| We bought Oasis from the
original owners in early 1995. They had plans of long distance cruising
and ordered the voyager specifications (stronger rig, with larger and added
stays and higher stanchions) and a layout designed for a couple to live
aboard with plenty of stowage. Unfortunately, due to ill health, she was
used only lightly, cruising East Coast USA and the Bahamas and spending
much time in the marina. She had been continuously maintained and meticulously
cared for.
What made us buy her was
her seaworthy build and a very strong hull, masses of storage spaces and
lockers, a strong rig and a delight to the eyes below decks, with superior
joinery in solid teak, not forgetting the wonderfully comfortable mid-ship
Pullman berth. |
From February through May
1995 we undertook a lot of changes before our planned Atlantic Crossing,
totalling some $30,000 ex labour:
All standing rigging
replaced
3 x 8D Prevailers for the
house system totalling 660Ahrs and a new gel 85Ahr starting battery
An Ample Power “Eliminator”
box for looking after the start battery charging which effectively means
you can forget looking after it as it always takes some of the charge given
to the house system
A Freedom 25 Inverter Charger
providing high charging at dock and supplying large 110V loads from the
house battery bank.
A Link 2000 Monitor to control
the Freedom 25 charging and inverter functions and keep track of the battery
condition
A Profurl NC42 system to
roller furl the Jib
New sails consisting of
a High cut Yankee, Storm Staysail and Storm tri sail
New 100A Hr alternator for
the engine
Monitor Wind Vane self steering
Plastimo 6 man liferaft.
Furuno 207 Weatherfax
Anderson 46 ST winches
2nd manual bilge pump
|
| We left South Carolina for
the UK via Bermuda and the Azores in May 95. We experienced winds from
flat calm to 35 knots.In all sea and wind conditions Oasis gave a solid
and safe feeling to the crew. On arrival in the UK, VAT was paid. |
From 1995 to 1998 Oasis
went through very thorough work to her hull and topsides:
The hull was sandblasted
to remove all the old gel coat
Then the hull was filled
and faired and 6 coats of West system epoxy with barrier coat additive
was applied
Following that a further
two coats of Awlgrip epoxy base before 5 coats of Awlgrip goldstar anti
foul
The topsides were filled
and faired where necessary and 5 coats of Awlgrip oyster white paint was
applied
The mast was unstepped and
sprayed with aluminium primer and off white topcoat
New folding mast steps,
tracks for spinnaker pole hardware and tri sail track were added
|
In addition the following
equipment was added:
A complete B&G
Hydra system was added to the original Datamarine instruments
To the nav area, a new switch
panel and nav light selector panel
A complete new 12volt
keel cooled Frigoboat twin fridge/freezer units
A Kubota 11hp diesel was
fitted under the cockpit floor and coupled to a Balmar 225Ahr Alternator
and a 20 Gal/hr RO watermaker HP Pump
An “Aquamaker” 20 Imp Gal/hr
Water maker
A Wallas diesel heater,
with heated air outlets in saloon and by the main berth
Custom made mattress by
Victorinox
Custom support bars on coachroof
for dinghy and fuel can storage.
Twin Spinnaker Poles
Both the 100 and 225Ahr
Alternators have their own regulators which are interchangeable. A Third
Ample power regulator is wired as a reserve should either fail
A custom made SS arch was
made for the cockpit coamings and originally housed two Aerogen 4 wind
generators. As of Summer 2002 it supports the KISS high output wind generator
and the radar with self levelling device. It also provides support for
both awnings
Custom interior joinery
of bookshelves
Cockpit cushions
Horizon 1500 electric windlass
with foredeck and cockpit controls.
New insulated backstay
Larger Dynaplate ground
system
Extra bilge pumps:1 standard
12v and 1 HD 12V
Bilge pump; High water;propane;smoke;CO2
and intruder alarms (Intruder alarm sets off flashing strobe on mast head
flashing spreader lights interior strobe and 120db siren!)
Hart Systems Tank Tender
6 Hella Turbo Fans for ventilation
Standard CD/ am/fm radio
and Bose speakers
|
| In 1998 we sailed Oasis
to Spain, where we much enjoyed the summer and winter breaks on board.
In August 2000 we moved on board permanently, having sold our house, and
set sail for the Caribbean. |
During this time, we have
continued to fine tune the boat for this type of cruising:
In her 2000 haulout, we
installed Echo Pilot forward looking sonar and two Siemens solar panels.
In her 2001 haulout, we
installed the KISS wind generator and had new forward and aft awnings made. |
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