Fitting the new Class B AIS unit has taken up much of my time this last week or so. I had to get the antenna mast constructed, test fit it, and have lugs welded in the right place then make a base out of King Starboard. But that was only the start! I had to order anew VHF/AIS Shakespeare antenna, get the fittings to mount it to the pole and assemble it all. The AIS comes with its own GPS but I had to make a mount for that too, fit a deck fitting that allows the molded plug to pass through it and then both GPS and VHF cables through the boat and then through another deck fitting to the companionway top where I have mounted the AIS unit (on a plinth that I had to also make). My guess is that I have at least 20 hours in this one installation.

But now the AIS is up and running I can concentrate on my final wiring tasks such as hooking up the radar and a lot of the NEMA data connections. There are still some other projects to do including fitting the second anchor in chocks at the bow, fitting final turning blocks for the Aries windvane lines and a few interior tasks but, all in all, I think I will be ready as planned. But this, of course, depends on no last minute problems!

Jeremy