It was almost 7 years ago when I first stepped inside the LTD and noticed that her interior had been a little "let go". Passing through the companionway I immediately was visually assaulted by a Hawaiian floral print. It covered the 2 backrests on either side and also laid over the original material that covered the three berths in the salon. The original, nylon/polyester tweed (ouch), material was left untouched in the V-berth. How could that be comfortable to someone in shorts? I can take the burnt orange and avocado kitchen colors indicative of that era, but the textiles/fabrics simply must go.

I wanted the new seating to be inconspicuous. So, from a fabric store in NYC, I chose a neutral-colored duck cloth. I hired a local person in East Hampton to put it all together for me. I gave her everything that needed to be covered; the 5 cushions, two backrests and the little square from the V-berth. She returned it in two weeks with nylon zippers to boot. (Instead of the original metal zippers-that rust). $250. 5 or 6 years ago. And sure, I started out with Scotch Guarding them every season, but with all the accidents and the fading from the sun, I don't need to do that anymore. I just throw them in the wash now and then.

If I had to do it again, I would choose the same material, in the same color, and wash it twice to shrink it before covering anything. I would also replace the original foam to a thick, high-density type, which is a little more cushy.

Curtains came with the boat and left with my purchase of it. Even as a new "live aboard", curtains are only good for keeping in the mold. For blocking the sun, I have solar panels to put up. For privacy, I say; "If someone is going through all that trouble to peep you, invite them over".

Under the companionway lived an original Oday switch panel and an on/off switch for the battery. A Sea Ranger 3000 VHF radio was hanging from a metal bracket mount above the icebox and a moldy AM/FM radio, with push button tuning, stuck out of a cut-out near the middle of the lower two steps leading into the cabin.

I left the old switch panel and added a Perko 2 battery bank switch. I also added a Sea Dog 12-volt switch panel to accommodate three new lights that I to installed; the anchor, deck and masthead lights. I'm assuming that the 25 foot boats were sized intentionally to skirt the Coast Guard's requirements for vessels 26 feet and larger. So, since mast lights were not included, I had to do it.

Don Vandeveer and his crane held up the mast, while I climbed up its arm toting a spool of Ancor Fourplex wire whose end was taped around a smooth iron/steel thing that I found lying around the boat yard. The weight was small yet heavy enough for the wire to drop down uninhibitedly. Once the wire was through everything else was simple, just hooking up lights with positive and negative wires.

The Sea Dog switch panel isn't as rugged as one would want it to be. Nonetheless the lighted switches are a great help. If the lights on the mast do not light, the circuit does not complete and it's corresponding switch does not light up. It also has a fused lighter socket. I've grown more dependent on that outlet over the years. The battery tester tests 2 batteries and reflects the overall quality of the unit.

I have 3 group 27 batteries. $48.00 bought me a Blue Sea Systems 3 battery bank voltage monitor. It was easy to install and does the trick.

Above the Sea Dog switch panel is a Rule, 3-way, panel switch for the bilge. This switch turns on a light if the pumps are activated from their float switches. I also wired it to light the little red light that says "Discharge" in the panel, located on the original inboard engine control panel in the cockpit. Given the problems that I have experienced with the bilge pump installation as described on page one, I'm happy to report that it is all working well.

If I were to install bilge pumps on an Oday 25 again, I would get 2 Rule 800s and 2 float switches. The Attwood I bought first, and although it has a built-in float switch, it doesn't fit as well and isn't as effective as the Rule.

I put the Sea Ranger VHF where the moldy, old AM/FM was. A, once new, Sony XR-C610 graces the old home of the VHF. Mounted in a West Marine Under-Dash Installation Housing, this AM/FM/ cassette/10 CD changer with remote control sounds great through Blaupunkt CB 4500, 2-way speakers. Back home, under the wineglasses, I would occasionally put a 13" color TV/VCR on the boat to watch videos. I hooked the TV/VCR up to the Sony as the audio immensely enhances the picture. For the cockpit, I pull up a Radio Shack outdoor speaker from the lazarette. As far away from the autopilot as I can. (The magnet in the speaker doesn't agree with the autopilot). The weather-resistant speaker faces downwards. This causes the sound to resonate within the boxy part of the cockpit and creates an excellent sub woofer effect.

The CD changer is mounted in the open area above the counter on the aft- starboard side. With a little bending of some L brackets, that space was a perfect fit for it. Just for safety's sake, I put a boxed dehumidifier bag on top of the changer and behind the radio. I figured that since they are shipped with silicone bags to absorb moisture, this might be a good idea.

An overhead teak wineglass rack sits in front of the CD Changer. It was available from West Marine and I had to take one row out for it to work.

The galley aboard the LTD simply consists of a Coleman 2-burner propane stove. It is simple to use and I do so often. Folded up, it is rather compact and easy to stow.

The quarter berth, on the aft-port side, is long enough to hang my fishing rod and stow clean clothes in 4 stacked plastic boxes. This is also where I hang my fold-up teak table, halogen spotlight and keep the 20-inch fold-up bicycle while underway. Underneath the cushion is where I keep my Origo alcohol heater, spare alcohol, Waring 12-volt blender, and backup propane canisters.

The stowage under all the berths is large enough for many things. In addition to spare anchors and extra boat parts, under the cushions, the port side contains electrical items such as fans, battery chargers, and power tools. The starboard side is my pantry. Besides cans and boxes of food, I keep all my cooking utensils and paper products here. Everything that is stowed in these areas is in a plastic container to keep it out of any water that might find its way onto the boat.