No big adventures to speak of lately, I'm afraid, but there's progress nevertheless. Our scheduled departure in January is steadily creeping up, and so I've been quietly attacking some of the things on the never-ending job list.
Getting comfortable with the intricacies of the long-distance HF radio is ticked off , but I must admit they're arcane devices shrouded in black magic. I've already committed to investing in a Satellite phone for remote internet access, which should make our Mac and iPads connectable just about anywhere, without the complexity of a Pactor Modem, laptop, and the dreaded HF. And if none of that makes sense to you, you'll see what I mean. But the HF radio is a beauty, and I know I'll be relying on the Bureau Of Meteorology's "schwell" reports a lot in the future.
And then there's the storm sails. Well, getting them up was easy when there wasn't a storm anyway, but it's going to be a lot more challenging when the deck's a leapin' and the thunder's a crackin'.
Becoming intimate with the engine's another one. I've discovered that my shoulders have a knack of turning off the fuel filter tap when I'm squeezing in to check the raw water intake filter. That was enough to deter us from a planned Melbourne trip a few weeks back.....I'm not sure about those old sailing myths and legends, but I'm taking a non-starting engine before a voyage as a bad omen.
It was another good little lesson though, and just part of getting to know that big motor a little more.
I've also successfully installed a little removable crane on the foredeck which will make launching the dinghy just that much easier.
Planning for the tropics, I've been designing a Stainless Steel structure for the cockpit, which would do multiple duty as a shady roof, surfboard rack, home for extra Solar Panels, and also be a handy water collector. Unfortunately, the plan was a little too ambitious as the quote from a local engineer to build the thing would keep us in shady hats for several lifetimes.
And then there's the waterproofing the hatches job, which resulted in a cabin drenching on the first test, but I think I've solved that one now, which is a huge relief.
And the list goes on....it seems that every time I tick something off, something else crops up. But it's all part of the learning process, and there's a real sense of satisfaction when I fully understand something by actually doing it.
Getting comfortable with the intricacies of the long-distance HF radio is ticked off , but I must admit they're arcane devices shrouded in black magic. I've already committed to investing in a Satellite phone for remote internet access, which should make our Mac and iPads connectable just about anywhere, without the complexity of a Pactor Modem, laptop, and the dreaded HF. And if none of that makes sense to you, you'll see what I mean. But the HF radio is a beauty, and I know I'll be relying on the Bureau Of Meteorology's "schwell" reports a lot in the future.
And then there's the storm sails. Well, getting them up was easy when there wasn't a storm anyway, but it's going to be a lot more challenging when the deck's a leapin' and the thunder's a crackin'.
Becoming intimate with the engine's another one. I've discovered that my shoulders have a knack of turning off the fuel filter tap when I'm squeezing in to check the raw water intake filter. That was enough to deter us from a planned Melbourne trip a few weeks back.....I'm not sure about those old sailing myths and legends, but I'm taking a non-starting engine before a voyage as a bad omen.
It was another good little lesson though, and just part of getting to know that big motor a little more.
I've also successfully installed a little removable crane on the foredeck which will make launching the dinghy just that much easier.
Planning for the tropics, I've been designing a Stainless Steel structure for the cockpit, which would do multiple duty as a shady roof, surfboard rack, home for extra Solar Panels, and also be a handy water collector. Unfortunately, the plan was a little too ambitious as the quote from a local engineer to build the thing would keep us in shady hats for several lifetimes.
And then there's the waterproofing the hatches job, which resulted in a cabin drenching on the first test, but I think I've solved that one now, which is a huge relief.
And the list goes on....it seems that every time I tick something off, something else crops up. But it's all part of the learning process, and there's a real sense of satisfaction when I fully understand something by actually doing it.
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