Electronic Charting combined with an AIS receiver seems to offer a considerable improvement in vessel safety. Most particularly so when operating in the vicinity of large commercial vessels that are required by law to carry AIS transponders.

Saorsa II is now equipped with a recieve only AIS system combined with an Electronic Chart system. The components that I have assembled in order to compleat the system include:

• an IBM ThinkPad T43 laptop computer running Windows XP;
• BoatCruiser 2.0 marine navigation software produced by NavSim of St. John's, Newfoundland;
• electronic charts from C-Map Inc.;
• an SR161 AIS receiver from Milltech Marine; and
• a model 5400-XP VHF antenna from Shakespeare Electronic Products.

These components were assembled as per manufacturers' instructions and connected to Saorsa II' s existing GPS system.

The entire system functions remarkably well and gives a very accurate picture of Saorsa II's current situation relative to own position and commercial shipping in the vicinity.

The companionway washboards on board Saorsa II are badly deteriorated and in need of replacement.

The original arrangement was of two boards of equal height. We have replaced that with three boards of unequal heights.

In order to ensure safe and good tasting drinking water, Saorsa II is now equipped with a Seagull IV water filter from General Ecology. This filter is Independently Certified to meet EPA Microbiological Purification Standards against cysts, bacteria, and virus. It also excels at chemical and aesthetic contaminant removal.

Safe secure storage of distress flares that provides ready access when needed is important. We have constructed and fit a ready use rack for flares. It is located in the aft cabin immediately forward of the companionway steps.