Storage Mode

Before returning to NZ, Ian and I had set up a checklist of things to do before Iron Lady goes on the hard at Circa. This will make commissioning and getting underway in January a much simpler affair and we will be assured that all of the systems are in top condition and ready to go.

The whole process took Ian around 5 days and this included some time with Circa’s people on upgrades and warranty work. Had Deb and I been there as well, we could have completed it all in two days without difficulty. Frankly, the engine raw water impeller and all of the fuel filters could have gone another year, but I consider it cheap insurance to change them out anyway.

Here is our list:

Main Engine – Oil and Filter Change
– Fuel Filter Changes
– Replace raw water impeller
– Check Coolant Chemistry – Replace zincs

Genset – Oil and Filter Change
– Fuel Filter Changes
– Replace Raw Water Impeller

Engineroom – Close exhaust valves
– Clean filter baskets
– Clean bilge and wipe down surfaces

Forepeak – Remove twists from anchor chain
– Organize
– Clean bilge and wipe down surfaces

Watermaker – Change all Filters
– Treat membranes and store per manual

Fuel System – Change all Filters
– Empty wing tanks
– Add Biobor to mid tank – front already treated

Potable Water – Add chlorox to tanks and let stand for 24 hours
– Drain tanks – leave 1000 L inforward tank

Interior – Install all seat covers
– Clean and Vacuum
– Clean up heads

Galley – Empty refer of all perishables, clean, turn off and leave open
– Drain galley potable water tank
– Dispose of all perishables – basement and galley

Electrical – Connect shorepower
– Leave 240 volt inverters on in Charge mode
– Turn off 120 volt inverter
– Aft panel – all off except refer, freezers and bilge pumps
– Forward panel – 240 Volt – all off excpet fore and aft AC
– Forward panel – 120 Volt – all off
– Forward panel – 24 volt – all off

Black Water – Empty holding tanks

AC units – Salon – both off
– Forward and Aft – set in dehumidifcation mode

Dink – Clean out dinghy
– Battery off
– Service motor – raw water impeller, gear case
– Flush and run out of fuel
– 3 HP Yamaha – drain and run out fuel, flush
– Both motors – check/replace plugs

Sonars – Service scannning sonar per manual
– Clean other sonar heads

Exterior – Pressure wash exterior
– Wash, dry and store side awnings and flybridge cushions
– Remove lexan panels on flybridge and store
– Polish stainless
– Service winches

Reorder All filters used, parts, oil, and coolant

A few notes. The Freezers and Air Conditioning can be run out of the water on the hard as Iron Lady uses hull cooling for these systems. The forward water tank is used for the salon AC systems and the refrigerator, freezers and fore and aft AC systems have a dedicated cooling tank built in to the hull. No salt water is required to run any of these systems – either inside or outside the boat. There is sufficient conduction from the hull to the surrounding air to run the systems without overheating.

The 230 volt inverters are left in Charge mode. In this mode, if shore power is available, it is passed thru to run the 230 volt systems and the chargers built in to the inverters keep the batteries up. If shore power is lost, the inverters do not go in to invert mode and this prevents them from running the batteries flat in the event of a power outage.

Next post, I will begin to summarize the work we will be doing between now and January.