are many jobs the main issues are in order:
1. Cleaning the boat. After winter the deck is filthy and grimy. Two hour job.
2. Retrieving the batteries from home and lifting the batteries (3 @ 80 lbs. each) up to the deck and down into the boat. Hooking up the necessary connections. Two hours and a lot of effort.
3. Bottom paint--Not a hard job but takes at least three hours and it is messy.
4. Varnish--Making sure basic varnish is applied where it cannot be accessed on the water. Four or five hours.
5. Testing the engine. Critical job that has to be done properly. 1/2 hour. Once the boat is ready the trailer comes in a picks up the cradle. Then the 60 ton lift comes over the boat and the belts are slung under the boat and it is lifted off the cradle and lowered into the water.
6. Retrieving and installing the stackpak/mainsail combo which weighs about 100 lbs and very awkward. It is done in the water and requires that we old people lift the package on to the boat and then install it on the boom and on the mast. Then we have to add two 16' long stiffeners to the stackpak and four battens to the sail as we raise and lower it. Sounds easy but takes us about 3 hours after which we are exhausted.
7. Retrieving and raising the genoa. This is a huge sail that must be partially laid out on the foredeck and setup for raising in a groove on the furler at the bow of the boat. It shouldn't take long but due to issues with a bad halyard (which needs replacing) it has been a source of unnecessary bad words.
8. Installing the dodger, bimini and centerpiece over the cockpit. Relatively easy but tough on the fingers. Takes less than two hours.
So these jobs take anywhere from ten to fifteen hours and are hard work.
After these jobs are done we retrieve the cushions, etc.
Monday, 1 May 2023
Electrical Features
Ceilidh's panel is a Blue Seas 8084 model and a matching 8 circuit 8023 Blue Seas panel mounted in the opening swinging door.
All wiring is tinned marine duplex (+ and - wires in a jacket). All the duplex lengths retain the covering to just before entry into the panel. At that point the positive and negative leads are separated and numbered as per use.
All wires are attached to a metal frame and looped (to provide more wire in case of a change). The AC is separate from the DC and a lock is provided on the panel door to prevent accidental entry to the AC part of the panel. There are 22 DC circuits and 5 AC circuits available.
 |
| Although analogue gauges are present a Victron BMV 712 has been added with smartphone blue tooth communication. As of 2023 these two panels retail for $1400.plus tax in Canada. |
 |
| Wires are attached to a riding frame to organize the wires and deliver them to a specific breaker. |
Sunday, 23 April 2023
North Channel Pictures
For many years we made the trip north to Georgian Bay and on to the North Channel. Here are some pics.
 |
Anchored in Snug Harbour about 5 miles from Killarney in the North Channel |
Ben, Vicky and Liz showed up in our previous boat that we sold to them in 2014. They are great sailors and make good use of the boat. I spent a lot of hours upgrading Rubicon and I miss sailing her as she is only about half the displacement of Ceilidh. |
 |
| More Snug Harbour which is actually an enclosed bay that we reach through a narrow channel. It is very deep inside but the channel can be tricky at only 6 to 8 feet. |
Friday, 24 March 2023
Spring 2023 Launch Maintenance
Preparing for launch in Spring 2023
This will be Ceilidh's 7th season since her complete rebuild. As usual there are a number of matters to be attended to and I will list them below for a record.
1. Install a Harken cam cleat on the mast. This is not necessary but an interesting idea that I came across during the winter that may assist when choosing to raise the main at the mast as opposed to the cockpit. Probably a Harken 150 will do the job.
2. Re-route the chart plotter box power and signal lines through a separate SS pipe on the binnacle guard. This will make it easier to install radar to the chart plotter when required.
3. Varnish the toe rail and handrails.
4. Finish installation of the electronic fuel gauge. The sender is done and the signal line has been run. Need to install gauge in 2 1/8" hole and power to 12V.
5. Complete check of all thru-hulls, rigging, etc.
6. Additional coat of VC17 anti-fouling
7. Consult with Jim P. about making a change in the cradle keel board.
8. Make new binnacle and guard cover from Sunbrella.
9. Change and lengthen the MC4 cable run from the solar panels.
10. Install replacement #20 winch on mast.
11. Install additional cleats. Neef bolts
12. Install new winch on SB side
13. Check and lubricate chain and cable steering
 |
| 2022 on lift trailer before launch Note rug hanging over side to protect hull from lifting belts. |
Sunday, 26 February 2023
History of Ceilidh
Ceilidh is #174, 1976 Alberg 37 Mark II design manufactured by Whitby Boatworks in Whitby, Ontario, Canada or at one time Ajax, Ontario. There were about 260 of this model produced at the Whitby works from plans prepared by Carl Alberg; a world famous yacht designer.
I do not know the early history of the boat but it was purchased by Ron Wilson sometime in the 80's. Apparently it was his intention to sail her to the Caribbean which he did. In fact the information from the original A37 club indicates that he took her as far as South America.
In the late 90's he made the homeward trip and went aground off of Florida. The rudder was badly damaged and an entirely new rudder and fittings were installed. Apparently he decided that the new rudder should be 4" shorter than the keel in order to prevent a similar occurence again.
By 2000 he had returned to Sarnia, Ontario where he passed and the boat was sold to someone from Chatham, Ontario who spent money upgrading the speed/depth instruments and autohelm with the idea of also going south with the boat. The boat was then moored in Erieau, ON. They also bought two huge ST46 self-tailing winches to replace the original winches. The boat was moored in Barneys Boatyard in Erieau for a few years but the owner lost interest in going south with the boat and she was sold again. The new owner never used her and decided to trade her in on a new boat from Anchor Yachts.
The purchaser was Anchor Yachts in Toronto. They purchased the boat unseen as a trade-in and decided to have Barney's sandblast the bottom and apply 5 coats of epoxy barrier coat. Then they applied 2 coats of VC17. About a year after I purchased the boat I went to Barney's and asked about the history and whether the work had actually been done. "Yes" they replied and Anchor Yachts apparently spent $5,000.00 having it done. So when I purchased the boat she looked exactly as appears in the lead picture to this blog. The bottom was perfect and other than replacing thru-hulls and updating the VC17 I never touched it again. After Barney's had finished her she was shipped to Anchor Yachts in Port Credit and that is where I first became aware of her.
Because the boat had been in the Caribbean for over 10 years and was sailed back she did not have a cradle. That's why I had to buy a brand new cradle from Marine Cradle Shop. I decided to buy a mobile vs. static cradle. The difference is in the gauge and size of the steel and does cost more. It is a 7 pad cradle.
Saturday, 25 February 2023
Cost of Purchase and Restoration
The following are the NEW parts used in the restoration of Ceilidh. There were a few other new parts on the boat when I purchased it. See my blog page on the history of the boat.
Purchase $ 7,900.00 These parts are all new unless noted
Cradle 1,900.00
Transport 1,100.00
Loading in Toronto 250.00
New Westerbeke 44B diesel engine
c/w Balmar 100A Alternator 12,100.00
& AR5 External V Regulator 906.00
Racor 500 MA primary fuel filter 395.00
Driveshaft/drivesaver/etc. 2,200.00
Dripless shaft seal 275.00
Propeller 15" replacement 250.00 used
NewFoundMetal Ports (6) 2,400.00
Acrylic and new window frames 350.00
Eco 4 burner stove/oven combo 1,800.00
Isotherm Freezer/Fridge 2,300.00
Blue Seas 8 position panel 220.00
500' tinned marine duplex cable 320.00
10 new C panel breakers 285.00
Moulding for inside windows 300.00
2 sheets 1/2" teak plywood 435.00
2 sheets of arborite for counters 150.00
3 gallons of epoxy 350.00
Awlgrip primer & paint 700.00
15 board feet of solid teak 350.00
11 litres of varnish 550.00
Selden 206 furler 2,200.00 Original Harken furler was worn out.
7 oz. 135% genoa 3,100.00
7 oz. main 3,500.00
Stackpack from Doyle 1,800.00
Tides mainsail track/hardware 800.00
Used propane tanks 185.00
New propane hose and fittings 235.00
New cockpit drain valves 485.00 Holland Marine--replaced poor replacement
New 2 1/2" cockpit hoses 120.00
New sink and drain/hose.valve 210.00
New taps in galley & head 275.00
Harken #46ST Winches 2800.00
Harken #20ST Winches (4) 2,100.00
Garhauer Mainsheet Track 800.00
8 Garhauer turning blocks 400.00
45 lb. Kingston anchor 400.00
25 lb. Plow NC
60' 5/16 chain and 200' rode 450.00
New Dodger & Bimini 5,000.00
New standing rigging 1,300.00
Supplies (low estimate) 1,500.00
Hauling to Goderich 1,300.00
New 2021 Garmin 942xs GPS 995.00
Victron BMV DC gauge 400.00
Labour--not accounted for
Other items
New Halyards
Curtains
Ceiling vinyl & glue
Mattress cover
Remove/wash cushion covers
Shed/Canvas
Labour:
3000 hours @ $10.00 per hour is $30,000.00
Ceilidh UPDATE February 25, 2023
UPDATE
Note: Owing to Google's poor management I couldn't post to this blog for a few years so much is missing on the restoration. I will try and do some backdated posts when time permits.
As of February 2023 I have managed to regain control of this blog. As such I may be posting backdated articles on the restoration.
From this point in time (February 2023) I will only post current articles that have more to do with 2023 maintenance and sailing.
Ceilidh was completed in 2016 and launched in Goderich in the spring of 2017 and has been sailing ever since. She has also made two trips to the north channel (700 km each) so she has been well tested.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)