Saturday, July 5, 2014

Our first few days aboard

I'm waiting for the July 4th fireworks to start out here in Dana Point, CA after a few wonderful days on our new boat.  The commissioning process is just beginning so we didn't go anywhere and won't for a while.  There is lots to test, check, run, fix, repeat.  But we got to spend the better part of four days on board meeting with the electronics guys, carpet and soft goods guys, and getting to know the commissioning crew.  It also been great to see the boat clean, uncovered, and all put together, unlike all my visits to the yard.  Here's a quick look at the finished product:

First below is the pilot house.  90% of the electronics were installed at the yard, but as you can see the computer monitors were not among them.  That was due to a little oversight on our part, but no big deal in the end.  This also turned up probably the biggest oh-shit so far.  I had measured out the panel space based on some drawings and thought we had plenty of space for the three 24" monitors, 2 side by side in the big center panel, and the third on the little wing on the right.  Well, it turns out my estimate was off and the monitor won't quite fit on the wing panel.  After discovering this, Chris from Performance Marine (the electronics guys) brought over one of the monitors the next day for some creative installation brainstorming.  Lots of head scratching ensued, and we finally realized that if we routed out a small part of the lower corner in the center panel, we could get the side monitor to fit.  Problem solved.

Pilot house - the nerve center

Here's the captain's cabin which is behind the pilot house.  The 60 and 63 are the only Nordhavn's with a separate cabin off the pilot house until you get up to the 72.  It's one of our favorite features in the boat, giving both a good place for the off-watch person to sleep close at hand, and a third cabin when you have guests aboard.
Captain's cabin behind pilot house

Here's are a few shots of the salon, all cleaned up and shiny with seat cushions and everything.  The navy blue cushions are for the cockpit and fly bridge settees.

Salon looking aft/port

Salon looking forward

Salon, looking aft/starboard

The 60 differs from the 55 only in the length of the cockpit and boat deck above, and here's what it looks like.  It's an incredible outdoor space with plenty of shade and no cramped feeling.

Cockpit looking aft

Cockpit looking forward

The galley looks great with the granite counters and back splash, stainless appliances, and teak cabinets.
Galley, peeking in from the salon

Galley

Here's the guest cabin followed by the office.  These are separated by a sliding door and folding partition so it can be one open space, or can provide privacy depending on the need.
Guest cabin

Office 
Down in the engine room things are bright and shiny.  The Deere 9 liter main engine figures prominently, with fuel management, hydraulics, generator, and wing engine filling the remaining space.
Deere 6090 centerpiece in the engine room

Here's a view looking forward in the engine room.
Engine room forward view

And here's what the extended boat deck looks like on the 60.  It looks even more spacious without a dinghy, but the extra space plus the extra extension (the extension to the extension) that you can see beyond the railings lets you push the dinghy further aft to make moving around much easier.
Extended extended boat deck

Boat deck and pilot house

The stack is complete with all the lights and instruments.   Just the sat domes and a few small instruments still to add.
Stack and fly bridge hard top

Boat deck
The fly bridge is now complete with the seats, settee, and table, and the instruments are all uncovered.  We also discovered the first casualty; the monitor screen is cracked in several places.  Our best guess is that the yard tightened it down too hard.  Since I supplied this particular part, it's my loss.  Had I bought the monitor through Performance Marine and/or PAE, the risk would have been on them.  But I had this monitor sitting around from all my experimenting a year or so ago, and it seemed silly not to use it.  Fortunately, I have a spare so we will just swap it out.
Fly bridge helm

Fly bridge help settee and table make for a great hang-out space, and was a good spot to watch the 4th of July rumpus that you will see shortly.
Fly bridge settee and table

Here are the views from up on the fly bridge.
Fly bridge forward view

Fly bridge aft view

Now for the rumpus.   Dana Point has a tradition of a giant, all day long water war in the harbor on the 4th of July.  People slowly work their way up and down the main fairway, mostly in dinghies and paddle boards, and soak everyone and anyone who they encounter along the way.  Buckets, super-soakers, you name it - it's all fair game.
Water wars at Dana Point on July 4th

Here's an example encounter between two boats.   If only our boat had been bow to the waterway, we could have used the hydraulic anchor wash to hose boats down as they passed by.
Take that!

And that!

Looking down the fairway all you see are boats, and the huge wall of water erupting on the far right.
Boats galore

Meanwhile back home in Gloucester the city fire works display was cancelled because of Hurricane Arthur, parties were cancelled, and everyone stayed in on a rainy day.  Oh well.

5 comments:

  1. Looks like a fun way to spend your days...learning your new boat and systems mixed with a little fun on the water.

    Do you have a dinghy picked out for that top deck?

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  2. Yes, the dinghy is an AB ALX15 which is a 15' RIB, but had an aluminum hull rather than the typical FRP (fiberglass). The aluminum hull shaves off a couple hundred pounds and reduces the required engine size from 60hp to 40hp, which further shaves off weight. I figure the less weight up on the boat deck the better, and I like the lower cost and better economy of a smaller engine. Plus, the AL hull is more robust for beaching on course or rocky shores.

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  3. Awesome! Is the monitor a standard monitor in a weatherproof housing or do you need special monitors?

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  4. Unfortunately, it's a special monitor. It's waterpoof, daylight visible, and dims real dark for night vision. Those features cost a small fortune, but are really important on a boat.

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  5. She’s looking fabulous, Peter. Of course, that will get all torn asunder during the C process. Loved the 4th pictures; reminded me of the pics Rick H posted when Eliana was in the same phase. Would love to come take a look when she’s ready, and, I remain ready if you need anything (like a round of golf, perhaps?)

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