Guatemala - Rio Dulce, Another week of Repairs and Maintenance Tasks

Nicholas installed a new Air cooled Aircon which can run off our Batteries and inverter. Here is the installation in a ceiling locker in our cockpit, where he had to cut out panels to fit the main unit in, and then rebuild and glass in support bulkheads. It still looks a little rough as it's still work in progress. Although he did the aircon installation before we went to South Africa, and the aircon works, it’s only now that his shoulder is 2 months post op, that he’s able to lift and work with his arm above head height, and do the reinforcing of the cut bulkhead which has to be done before we set sail again. I’ll eventually post a final photo once finished, painted and all looks pretty again.

This is looking up into the ceiling locker.

Inside Split Bulkhead unit, all done and used daily

The heat outlets cut into the Flybridge coachroof aft deck so that the heat from the Air cooled Aircon will not flow downwards into the cockpit and heat it up.This is looking aft of the Main sheet track.

The monthly Cruisers Swop Meet at Mar Marina

Nicholas looking through Dan of SV Zia, stuff to see if he has any electronics he might use for spares for our units

Rugby World Cup! Watching the South African Game in the Blue Lounge with Meagan and Michael of SV Tenagra

I've been sewing covers for Nicholas’ Machines. These two are for the large Grinder and the Lathe which live in the Port Engine compartment

This finished one is for the small Grinder which lives in the Workshop

This is a waterproof cover Ive also just made to protect the Table Saw which lives outside when Nicholas is busy with projects. We previously had to move it every night into the cockpit so that it does not get wet. Now it can stay outside both in the Sun and Rain - which is almost every night.

With cutting the Airvents for the New Aircon, it has opened two holes in the aft Flybridge coachroof - which is a rain problem. So the task of installing the next batch of Solar Panels has moved up the Task List. 

Three additional new panels will be placed over the aft coachroof area.

You can see the morning shade from the flybridge roof which is a great to get this work done, as the afternoon sun here is horrendous.

Nicholas is currently installing the brackets to hold the 3 new Solar Panels. 

The panels have to be placed, (you can see the ropes we use which are tied to a halyard to a winch to hold the panel from slipping and falling off). 

For each panel; Fillets are cut, glued in place around the panel, panel removed, fillets glassed in, panel replaced, holes drilled in both fillet and panel, bolted in place, fillets ground to slope on the edges so that ropes do not get caught on the fillets or the panel, panel removed, and fillets painted with white gelcoat, panels refitted, electrics run ....... x 3. 

All a time consuming task, and the days are hotter than before. 

Afternoons are currently peaking at 38 deg C / almost 100 F outside in the sun with the UV factor on very high. So he tries to get as much done before about 11am, and then gets back to work at about 5pm until dark.