[C38] Best upgrades

[Chuck Finn]

This has really got me thinking.  Both about all I have done and what 
remains on the list!

I think the best upgrades over the years have been:
1. Headsail furler.  I have never had a problem with my Profurl system 
and sailing single/short handed makes this a must.
2. Chart Plotter.  What did I do without this?  I still love my charts 
and am pretty good about using both.  But I have a LOT of peace of mind 
with this on board! Especially while night sailing.
3. Cut-out in port lazzerette.   Access to critical components was not 
possible (I am way too big and creaky).
4. Marriage Savers!  (hands free headset radios)

I think my wife would say:
1. New boat cushions.  She could not stand the musty fuel smell that 
would not go away.
2. Propane stove and cabin heater.  It was very hard to get CNG and we 
always seemed to run out at the worst times!  I used to carry a 
two-burner portable propane stove that we seemed to use too much due to 
the CNG issues.  The heater really extends our cruising time in the fall 
when we love to see the leaves change.
3. Headsail furler.
4. The "Marriage Savers."  I think perhaps the issue that is most likely 
to lead to divorce on our boat is anchoring!  While we practiced many 
hand signals and tried our best.... things almost always devolved to 
"one signal" that involves the middle finger....  The only thing I now 
worry about when anchoring is if the 9 volt batteries of the marriage 
saver have died (I keep 4 batteries in reserve as a double backup).

Chuck Finn
Mighty Quinn,  #114
Great Lakes

On 4/13/2011 10:39 AM, Don Strong wrote:
> Upgrades? To a previously owned sailboat with an Atomic 4 that we 
> called "The Antichrist," the key upgrade would have been an upgrade to 
> diesel.  That engine failed regularly, especially in narrow Florida 
> inlets with running tides. It caught fire off and on. We sold the 
> boat. The PO of our C38, Discreet Charm installed a Yanmar 3GM, which 
> has worked flawlessly for the 9 years of our ownership.  The rest of 
> the PO's upgrades are nice too: dodger, standing rigging, wiring, 
> cushions, mattress, etc. The Yanmar is my favorite, however.
> D
>
> On 4/13/11 7:28 AM, Larry Malmberg wrote:
>> Well a couple of years ago I would have said it was the new engine we 
>> put in
>> but now I'm thinking it's the Nexus Instruments.  As we "play" with 
>> them and
>> they are integrated with our polars I'm thinking it's the Nexus 
>> Instruments.
>> Much better than the Raymarine that were on it when I bought her.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Best regards,
>>
>> Larry Malmberg
>> Team Hassle
>>
>>
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