It was a great feeling to finally depart, with a fresh breeze and high expectations about the voyage ahead. But as night approached and we turned on our radar as usual, a problem became evident. The radar didn't work. I know one should never assume that a piece of marine electronics will work when you switch it on (just because it did the last time you used it), but I neglected to check it prior to departure and was now wondering what the hell the problem was! So I began to think back to see what had changed since we pulled into La Paz months ago. Did I disturb a loose wire, or was it a problem with the chart plotter software update done the week prior??
Then it came to me. I had hired a stainless steel fabricator named Sergio to modify my push pit railings, and his workers were climbing in the compartments the radar cable occupied. So, during my midnight watch, I began to trace the wires and quickly identified the problem! The radar cable was severely pinched where it exits the radar mast. Then I recalled seeing the SS radar tower tilting back off the transom ~25 degrees as the workers installed the new rails, held by a rope tied to the port wheel. The workers had apparently leaned the radar mast back so far they unknowingly severed half the wires in the radar cable! The pictures tell the story.
(They also bent my outboard motor lift, but that's another story).
The impact of this sloppy workmanship will cost us six days of delay, and $800 in moorage, parts and shipping. So, we're now stuck in San Jose Del Cabo (which is okay, but not as nice as La Paz IMHO) waiting for a replacement cable which will take 6 days to arrive here in Mexico, with a little luck.
HUGE kudos to Rich Boren at Cruiser RO Water in California! I purchased a refrigeration system from Rich at the Seattle Boat show years' ago, and he's been helping me with almost everything technical since! This time, Rich is helping by receiving and expediting the parts into Mexico for me. Rich always answers his phone and is a wealth of marine information. Do business with Rich - you won't be disappointed!!
So, the three amigos are chilling out waiting for parts in paradise. But we would rather be sailing!