The rebuilding of the Dimitris

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As the Dimitris will be used for liveaboard rather than for vacation trips, some things are rather unpractical in the current configuration.

For that reason, we have chosen to have some of the cabins rebuilt before we depart from Greece. The Greeks are known as excellent carpenters.

As the rebuild includes moving a watertight bulkhead 60cm, and rearranging some internal walls, we have contracted with an experienced ships designer/constructor/rebuilder who btw. also was the original maintainer of the vessel for the previous owner.

The following is approximately the layout of the Dimitris before the rebuild:

The following shows how the arrangement is after the rebuild (approx.):

There will be made an additional temporary, but supposedly comfortable, bunk in the aft, port side cabin, which cant be seen on the picture. It will be available for one of the crew members.

The rebuild has been planned after many considerations regarding the ships construction. The strength of the vessel is the same after the rebuild as before, and as we keep the water tight bulkhead in the front, its still safe in case of a breach of the front part of the full in case of collision etc.

The front 'captains' cabin will loose its toilet and shower, but the 2 bunks will remain. It will later on be used for storage and optionally guest space.

The two main cabins in the forward section, will be collapsed into one, and the area taken up by the captains toilet/shower area, will be added to the room, to make a big master bedroom.

The master bedroom will also contain a table, and a washer and a dryer in addition to drawers and shelves for storage.

One toilet will be ripped totally down, except for the outer walls. It will be used as a wardrobe.

The other toilet will be heavily extended in both directions, and an electric toilet with full size bowl will be installed. In addition a seperate shower cabin is installed. The floor may be lowered somewhat to provide better headroom.

The aft port side cabin, will be changed from a double bed to a single bed, and a small table and shelfs added. For the sailing to Denmark, there will be installed a temporary, but supposedly comfortable, bunk.

July 12 2006.

Please from today follow the rebuild on the diary page here.

July 5 2006.

Today more news has come from the contractors.

• The mast seat is in good condition and dont need to be replaced. It has been reconditioned and will last atleast 10-15 years more.
• All wires from seacocks, mast seat etc. to anodes has been in poor or very poor condition and has been completely replaced.
• The structure that the floor is to be standing on is ready (the floor has been lowered).
• The new water tanks are being welded from scratch. The contractor doing the work seemingly have had a break down on their welding equipment - which is not good - but they should be up and running again tomorrow. I hope this wont affect our schedule, but but..
• All new electrical wires are being installed these days for 2 circuits, 220V and 24V.
• All other work that can be done is done now (for example roof fittings etc.) to try to keep up with schedule waiting for the water tanks being ready for installation.

June 30 2006.

Today Ive received detailed info about changes and what they are looking at.

As all the interiour incl. walls, floors and roofing, has been removed in front of the mast, a thorough inspection of seacocks, tubings, water tanks, mast foot, electric wires, anode grounds and the hull itself could be made.

• All seacocks are being reconditioned and their anode grounding wires replaced.
• All tubings are being replaced with new odorfree versions.
• All electric wires are being replaced. Two circuits of electric wires will be implemented, 24V and 220V.
• The hull/resin is in excellent condition seen from the inside.
• All forward water tanks are being thrown out and completely new in stainless 2mm steel plates, are being designed to fit the hull shape and installed. The amount of water will be in the range of 700l in 2 forward tanks and 1 aft tank.
• The mast is not standing directly on the keel as first expected. It is instead standing on a 50x80cm steel plate which is fitted to the hull sides and bulkheads. The condition of the plate is at this moment being investigated using ultrasound as it looks suspicious. If it needs replacement, the mast will be raised approx 70cm to make fitting of a new stainless stell plate possible. If its strength has not been compromised, the small findings will just be welded.
• Most floor plates will be replaced as the old ones are deemed to be in poor condition. Actually will the whole floor in the master cabin be lowered somewhat  as approx 70cm space has been found unused underneath the old floor. The majority of the space will be used by the fresh water tanks that then will be under the water line.
• A mascarator pump with a buildin stainless steel blade, will be installed for the gray/black water tank and level meters also installed. One way valves are also installed.
• Old carpets will be replaced with new ones.
• Winch, blocks and a brake will be installed for reefing of the main sail from the cockpit.

They are working around the clock to keep up with schedule.

 

The following pictures shows the progress of the rebuild... warning... scary ;)

Dimitris original layout	Dimitris new layout	Front section cabin dismantling	Front section cabins being dismantled	Wall between front section cabins removed.
Water tanks in front section cabins being removed	Old bulkhead to captains toilet being removed.	Old bulkhead to captains toilet removed.	Old bulkhead to captains toilet removed.	View from port mastercabin toilet to front cabin