Lots of Progress

Jul 4th, 2021 James The Build

We just had a huge drop of new photos from the yard and the progress on Scout has been incredible! There are too many photos to include in this post, but here are a few of the highlights. Every system seems to be coming along quickly and we have fun every week trying to work out what is what.

First up… Scout has an engine!

Mounted down in an insulated box below the companionway is Scout’s Volvo Penta D2-75 diesel engine. It’ll be possible to access the engine from both sides, above, and behind: here’s a video from a similar Exploration 45, showing how.

You can also see the two alternators mounted on the front of the engine. These allow us to charge the batteries whenever there is insufficient power from the solar panels.

Mounted on the starboard side of the boat, we now also have our water heater:

This is 40 litres in size, and should be enough for a shower or two after jumping in the sea somewhere tropical. It heats electrically or using the heat from the engine.

Looking forward from the starboard side of the engine bay, you can see there is a lot of work going on:

The white and red unit is the starter battery for the engine. Below that, on each side of the engine, the battery bays will be filled with Mastervolt 12v lithium batteries. You can see the first one (with the blue top) already in place.

Lithium is a relatively new technology for marine power, but we’re taking the plunge. Although they are dauntingly expensive up front, they last longer and have better charging and discharging characteristics than traditional lead-acid or AGM batteries. We will also be installing an induction stove in the galley instead of a propane hob, so we need the extra oomph.

That said, we will have some AGM batteries, mounted at the front of the boat, close to the power-hungry bowthruster. Talking of which, in the far distance of the photo above, you can glimpse the forward cabin where it’s mounted.

And we now have (most) of our bed!

As you can see, there’s lots of storage space in both the drawers under the bed, and additional bins under the mattress. Below those is access to the hull, where you can see a glimpse of the grey tube from the central heating system that keeps the bedroom toasty. And under the panel at the top of the photo, by the front bulkhead, you can just see the top of the bowthruster itself.

There is still quite a lot of carpentry to do before this becomes our master suite. But at least one of the hanging locker closets has been installed:

To the right of the photo, the plumbing you can see will be part of the en-suite toilet and shower room.

Down at the other end of the boat, the steering system is going in. This is behind the aft bulkhead, accessed through a watertight hatch in the tech room:

Mounted on the top of this rudder pin will be the steering system and autopilot. Underneath it is a Webasto Thermopro 90, which provides diesel heating for the cabin even if the main engine is not running.

It’s still a bit of a teaser, but things are happening up top too:

The decking has been put down along the sides. And we think the winches and clutches for the main lines have also been bolted on, hidden under the cardboard boxes for protection during construction.

We’re almost able to imagine what it might be like to walk around on Scout. And at this rate, we’ll have some more photos to share very soon!

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