The last two months have been full of activity and progress! Having Escargot on the water for nearly six weeks was an invaluable experience, allowing us to truly get a feel for handling our catamaran, especially with tricky docking maneuvers. This time on the water wasn’t just for sailing practice; we also continued to tackle our extensive project list.

Now, Escargot is safely tucked away in the shipyard warehouse for the winter. This provides us with the perfect opportunity to prepare her for a spring launch and the beginning of our Mediterranean adventures.

Forward Helm Navigation Station

While on the water, we completed the installation of the navigation computer at the forward helm. We gave new life to a 19" 4:3 ratio LCD panel from the early 2000s, which fits perfectly in the cockpit without obstructing legacy instruments. The brains of the operation is a Samsung Chromebox, which we’ve unlocked and configured with Ubuntu Linux.

For navigation, we’re using the excellent open-source chart plotter, OpenCPN. While we used OpenSeaMap for our initial tests, we will be purchasing and installing official charts from o-charts before we begin our long-distance cruising. For compliance with maritime safety regulations, we had paper charts of the Alicante bay, which was our sea trial area.

AIS Transponder for Enhanced Safety

Safety at sea is paramount, so we installed and configured an AMEC Camino-108 AIS Transponder. This crucial piece of equipment not only allows us to see surrounding marine traffic by receiving their AIS data but also transmits Escargot’s position, heading, and speed to other vessels. This is a vital tool for collision avoidance, especially in busy shipping lanes, in low visibility or at night.

The setup process involves programming the unit with the boat’s details, including its official registration information.

New Custom Stairs for the Port Hull

Until now, a simple stool was our only means of entering the port side hull. To improve safety and convenience, a proper staircase was a high-priority project. We designed the steps, and the shipyard’s carpenter expertly cut them from a large plank of marine plywood using a software controlled laser cutter. The process generated a significant amount of smoke, a known byproduct of laser-cutting the waterproof glues in marine-grade plywood, but the result was a set of perfectly cut pieces that were easy to assemble.

Prepping the Flybridge Helm for a Modern Makeover

The flybridge helm was cluttered with dated instruments, including large control panels for the two diesel engines. Our vision is a clean, minimalist helm featuring only the new RayMarine Axiom+ 7", the autopilot controller, a compass, and the motor throttles.

To achieve this, we’ve begun by removing all the old instruments. The next step will be to fill and seal the numerous holes to ensure the console is completely watertight before installing the new equipment.

Final Tweaks to the Hydraulic Steering

Our hydraulic specialist discovered that stubborn air bubbles were trapped in the steering circuits. To resolve this, he installed two new manual bypass valves. These will allow us to run the system in a “purge mode” to effectively bleed any trapped air. We’re optimistic that this is the final modification needed for our rebuilt hydraulic steering system.

Researching the Perfect Paint Job

After a successful sea trial, we’ve decided it’s time to give Escargot a finish that matches her renewed mechanicals. We’re looking for a paint that can be applied with a roller, which makes future touch-ups much simpler than with a sprayed finish. One-component paints are known to be easier to work with for DIYers as they don’t require precise mixing.

Our research has led us to the International brand, and we are currently awaiting quotes for the following products:

• Sealer & Primer: International One Up
• Top Coat: International Toplac Plus
• Non-Slip Deck Paint: International Interdeck