Favorite DIY Upgrades

[JebLostInSpace]

Hello all, I'm wondering what are some DIY upgrades people have done that they especially love. I ask mainly out of curiosity, but also because I'm in the rare situation of having both time and budget for a project, while also not having a big backlog of work I need to do. So I could potentially take on an upgrade project if it sounds fun

Context: I'm on a 41 ft cruising sailboat, US East coast (currently Florida), and spend most nights at anchor, though I have a dock for the next month (such luxury!). Some upgrades I already have (but don't let this list stop you from naming something similar as your fave!) are: solar, a standup fridge, windlass remote for single-handing, power winch, davits, and air conditioning.

All in all, my favorite one is the solar - it makes my life at anchor so pleasant!

[Enfant Du Vent]

Ahoy Jeb:

When I lived / cruised on my 32' monohull sloop my favorite items were the solar panel and a wind generator.....aaah, the joy of full batteries and NO engine noise.

[rslifkin]

The wireless windlass remote is definitely up there. Beats my old method of hand signals to the helmsman and certainly beats foot switches.

[4arch]

Adding STC-1000 controllers to my fridge and freezer boxes. These are by far the best $15 I've ever spent on the boat! Much more even temperature regulation than the old twist knob controllers plus there's the side benefit of being able to select running the freezer box at fridge or freezer temps.

[Tomodore]

Cut a slot in a piece of teak 14" slot in 16"x3" and installed next to wall on counter in galley. Installed kitchen studio magnet under counter so I can slide sharp kitchen knives in from counter top and magnet keeps knives from coming out in rough seas. Not expensive or technical but my knives are easily reached with very little space used. Also put piece of thin plywood in storage area under counter so knife blades are covered when I reach for supplies.

[sailingabe41ds]

Balmar 170amp alternator with ext regulator
Second bilge pump
Wallas diesel heater
Will be installing 4 100wt solar to minimize use of Honda 2000
Ran a gas line from gas locker to bbq....no more little gas bottles

Thats all for now

Abe

[Cyrus Safdari]

Upgrades are things like enlarged scuppers, conversion to tiller from wheel?

[SoundOfSilence]

What about upgrading the TV/stereo system? That's a fun project for sure

I'm doing it just now and went with a huge (for me!) TV Sony 43" combined with Klipsch 5.1 sound theatre pack, 8" subwoofer and Marantz slim receiver. Looking at a movie now is a completely different experience

[owly]

Originally Posted by 4arch

Adding STC-1000 controllers to my fridge and freezer boxes. These are by far the best $15 I've ever spent on the boat! Much more even temperature regulation than the old twist knob controllers plus there's the side benefit of being able to select running the freezer box at fridge or freezer temps.

I have half a dozen STC 1000 controllers in various applications...... wonderful and cheap. Basically a thermostat with a hysteresis setting. The next level, and very little more cost is the PID controller. It is actually "intelligent", and learns to anticipate the overrun. It will anticipate the temp increase for example, and turn on refrigeration BEFORE is falls to the set point. The result is much tighter temp control. I use this on "various" devices I can't describe here ;-) PID is the technology used for auto steering on ships by the way.


H.W.