Cruising is... Nov 14, '09-Feb 14,'10, Part V
Cruising is... Nov 14, '09-Feb 14,'10, Part V
We left you with the helm installations complete, and all the boat and computer electronics working. Better still, we found an eager buyer for our useless-to-us AIS system, with both parties happy with the end result. Of interest for later exploration was that buyer's lead to virtually indestructible computers at very inexpensive prices. The hard part done, I set to the non-critical tasks... We'd noted that the alternator on Perky didn't seem to be putting out its full potential on a few prior motoring sessions. As we'd had our generators fully checked out (see prior log of us in Charleston) I laid that to the regulator, so started researching where to find replacements, even though I already had one, as well as two backup alternators with new regulators on them. (See above about redundancy...) That search led to a source that had the appropriate regulator, but also an inexpensive high-output alternator with the same frame as what we had now. Discussions with the vendor concluded that we should stick with the type of regulator we had, rather than the internal regulator they initially recommended, due to the heat involved in the typical engine room. So, I ordered one, with two spare regulators, making, now, three complete spare alternators, each with a spare regulator. That, weighing in at 15 pounds, certainly contributed to the overweight situation on our return :{/) However, while simple enough, just replacing the current with the new alternator was not enough for me. I'd noted a visually apparent misalignment in the pulley on the alternator as compared to the water pump and the crankshaft pulley sometime along the last few hundred hours of engine operation, and knew that I'd have to address it soon. Having been through this before, I knew it was possible to manhandle the mild steel brackets which mounted the alternator, using a 15" crescent wrench, albeit a contortionist and strong-man's job. Fortunately, I have sufficient of both attributes, and, using a laser level my friend Erkki gave me, I was, after about a dozen or so mount-dismount/bend/re-bend cycles, able to perfectly align the pulleys. That should enhance my already satisfactory belt life (see prior posts during our time in the Chesapeake for perspective!), even though, the brackets being mild steel, I'm sure I'll have to do that again at some time in the future. Along the way, while we were in Marsh Harbour, our 15HP Johnson's pull-starter rewind spring broke, again. As I'd kludged up a repair for it on the prior two times it broke, I had no confidence that a repeat would not follow another repair, so I ordered a new one as part of our 125 pounds of stuff. That went on with only a minumum of aggravation, other than that in the course of wrestling the coils around (rewinding it), I broke off a critical part of the throttle system! That provoked a brief outburst of profanity, which, due to the wind level at the time, fortunately, assailed nobody's ears other than Lydia's, below. As always, we always being protected, the local Johnson dealer had a replacement for the obscure part for our dinosaur in stock, and it was quickly replaced (less than an hour of manhandling flywheels and electronics stuff in the way of its removal). It's back to its superb performance, now. My final chores were to make some changes to my computer system. As part of what I'd carried home and back, I'd added two USB ports and three serial ports to the computer. Additionally, one of my backup hard drives (we have 5 external HDs - 1T, 500, 400, 300 and 220G, used to back up, or store movies, music, pictures and the like) refused to be recognized by the computer. So, my project was to see if I could revive that drive, and change a couple of USB-Serial converters to straight serial connections, as they're more efficient, and would free up additional USB ports. Accordingly, I carefully ordered 3 new cables. YIKES!!! Wrong ones! All my excavation of old wires, enlarging the holes they'd go through (serial cables have large rectangular ends on them), VERY carefully, with a RotoZip tool, with the remaining wires still in the holes, proved unneeded, as the new cables I'd bought wouldn't work. Not a big deal, as the cables are dirt cheap, but that conversion project will have to wait until our next visitor can bring the right ones along. (They're not cheap when you buy them in the third world; the Internet is your friend, but only if you can ship them to a State-side address!) I just hate doing all that contortion and unneeded (at the time, given the failure of my understanding of what's on both ends of the cable - it should have been male-female, rather than female-female as I ordered) enlargement. And, at the end of this particular story, the drive was fine; there's some sort of anomaly which requires it to be powered up and USB-connected to the computer when it starts, not later, for it to be recognized. So, having proven that point, I moved all the data, which was all old backup material, onto the terabyte drive and finished the installation of all the computer-related stuff. We've even watched several movies, now, as everything works as is should, once again. So, that's what I did on my summer vacation, fellow students :{)) There's some more to tell, but it's recent history, so I'll save it for some other installment, after it's finished (the new issues/stuff are/is not yet resolved). In the meantime, in the next couple of days, we'll have finished departure preparations. Assuming the current weather forecast holds, we'll be off to Georgetown, either by going around Eleuthera, or through two channels (requiring daytime passage, a downside due to scheduling for daylight arrival) and under Eleuthera, on the way, departing Tuesday, weather permitting. Departure prep - tomorrow's chores - includes unrigging of the protective stuff we did for the gales (top gust 56 knots) we had over the weekend and changing the oil in the Honda portable generator. We'll also stow all that we've not had totally secured while we've been at anchor, including some stuff in the engine room having been taken down in troubleshooting some electrical/electronic stuff, the conclusion of which will have to wait for another log, as it's not happened yet. The final items for tomorrow will be to change out the primary Racor fuel filter, one that finally clogged after 3 years and over 1000 hours of operation. That it took that long is proof-positive that our fuel polishing system has paid for itself. The other part of that fuel system installation, done before we left over 3 years ago, the dual-Racor system, allowed us to merely flip a couple of levers, engaging the second filter, allowing us to make that filter change at our leisure rather than under way. Life is good... After we've done the laundry and final minimal provisioning at the marvelous grocery store here, we'll get the outboard and fuel cans out of the dinghy, the dinghy raised and lashed, and enjoy a good night's sleep. First thing in the morning, we'll check in one last time with our weather guru, Chris Parker, confirming what we expect to be a green-light for departure, and take on fuel and water on the way out. Whether we go out the top of Man-O-War or jig and jog our way down the inside, avoiding all the sand bars and coral heads, to Little Harbour's exit, we'll have left the Marsh Harbour area before noon. With any luck, we'll be in Georgetown for dinner on Wednesday :{)) So, for now, that's more than enough, I'm sure. Stay Tuned :{)) L8R Skip, Lydia and Portia, the seagoing cat Morgan 461 #2 SV Flying Pig KI4MPC See our galleries at www.justpickone.org/skip/gallery ! Follow us at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TheFlyingPigLog and/or http://groups.google.com/group/flyingpiglog "You are never given a wish without also being given the power to make it come true. You may have to work for it however." (and) "There is no such thing as a problem without a gift for you in its hand (Richard Bach) Morgan 461 #2 SV Flying Pig KI4MPC See our galleries at www.justpickone.org/skip/gallery ! Follow us at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TheFlyingPigLog and/or http://groups.google.com/group/flyingpiglog "You are never given a wish without also being given the power to make it come true. You may have to work for it however." (and) "There is no such thing as a problem without a gift for you in its hand (Richard Bach) |
Cruising is... Nov 14, '09-Feb 14,'10, Part V
The final items for tomorrow will be to change out the primary Racor fuel filter, one that finally clogged after 3 years and over 1000 hours of operation. That it took that long is proof-positive that our fuel polishing system has paid for itself. The other part of that fuel system installation, done before we left over 3 years ago, the dual-Racor system, allowed us to merely flip a couple of levers, engaging the second filter, allowing us to make that filter change at our leisure rather than under way. Life is good... Skip: Now I know why you ar efixing things all the time.. Your Racor story is evidence of a total lack of ___________. Why on earth would you wait 3 years to change a filter? I guess youre more willing to HAVE to to ......... merely flip a couple of levers, engaging the second filter, allowing us to make that filter change at our leisure rather than under way........ But what happens if your underway some dark and stormy night when your motor takes a **** and youre scrambling to merely flip a switch as you are now beam to a Red Clowd sea? Pennigton Rexroth |
Cruising is... Nov 14, '09-Feb 14,'10, Part V
"Bob" wrote in message ... The final items for tomorrow will be to change out the primary Racor fuel filter, one that finally clogged after 3 years and over 1000 hours of operation. That it took that long is proof-positive that our fuel polishing system has paid for itself. The other part of that fuel system installation, done before we left over 3 years ago, the dual-Racor system, allowed us to merely flip a couple of levers, engaging the second filter, allowing us to make that filter change at our leisure rather than under way. Life is good... Skip: Now I know why you ar efixing things all the time.. Your Racor story is evidence of a total lack of ___________. Why on earth would you wait 3 years to change a filter? I guess youre more willing to HAVE to to ........ merely flip a couple of levers, engaging the second filter, allowing us to make that filter change at our leisure rather than under way........ But what happens if your underway some dark and stormy night when your motor takes a **** and youre scrambling to merely flip a switch as you are now beam to a Red Clowd sea? Pennigton Rexroth I think skip should nip into his dinghy and check to see if his waterline is still visible. Dennis. |
Cruising is... Nov 14, '09-Feb 14,'10, Part V
"Dennis Pogson" wrote in message
... "Bob" wrote in message ... Skip: Now I know why you ar efixing things all the time.. Your Racor story is evidence of a total lack of ___________. Why on earth would you wait 3 years to change a filter? I guess youre more willing to HAVE to to ........ merely flip a couple of levers, engaging the second filter, allowing us to make that filter change at our leisure rather than under way........ But what happens if your underway some dark and stormy night when your motor takes a **** and youre scrambling to merely flip a switch as you are now beam to a Red Clowd sea? Pennigton Rexroth I think skip should nip into his dinghy and check to see if his waterline is still visible. Dennis. Heh. Unfortunately, it is. There's one small section of the grass which grew at the waterline in Lake Worth, just prior to our crossing, that I didn't get to while we were there, Lydia blocking it with the dink while she was scrubbing the topsides. As to Boob, if I've got polished fuel, I don't need to change filters just for the sake of changing them. As to rocking and rolling changes, that's what most folks have to go through. I just reach up and move the levers (I don't have one of the fancy manifolds that Racor sells as a dual unit) and hit the starter button. Then, on a nice peaceful day, at my leisure, I changed it out. A non-event. However, stay tuned for the passage report, where I discovered something else fuel related... L8R Skip, a bit sore from my unaccustomed (never did it before) YogaLates this morning, but starting to get back into physical shape with that every other morning and volleyball every afternoon -- Morgan 461 #2 SV Flying Pig KI4MPC See our galleries at www.justpickone.org/skip/gallery ! Follow us at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TheFlyingPigLog and/or http://groups.google.com/group/flyingpiglog "You are never given a wish without also being given the power to make it come true. You may have to work for it however." (and) "There is no such thing as a problem without a gift for you in its hand (Richard Bach) |
Cruising is... Nov 14, '09-Feb 14,'10, Part V
On Wed, 24 Feb 2010 13:01:18 -0500, "Flying Pig"
wrote: Skip, a bit sore from my unaccustomed (never did it before) YogaLates this morning, but starting to get back into physical shape with that every other morning and volleyball every afternoon Good grief, you must be in George Town. Did you find a good WiFi conection? We did not. |
Cruising is... Nov 14, '09-Feb 14,'10, Part V
"Wayne.B" wrote in message
... On Wed, 24 Feb 2010 13:01:18 -0500, "Flying Pig" wrote: Skip, a bit sore from my unaccustomed (never did it before) YogaLates this morning, but starting to get back into physical shape with that every other morning and volleyball every afternoon Good grief, you must be in George Town. Did you find a good WiFi conection? We did not. "Good" is relative... I have three open sites to choose from where we are, in a west wind, about 25' off Chat'n'Chill's sign. When I arrived in the GT area I visited each beach. Not less than 20, and usually more than 30 visible. If I were closer to town, there's a forest of open sites - but we're not leaving the beach :{)) Off Monument, there were a half-dozen open usable sites (not counting the many repeaters at Palm Bay Beach Club, which has gone subscription). The usual pipeline problems exist, and Harbour and Gaviotta are both horrible this year, with Gaviotta being down more than it's up, and Harbour usually taking a very long time to even paint its sign-in page. Both have many complaints about how slow they are most of the time. My connections vary in strength, and throughput varies between nothing and extremely good - I had two conversations (well, three, as I called back when I'd found some info they'd requested) on Vonage today, e.g., but, other times, packets arrive either not at all or singly. Not the base station's problem, it's Batelco's skinny pipe with all the businesses and homes, complicated by all the cruisers muddying the water with all the channels busy immediately nearby. The bigger problem is the businesses, as, generally speaking, between 8AM and 8PM, the throughput is very spotty, but outside those times, it's more often than not just great. I usually use my time with Chris Parker to pull all the mail I've given up on the previous night, and refresh all my weather and other pages I keep open all the time. Gotta love that gear! Did another round of my seminar yesterday, about 60 showed up, and one happened to bring a POE, Bullet and stick for everyone to see. As usual, I've been beseiged by questions, in general, and about our rig, as well, which is what prompted my doing the seminar again. If I get enough hands, I'll post it here. Wireless Communication for Cruisers covered all the two-way comms used by most cruisers - VHF, HF, Cellular, Satellite telephone and WiFi. Interesting developments in the cellular area WRT internet connections, too... L8R Skip -- Morgan 461 #2 SV Flying Pig KI4MPC See our galleries at www.justpickone.org/skip/gallery ! Follow us at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TheFlyingPigLog and/or http://groups.google.com/group/flyingpiglog "You are never given a wish without also being given the power to make it come true. You may have to work for it however." (and) "There is no such thing as a problem without a gift for you in its hand (Richard Bach) |
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