Shore Power and Hope - Discovering the True State of the Boat’s Systems

Log #04 - Systems Assessment (or What Was Left of Them)

May 2025 — Late Spring

With the interior largely cleared, it was time to look at the boat’s systems. This was where optimism met reality. The engine only seemed complete. Components were present, yes, but their condition and connectivity remained uncertain. It would require careful inspection — and likely significant rebuilding — before we could even consider running her independently.

The electrical system, it turned out, was effectively non-existent. Everything ran off shore power, and the wiring that remained was haphazard at best. For a vessel of this size, this meant the entire network would have to be designed and installed from scratch.

Water? There was a single 600-gallon tank, which was intact, but nothing else. Plumbing, piping, and distribution systems were rudimentary at best.

As for the interior: there were no panels to rip out because they had already been removed by previous owners. This left a surprising number of internal frames missing — seemingly cannibalised — which meant that some substantial welding would be required.

The rotting fore and aft decks, hidden beneath a heavy layer of saturated artificial grass carpet or garden sheds, were stark reminders of what can happen when decades of neglect are combined with improvisation. Fixing them would be both necessary and excellent practice.

By the end of the assessment, a detailed plan had begun to take shape. Some systems would need complete replacement; others could be refurbished. Materials were noted, priorities set, and the sequence of work roughly mapped. The boat was no longer a static structure; it was a living, breathing project in desperate need of care — and it would demand all our skill, patience, and persistence.

Relevant References

• Structural Debt in Older Working Boats

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