Author Archives: admin

Breakthrough!!!!!!

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Oh yeah, today has been a big day.  I finally cracked the code to make the new electronics work!!!!

Now we're talking. The new system is on the right, and it works!!!!

I’ve been working the last two days to get the $2000 worth of new electronic equipment to “connect” with the old (crap) B&G network.  The stuff I bought to make it work was based on a “hoped for” outcome.  Without getting too “geeky”, I had to get the old NMEA 0183 network to talk with the new “NMEA 2000” network.  On paper it should have been simple, but in reality with all the wires going every different direction and different software standards it was anything but.

I was two days into integration hell and nothing was working right, when I finished the day and Ann asked me a couple questions that helped focus my mind on the issues (she’s exceptionally good at this and knows it).  Her questions prompted me to write down the issues I was facing which in turn got me thinking that what I initially thought was happening was a symptom, not a solution.

I went to sleep and woke up at 3AM with the answer!  I was so excited I almost jumped up and tried to connect stuff right then.  I kept my cool through breakfast and then jumped on the issue.  I connected the wires as “I had dreamed them” and voila…it worked!!!!

So, we now have a functioning system using Raymarine’s new i70 multifunction instruments.  I have to say they are very cool and beat the heck out of the crappy B&G H1000 system they are replacing.   The bonus to the whole process is that I have realized I also now have an opportunity to connect my PC to Charisma’s navigation system.  Stay tuned for more on that….

 

No Boat Work

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First time in FIVE WEEKS we didn’t do any boat work.  The first time I’ve been off the boat. (OK, full disclosure: while I’ve been doing a LOT of the work since I have more experience-Ann has been doing an equal amount of the more thankless work like taping for the varnish, removing the tape, and today she oiled the teak in the cockpit not to even mention the HUGE job of polishing the hull-which I never want to do again after having done it some years ago…)

So to celebrate our “non-boatwork day” Ann took me on a “walk” to Whangarei Falls. Maybe we should call it the Death March.  I haven’t been doing any labor other than boatwork for so long that a FIVE HOUR walk up the river to the falls should qualify as a death march!  Right!?

So, there are some pictures.  (I have to say it was SO nice to not have a single boat project to work on today.

The start of the Death March, er, ummmm, hike up to the falls.

Fording the river on the suspension bridge

We're almost there....

Ta Da! We made it!

It was really quite impressive and worth the trip.

Very impressive

So…amazingly nice to get away from boat work for a day for the two of us.  We have been working way too hard and it was a really nice treat.

Now we’re on to some new and hopefully more fun projects.

On another subject: we bought our wedding rings yesterday.  You’ll have to wait to see them (until April 13).  Ann is honing in on a wedding dress as well.  We also found a delightful singer at the farmer’s market and we’re researching him…More to come.

 

 

More Varnish and a Meeting With Tohu

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Varnish, varnish, varnish.  Once you start it never ends.  Almost.  Actually, the rail project is ending tomorrow.  That will be the 4th coat which is considered “done” for Cetol.  Later I’ll move on to maintenance coats on the other wood, but for now, it’s going to be time for a break from boatwork.  It’s been five solid weeks and we need to take a short vacation.

In the mean time-today we met with Tohu, our Marriage Celebrant.  What’s that you might ask?  Well, it’s the person who does the ceremony and makes you legally married.  Tohu as you might have guessed is Maori.  And a delightful person he is.  We had a wonderful chat today and found that; He is not only religious (he’s a Ratana minister), but he’s also spiritual.  Perfect for the two of us (bet you can guess which is which).  And, he had a feeling on the way over that Ann and I were special; a miracle for each other — so true! We both think he will be a wonderful Celebrant for our marriage and will be meeting with him again to more formally discuss the ceremony.

So, boat-work, marriage-work.  Both important parts of life.

Closer, Closer, Closer…

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But not there yet.  We have two coats yet to go on the varnish, but the clouds make each day “touch and go”.  If I varnish and it rains, it’s ruined.  Two days ago it rained.  Fortunately it was late at night and didn’t wreck the varnish.  Today, was potentially coat #2, but the forecast was for some showers in the afternoon.  I spent a “while” on the online weather apps and decided to “go for it”.  Turned out a good decision.  We’ve got another coat on-two to go.  I’m getting burned out by all the boatwork, so we’ve decided that after these last two coats, we’re going to take a couple days off and go somewhere.  Will be nice to get away for a bit, but there are still projects!

Anyway, here’re a few pics of what we’re up to:

Here's 1/2 of the varnishing. I can do the port side on the dock, but the starboard side is "all dinghy". Very tough on the back muscles. I'm taking a LOT of aspirin.

Our 'comic' relief. "The Girls" or as Ann calls them; "Thelma and Louise". These two female geese hang around here. All Ann has to do is call; "hey girls" and they fly over, crash land and start honking like crazy looking for a handout. They are hilarious!

And one last thought on the engine front:  my worst expectations came about on the injectors.  The engine guy came down to the boat yesterday and said (rather sheepishly) that the nozzles were so far out of spec they couldn’t be repaired.  New nozzles times four!  So, $900 later we’re the proud soon to be owners of completely rebuilt diesel fuel injectors.  Oh well, better that that breaking down in the middle of nowhere like our friends on Hana Hou.  Cost them over $3000 to rebuild theirs!

One of the guys on the dock reminded me today of the definition of cruising:  Repairing your boat in exotic places!.  Nuf said.

Rainy Night In Whangarei

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So…no varnishing today.  Instead I worked on the electronics.  The old (crappy) B&G system that gave up the ghost is being replaced by a new Raymarine set of i70 instruments.  I spent way too much time trying to find some relevant tech data on the B&G wiring codes (which was the “green” and what does the “red” do?) and finally just dug in.  Well, the good news is that I have now connected the old NMEA 0183 system to the new Raymarine NMEA 2000 SeaTalkNG system.  Used an Actisense converter based on Raymarine information and it works!  I’m now trying to get the GPS data working but that’s for another day.  Happy it’s progressing though.

...and the blue wire connects to the...oh hell, I don't know what it goes to...

And now some news from Ann…

Made it to the top (again)

Looking down on Whangarei

God bless, Bob!  Sometimes I feel guilty hiking but someone has to see the countryside. Actually there is a fabulous hike up the Pariheke Reserve which is right across the road from the marina that rewards you with a great view of Whangarei and the river itself.  Hard hike.  The local firefighters are using it to train for a fundraising event in May where they trudge up the sky tower in Aukland.  We just hope to make it to the top smiling!  Fortunately for me, Lisa (pictured above) and Anne from Blue Rodeo like to hike!  I can’t wait to take Bob up to see the view.  Soon.

After our hike today the girls and I spent the day wandering through dress shops in Whangarei looking for a “lovely frock” for the wedding.  Styles here are very odd.  No success today but I haven’t given up!

I do all of this to keep out of Bob’s way…  kind of!  Truthfully I can’t wait for him to come play too!

Solar Panels

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For Alex-who asked how our solar panels are working, I realized we never really showed how we installed them.  So here’s some detailed pics.  The specs are:  Two 130 watt Kyocera panels, wired in parallel to double the power, combined with a Blue Sky “Duo” controller which controls the panels and hydro-electric unit.  The 130 Watt panels are the largest we’ve seen and just fit above the rail in the closed position.  The advantage with this system is that we can angle the panels to the sun.  The advantage to the davit or dodger mount is you don’t have to think about it since it’s fixed, but you don’t always get the optimum angle to the sun and thus a lower charge.  You can see the pole that extends the panels and will extend to 45 degrees and 90 degrees.  I also created a “stub” pole that is about 4 inches long to hold the panels “closed” in a storm.  It worked in 50 knots of wind and 20+ foot seas on our leg from Tonga to NZ although there is always the chance that a rough wave would sneak up inside the panel and break it loose.  Everything’s a compromise   😉

View from "afar" with port panel at 45 degree detent

Here's the starboard panel in the "up" position

Detail of the hinge. I had this custom welded to fit over our lifelines. It's a compromise. If I had the time, I would have exchanged the lifelines around the cockpit for welded steel bars, but I ran out of time and did this instead and attached it to the stern pushpit and first stanchion with dodger mounts.

Varnishing

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Well, actually Cetol, but it’s like varnish.

So, we’re working on “brushing up” the wood.

Contortions to get it right.

Very detailed and tedious work

It just goes on and on.  You can’t rush it.  Varnishing.  Looks beautiful if you do it right, but takes endless amounts of time.  I spent four hours on the port and starboard rails yesterday and another four hours today just sanding them smooth.  Now the “coats” begin.  Three to four more coats at four hours each, follow by 24 hours to dry-all the while “dodging” the rain.  Sigh.

We Count!

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The New Zealand Census has counted us!

We are now officially counted as part of the New Zealand Census project.  As “yachties” we answer that; “we live in a movable home from the US and then ‘go to question #48′”.

There you are.  And it’s in Mauri as well as english.

Work, Work, Work…

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We’re in the water, but the boatwork hasn’t stopped.

We’re now at the “finishing” stage though.  Not as in finished, but things like varnishing, oiling the teak, and other more cosmetic items.  Two days ago we sanded the rest of the rails.  Yesterday we bleached all the wood that has been sanded in prep for oil in the case of the cockpit where varnish is too slippery and varnish (cetol) in the case of the rails.   Today we taped the rails in prep for varnishing (hopefully-weather permitting) tomorrow and Ann put the first of three coats of oil on the cockpit.

Taping the wood in preparation for varnishing

Taped and ready for varnishing tomorrow.

Getting ready to oil the cockpit wood.

Oil really brings out the color of the teak and helps protect it from sun and saltwater

Before the oil...

...and after the oil. We'll put on two more coats over the next couple days.

All this work has made for one messy cabin. Can't wait to be done and able to put stuff back away.

I also forgot to mention the other day that once we drove around to our spot here in the marina, I had the engine shop come and pull the injectors for cleaning.  You’re supposed to have them cleaned around 1000 hours and Charisma’s engine has 2900 hours and to my knowledge they have never been cleaned.  Crossing fingers they are good since it can get expensive to repair them.

Since it’s Sunday, we quit a bit early and Ann’s gone for a hike with her girlfriends Ann and Lisa.  They have a five to six mile loop that goes up the river, into the hills and tops out above town with expansive views of Whangarei.  Also since it’s Sunday, Ann made a delicious breakfast with farmer’s market fresh eggs, bacon and artisan bread.  Yum, yum and yum!

The eggs are so fresh the yolks are almost orange.