Thursday 8 February 2018

Motivated by yearning to escape the top end of Australia for nearly anyplace else, have continued plodding away at non-optimal boat systems. Radar dismounted from mast and taken to Yacht Shop. Probably fried, but used unit may be available. Checking to see how much owner wants for it. Furler motor removed. Apparently no one works on small electric motors in Darwin as not worth their time. New motor costs $700. Crikey! You'd think it would be worth say half a boat unit to have a go.

Saturday

Attenborough's Blue Planet II is finally on the schedule for next Saturday after being promised for months. Australia has produced some excellent movies, but the TV sucks, so high percentage of TV viewing is on his various wildlife shows because it's interesting, the videography is remarkable, David is very engaging and there's no laugh track. Lions, tigers, bears and northern hairy-nosed wombats are all quite fascinating, but as the name implies this series is primarily about oceans, an area we take particular interest in as we live our lives bobbing about in it. Not so much last year.

Sunday

Still plugging along with boat work. As might be inferred from extensive verbiage concerning this subject either: a great deal of effort must be expended on outrageously extensive maintenance or the engineering crew aboard are particularly lethargic. The answer is yes. In keeping with previously expressed concept, blame will be placed on inclement weather and torpor produced by weather.

Friday

After getting Panda generator running with new injector plugs discovered that cylinder head may have been cracked introducing water that caused rust that caused sticking that bent rods and things. Head currently out for testing. Anticipatory price check on new underway. Bugger!

After confirming power up mast to furler was available and 1200 watt motor was tested with heavy duty wire discovered that everything worked. Hmmmm. Re-installed the whole lot and, for some odd reason, it remains operational. Either the thing was running fine and nobody noticed, there was an extremely loose connection to motor or the resident leprechaun got miffed because we don't stock Jameson's.

Dead Pathfinder 4D radar is analog. Haven't made them for years and current plotter not compatible with new digital systems. Having a spare plotter, autopilot course computer and other ancient bits and not wanting to toss them and spend a stack of boat bucks to upgrade began looking for used radar. Due no word on availability of local one, went on eBay and found used RD424 (that's Raymarine talk for slightly less ancient analog unit that will probably work) in US for 450 USD including shipment. If it arrives and if it works and if professional fixes genset and if cruising kitty doesn't seize up, all major boat components for decamping to cross the Indian Ocean to South Africa will be ready. Crew components were ready a year ago.

Saturday

Crap that makes the flowers grow continues unabated, so no biking or exterior work today. Forecast for rain plummets to 60% for next few days, however, so may have to adjust schedule to account for an hour or two of dryness (this is a relative term ignoring humidity). Jan cleaned green slime from deck the other day. Expect it to keep growing back until dry season.

Tuesday

Modicum of good news that Panda head OK. Leakage through valve stem. Parts on order.

After always difficult installation of mainsail onto furling extrusion yesterday discovered that motor works fine, but doesn't turn said extrusion to furl sail. Bugger. Hoping to again remove motor to check and presumably reinstall key onto motor shaft without removing sail. Confidence runs rampant that this will eventuate without breaking anything important. Expect results of aforementioned activity following rain.

Current blather has now extended to nearly two weeks without producing a single thing worth reading, not even a hint of irony. Think to give up and send, then try harder with next installment.

Jack