Refit year 14 (2025-26)

Refit year 14 (2025-26)

14th refit and 7th winter in Marina Coruña, Spain

Regina Laska is in the process of complying to the new stringent Code for Sport and Pleasure Craft that is being used commercially. 

In no particular order, please find below the major jobs that have been done to Regina Laska in the winter of 2025-26, in order to keep her in mint condition so we can continue sailing in safety, comfort and style.

 

New Reginasailing Logbook

The new Reginasailing logbooks for 2026 follows the IMO-requirements of APEM (Appraisal, Planning, Executing and Monitoring).

The Reginasailing Logbook is designed in order to integrate with Regina Laska's electronic navigation systems.

Checklists make sure you have run a PredictWind weather routing and observed the PredictWind comfort and safety warnings (Rolling, vert. Acceleration, Slamming).

It checks that the crew has put in Waypoints, set NoGo-Areas and made a weather routing in TimeZero , which are then mirrored to the Furuno Navigation system as well as to TZ iBoat (mobile devices).

A Pre-Departure Checklist and the all important Muster List for organised emergency drills are also part of the Logbook, as well as references to the IMRAY Cruising Almanac and IMRAY Pilot Books for Pilotage are noted.

Execution and monitoring reminds the crew to do daily checks while underway, doing routine inspections, noting down possible defects and repairs.

The Reginasailing Logbook also holds bunkering logs and important tel-No, a safety storage plan and crucial emergency check-lists, e.g. for VHF MayDay calls and MOB using the POB-Net.

These checklists work then hand-in-hand with the new Regina Laska Safety Instruction Manual with pictures, safety instructions and safety videos, which is part of Reginasailing's Safety Management System.

The new Safety Instruction Manual is being sent out to all sailing participants before each sail training leg.

 

Polished and extra hard waxed hull

As in every year, Regina Laska's hull is being polished and waxed. As in last year, Regina Laska got an extra layer of hard wax for extra protection. It worked very well last year!

 

 

 

Re-activating Coppercoat

The hull is being sanded to a minimum to re-activate the Coppercoat. 

 

Volvo Penta Service 

As a preventive measure, the turbo was taken apart again to be inspected. Interesting, how much carbon is built up when not running at high revs. You have the choice: Running high revs (from time to time) to burn the carbon, or cleaning the turbo regularly. It was cleaned last winter, but obviously, it was time again...

 

 

 

 

 

Checking the valves 

I put a big pride in refitting the main engine to run efficiently and reliably. 

This year, also the engine belts were replaced. 

 

 

Refitting Propspeed on Propeller and Bow Thruster

Every two years the Prop-Speed has to be re-done. It's worth it since it is highly effective against fouling. 

Engine Cooling water pressure measured and displayed

Further to the new exhaust gas temp sensor, a new pressure sensor is installed just after the raw water (impeller) pump. By this, I can immediately see the raw water pressure and receive an alarm if the water pressure falls in the raw water system, indicating a blockage in the raw water intake before even the temperature goes up.

 

New handrail on swimming platform  

How often have I not warned against holding onto the foldable ladder that is loose on purpose, so that a MOB can pull down the ladder by means of the short rope trailing on the water surface. Hopefully this will now give guests an alternative hand-rail when climbing up from the dinghy.

 

Fixing up some teak  

Some squeaking of the teak floor grating in the cockpit, the teak step for short helmsmen, the hardtop and the cockpit table needed som love and care and varnish.

 

 

 

The polished hinges for the cockpit table.

Secondary water system rebuilt  

The secondary water system that is lead through the Seagull IV sub-micron filter has been rebuilt with new hoses, valves and the Whale Gusher GP0550 foot pump has also been replaced due to age. 

 

 

Replacing both heaters 

Time flies: the "new" Webasto heaters that were installed 2015 have already become 10 years old while given good service...

Nevertheless, the manufacturer's recommendation is to have them rebuilt exchanging major parts, especially to make sure that corrosion would not lead to burnt gases getting into the cabin. At METS 2025 in Amsterdam it was decided that it was more efficient just replace them.

Regina Laska thus gets two new Webasto heaters including control units. The new Air Top Evo 40 Marine 24 V Diesel with a "UniControl". 

 

New Smoke- and CO Alarms 

Four new S-Sense Smoke Alarms have been installed (one for each cabin). These new alarms are also monitoring CO. Bought via Amazon. 

 

 

New type of gas leaking detector 

The new MCA "Sport and Pleasure Craft Code"  holds a lot of interesting new rules that need to be followed. One is that I need to have a bubble detector for my gas system. It is installed in the gas locker just after the solenoid. 

Mine is mabe by Sweden-based Alde and is a neat litte bubble detector. 

 

 

Holder for new gas bottle 

For the new gas bottle, Marina Coruna has made me a snug holder! 

 

Major Furlex Service 

Four years  after the new standing and running rigging, it was time for a major service of the furling system. 

 

New Softgrip Spinlock Clutch 

For 2026, I will test the new XTX "Constrictor Clutch" by Spinlock. This is stronger than my previous XTS standard clutch and it is also kinder to the line. I will test only one for the outhaul, which has been "eating" the line due to high tension.

 

The new softgrip XTX clutch is said to solve this issue.

 

 

New connectors for Preventer 

One of my sailing colleagues experienced an accidental jibe whereby the bowline broke.

  

I took this as a warning, not to connect my preventer with a bowline know any longer like I used to do.

From now on, I will have spliced eyes in both Dyneema ends and connect them with a soft-shackle type "non-swival connector" called 10-6NS connector by Equiplite. See how to set it up here (but on the video I still use bowline).

 

Replacing the Jackstays 

After 4 years in the sun, it's time to change the Wichard Jackstays. 

 

More Solar Panels 

The two Solara solar panels were so efficient that I added two more or the S525M32 Mobile fold-away solar panels to be placed on deck when anchored. An extra outlet was made next to the mast foot. 

They are very small and thin (685 x 628 x 25 mm) and fit down below when not in use.  Unfolded, however, they fit nicely on forward deck, increasing their surface to 1775 x 1020 x 16 mm.

Icom HM195 replacing HM-229B 

The new Icom VHF IC-M605EURO is said to only work with  HM-229B control units. These, however, don't have a DSC Distress button, which was very disappointing. It bases on a misunderstanding that ICOM interpreted the European rules so that the external control units HM-229B for their flag-ship VHF  do not come with a DSC-button! 

After a lot of research and testing by Nauelec, my favourite marine electric and electronic consultant, I have now found out that the HM195 control units actually do work also for the ICOM IC-M605EURO so I now have a DSC function also under the hardtop and at the pedestal. 

 

 

Additional Satellite Heading Compass 

Further to the Furuno SC-33 Satellite Compass,  Nauelec has added a second Satellite heading sensor, namely the new Furuno SCX-20. If all goes to plan, this second satellite compass will be connected to the Raymarine Autopilot, which is on a completely independent and redundant NMEA2000 network. 

See here how to choose the alternative heading sensor. It's a good feeling now to have a stable, non magnetic, extremely fast and steady redundant heading sensor for my primary autopilot.

 

 

 

New FA-70 AIS 

The old AIS Class B has been replaced by the much quicker FA-70 Class B+ AIS. This is the latest and most advanced AIS technology for Class B, also called SOTDMA (Self-Organized Time Division Multiple Access). It offers improved range by transmitting with 5 W, has a faster reporting rates (speed-dependent), and guaranteed transmission slots, providing 5x more range and better performance in busy areas than older CSTDMA systems. 

With the old Class B transponder it could take up to 6 minutes until I got a "slot" for transmission since I would only get the "left-overs" from the big boys. Now I am part of the self-organized gang and transmit more often and stronger.

 

 

New Navigation PC 

The Mac Mini running Windows10 on BootCamp from 2013 has been replaced by a fan-less 12-24V rugged industry-rated hard-core PC by Tega: the TBOX-2D28. See data sheet here. The Intel 12th Gen. Core i5-1235U processor is fast enough to run Time Zero Professional with two screens and yet, it's rather power conservative. 

Very practical that it doesn't need the inverter to run and has no fan. 

It was specified and purchased through Nauelec.

 

Second Navigation Screen 

TimeZero Professional can handle up to 3 screens so that you can have the radar picture with chart underlay on one screen and the chart display on a second screen. 

My second screen is a 10" screen by Beetronics, which is also an industry rated screen which can be dimmed down to 2% for night sailing. The 10HD7M is placed so it is visible from the navistation and then can be tilted towards the galley or the salon. 

Here are the first pictures after installation.

 

 

Predict Wind Data Hub 

The Predict Wind Data Hub is collecting all data from the NMEA2000 Network and reads speed, wind angle, if I am motoring etc. All this is then fed into the Predict Wind software so that a very personal Polar Diagram is being produced that is exactly showing my way of sailing under the corresponding wind and wave conditions. 

By doing so, it can better predict how I sail and where I will be and by this give me an even better weather routing ensuring that I continue to sail under the best possible weather conditions. 

 

 

Completely new Power System 

The entire power system that was installed in 2013 and then upgraded to Lithium in 2018 has been completely replaced by Victron, including new batteries, charger, control and monitoring system. The entire power system was designed together with and with great support from Nauelec.

Click here for a larger PDF of the new Reginasailing Power System.

The entire system is controlled by the Victron Cerbo GX which is the "brain" in the system. It is then being monitored and controlled by the Victron GX Touch 70 (flush mounted) as well as the Furuno TZ16F MFD Plotter.   

 

Battery capacity has been doubled for the same foot-print from 310Ah to 600Ah/26V, now giving some 15,000 kWh of power. The battery bank consists of two redundant 300Ah New Generation NG-Lithium Batteries. 

The two batteries are managed by an external BMS (Battery Monitoring System) Lynx Smart BMS NG that is rated for 1,000A. 

What I kept was the two 12V battery systems, consisting of two independent AGM batteries, one 120Ah engine and generator start battery and one 120Ah emergency lighting, basic communication and navigation as well as emergency start of the engine(s). 

Both batteries are always kept full can be connected in parallel should one of the batteries malfunction. 

The following items run of the 12V most basic and robust battery system:

  • Basic navigation: speed, log, depth and wind
  • Fixed VHF
  • Iridium Satphone
  • Red/white emergency lighting throughout the boat
  • Gas Alarm 

It is crucial that these 12V batteries can always be charged:

  • Through the standard 12V 130A Volvo Alternator on the main engine 

The 24V domestic battery bank has also a variety of redundant power sources: 

  • Through shore 230V shore power via the Whisperpower WP-GI, 3.5 kW 1:1 isolation transformer that I kept (in order to avoid galvanic corrosion). 

The 24V charging from these sources are done in the follwoing way:

  • Shore power: Through a Victron Quattro 24/5000, giving 120A of 24V charging (in addition to 5kW 230V through an inverter). 

  • Diesel Generator: Charging speed is also doubled, so that the full capacity of the 6kW Onan Generator can be used for charging the batteries alone (the Genset is maximised to 5kW to avoid overloading). First the above  Victron Quattro 24/500 gives 120A plus additionally, and redundantly another 80A by a Victron Skylla i 24/80 Charger. This results in a total of 200A at 26V ≈ 5 kW, so that the full 5kW can be used for charging. However, when the 2kW Watermaker or 2kW hot water boiler is engaged, charging is reduced correspondingly, always using the full 5kW of the 6kW Generator and minimising generator running. Watermaker can also be run through the 5kW inverter, e.g. while motoring, when water is heated through the engine cooling system, anyway. 

  • The 175A/24V Prestolite High Output Alternator is regulated by a Zeus alternator regulator, which is controllable by the mobile phone via the ARCO Zeus App and bluetooth. It it set so the Alternator does not give much power at low revs, say under 1,500 rpm, since this is when the mechanical strain on the belt is at max and this is also when you need full engine power during harbour manoeuvres. Charging should primarily be done while motoring at standard cruising speed. The alternator is also temperature controlled and set not to overload the system. the Zeus works perfectly in the Victron Environment. 

  • The 4 Solar panels (always two in series to give 24V charging) are controlled in two redundant charging circuits, each of them controlled by its own SmartSolar MPPT 75/10 and  MPPT 75/20 respectively.

The old Power system by Whisperpower (2022) and the SuperB LiPO4 batteries (2018) are for safe if someone wants a well working system for a decent price. Contact me in that case. 

New Mattress from Gisatex 

After 13 years of sleeping 6 months per year in my berth, it's time to renew the mattress. I am really excited to test the Premium Mattress made to fit by Gisatex. 

A Step-File was first created by the Nauelec to electronically measure the hull shape and the size for the custom made mattress.

 

And you bet, it fitted perfectly! 

Now it's just a question of testing and receiving a pleasant sleep!

 

 

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