Boat Work Day

Well half a day.

Crew: Nathan, Serge, Nat

Accomplished:

• mounted AIS radio (still needs to be connected, we were short of heatshrink cramp fittings)
• replaced tiller autopilot connector (boat-side)
• connected the two solar panels in parallel so we can easily switch back and forth easily

We also changed a broken cunningham block on our way to the Delta Ditch run start line, in the rain...

 

Next on our list:

• Finish mounting (might need to change the VHF connectors, the current ones look a bit corroded and the one from the spare deck level antenna looked pretty dead, it stayed in my hand when i touched it...when it is supposed to stay connected to the wire... That's a Nat action item
• test the AIS radio    (that's a Nat action item)
• Beautify the solar panel setup (eg make it more permanent)   - That's a Nathan action item
• Debug NKE autopilot  - that's a joint action item
• Replace the connector of the tiller autopilot (tiller side) - that's a Nat action item
• Screw back the terminal that 'smoked' last time Nat tried to put it in place so we can test the tiller autopilot  - that's a Nat action item
• Swap the lifelines to the 18 inch ones  - that's a joint action item...it's faster with more people, it's a real pain to take the stanchions out! and we want typically a day to do that, we take out the stanchions in the morning, clean up the holes and put the new set in the afternoon)
• Fix the closing mechanism for the companionway hatch (just a lead that needs to be screwed back on) - that's t.b.d. action item
• fix the deck-level spare nav lights  - that's a Nathan action item
• fix forward hatch leak - that's a joint action item

Then later

• Install the spare external halyard (just requires Nat to go up the mast, the turning block is mounted on the side of the mast, so it's very easy to access, this is just an emergency halyard for offshore) - Nat's working on getting up to the top of the mast on her own. She may use that spare halyard setup as practice ground for that system...
• Fix some chafe issues on our jib and spin halyard (this is a common and expected problems with a boat that's as heavily sailed as Elise is)    
• Remove malware from boat computer (that has nav software, weather fax/grib file reading and sailmail installed...)

And i'd like to find a set of polars for the Express 27 for upwind...would be useful when plotting Long Pac course...

Keeping up with the small things and making Elise every time more comfortable, faster, safer, more practical, more easily 'changed' from offshore to Bay racing as we do this a lot...

And she's getting a lot of love right now (varnishing, mildew remover, cleaned up deck, etc...) - she's shiny!