We've not been in French Polynesia for a week but we've accomplished a lot.

Our two main tasks, as you know, are the autopilot (#1), and the solar panel controller. Of course we have many more ancillary tasks, as well as simply preparing the boat, but we're chipping away at what needs to be done.

There are two main issues with the autopilot: installing the actual drive unit and installing the electronics that control and support it. Today, we made completed a main part of that.

I've had to remove years worth of networking and ancillary Raymarine gear before I can install the new B&G gear. It's been somewhat painful to remove gear that required many hours of uncomfortable work to install, but it had to be done. The new NMEA2000 networking is much more robust, simpler, but not cheaper than the older network. There are a few rules to follow, but it's an easy system to understand. The network is faster and more waterproof, so to the better.

I restructured and rebuilt the network yesterday, as well as installed in place the "brain" of the new autopilot system. I also installed the new compass and roll/yaw/pitch device, using the same mount that I had created for the older Raymarine compass.

One of the new devices to control the autopilot is the controller, which uses buttons to control the behavior of the pilot. I had to redesign the mounting box face for the new part, and had it fabricated in Anchorage. Image Plastics does exceptional work, if you're in need and live there. Conni and I mounted the one old and one new B&G instruments in the new face and prepared it for use. That simple statement cost the two of us 4-5 hours of concentrated work, but it's done. The network is ready. The brain is ready for wiring and I'll work on that. In my original installation of the B&G system, I left too much NMEA2000 (abbreviated N2K) cabling in the cockpit, so we reduced that while dragging the N2K cable for connecting the new autopilot controller to the network. So much done!

Conni, of course, had her own jobs to do, primarily cleaning and polishing the miles of stainless steel tubing around the boat. Don't let anyone tell you that stainless steel doesn't stain! T'ain't so.

Remaining autopilot parts to mount and install are the actual drive unit and the rudder indicator that tells the brain where the rudder is turned. I've also got to mount the new base station for the wind sensor and i'll do that tomorrow, weather permitting. The base station is mounted outside so a hole must be drilled in the hull and a waterproof cable mount attached. That cable must be led to the network, of course.

The other main task for the autopilot is to mount the actual drive. Remember, the autopilot produces a thousand pounds of force to move the rudder, so must be solidly anchored. It also must be placed so that it has a full range of motion. Neither of these essential requirements is simple to accomplish. We have a plan and today we made arrangements for a local handyman to help with the fiberglass fabrication that we feel is the key. Richard is an interesting guy and very talented in many areas. At any rate, he will do the fiberglass work and help with the task. I look forward to working with him. It also means that we have a path forward on the most daunting of the autopilot jobs.

More on the solar when I begin.

Our anniversary is this week and we've made our reservations at what has become a tradition at Villa Ixora. We're excited at the event and the return to a traditional location. Hey, it's 31 years!