Here is a new gizmo that I purchased off of ebay. I already have a similar mechanism made by Autohelm but I think it's on its last legs, plus it's undersized.

A a single hander and this also goes for any short handed vessel, the loss of an autopilot would be a disaster. One must be able to move about the boat to do a number of tasks, including going to the bathroom. Christa now has three forms of autopilot. The number one mechanism is the Monitor Self Steering gear which is what will be used 99% of the time while under sail. No two ways about it, besides the sails and the hull itself, their is no more valuable piece of gear than the self steering gear. The second two are the autohelm and now the Simrad TP32 "tillerpilot." They really are simple but have sophisticated software and electronics. They mount 90 degrees to the tiller, have a internal fluxgate compass and have a powerful push pull arm. You set it to a specific heading on the compass and it simple turns the boat by pulling or pushing the tiller.

As mentioned before the old Autohelm is undersized for Christa's gross tonnage, which means that it works fine while motoring, but under sail it becomes stressed due to the press of the canvas and weather helm. But the new Simrad is rated at 187 pounds of thrust, now I really don't know what that means but it sure sounds impressive.

In fact since I have been back in Newport I have been spending money like a drunken sailor. I purchased a new main halyard and will try and find some time to splice in up this weekend. I bought my replacement bulbs for my Alpenglow lights and swung by Old Port Marine and picked up a new spare started for the Yanmar.

I am still working on a plan for my battery system. But I believe I will be purchasing a "Battery Isolator" and two new batteries. But maybe I will expand on that plan a little later.

Capt Chris

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Tomorrow morning I will set out in my rental car for the long drive back up to the Northeast. Need to be to work on Monday. But today, I was able to re-mount the Monitor Self Steering vane and the block and tackle fairleads to the tiller. I also mounted the padeye's that gripe down the support arms for the radar tower and wind generator tower. I greased three of the old seacocks and re inserted. And lastly I have battened Christa down in case a hurricane strikes while I am gone.

This concludes the first phase, the pre-stage phase of the big trip. I am most pleased with how things have gone thus far. I traveled about 510 nautical miles, not including the travel lift portion! When I return on October 11th, I should be in a position to pick up my new mattress, pop the new zinc on the back end of the prop, grease two more seacocks and re-launch. Hopefully I'll be back in the water on October 12th and in Norfolk by October 15th. Wow, can't believe how lucky I am.

While I'm away from Christa I will be sure to continue to post to the blog about whatever may be occuring in the kids life. Thanks for checking in everyone! Aloha.

Capt Chris

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Here is the new Boomkin. I spent the bulk of the day with David the yard carpenter and an excellent shipwright. I learned alot just observing how he does things. So the boomkins are in place and bedded down with caulkng and 6 carriage bolts. Also a douglas fir block was screwed in to support the radar mast base. The wind generator side will need a metal bracket fabricated to securely attach to the boomkin. I also had new whisker stays made, which attach to the boomkin and angle downward for attachment to the hull near the waterline. I had a rigger in June tell me the old whisker stays were in fine shape. I have no reason not to believe him, but had a change of heart and had them replaced anyway. This means that all of Christa's standing rigging is new. So I was able to put two coats of epoxy that soaked into the wood and two coats of Cetol. Needless to say the project has turned out very nice.

Just in case people are interested in cost I'll provide some figures. I know I am also interested in what things are costing others, it really helps in planning! So to haul, powerwash, block, store for 15 days and re-launch it cost $504 or about $3.50 per foot. I also have to pay $100 for a black blanket that sits under the boat to catch the paint chips and such. Labor rates are pretty reasonable as far as boating goes. David the carpenter costs $65 per hour, reasonable no doubt considering Dave's skill set. I've been in more than a few yards and am most pleased with Chesapeake Marine Railway. Good people, professional, I don't feel like I'm nickel and dimed and they know what they are doing. Christa's length over all is 39 feet, but 32 feet on deck. The yard is charging me as a 32 footer. First time that has ever happened.

Today I ordered a custom made mattress for the port V-bunk up forward where I sleep. I've lived aboard Christa for 9 years now and have been sleeping on foam. When I test drove the mattress at the shop I had to have it. I've wanted a real mattress for awhile and it is a very good time to do it. Ready for the price? $1800 plus tax. Ouch!

While I head back up to Woods Hole to take care of my retirement the yard will replace the seacock for the head in-take, compound and wax the hull and put new anti-fouling on the bottom. Things have gone very smoothly since Wedsday which will allow me to splash Christa within a day or two upon return. Of course this means I'll start my trip to the Bananna Republics that much sooner. Wahoo!!!!!!!

Capt Chris

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Here is a picture of the old Boomkin

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Hello All. I left Reedville VA after spending a quiet night at anchor bound for Deltaville Virginia which is my spot for some respite and repairs. The wind has swung around to the southwest for the first time in at least two weeks. Even though we observed the autumnal equinox on the 21st were in a summertime like weather pattern down here in the Chesapeake. So I had some head winds to contend with for a few hours which slowed my progress. But not to worry as all is well. I moored port side too Chesapeake Bay Marine Railway, which is the shipyard I'm hauled at.

So yesterday morning Christa was hauled out and hung from the 50 Ton travel lift. With trepidation I stood as Christa was raised. It's always a curiosity to see how well the bottom paint has held up and even more importantly if any of the dreaded blisters have reared up. She had not been raised for three years and knowing this would be the case I gave the bottom job in California extra attention. So a good lesson learned, it paid off. Christa's bottom is in near perfect shape which means less expense and hassle during this yard period and for the first time ever I will pay the yard to do the bottom job since it will be less labor intensive.

After lunch Christa was blocked up and my work began. Lots going on, time is money as the saying goes. I contracted with the yard to mill new Douglas Fir wooden boomkin pieces to replace my existing one's. This is a big job and I estimate it will take the next four days of my life to complete. The boomkin is two pieces of wood that extend off the stern that provide the anchor point for the backstay, which prevents the mast from falling forward. Attached to the boomkin is my self steering vane, radar and wind generator mast, the block and tackle that attaches the tiller to the self steering and maybe other stuff, I don't know. It's a Clampitt type situation back their. But I spent the whole afternoon removing all the equipment and the old boomkins. The yard carpenter took measurements and milled two beautiful pieces of wood. I was able to put two coats of epoxy penetrant on the new wood in the yard shop.

Today, I should be able to put a coat of Cetol on the new boomkins and fit them in place. A rigger will swinging by to take measurements to replace the babystays, which attach to the boomkin and provide the counter pressure to the upward pull of the backstay. Confused? Don't worry about it! Then a metal fabricater will swing by to figure out a new mounting method for the base of the radar, wind generator
and the racor fuel filter in the engine room.

So, gottta go time is money!

Capt Chris

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