This will be a list of everything we've done to the boat and everything we still have to do. It will be neverending.
When we started with China Doll, she pretty much had everything to get off the dock, but several of her essential systems needed to be upgraded to make her a worthy liveaboard/cruiser. We've listed the necessary upgrades below, noted whether they're done or not, and even thrown in a few pictures of what "boat maintenance" can be like.
THRU-BOLT SWIM STEP
UPGRADE GROUND TACKLE - DONE - previously a 14 lb. danforth with 15 ft. of chain and 70 ft of rode - now a 22 lb. Delta, 40 ft. of BBB chain, and 150 ft. of 5/8 in. nylon rode. Incidentally, I got this for the boat by riding 4 miles to the nearest West Marine in Norfolk, VA and coming back with the anchor in the bike basket and the chain in my hiking pack...it was a long ride. Total cost = approx. $400
UPGRADE GALLEY - DONE - previously a 1 burner, butane stove - now a 2 burner propane coleman stove, a magma chef's mate grill, and a 20 lb. steel propane tank externally stored in the aft of the cockpit. Total cost = approx. $300
CONNECT PUMP-OUT TO TOILET - DONE - previously all we had was a porta-potty that had to be carried and dumped out when too full. The fittings cost approx. $80 and now I only have to carry it out in dire situations. Next year, we'll be using a manual Whale Pump with deck fittings so we can pump overboard as well as at marinas.
LEAKY TOE RAILS
RE-RUN JIB HALYARD OUTSIDE OF STANCHIONS
LEAKY HATCH
CLEAN...WILL NEVER BE DONE
UPGRADE WATER CAPACITY - SEMI-DONE - previously just a built in 20 gal tank - now we have 25 gallons stored on deck in the form of jerry cans, next year it will be a bladder by Plastimo installed somewhere in the v-berth.
ANCHOR ROLLER/BOWSPRIT CONSTRUCTION
FLAPPERS FOR BILGE AND EXHAUST OUTLETS TO REPLACE BALL VALVES IN BOTH LINES - the ball valves both got installed as soon as we realized faollowing seas backflowed into the engine and bilge - the engine was a rude awakening.
