Refit considerations & priorities

Last night we did a little informal research (Youtube videos) into composting toilets which got me thinking about what our priorities will/should be when we start the refit of s/v Natalie B. The admiral is very particular about certain comforts so there are a few things not commonly found on an Alberg 30 that I need to consider.

(in no particular order)
- non-messy/non-smelly head (toilet)
- Heater
- shower with hot water
- stove/oven
- storage for blankets/cozy clothing
- dodger & bimini (preferably with enclosure)

Without the boat available to me at the moment to measure and mock up, I am simply relying on my imagination and what I recall from other A30 refits I've seen online. Here are my thoughts about the what, where & how for the items in the list above:

- Head (toilet) - Natures Head or Airhead composting toilet - existing head area

- Heater - Dickenson Newport - propane - port side bulkhead

- Hot water - not sure yet, but could it be as simple as this small on demand propane powered unit? For $150 each, two units could be installed, one for the shower and one for the galley sink.

- Shower - see hot water above - propane - curtain  enclosure with added sump box in the walk through head/hanging locker area (what's the proper name for that area? just head?)

- Stove/oven - not sure yet, probably Dickenson (or similar) two or three burner stove with oven on a gimbal - propane - starboard, directly forward of the existing galley sink. The existing stove would be removed to enlarge the existing sink. The Starboard settee would become shorter, but by cutting a hole in the bulkhead, "foot space" could be extended into the hanging locker keeping the berth a similar length as the existing berth.

- Storage for Blankets etc. - without an inboard engine or a holding tank, I imagine there will be much more space for storage then the boat was originally designed. - I'll keep you posted on this.

- Dodger & Bimini - our boat includes frames for a dodger and a bimini - I'll need to evaluate the placement/effectiveness and investigate the enclosure option once I have the boat on site.


Those are my ideas, for now. I'll keep you posted as the research continues. I'd also love to hear your input, suggestions, experience and advise.

Until next time .... fair winds & following seas.

s/v Natalie B

In January we paid a deposit on a 1971 Alberg 30 sailboat, designed by Carl Alberg, built by Whitby Boat Works in Ontario.

She is currently in southern Pennsylvania waiting for us to pick her up in May. She was rescued from a boatyard crusher by a nice man who couldn't bare to see a classic sailboat destroyed.

The interior is in very rough shape and will need a great deal of elbow and wallet grease. The engine was removed at some point and not re-installed. At this point I don't plan to replace the inboard. Instead, I'll convert the lazarette into a motor well for an outboard motor as done by James Baldwin of AtomVoyages.com on an Alberg 30 and a few other similarly designed boats. 

Although I have not had the chance to personally inspect the boat, my sources tell me that the hull and deck are in good shape, the sails are crisp and the rigging all seems to be accounted for. She seems like the perfect project boat for me to work on for the next 5+ years and someday serve as our cruising getaway.

Perdida means Lost. I'm not convinced that is a great name for a boat. I'd include it on the list of "bad things to name your boat", along with Titanic, Minnow, Lusitania and Unsinkable. Why tempt Neptune like that. Once we have completed the restoration, she will be renamed Natalie B in a proper renaming ceremony.