{"id":48192,"date":"2022-03-08T15:34:07","date_gmt":"2022-03-08T20:34:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/?p=48192"},"modified":"2023-05-06T18:18:26","modified_gmt":"2023-05-06T22:18:26","slug":"sailing-totem-the-40-year-refit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/people\/sailing-totem-the-40-year-refit\/","title":{"rendered":"Sailing Totem: The 40-Year Refit"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\"Shrimp <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n
\n It\u2019s a shrimping town: Shrimp boats launch from the Cabrales Boatyard, where we\u2019re tackling Totem<\/i>\u2019s 40-year refit.<\/span>\n Behan Gifford<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t <\/figcaption>\n <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n

We\u2019re calling our extended refit \u201cthe 40-year refit,\u201d as our Stevens 47, Totem<\/em>, <\/em>was built in 1982. There was a brief time last year when the effort was optimistically referred to as the 39-year refit. Ha! Projects grew as we saw an opportunity to make lasting improvements. Some are essential, but many are quality-of-life additions we\u2019ll appreciate for years to come.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019ve started cataloging the 40-year refit in four sections: repowering; improvements to the hull & deck<\/a>; cabin updates and interior improvement<\/a>; and systems updates<\/a>. In May 2021 (it\u2019s really been that long), I made a list of refit projects<\/a> we planned to tackle. There has been great progress on some, little on others, and a lot of additional effort we didn\u2019t even imagine. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s a rundown of some of the biggest and most essential projects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Repowering with Beta<\/strong>. A 70 hp (turbo) Beta<\/a> will replace Totem<\/em>\u2019s 75-hp Yanmar 4JH3-TE. The new engine has a long way to travel, starting with fabrication at Kubota in Japan, then getting marinized at Beta in the United Kingdom, then arriving at the US distributor in North Carolina for customization, after which it\u2019s shipped to us in Arizona and we bring it into Mexico. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\"boat <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n
\n Guiding the engine out of Totem<\/i>.<\/span>\n Behan Gifford<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t <\/figcaption>\n <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n
\n\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\"Yanmar <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n
\n Our Yanmar 4JH3-TE is out!<\/span>\n Behan Gifford<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t <\/figcaption>\n <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n
\n\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\"engine <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n
\n Jamie gazes into a very empty engine compartment. We removed our 75-hp Yanmar 4JH3-TE and will replace it with a 70 hp (turbo) Beta.<\/span>\n Behan Gifford<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t <\/figcaption>\n <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n

Primed for hull paint<\/strong>. Last week, Totem <\/em>was moved into the paint shed at Cabrales Boatyard<\/a>. AlexSeal\u2019s matterhorn white is on order from the San Diego Marine Exchange. I couldn\u2019t get my family to go along with an international orange boot stripe, but we all like the deep shade of green that\u2019s planned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\"\" <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n
\n We moved Totem<\/i> into the paint shed, which affords better protection during painting.<\/span>\n Behan Gifford<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t <\/figcaption>\n <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n
\n\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\"GN <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n
\n The gap on the right is perfectly sized for the GN Espace, our new propane stove.<\/span>\n Behan Gifford<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t <\/figcaption>\n <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n

Cooking with GN Espace<\/strong>. Taunting me from the porch of our temporary land digs, the OceanChef propane cooker (that\u2019s UK English for stove) ticked every box for me. I\u2019ll share more after it\u2019s installed; feast your eyes here for now<\/a>. We\u2019re excited to put it to use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Replacing the chainplate<\/strong>. We\u2019re replacing Totem<\/em>\u2019s headstay, the only chainplate we didn\u2019t replace in 2008. The machine shop at Cabrales did fine work with a piece of 316 stainless steel. Jamie is scheming about how to adapt it for a sprit so we can fly a cruising Code Zero. We\u2019re trying to avoid project creep, but wouldn\u2019t that be cool, to have the ability to fly a Code Zero?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\"interior <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n
\n Jamie is scheming how to adapt Totem<\/i>\u2019s layout for a sprit so we can fly a cruising Code Zero. Wouldn\u2019t that be cool?<\/span>\n Behan Gifford<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t <\/figcaption>\n <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n

Adding swim steps<\/strong>. Jamie made the first cuts into Totem<\/em>\u2019s reverse transom in May. It\u2019s all done now except for the priming and painting. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\"Jorge <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n
\n Jorge is a skilled carpenter who has been a great work partner to Jamie.<\/span>\n Behan Gifford<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t <\/figcaption>\n <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n

Updating cabins<\/strong>. We thought we\u2019d make a few changes to freshen things up. Ha, a few changes! Most of Totem<\/em>\u2019s vertical and horizontal surfaces, from bulkheads to lockers, are being rebuilt. This project is radical and slightly overwhelming: interior design is not our strong suit. (Advice is welcome.) The traditionalists will bemoan the loss of all that lovely teak finish below, but we think it\u2019s going to be great.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thru-hulls have moved. Gray-water tanks have been created. Cabin sole is being replaced in some areas, and there has been a lot of bulkhead reinforcing because the low humidity here sucks out moisture and exposes hidden rot. There\u2019s a long \u201cbonus project\u201d list.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\"main <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n
\n It\u2019s a little hectic belowdecks in the main cabin.<\/span>\n Behan Gifford<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t <\/figcaption>\n <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n

Some big decisions are still pending, such as selections for a new battery bank. We know we want to migrate from AGMs to lithium. Weighing the pros and cons of different setups takes focused time we haven\u2019t been able to dedicate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our son, Niall, who is our happiness engineer, has finished his visit with us and is back on his college campus now, eyeing graduation in May 2022, and possibly not disappointed that our delays improve his chances of joining us for extended passagemaking.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In the midst of our massive 40-year refit of our Stevens 47, Totem<\/i>, we\u2019re still dreaming: Do we want to make the changes needed to fly a Code Zero?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":48201,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"BS_author_type":"BS_author_is_guest","BS_guest_author_name":"Behan Gifford","BS_guest_author_url":"","hydra_display_date":"","hydra_display_updated":false,"arc_story_id":"","arc_website_url":"","arc_subtype":"","arc_exclude_from_feeds":false,"sponsored":false,"sponsored_label":"Sponsored Content","sponsored_display_label":false,"post_right_rail":true,"post_right_rail_ad_1":true,"post_right_rail_ad_2":true,"post_right_rail_ad_3":false,"post_right_rail_ad_4":false,"post_right_rail_recirc":true,"fixed_anchor_ad":true,"post_top_ad":true,"post_off_ramp":true,"post_taboola":false,"labels":false,"apple_news_api_created_at":"","apple_news_api_id":"","apple_news_api_modified_at":"","apple_news_api_revision":"","apple_news_api_share_url":"","apple_news_cover_media_provider":"image","apple_news_coverimage":0,"apple_news_coverimage_caption":"","apple_news_cover_video_id":0,"apple_news_cover_video_url":"","apple_news_cover_embedwebvideo_url":"","apple_news_is_hidden":"","apple_news_is_paid":"","apple_news_is_preview":"","apple_news_is_sponsored":"","apple_news_maturity_rating":"","apple_news_metadata":"\"\"","apple_news_pullquote":"","apple_news_pullquote_position":"","apple_news_slug":"","apple_news_sections":[],"apple_news_suppress_video_url":false,"apple_news_use_image_component":false,"footnotes":"","ad_settings_ads_on_this_page":true,"ad_settings_automatic_ad_injection_into_the_content":true,"ad_targeting":"","sponsored_image":false,"sponsored_url":"","social_share":true},"categories":[165],"tags":[183,197,1903,583,293,182],"class_list":["post-48192","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-people","tag-how-to","tag-people","tag-print-2022-march","tag-refit","tag-refits","tag-sailing-totem"],"acf":[],"apple_news_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48192","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=48192"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48192\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/48201"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=48192"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=48192"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=48192"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}