We got up a little early (probably 6:30 or so) I really hate waking up at that time, I can’t get back to sleep knowing that I only have a half hour to go, so it is a waste of time to even try. So, up and wait for the coffee to brew (it is on a timer).
Then shortly after that I got a text from John Pounder about the speed probe being available. He said “it’s expensive, because the other person bought it as a spare and paid full taxes to get it here in Mexico, then sold his boat and doesn’t need it”. So, I checked on line to find the price in the states, I could not find a new one, but the used ones on eBay were priced at $199 to $135 in the states (that does not get it to the boat), and he wanted $175 for the part. So, I said I will take it.
The probe got to the boat around noon and I worked on seeing if it was the fix for our problem. I plugged it into the back of the boat speed instrument and everything that was supposed to worked! Which means it will fix the problem. So, the next step is to wire the new one into the circuit where the old one is. The spot where the wiring goes is in the bilge, so it has to very well protected. The wire is plenty long, so I pulled enough out to work on it on the floor so I don’t have to reach down to work on it. I got part way through and thought about it and said, I wonder if this works? So, I checked and NO it does not. I thought about it for awhile (I took a break to just walk away from it all).
Short little rant here, I am really tired of working on stuff on boats where they (who ever put the system in) decided that it would be a great idea to save a couple of pennies on cheap wire! In this case our entire boat network for instruments was done with RAYMARINE wiring, so it is not the fault of the installer, rather the RAYMARINE electronics company. They chose to set up their system with fine, very fine multi strand wire. As in this is like network wire. Which in a house that does not move probably is ok, but this is a boat, and every thing moves. So, not only does RAYMARINE use this very fine wire they use these really small spade connectors to attach to the back of the instruments, in this case there are 5 connections. These spade connectors are plugged into the back of the instrument and the instrument is mounted above the sliding hatch for access to the cabin. Which sounds “okay” except the sliding hatch goes under where the instruments are and the outside is exposed to the open air, so the back side of the instrument while they don’t get sprayed, they frequently get the mist and spray from breaking waves etc. So, these wires and connectors look like they have been through the war. So, if they used decent sized wire with reasonable connectors this would be ok, but these things have NO weather protection at all! So, next I looked under the hatch and saw where the wires run and thought maybe there is a problem there, and opened up the cable run and looked around, oops! I bumped a connection and the stereo stopped working on the left speaker in the cabin. Here is problem #2, there is a large wire coming from the stereo to the speakers, I would guess 16 gauge wire. But connected in the middle of the wire run is the wire running to the speaker, it is 22 gauge speaker wire (Again very fine multi strand wire). It is good enough if not bumped or if you don’t want to run a lot of watts to the speakers. This wire is so fine, that I broke the wire several times as I was trying to strip it back to put it in a new butt connector, oh and the butt connectors are one size for the the 16 gauge and a smaller size for the 22 gauge. They are not supposed to be connected this way. Oh and I found that the wire on the speaker, (about 2 feet from where I had bumped this wire) was also frayed and needed help to make a good connection. Renee’ reminded me that the speakers on the arch at the back of the boat are wired the same way. Very fine speaker wire. When we redo the solar panels we will probably redo the speaker wires as well. Bottom line all told on this boat they probably saved at least $50 on wire by using very fine wire for all this stuff. Okay so the rant was not very short.
So, at this point we are at the end of the day, the varnish work is done and looks FANTASTIC! The prep is getting started for the windlass and base of the mast paint, the handles have been glued back on the dinghy, the chart plotter has been swapped and is working and is programed as it is supposed to be (NO, the guy never got here to fix the back light). The fridge is working like it is supposed to, the new membrane has arrived in San Diego at the exporters, and should be here in a week or so. Measurements have been taken for most of the canvas work, we are supposed to get together with the sail guy tomorrow to finalize ordering new sails, we have had our annual review with our financial company, all looking good for now. We have our reservations for flying to the states on May 1st. The boat speed and wind speed instruments still don’t work (common problem that will go away when I get the boat speed instrument to work). We said it is time to quit!
So, we changed and went out to dinner, it is an Italian restaurant, with a guitarist. Good music great food and company! Then back to the boat, write up the blog, and bed. Tomorrow early we will go out and dump the holding tank. Then back in for the swap meet and the sail meeting, and start of the paint work. Sunday we will top off the water tank, and Monday we go sailing. We plan to stay out of a marina for at least a week. Sailing south to Barra Navidad, into a marina to top off the water tank and then back up the coast to here (La Cruz),to get the membrane. Then out again and south in the bay. Pulling into Paradise Village about April 24th or so, in preparation for flying out on May 1.
