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120 miles including an all-night passage last weekend, for us. A great start to the new season.

Holger,
The vented loop (anti-siphon valve) is required when the toilet is at or below the waterline.  If the pump is left in the wrong position after using the head, water can siphon from the sea into the toilet bowl eventually overflowing and flooding, possibly sinking the boat.  Either operator error or a failure in the pump would have to to happen but the vented loop eliminates the chance of drawing sea water into the toilet bowl unless it is deliberately pumped in with the toilet pump.  Many boats don't have a vented loop but it is wise to have one installed, especially where the toilet is located on our C34s. 
Here's a link that may explain it better: https://marinesan.com/y-valves-vented-loops-check-valves-etc/vented-loop-q-a/

I can vouch for this. It happened to us recently. Came down below to find water slopping around the cabin sole. I'd left the toilet inlet seacock open. Toilet bowl was full of seawater and overflowing.

"BOAT"

Break Out Another Thousand.

This is my setup.

Good tip Ron. I'll do that.

I should have mentioned, batteries had been topped off with distilled water before all these readings. No bulges in batteries but I think the time has come to replace. I have yet to spend a night at anchor so I think I will probably go with the cheaper option. When I turn on the charger it shows 8 or 9 amps going into the battery bank. This continues to drop off steadily to about 1A after several hours.

I have the same problem. Last weekend, after a 9 hour charge, my four T105s were down to 50% after 4ah of draw. I did a hydrometer test on two of the batteries which revealed some totally discharged cells in both of them. I didn't bother checking the other two. They all have to be replaced.

Letting the water fall below the top of the plates damages them and reduces capacity.

This got me thinking. What happens to wet cell batteries if you're on the same tack for a couple of days? Unless you go against the normal advice surely a good part of the plates will be uncovered when the boat is heeling??

Hi Jim, I've already sketched out the outline on marine ply. Ready to take the boards home next weekend. If 3 days is all it takes I'm going to get it done asap. My distant memories of car spraying in cold weather reminds  me of how better the finish is when done in the warm.

Oh my! They look wonderful.  What varnish did you use Noah?

My washboards look absolutely terrible. I was going to sand and varnish them but I think they may be teak. If so, then I understand that teak doesn't take varnish well because its oily. I'd really like to do something to improve their look.

Any suggestions from all you master craftsmen?

To my mind having any sort of massive thing unsecured at sea is unthinkable.

What size Rocna are you going for Holger? I'm thinking 15kg.

Hi all,

I need to take out the rear water tank temporarily to do some work in that area. I see that it's currently secured using soldered metal bands - a la crate packing.

What's the best alternative to these for re-securing the tank??

That's interesting Holger. Recently, on an ARC Atlantic podcast, I asked whether it's best to stow the anchor, to avoid just that thing happening. Their answer was that it's not. But a 15-20kg mass bouncing around on the bow seems to be a recipe for trouble.

Wow! The Adriatic in winter! Kudos to you Holger. Is there anything you're planning change after that experience?