So this weekend Julie and I spent some time on the
boat to give the systems a bit of a dry run before we do a shake down
cruise in a couple of weeks time. The idea was to cycle the
batteries from 100% to 50% and back up, to see how the
charging systems coped under max load. In both cases the systems did their job very quickly (Lithium
batteries do charge fast), although there was inevitably some reduction in charge
current from the
alternator as temperatures increased. This was a very crude test but encouraging. We ran the
heating system for a few hours one evening and again in the mornings and that worked well,
heating the boat quickly whilst at the same time producing a tankful of piping hot
water (might have to tweak the mixer valve, it really was hot). Hopefully we wont need any heating for while but still. We left the
plumbing system pressurised with the
pump off each night to see if it cycled when switched on again, which is again a simplistic test, but reassuring. Then tested the
water transfer
pump between
tanks with around 100lt pumped through. The GN Espace cooker was fired up (which smelled quite a bit at first) for dinner(s), and is apparently very good with even heat distribution, output tasted good to me. (The gas
installation has been professionally tested and signed off). So all confidence boosting stuff, as we get ready for our first short
cruise.
I suppose it's inevitable that some snags surfaced - we found a USB
charging port not working, a door handle that I needed to nip up, a loose bit of
wiring run that had escaped its clip and a leak appeared in the aft
cabin when I washed her down (I think from a
winch mounting bolt) which Discovery will fix, surprising because it's not her first wash and
leaks are an obvious commissioning test.
Most importantly the mattress was comfy, and the roomy airy forecabin of our 2
cabin layout made life on board a pleasure, so here's a pic of the said cabin now in our messy state with all the smart boatshow stuff gone!
There are a few more bits to go on board, like dinghy/outboard and spare
rope fenders etc, and one last job I have is to "mist" the heads
portlights that are normally fitted with blinds - which I didn't want.
Thinking of blinds, in the aft cabin under the base of the
cockpit table there are 4
Lewmar opening
ports, these usually have blinds fitted but I thought I would try some alternatives which looked simpler. They are essentially two layers of thin clear
acrylic with alternate lines
screen printed so when the top one is slid in one direction they let light in, and slid in the other they largely block it. That and some blackout blinds over the
hull ports and the cabin is nice and dark. Wouldn't have used these if they blocked a nice view, but in this location they're fine Here's a
photo...
So now the plan is the week after next to
head down to Salcombe/Dartmouth, or the CI's to give her a bit of a shake down before we
head off towards the
Med.
and are looking for someone to donate this one to, let me know. 
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