How 'Bout That Rain ? ? ?

SHIP'S LOG:

All things being equal, had I not pulled a Fernande Magellan( discovering new land), I would have spent the last couple of days either in the Delaware or Chesapeake Bays in some truly awful weather. Looks like God did know better than I as to the future and saw to it that I spent the time safe and sound and dry and warm and on land! A very good move on God's part, at least from my present perspective.

I was not planning to do any planning for the boat but after having closed her up, I began to reflect on what needed to be done to get her back in the water in the Spring. Not surprisingly, there really is very little.

1.) Find out why the mainsail jams and/or doesn't furl properly and fix. If I can't get it squared away, I might just remove the whole system. Luckily, the Facnor Furling System didn't require any disruption of the former Mainsail system. It would require re-adapting the mainsail, adding a Lazy Jack system and a Jiffy reefing system, but it would by simpler and less prone to complications. Best of all, it could be done for under one(1) Marine Unit.

2.) Remove the Lectrosan system from the forward head. I don't envision going any place in the near future where I can use it and discharge the result. Just about all of the East Coast from Maine to the Keys is one large no discharge zone. It eat amps and is one more electrical problem waiting to break and be in need of fixing.

3.) Move the holding tank from the aft head to the the forward head. Right now, it is located at the foot of the starboard aft bunk. It is an unsatisfactory solution to the problem of needing to have a holding tank. Unfortunately, there is no locker storage space available in the aft spaces of the boat to accommodate it. I didn't put it forward due to the presence of the Lectrosansystem. With that becoming problematic and due to be removed come the Spring, moving it forward now becomes the best and most sensible solution. The best part, is that I basically have all that I need to do it already present in the old system. I will add a pump so that I can discharge overboard when necessary, when beyond the three(3) mile limit, and still be able to have it pumped out. I will return the aft head to a direct discharge, usualbe only when appropriate. Again, the cost will be less than one (1) Marine Unit.

4.) Correct the last of the electrical problems - make sure all the lights, bells and whistles work. I may never get all the ghosts out of the system, it is English after all(if you have ever owner an MG or Triumph, you understand), but I will chase at least a few more out.

5.) Fix or replace the anntenna cable and/or Anntena for the GPS. Way less than 5% of a Marine Unit.

Other than that, while there are a never ending list of things that can be done, there are no other "haves to be done" - at least at this time. But is isn't even Officially Winter yet, let alone Spring. Who knows what else "will NEED to be done" come Spring?