May 19, 2016

I worked on multiple projects this week as well as talked with vendors about sails, series drogue, autopilot and deck awning. Still wrestling with the HIN issue. Right now the difficulty is the first three letters that are supposed to be the manufacturers identification code. If Circadian were a US boat, I could just look it up online. But she's English, and the manufacturer is long gone. I've contacted a friend who has a Salar 40 as well as the Salar Owners Group to see if anyone has an answer, but haven't gotten any responses yet. I'm about 90% finished with installing a small panel to protect the electrics next to the engine room vent in the side of the cockpit, but fear that in the process I've mucked up the cable connectors to the autopilot, which now is not working. I'll be trouble-shooting that soon. I'm about half way along in repairing the shelves in the aft head locker.  They'll be needed when I have crew along.  I also patched a whole in my old surfboard/kayak so I can donate it to the outrigger club raffle and washed some of the grunge off the boat. Still feel like I'm climbing a sand dune, but I am making progress.

Weather has been May gray, with a couple of hours of sun starting late in the afternoon.

March 24, 2016

Big news this week:  The final connector arrived and I completed the single sideband installation and tested the radio.  It works!!  That was a big relief because both the radio and the automatic antenna tuner had been bought used.  And the counterpoise appears to be adequate, although it will take more testing to be sure.  After programming in 48 frequencies, I was able to receive a weather forecast from the Coast Guard station at Pt. Reyes, a distance of about 500 miles, and heard the weatherfax signal from Hawaii.  My voice transmission was heard 'load and clear' by another boat about 100 yards down the dock. And, I finally managed to navigate the maze of the FCC website so I could get the required radio station license, which includes a new international MMSI number for my Personal Locater Beacon and AIS.  Cost $215.  The good part was I received an electronic version of the license that gave me my call sign via email within 12 hours.  Pretty good for government!
On the less glamorous side, I built and added a small shelf under the sink where I had installed the foot pump last week.  It's a nice little improvement that increases storage and makes things a bit neater.
Spring has definitely arrived in Ventura, with wildflowers in full bloom and strong afternoon winds.

November 20, 2014

I finished restoring and upgrading the first windvane for the Hydrovane and it looks good enough to make it worthwhile to do the other two smaller ones.  The reflective flag and stripe work just as I had anticipated.  Prior to installing the panels for finishing the alcove shelf in the saloon, I sealed the back sides with Thompson's WaterSeal, installed a 12 volt outlet and drilled a hole in the side panel to allow household power cords to pass through the panel to the outlet in the adjacent locker.  I'm almost done with the trim for the alcove and look forward to getting it all back together next week.  In addition, I made several more pieces of trim to finish up some panel seams and hide the two controllers for the LED strip lights.  While waiting for paint and varnish to dry, I installed a new mount for the stern anchor, which heretofore had simply sat on the deck leaning against and tied to a stanchion.  It looked hokey and was a pain to deploy and stow.  Much better now.
This time of year the flowers are scarce, but the beautiful sunrises and sunsets are plentiful!