Just checking in...

Got a new HF radio call sign (KF7IDH) (Phonetically pronounced: Kilo-Foxtrot-Seven-India-Delta-Hotel) from the FCC. They give you these numbers if you pass tests and stuff....next test for me is hopefully an upgrade to the next class on May 1st. Anyway, with the boaty having her own call sign (also required by law) we are now legal to use Single-Side-Band and some other HAM radio frequencies, as well as the Radar, VHF, EPIRB and some other electronic stuff on the boat...big doings as I've been talking about this now for two years! Sandy's on her way to get the same thing!

We finished repairing/rebuilding both heads (bathrooms---yuk!). Thought we had a broken thru-hull. These thru-hulls let sea water in (or out) of the boat. They're a really big deal in that they are the weakest point of a boat...and they have a valve that opens or closes depending on what you need...but whatever...they still represent a hole in the bottom of the boat. An holes as you can guess are not good! Our boat has 11 of them! One for each sink (that's 3), then 2 for the generator (one in and one out), two for the engine (in and out), then on1 for each of the heads (in only), and 2 for the watermaker. Plus we have slots in the bottom of the hull for the depthfinders (x2), and grounding slots x2, not including the rudder post! So, as you can imagine, any one of them developing a problem is a potential sinking problem. So when there's even the slightest hint of a problem we get all concerned and stuff. As it was, it turned into nothing...just a bent stopping prong but it did give us a little cause for concern for a while. As bad as this could have been we are grateful that we are still at the dock when it all went down...not good to be in the middle of the ocean with a hole in the boat!

Jillian, our granddaughter is here visiting for the weekend...she's hoping for a break in the weather...she's fisher-woman at heart! We're in all playing games and watching TV.

Ray out for now...73's to ya!