Left work at 3:15pm and had a terrible drive from Northamptonshire to Port Solent. It happens. Absolutely crap driving skills some drivers display. Anyway by the time I wasw unpacked and water tank filled and heating turned on and something to eat was prepared, there was no time to actually do any work on the boat.
Saturday 26th March
Up early and for once straight on with working on the boat, this is because I left Freddie this weekend at home with Fran and the girls. Which means I didnt need to walk him this morning. Although it feels really odd not having him around as we are never apart. It feels like my left leg has been cut off. or my shadow is missing!
I immediately started by going to the chandlery to collect the new radar data cable. I then routed the cable from the chartplotter through the myriad of ducting using the mouse lines that I placed there when I replaced the chartplotter. The cable from the radar and the cable from the chartplotter meets just below the mast so that if and when in the future I need to step the mast the cable can be disconnected. A simple small electric cable block connector was used and to my surprise worked extremely well. The power cable was routed from the radome to the control panel and connected to one of the spare navigation switches.
The chartplotter was turned on and wonder of wonders the Radar button appeared on the display. After spinning up the radar it all started and worked really well with a nice clear and uncluttered radar view. although I had to rotate it through 180 degrees as I had turned the radome through 180 degrees in order to keep it as close to the mast as possible. This was very successful. And I think looks better. However yet again after talking to the sales personel at the marine chandlery I find out that even though the chartplotter is only a few weeks old there is already a software update that needs downloading from the Garmin web site.
Its always the same you buy a component or product and then you find you need something else to go with it in order for it to function correctly. For instance I bought the AIS system only to find you then need a stubby antenna to go with it, "another £50" the same with the Navtex you buy it , only to find that you need a bracket to mount the antenna to the pushpit, "another £20" and it goes on and on. And now the radar needs a download from Garmin to overlay the chart. Aghhhhhh at least its a free download. But why is it that you can never buy a complete system you always have to add to it!
Anyway now that I have stopped ranting it was a surprisingly successful day.
After buying some sickoflex the new solar panel has been fitted to the coachroof and wired directly to the batteries.
It is the first time since I started on this venture that I actually believe all the work and preparation will be complete by the deadline of 30th April. And even if its not complete in every detail it will only be minor issues and not anything major and nothing that will effect the overall safety of the vessel and its crew. What a relief!
Having said that it still needs.
Saturday 26th March
Up early and for once straight on with working on the boat, this is because I left Freddie this weekend at home with Fran and the girls. Which means I didnt need to walk him this morning. Although it feels really odd not having him around as we are never apart. It feels like my left leg has been cut off. or my shadow is missing!
I immediately started by going to the chandlery to collect the new radar data cable. I then routed the cable from the chartplotter through the myriad of ducting using the mouse lines that I placed there when I replaced the chartplotter. The cable from the radar and the cable from the chartplotter meets just below the mast so that if and when in the future I need to step the mast the cable can be disconnected. A simple small electric cable block connector was used and to my surprise worked extremely well. The power cable was routed from the radome to the control panel and connected to one of the spare navigation switches.
The chartplotter was turned on and wonder of wonders the Radar button appeared on the display. After spinning up the radar it all started and worked really well with a nice clear and uncluttered radar view. although I had to rotate it through 180 degrees as I had turned the radome through 180 degrees in order to keep it as close to the mast as possible. This was very successful. And I think looks better. However yet again after talking to the sales personel at the marine chandlery I find out that even though the chartplotter is only a few weeks old there is already a software update that needs downloading from the Garmin web site.
Its always the same you buy a component or product and then you find you need something else to go with it in order for it to function correctly. For instance I bought the AIS system only to find you then need a stubby antenna to go with it, "another £50" the same with the Navtex you buy it , only to find that you need a bracket to mount the antenna to the pushpit, "another £20" and it goes on and on. And now the radar needs a download from Garmin to overlay the chart. Aghhhhhh at least its a free download. But why is it that you can never buy a complete system you always have to add to it!
Anyway now that I have stopped ranting it was a surprisingly successful day.
After buying some sickoflex the new solar panel has been fitted to the coachroof and wired directly to the batteries.
It is the first time since I started on this venture that I actually believe all the work and preparation will be complete by the deadline of 30th April. And even if its not complete in every detail it will only be minor issues and not anything major and nothing that will effect the overall safety of the vessel and its crew. What a relief!
Having said that it still needs.
- Lifting and jet washing - due 7th April
- Anti-fouling - due on 9th and 10th April
- Chartplotter wiring still to be sorted - due easter holiday
- Gaurd rail opening for Freddie - port and starboard
- Tv antenna to be mounted at top of mast
- Annodes to be replaced - due between 7th and 14th April
- Banner for AICR placed on hull
- Teak rennovated
- Fender board
- Boat computer needs fixing
- Sea trials.
