Sail La Vie, LLC

The 2009 /boating /season started in February and March with the installation of new electronics by Pro Marine Electronics; A Ray Marine E80 chart plotter, 2 KW radar and a Type 2 rotary autopilot.

New Breaker panel to handle the electronics.

Type 2 rotary drive for the Autopilot.  Some custom fabrication was required to mount the drive and a trip to the machine shop to install a keyway for the new gear.  I also raised the seat 3/4" to provide clearance fo the new gear.

Our first sail of the year; April 5th, 2009.  The chart plotter, radar and autopilot are working.  We will wait to calibrate the autopilot underway till after the boat is hauled and the speedo and depth sounder are installed.  We also have to climb the mast and install the new windex to tie in the wind direction and velocity.  Look No Hands...  It is great to have an Autopilot.  You can see the radar pole in the background.  We also added a hailer and GPS antenna for the VHS, Sirius satellite weather and radio antennas and AIS class B antenna.

Other winter projects; organization is an on-going project.  This is my second re-organization of the starboard locker.

I taped a layout of the boxes to the inside of the door so that I don't have to search for a particular item through the clothes that are now hanging in the locker.

We now have Boarding Stairs.  With these it is an easy on and off the boat.  I was putting this project off trying to figure out how to attach the steps; till I thought of the newer blocks that are attached by using rope - and Voila.  I plan to add two carabiners for quick and easy removal from the stantions when we get underway.