So, JHam posed a couple questions and I meant to answer them, but forgot, hence this addendum to the day.
First off, yes Jerry, the Barracuda had really, really big teeth. In fact, I thought it was a Wahoo until I got him up on the gaff and he smiled at me. It was really more an evil looking sneer. Barracudas have long, sharp, teeth. This guy’s teeth were like the big, bad, wolf. They were almost two inches long, needle shaped/sharp and unlike most fish, the jaw was very solid bone (instead of cartiledge). “All the better to bite you with” was his message. I wouldn’t come near him with anything but needle-nose pliers.
On to the the Flux Gate compass. We did want to point out the sometimes insidious nature of high tech to all the future cruisers out there. We have found some folks who don’t even know that they have a flux gate compass on board. Anyone who has an autopilot or a radar with GPS overlay has one whether they know it or not. In our case, the simple act of removing a couple cans of powdered milk threw it hopelessly out of whack.
The good news: this morning we recalibrated it and now it’s solid. We have also designated a three foot space around it to be used only for storing clothes. 😉 Recalibration was fairly easy. You press the designated buttons while doing 360 degree circles. The instructions specify circling at less than 3 knots and no faster than 90 degrees/half minute. Took two and a half turns and the thing “found” its happy place. Now it’s spot on.
Lessons learned and fortunately not the hard way.
