I have been cut off from the net now for the past two days.  We have had moderate temperatures but it has been a little humid.  I finished stripping the cockpit coaming and SAM brushed the Cetol Marine Light on the newly sanded surface.  Tomorrow I took the day off and will do the third coat on the old part and the second on the new.  If they match pretty good I will do a thrid coat for the new and then next week put on the gloss finish.

I received two more inputs from the website and added them to the list on the website Ship’s Registery page.  This is encouraging and is my little reward for the work performed.

Omega is supposed to be in the marina sometime in the next few weeks.  This will be great to have another YS35 in the slips even though it will be only for a short time.

It has rained every day for days.  This weekend promises to be a good one with 10 -20 kt winds and a chance of TB’s only in the morning.  Sunday the winds will be lower but sunny and I want to finish this seasons brightwork – the cockpit coaming.  It has real nice wood with a good grain so it will be nice to show it off a bit.  I have about 1 meter to strip but maybe a bit less – a two hour job for tomorrow AM.

 I would like to go sailing about noon for a few hours.  Keeping my fingers crossed.

It rained all day today and was over cast.  Here is a picture of yesterdays radar picture.

I arrived Friday night and am still here.  It rained all night, Saturday and now Sunday.  Everyone seems to be leaving.  I talked with Bill from Goshen and we were going to work on a bumper post so his boat cannot go under the dock.  However, he left with his wife before lunch.

Yesterday before lunch I started stripping the cockpit coaming and finished the aft 1/4.  Then I took a lunch break and then a nap.  When I awoke it was lightly raining and now it will be several days before it dries out enough to sand and varnish.  There are some dark spots that I think I will need to bleach first though.

I will work on the shorting ignition issue.  It happens every once in a while and blows the fuse that goes from the ignition switch  down to the starter solenoid & alternator B terminals.

SAM said the boat was not for her and stayed in PL for the weekend.  It makes the weekend a bit loose ended.  The HEAD ISSUE has just about killed this seasons fun.

Let me tell you that I do not like to spend money.  I like to save money and see it grow.  I am very Scottish like my ancestors.

The tale starts with the fact that I am on a seasonal pumpout plan with Tower Marine marina.  About a month ago I noticed the pumpout had not taken place and the little red light was on saying “FULL”.  I called and ask them to pump it out.  Next week it was OK.  The week after no pump out.  This time I asked they said it was done and I said why was there still two inches of liquid in the tank and the head was full of water? 

I asked them to pump it out and then go down to the head and see if it was dry.  I left a tell-tale on the hatch and when i got back it was not there and the tank had been pumped.  I also received the nasty surprise of finding my head pump totally broken.

I informed maintenance that the head was broken by Tower Marine personnel and I wanted it fixed.  Well two weeks later and several inquireries and a complaint to the owner RJ and it was fixed – mostly. 

Today I received a invoice for $934. Can you imagine my horror at seeing this?  A company comes on my boat and breaks the head and then charges me $934 to fix it!  A quick call to Groco and they said they would rebuild the pump like new for $350.  Further, they would supply an brand new top end model for $1099 plus shipping.

I do not know what my next action will be.  I feel raped and pillaged.  I called the owner and told him I received a bill for $934 and he said it did not sound right so maybe there is some justice.  I will tell you right now to stay away from Tower Marine maintenance!  I’ll let you know what happens in the next installment.

I’ll be glad for my weekend on Inspiration.  I would like to go out sailing but do not know if there will be time on Saturday when we get up there.  The past couple of weeks have included cataract surgery, ruined carpet due to A/C water outlet being plugged up and the new portable A/C for the boat experience (more on this later).  Adjusting to the surgery has been the biggest trial and it is still in process.  The ruined carpet is a $2500 estimate and this was an unwelcome surprise.

THE PORTABLE A/C UNIT.  This is an interesting adventure that has a neutral outcome.  The A/C unit does cool off the  boat after the sun goes down and cools it somewhat in a 92 degree direct sun.  It is an Amcor A12000E nanomax.  There have been two problems with the unit, (1) it appears to have arrived defective with a bad display interface PCB and (2) any air that blows out the portlight has to come in from somewhere.  That somewhere is thru the louvers in the companionway door. The main salon is cool and mostly comfortable as is the vberth but the galley and navigation/aft quarterberth area is much warmer due to the air coming in throught the louvers.

I guess I expected the unit to have a recirculate mode so that the cold air is recirculated continously.  That was not the case.  The volume of air blown out equals volumn of new air coming in.  This makes it hard for the 1 ton unit to keep up on hot days.  After the sun goes down it is OK and after colling for 2-3 hours the temperature is in the high 70′s.  I would not recommend this approach to cooling your boat.