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Looks like the original Aqualift brand muffler was replaced with a Vetus Waterlock brand muffler. Vetus makes very good products so I'd consider that an upgrade.

For cleaning, at different times I've had success using Barkeepers Friend, Simple Green, TSP, FSR, and distilled white vinegar mixed with dish soap (1 teaspoon of white vinegar and 1 teaspoon dish soap per cup of water).

I went with 2 Renogy 175W flexible solar panels on the bimini attached hook and loop/lapel method. Each solar panel is controlled by it's own Victron Energy SmartSolar MPPT 75/15 charge controller. Also added a Victron Energy Smart Battery Sense Temp/Voltage Sensor for the charge controllers.

I came to the same conclusion pbyrne. Be reasonable with your power usage, and the fridge is the power hog. All but two of my light fixtures are LED. Anchor light, nav lights, spreader lights are also LED. Radar, chart plotter are low power.  I do not have an inverter. I've dropped anchor on a Tuesday morning, and picked up the anchor Friday morning and the batteries were 95-100% SOC. The solar panels did all of the charging.

A good charge controller will have settings for the charging sequence you asked about in your original post. I installed Victron Energy MPPT charge controller's with Bluetooth and a Smart Battery Sense. I'm very happy with them. Since installing the panels, I was surprised that even when skies are overcast my panels are pushing quite a few amps into the batteries.

On the 1987 it's in the head locker under the sink. It's the box with the two hoses coming out of the top.

Trevor, peak charging hours for the areas that you'll be sailing in are an important part of the system design. At the state level, Michigan is ~2.5-3.5 hours per day. Californina where I am it's ~5-7 hours per day. Makes a big difference.

Do you have a photo of the other side of your vertical web?

With flats on each end of the valve I would think it's threaded together. Only one way to find out.

Baysider, as Ron said be careful when reinstalling the screws. Last thing you want is a self inflicted leak in your water tank that is not easily repaired. I replaced the screws with SST T-nuts and SST machine screws cut flush with the T-nut. Then for added protection I taped over the T-nuts with 20mil PVC tape.

While you are in there - Look at the pins in the Edson steering idler pulleys to see if they are brass. If they are, they have been known to break so remove and check them closely for wear. If in doubt replace them with SST pins from Edson.

Hi Jim, it's a Jabsco Little Pal Utility Hand Pump (PN 34060-0010). I use it to drain water that leaks from the stuffing box. Now instead of ripping up the aft cabin to dry up any water that leaks from the stuffing box, I pump the pump a few times into a bucket and all is dry.

It's held in place with two brackets mounted to the filter storage bracket I made and mounted under the head sink. I think I got the brackets at a hardware store. I can get better photo's of them if you're interested, just let me know.

Here's 2 photo's of Noah's access hole in the subfloor to get at the drain hose connection under the showerpan. I haven't cut a hole yet. If/when I do, I'm leaning towards cutting the hole in the showerpan. Have to be careful because there's a lot of stuff under there, but think it will give easier access and it's a non-structural surface.

Hi Ron, I'm fortunate in that I don't need to winterize each year. I decided to change strainers for quick and easy visual inspection of flow, debris, and access to clean the basket, unscrewing the cap allows straight thru access to the outside to clear an obstruction, and being moiunted to the bulkhead it doesn't put any side load on the seacock when removing the basket to wash it out.

I added a 3 foot long Shakespeare 5215-AIS for the external antenna on my Vesper XB-8000. Some folks use their masthead VHF with a splitter box mounted near the AIS box. The Vesper Cortex is the new version so may have different requirements. I would call Vesper and ask them before buying anything.

The FTR330/16 Alex put a link to might be too big for the space you have. I installed the Vetus FTR140/16. The flow is the same as the FTR330/16, just a smaller version.

The 2014 dwg is the clearer dwg of the two I have. Here's the 1983 dwg revised in 1996.

Factory section view of the area. It doesn't tell you what it is, but it has a core of something.