This blog began in late 2006 with the planning and preparation for a circumnavigation of the world in my 39-foot sail boat Pachuca. It then covered a successful 5-year circumnavigation that ended in April 2013. The blog now covers life with Pachuca back home in Australia.

Pachuca

Pachuca
Pachuca in Port Angeles, WA USA

Tuesday, September 11, 2007

Progress Notes

1. We fitted the new cockpit canvas cover and it fits beautifully. There is a nice window in the centre of it so that we can look up to see the masthead. Yesterday Debbie took measurements of the outboard motor. Hopefully by the end of next week we will have the side panels to the cockpit canvas (actually made of shade cloth) and covers for the outboard motor and hatches.

2. Yesterday the track for the storm trysail was fitted. Steve Hartley will take measurements and begin work on the trysail. The track has a bend in it: starts near the deck on the port side of the mast, bends to the centre when it clears the mainsail, then up to the first cross tree.

3. I replaced a 5-amp breaker with a 30-amp breaker at the main switch panel, and marked it "autohelm". I then fitted the radar and VHF cables from the mast area to the navigation station. Peter Turner visited me this morning and we discussed the fitting of the chart plotter as well as the resolution of the AIS-radio problem. He made a good point: if we set up a switch so that the masthead VHF antenna can be manually switched between the AIS and the VHF radio then it would be impossible for a ship to hail me while I am in AIS mode. We went back to the original plan: masthead antenna for the VHF radio, stern antenna for the AIS. Peter figures that the stern one should be good for at least 30 miles for AIS. Peter plans to visit on Thursday to fit the autohelm ram (it was removed for servicing) and connecting it to the 30-amp switch. He will also connect the masthead antenna to the VHF radio. I will then be able to remove the long VHF antenna strapped to the side of the cockpit platform. The smaller VHF antenna for the AIS will be fitted later - probably in December - when the radar, chart plotter, AIS, and MOB bracelet system are installed. ... Setting up that switch sub-panel in the main cabin a few weeks ago has already paid a big dividend already, since otherwise there would have been no room for that 30-amp breaker on the main panel.

4. One of the better things that I did this week was to move the Brooks and Gatehouse sail monitoring system to make room for the chart plotter. A total of 39 wires had to be loosened then replaced after the unit was relocated. I had to draw a map of which colour from which of the 6 sheaths went to which connector. I was able to work with unusual (for me) patience and clarity and did it in about 3 hours without screwing anything up.

5. I discussed Zodiac life rafts with a salesman. The reason why the deck-mounted canister takes up so much more space than a valise is that there is one canister size for 4, 6, and 8 person rafts. Also, the lead time for an order is one month because they it may have to be sourced from France. I told him to expect my order in mid-November.

Slowly, steadily, and inexorably I am being dragged kicking and screaming into every aspect of Pachuca's setup.

No comments:

Blog Archive

Contributors

Statistics Click Me