Not completely new but certainly different with changes that impact or will impact the galley - by adding propane, Boat handling - with new engine instrument arrangement and new single lever engine control, sailing handling - by leaving space for the future installation of a traveler, and safety - by the addition of hardpoints for harness. The first thing I had to do was add a aluminum hatch in the cockpit floor to get better access to seacocks hose and wiring.

When I purchased the then ANDANTE, I knew the box in the cockpit would need some work and through lack of maintenance some plywood had delaminated and things were not right. The box had engine instruments so situated that the could no be read, sailing instrument housings let into the top of the box that let in water and did not work anyway. In addition the opening top that looked substantial was not and was actually held together by a delaminated piece of plywood. Still I thought it could be saved - so I removed the old instruments from the top and covered the hole with a nice teak step and added a compass guard as a handhold and mount for sailing instruments and a chart plotter. It looked pretty good that way and the instruments were visable and accessable even though I still could not see the engine instruments.

Well, things got worse. I was starting to feel that TATOOSH realized it had a new owner and was impatient with the old problems. Someone stepped on the top of the box and the top gave way - okay now it needs to be replaced becuase it cannot be fixed. Then I looked closer at the box and started to think about replacing the whole thing - sides were not teak as I thought and signed of bad wood was everywhere. Thought about replacing it in teak and even I was suprised at the cost - even then I still would have just a box without content and how can I have instruments that I can see?? More planning and thinking were required - and just how much teak did I want to deal with anyway?

Then the drowning ocurred and that changed everything. Instead of reconditioning and repairing the old engine and rewiring everything - I decided to put in a new engine. Having made that decision others followed apace .... and a new approach to the whole thing developed.

More to be added!