More Bits and Pieces

March 13, 2016

We are in the process of installing an SSB (single sideband marine HF radio) which we bought at the Miami boat show.  It is important for longer range communication than the VHF radio is capable of and can be useful for keeping in touch with other cruisers, sending email as well as accessing weather information.  

There is a back story.  Two years ago when it became clear that we were going to go cruising, we decided that an SSB would be an important part of our communications equipment.  Naive as I was, I thought I would need a Ham radio license to operate it so I took a class and obtained my technician's license.  Not exactly my strength, but I managed. Ironically it turned out that I didn't need it to operate the Marine SSB which is a more restrictive radio.  But, it turns out that if we want to use the free email capability, I actually need to get the general license, the next level up. I am not thrilled, but have become resigned to a summer of study.

Jim has checked out the wiring behind the navigation station and is still trying to figure out where the physical components could be placed.  

Looking at the wiring behind the "nav" station

The antenna (one of them) can be attached to our current back stay and through a system of telescoping be run up 33 feet.  The challenge was that something (turned out to be a U bolt used as a cable fastener) was attached to the back stay at about 20 feet and would preclude running the antenna up all the way.  This required (allowed?) Jim to make another run up the mast.  He tied a line to himself which I then used to pull him away from the mast and over to the back stay.  Maybe a 6 foot distance but it required a neighbor to help me pull him over until he could use his legs to hold himself in position, attach a safety line and work on the stay.  He successfully removed the U bolt. Unfortunately I did not get a picture. It was quite the sight.  Installing the actual antenna and all of the SSB components will  have to wait until we are in Marathon or even somewhere in the Bahamas.

We carry 100 gallons of diesel fuel and 215 gallons of water in onboard tanks.  That seems like a lot, but we are still taking extra of both since we are hoping to be in remote anchorages for extended periods of time.  The challenge was where to store them. After pacing the deck and playing "musical jugs" we finally decided to attach them on the port side of the bow. That required attaching a board to the stanchions to which the jugs could be tied.  Aesthetics required that the board be stained or painted. (!) Jim opted for paint.  However, aesthetics seem rather irrelevant because the jugs themselves have either discolored in the sun or were deliberately camouflaged and are really quite ugly.  However, we bought them from a fellow cruiser for a song so can't complain. 

Diesel jugs on the bow

 We are also taking an extra 5 gallon jug of gasoline for the dingy outboard.  That stores easily on the aft deck with the two 7 gallon jugs of water.

We have done our last minute shopping trips both for spare parts and provisions. There are a few items left to remove from the boat and store in our truck.  The truck itself will be taken to storage tomorrow. So, we are as ready as we will ever be!! Now it is just a matter of dealing with whatever comes our way.

Going to miss this view in the mornings from the back of our deck!

High Altitude Climbing

08 February 2016

On our first long cruise last season, within the first few days, our jib roller furling system got hung up with the genoa half out.  We could neither roll it in or out.  Once anchored, Jim used a friend's bosun chair and pulley system to go up to the top of the mast where he was able to release the stuck mechanism.  Apparently that convinced him that a) it was a good idea to have his own system for climbing the mast and b) he rather liked the view from on high.  So this past summer he spent some time at the local climbing gym in Rochester getting equipment and some instruction.   

First attempt, looking rather awkward!

He practiced a few times in our barn and then we headed down to the boat for real world climbing! 

Part way up and looking more coordinated.

The perfect opportunity presented itself. We have a wind speed and direction indicator that has not worked properly since we bought the boat. It tells us the wind speed, but not the direction that the wind is coming from - something that is decidedly helpful when sailing!! The indicator resides on top of the mast, so Jim thought this was a good reason to climb the mast and see if he could fix the problem or at least diagnose it.  So up he went.  It took a little while to organize the climbing harness, the bosun chair, the safety line, the climbing line, the ascenders, the gri gri etc. but up he finally went.  The only issue he complained about was just how hard the spreaders are and just how sensitive his shins are.  Next time he said he was wearing shin guards.

At the top

When he reached the top he discovered that a piece of the indicator had broken off.  It would have been a good idea to remove the whole mechanism or at least take a picture.  The failure to do either may just have been a subconscious rouse to ensure that he would have (get) to go up again!   Unfortunately the weather has not cooperated at all!  It has either been storming with very strong winds, raining or just plain cold.  So he waits.

Dramatic Episode #1

April 21, 2015

This is the beginning of a series of posts.  Call it a dramatic mini series of the unexpected, the scary, the frustrating and maybe even the dangerous that have challenged us on our maiden voyage.

En route to Pelican Bay, somewhere out in the Gulf, we had the jib out to gain help from what little bit of wind was available.  When it came time to roll it in, the roller furling mechanism froze up with the sail part way out.  We could neither roll the sail in nor out.  Eventually Jim had to manually wrap the sail around the furler.  Once we were at anchor in Pelican Bay while we sat aground (another and totally separate and minor problem) Jim contemplated the various possible causes:  broken furler, twisted line in the furling drum, furling line too large??   The next morning after the tide came in and we had moved the boat to deeper water, Linn from Annie C who was now anchored next to us noticed that as Jim tried to move the sail, the top part of the furler did not swivel, something he could easily see from the vantage of his boat.   Having the problem at the top of the mast made for a challenging work area.  Jim wanted to go up the mast so thanks to Linn and his bosun’s chair and 250 feet of new, sturdy, line plus some added line from our supply Jim headed up.  Armed with his hammer, WD40, a few miscellaneous other tools and his camera up he went.  

Jim half way up the mast, bag of tools trailing behind

 Despite the 5 to 1 ratio provided by the pulley system and Linn’s help from the deck, Jim arrived at the top totally winded and said it felt like he had done way too many sets of pull ups!  

Jim working at the top of the mast

Amazingly with a little tapping here and there and a squirt of WD 40 here and there the two parts of the furling mechanism suddenly came unstuck with the result that the sail immediately unfurled and started whipping around the deck with lines a-flailing!!  Linn, Chris and I could barely manage to get them under control without being flung overboard until it dawned on me to activate the furler and reel the line in.  The sail wound around the furler – as it was designed to do: mission accomplished.  Rather pleased Jim lowered himself down, and about 1 ½ feet off the deck the connecting knot between the two lines came undone and he dropped down to the deck.  Rather startling.  It would not have been pretty had it happened when he was higher up!!

Jim said the view from up top was spectacular, particularly because of the variations in water color.  Unfortunately the camera was set to black and white…wouldn’t you know?  So the pictures of the water didn’t turn out, but I loved the one from the top of the mast!!

Jim's view from the top of the mast