Camelot is a 1978 Ericson Independence 31'. There were only about 75 of these manufactured and ours is hull number 34. When the wind isn't right, she is driven by a Yanmar 2QM15 2-cylinder 15-hp diesel which is more than adequate to push her 12,000 lb. hull to maximum cruising speed. She draws 5 ft. of water and has 4500 lbs. of ballast in the keel. The 35-gallon fuel capacity provides a cruising range of 500 miles.
Inside the 6' 1" headroom cabin is a complete galley including a gimbaled stove and oven fueled with compressed natural gas (CNG). We carry 40 gallons of fresh water and have a similar holding capacity for the head and shower, which are one in the same on this vessel. The forward V-berth sleeps two comfortably and there are provisions to sleep two more in the main cabin.
Instrumentation includes a new Depth Sounder, new Knot Meter, VHF radio, Stereo system, and we have GPS navigation. The next job is to install the relative wind direction and speed instrumentation and to refurbish the autopilot. My son Brian KA9SRK and I tackled this project late in 2003. Although she spent a great summer on Lake Michigan including a trip over to St. Joe and back, we will be spending the winter season finishing off the interior. This rewarding project is kind of like restoring an abused 55 Chevy or a Collins 75A-4 and bringing it back to life.