Since the last report there has been a number of visits to the boats to progress the various items listed as outstanding.
Marine Band VHF Aerial: This has been fitted. I took out one of the ceiling lights and drilled two holes upwards from the very edge of the light void to take the RF waterproof roof socket (from Force 4) and a 3 pin "Buccaneer" marine type power socket, also waterproof, from RS Components. These holes were then opened out with a hole saw from above, the bare metal protected with zinc primer, and the two connectors inserted and screwed in with brass machine screws usung a bit of plumbers sealant for good measure. Then using the power available at the light socket, two automotive relays were slid under the roof trim and connected up. Using relays enables very thin wire to be used back to the main switch/fuse panel for the navigation lights and anchor light. I managed to fiddle this wire through under the roof trim to emerge alongside the roof edge trim and hide the control wires behind the aerial wire back to the switch panel. It works!
Cupboard Lights: These have been installed and are controlled via a microswitch, only coming on when the door is opened. These are LED wall lights and I fear that they are not as bright as I had hoped.
Battery Top Up: I always have trouble with this! The batteries are stored in the engine compartment on top of the swim. There is very little room above to manipulate a filling bottle and no room to look in. So I bought a garden sprayer with a controllable wand and used that. Great. Then I needed a headlight and mirror to be able to see when they are full. I am still trying to dream up some easy way of doing this without all that paraphinalia , but no luck so far. The batteries took about 4 litres.
TV: This was fitted satisfactorally eventually, but it took a surprising about of time to get the mouting arm set up right. Don't know if it works yet!
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