SHIP'S LOG:
I had no sooner finished Thursday's blog entry than I went out to my car and found a parking ticket on the windshield! Now the spot where I was parked was on Pequot Avenue just down from the club and I have been parking there since I have been a member of TYC. And not only me but all the members of the club have parked there at one time or another. It is, as they say, common practice.
Now I have to be clear, there is yellow painted curbstones within 15 feet of the corner and 10 feet on either side of the fire hydrant four or so car-lengths from the corner. There is one sign by the yellow-painted bricks at the corner, to indicate "No Parking" but the placement of the signage makes it at least "unclear" where the "No Parking" really is. As with most people, "unclear" meant "permitted" and for as long as I have been a club member, people have parked there with no hassles from the local gendarmes.
That is changing and, as one wag at the club said, "It all has to do with revenue!"Over the summer, several people have gotten tickets for parking infraction s on the streets around the club, and indeed throughout all of New London, and Thursday, it was my turn. I was quickly followed by another car getting tagged and then on Friday, still another I actually called the Police Department and they sent a supervisor down and we went over the situation. And while he admitted that the signage was a little "iffy," still in indicated "No Parking" and that was that. He said I could contest the ticket and that I could probably get a hearing and perhaps "walk" on the ticket this time. The thought of the time and possible expense that would come with the hearing lead me to simply pay the ticket and leave wiser if poorer.
Friday was a rather nice day. The weather was crappy, cool, cloudy and damp, but what made it
a nice day was that we were hosting the OPTIMIST Regatta and the club was over-run with kids from various sailing programs, eager to "strut their stuff!" While the races were going on, the kids from outside New London were treated to the thrill of have a 688 Los Angles Class submarine coming up the river. (This was old hat for the kiddoes from TYC, an almost weekly occurrence.) If the timing of the race or the entrance of the sub into the river had been timed a little different, the OPTIs rounding the leward mark would have been well inside the "Defence Security Perimeter" set up by the Coasties around the sub. It would have been something to see how the Coasties, in their rubber boats armed to the teeth, would have dealt with a fleet of 8 foot sailing prams, manned by kids all under 16!
Friday was also the day when most of the members of the New York Yacht Club, who were participating in their "Summer Cruise," came into New London. In truth, they by passed New London, and all but a few, passed under the bridges and moored or docked at the Coast Guard Academy. Still it was impressive to see these huge motor yachts and huge sailboats come up the Thames River and pass our racers. But what was really impressive was the kids. A quick peak or two at the "impressive parade," then it was back to what was really important . . . racing their Optis!
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Every Day Is Different!
SHIP'S LOG:
A beautiful day today and a good day for work. I took the opportunity to whittle down the never ending "Projects List" some. Nothing of any great consequence though somethings that needed doing. I finally fixed the fenderboards and got them rigged rig. Fenderboards, for those not in the know nautically speaking, are "boards that hang in front of the fenders along the side of the boat when your are docked. The idea is to have the fenders rest on the side of the boat and the "board" between the fenders and the pilings of the dock. Fenders are basically rubber tubes that are meant to keep docks and piling and other boast from making contact with the boat and so doing damage to the topsides. Being tubes, the fenders, which are hung of the side of the boat on a piece of line attached to the lifelines, tend to roll and move and can easily be pushed out of the way and so lose their effectiveness. By affixing a couple of them them to the ends of a board, or in my case to a 3" diameter piece of PVC pipe, they remain in place and the board takes the punishment from the piling and/or dock. My fenderboards needed to be re-rigged as all the crushing against various docks and pilings had pretty much done in the lines holding fenders to pipe and need replacing. A simple task done out in the warm sun.
There were also various cotter pins and wire ties that had to be replaced and/or upgraded. The salt air does its best to destroy every piece of equipment or to at least make it non-functioning. So there were more blocks and shackles and other such things that needed to be taken apart and lube and reassembled. Again, not tough jobs but more ongoing maintenance that needed doing.
Someone said that bad things happen in threes. It may be true. When the launch was coming to pick me up, the steering cable parted and it lost steering. The driver was able to use the emergency tiller to get along side and I helped out for a while running the throttle while he helmed the launch. Last night was Wednesday night, Race Night, and there were lots ope people looking to first get out to their boats and then back in again. The two man combo was not the best way to run the launch but it worked reasonably well.
The second thing that went wrong was there was no hot water in the shower this morning. Thank goodness it was rather warm already so the cold water wasn't such a shock. It can sure wake you up in the morning though!
And number three? Well, I am worried about that! It could be anything or it could be nothing, but the waiting for the shoe to drop is never pleasant. Perhaps, it is just an old wives' tale or an urban legend or something like that. Still . . . . . . . . . .
A beautiful day today and a good day for work. I took the opportunity to whittle down the never ending "Projects List" some. Nothing of any great consequence though somethings that needed doing. I finally fixed the fenderboards and got them rigged rig. Fenderboards, for those not in the know nautically speaking, are "boards that hang in front of the fenders along the side of the boat when your are docked. The idea is to have the fenders rest on the side of the boat and the "board" between the fenders and the pilings of the dock. Fenders are basically rubber tubes that are meant to keep docks and piling and other boast from making contact with the boat and so doing damage to the topsides. Being tubes, the fenders, which are hung of the side of the boat on a piece of line attached to the lifelines, tend to roll and move and can easily be pushed out of the way and so lose their effectiveness. By affixing a couple of them them to the ends of a board, or in my case to a 3" diameter piece of PVC pipe, they remain in place and the board takes the punishment from the piling and/or dock. My fenderboards needed to be re-rigged as all the crushing against various docks and pilings had pretty much done in the lines holding fenders to pipe and need replacing. A simple task done out in the warm sun.
There were also various cotter pins and wire ties that had to be replaced and/or upgraded. The salt air does its best to destroy every piece of equipment or to at least make it non-functioning. So there were more blocks and shackles and other such things that needed to be taken apart and lube and reassembled. Again, not tough jobs but more ongoing maintenance that needed doing.
Someone said that bad things happen in threes. It may be true. When the launch was coming to pick me up, the steering cable parted and it lost steering. The driver was able to use the emergency tiller to get along side and I helped out for a while running the throttle while he helmed the launch. Last night was Wednesday night, Race Night, and there were lots ope people looking to first get out to their boats and then back in again. The two man combo was not the best way to run the launch but it worked reasonably well.
The second thing that went wrong was there was no hot water in the shower this morning. Thank goodness it was rather warm already so the cold water wasn't such a shock. It can sure wake you up in the morning though!
And number three? Well, I am worried about that! It could be anything or it could be nothing, but the waiting for the shoe to drop is never pleasant. Perhaps, it is just an old wives' tale or an urban legend or something like that. Still . . . . . . . . . .
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
One Of Them Florida Storms!
SHIP'S LOG:
The day was to be a work day but it turned out too nice. Not that I didn't do some work. I had to finish off the repair to the caprail/toerail. The F-27 set very well but had to be sanded down and all the rough and sharp edges removed. It really didn't take too long and then it was too nice a day not go go sailing.
There was about 10 knots of wind out of the S/SW, as it is most days, and there was little or no humidity. There was just the slightest bit of haze on the far horizon and a few puffy white clouds here and there. Even NOAA was calling for a beautiful day with "just a 20% chance of some showers late in the afternoon." Since they daily cover their collective butts with a forecast of of "a 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms," I went sailing. And it was great. It was naother one of those sailing days where I pretty much went where the wind was blowing - a couple of hours that way and then a couple of hours that way and then a couple of hors this way and back to the mooring. No place I need to be and all the time in the world to get there.
On the way back in I noticed that the sky was beginning to cloud up some. The clouds didn't appear to be moving all that fast and seemed to be just crossing west to east. Whatever "unpleasant weather" might be happening, it certainly looked to pass well north.
.
After getting to the mooring, I cleaned up the boat from the sail and put everything in place, and then headed into the Clubhouse to get online. In the 2 minutes it took to get in, a black line appeared in the north, indicating a squall line or storm front, again well north, so it seemed. Sitting on the porch and gassing with a couple of members we kept checking out the line assuring one another that it would certainly pass north and would miss us completely. Even when the sky grew ominously dark, we still felt that it would give us a miss.
That communal opinion changed with the wind direction, when what had been South at 10 turned in an instant to 25 out of the north. And it increased. And with that shift came the large, dark, black and purple clouds. I am not sure what the steady wind speed got up to, but 40 mph wasn't far off and the gusts easily hit 50! At first there was no rain but that changed too. The "wall of rain" eventually blotted out the view of the bridge 3 miles away and advanced rapidly.
And it hit big time, along with thunder and some rather spectacular lightning. It rained so hard that water from the street rushed down our driveway and onto the beach scouring a canyon through the sand to the water. It was spectacular! Just like the storms in florida but this time I was on the beach! It didn't last too long, 20-25 minutesbut it must have dropped a good inch of rain.
In one sense, it was a fun storm, lots of flash but no real damage to anyone or anything. It was one that you could sit on the porch with a drink and enjoy. It would have been less entertaining on ABISHAG but 4 of those in Florida were more than enough for me this year!
The day was to be a work day but it turned out too nice. Not that I didn't do some work. I had to finish off the repair to the caprail/toerail. The F-27 set very well but had to be sanded down and all the rough and sharp edges removed. It really didn't take too long and then it was too nice a day not go go sailing.
There was about 10 knots of wind out of the S/SW, as it is most days, and there was little or no humidity. There was just the slightest bit of haze on the far horizon and a few puffy white clouds here and there. Even NOAA was calling for a beautiful day with "just a 20% chance of some showers late in the afternoon." Since they daily cover their collective butts with a forecast of of "a 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms," I went sailing. And it was great. It was naother one of those sailing days where I pretty much went where the wind was blowing - a couple of hours that way and then a couple of hours that way and then a couple of hors this way and back to the mooring. No place I need to be and all the time in the world to get there.
On the way back in I noticed that the sky was beginning to cloud up some. The clouds didn't appear to be moving all that fast and seemed to be just crossing west to east. Whatever "unpleasant weather" might be happening, it certainly looked to pass well north.
.
After getting to the mooring, I cleaned up the boat from the sail and put everything in place, and then headed into the Clubhouse to get online. In the 2 minutes it took to get in, a black line appeared in the north, indicating a squall line or storm front, again well north, so it seemed. Sitting on the porch and gassing with a couple of members we kept checking out the line assuring one another that it would certainly pass north and would miss us completely. Even when the sky grew ominously dark, we still felt that it would give us a miss.
That communal opinion changed with the wind direction, when what had been South at 10 turned in an instant to 25 out of the north. And it increased. And with that shift came the large, dark, black and purple clouds. I am not sure what the steady wind speed got up to, but 40 mph wasn't far off and the gusts easily hit 50! At first there was no rain but that changed too. The "wall of rain" eventually blotted out the view of the bridge 3 miles away and advanced rapidly.
And it hit big time, along with thunder and some rather spectacular lightning. It rained so hard that water from the street rushed down our driveway and onto the beach scouring a canyon through the sand to the water. It was spectacular! Just like the storms in florida but this time I was on the beach! It didn't last too long, 20-25 minutesbut it must have dropped a good inch of rain.
In one sense, it was a fun storm, lots of flash but no real damage to anyone or anything. It was one that you could sit on the porch with a drink and enjoy. It would have been less entertaining on ABISHAG but 4 of those in Florida were more than enough for me this year!
Monday, July 25, 2011
The Governor's Regatta
SHIP'S LOG:
Sunday was the Governor's Regatta, a yearly event at TYC, and since I don't race anymore (I am really, REALLY Bad at it), I volunteered to work as part of the Committee for the Race. So for the past few days, I have been referred to as "the Windward Mark," indicating my particular role in the race scheme of things.
The Race itself is begins and ends "in the vicinity of Vixens Ledge" which off the mouth of the Thames River and off of Groton proper. It is a nice open expanse of water which allows for the racing to be done without competitors being hampered by the boat traffic in the Thames and is not blocked- wind wise - by the land. The current can be a bit tricky but that is supposed to be part of fun.
Being a part of the Race Committee, I got to dock Saturday at the end of the TYC dock and again on Sunday night - without charge. This "freebie" is allowed on Saturday so that the boats on the Committee can be pre-loaded with all the paraphernalia that is needed for the race, including food and drink for the "hard working crews," and allowed again on Sunday so that the crews can off-load said paraphernalia after the Race and before the post race party. It is also a lot easier to walk down the dock and crash on your boat after the post race party rather than motor out, secure the boat to the mooring, close up and try to get into the launch for the ride back ashore.
The weather didn't really cooperate as we got a thunder and lightning storm about 7am and while the rain stopped, it remained overcast and threatening all day. The wind didn't cooperate much either entailing a delay of an hour before the racing could start. In the end, the race was a simply windward/leward race of about 5 miles. It would have been longer, with another couple of legs but the wind didn't permit it. The way the wind was blowing, the Race Committee determined that they didn't need my services and use government marks for the race It meant that me and the crew got to watch as spectators without any responsibility . . .except to the food and drink so generously supplied. It also meant that we had an early release and got back to the club just ahead of the first finishing racers.
The party that followed was typically up to TYC standards. I imagine that the racers come as much for the party as for the competition.
hanging on the dock in the Thames can be a "rolly" experience with all the traffic in the river and Sunday night was no exception. With the wind out of the SE, even with a web of lines and a host of fenders, I still whacked the pilings a few times and one time was right on a section of the caprail that I have repaired several times. That this section survived the ICW trip I found amazing, that it didn't survive two nights on a dock in the Thames was no surprise at all. The downside was that the piece of wood, so often repaired, had disappeared leaving the caprail with a "gaped-tooth smile" as it were. I hit West Marine for a can of F-27 epoxie filler and "put in a filling." it needs to be sanded and stained but so long as it fills the gap and keeps the rail in place, it will be fine. I will have to decided come the fall or spring, how to make a m ore permanent repair. The caprail, has numerous cracks, so serious, some hardly noticeable, and it needs work, so this will just be the inspiration to take it on. Now I just have to figure out where on the "projects list" it goes!
Sunday was the Governor's Regatta, a yearly event at TYC, and since I don't race anymore (I am really, REALLY Bad at it), I volunteered to work as part of the Committee for the Race. So for the past few days, I have been referred to as "the Windward Mark," indicating my particular role in the race scheme of things.
The Race itself is begins and ends "in the vicinity of Vixens Ledge" which off the mouth of the Thames River and off of Groton proper. It is a nice open expanse of water which allows for the racing to be done without competitors being hampered by the boat traffic in the Thames and is not blocked- wind wise - by the land. The current can be a bit tricky but that is supposed to be part of fun.
Being a part of the Race Committee, I got to dock Saturday at the end of the TYC dock and again on Sunday night - without charge. This "freebie" is allowed on Saturday so that the boats on the Committee can be pre-loaded with all the paraphernalia that is needed for the race, including food and drink for the "hard working crews," and allowed again on Sunday so that the crews can off-load said paraphernalia after the Race and before the post race party. It is also a lot easier to walk down the dock and crash on your boat after the post race party rather than motor out, secure the boat to the mooring, close up and try to get into the launch for the ride back ashore.
The weather didn't really cooperate as we got a thunder and lightning storm about 7am and while the rain stopped, it remained overcast and threatening all day. The wind didn't cooperate much either entailing a delay of an hour before the racing could start. In the end, the race was a simply windward/leward race of about 5 miles. It would have been longer, with another couple of legs but the wind didn't permit it. The way the wind was blowing, the Race Committee determined that they didn't need my services and use government marks for the race It meant that me and the crew got to watch as spectators without any responsibility . . .except to the food and drink so generously supplied. It also meant that we had an early release and got back to the club just ahead of the first finishing racers.
The party that followed was typically up to TYC standards. I imagine that the racers come as much for the party as for the competition.
hanging on the dock in the Thames can be a "rolly" experience with all the traffic in the river and Sunday night was no exception. With the wind out of the SE, even with a web of lines and a host of fenders, I still whacked the pilings a few times and one time was right on a section of the caprail that I have repaired several times. That this section survived the ICW trip I found amazing, that it didn't survive two nights on a dock in the Thames was no surprise at all. The downside was that the piece of wood, so often repaired, had disappeared leaving the caprail with a "gaped-tooth smile" as it were. I hit West Marine for a can of F-27 epoxie filler and "put in a filling." it needs to be sanded and stained but so long as it fills the gap and keeps the rail in place, it will be fine. I will have to decided come the fall or spring, how to make a m ore permanent repair. The caprail, has numerous cracks, so serious, some hardly noticeable, and it needs work, so this will just be the inspiration to take it on. Now I just have to figure out where on the "projects list" it goes!
Saturday, July 23, 2011
It IS Never As Easy As it Looks!
SHIP'S LOG:
A strange combination of simple factors brought about the rare situation that the Club was without a launch driver today. Something similar happened last year and i volunteered to help out. So it was that I got a call last night and found myself doing a four hours shift from 1-5pm. Driving the launch is not particularly difficult. It is something like driving a semi cross country. The hardest part is linking up with and not hitting any of the boats, and then trying to dock the launch without sinking it. The launch is only 26 feet long but it would have been easier for me using my own 39 foot craft. I just have a lot more experience with it than with the launch. Plus the fact that that it weighs 11 tons and goes exactly where you point it. I would suppose that the launch is easier to handle once you have some time with it but for a one shot four hour duty, was a little hard to control, especially docking. Docks, as defined by someone, are wooden structures in the water that go "squeak" or "thud" when hit. I had some squeaks and a thud or two in the 30 some odd trips, but no damage of any kind to the launch, other boats or the dock. Actually linking up with the boats is easier as they move a bit when brushed and if you miss judge the approach, there is nothing in front of you but water. Misjudge the approach to the dock, and there is the pier in front of you. And remember, the launch has no brakes. You have to slam it into reverse and then watch out behind so that you don't whack a piling when you shoot backwards. And as you are doing this, judging the winds, the drift, the speed, the current, helming the launch and adjusting the throttle, you are also supposed to slip a loop at the end of a rope( sorry, LINE) tied to the side of the launch over a cleat on the dock which will hold it in place as people get on and get off. Something like juggling . . . chainsaws!
Most of the passengers were very good about it, perhaps knowing that if they complained, they would be coerced the next time into taking a turn as launch drive. I know, from last year's experience, that it takes real skill and even though I have never barked at a launch driver, I respect them even more each time I have to take their place. Still, better them than me. It is safer for everyone!
A strange combination of simple factors brought about the rare situation that the Club was without a launch driver today. Something similar happened last year and i volunteered to help out. So it was that I got a call last night and found myself doing a four hours shift from 1-5pm. Driving the launch is not particularly difficult. It is something like driving a semi cross country. The hardest part is linking up with and not hitting any of the boats, and then trying to dock the launch without sinking it. The launch is only 26 feet long but it would have been easier for me using my own 39 foot craft. I just have a lot more experience with it than with the launch. Plus the fact that that it weighs 11 tons and goes exactly where you point it. I would suppose that the launch is easier to handle once you have some time with it but for a one shot four hour duty, was a little hard to control, especially docking. Docks, as defined by someone, are wooden structures in the water that go "squeak" or "thud" when hit. I had some squeaks and a thud or two in the 30 some odd trips, but no damage of any kind to the launch, other boats or the dock. Actually linking up with the boats is easier as they move a bit when brushed and if you miss judge the approach, there is nothing in front of you but water. Misjudge the approach to the dock, and there is the pier in front of you. And remember, the launch has no brakes. You have to slam it into reverse and then watch out behind so that you don't whack a piling when you shoot backwards. And as you are doing this, judging the winds, the drift, the speed, the current, helming the launch and adjusting the throttle, you are also supposed to slip a loop at the end of a rope( sorry, LINE) tied to the side of the launch over a cleat on the dock which will hold it in place as people get on and get off. Something like juggling . . . chainsaws!
Most of the passengers were very good about it, perhaps knowing that if they complained, they would be coerced the next time into taking a turn as launch drive. I know, from last year's experience, that it takes real skill and even though I have never barked at a launch driver, I respect them even more each time I have to take their place. Still, better them than me. It is safer for everyone!
Friday, July 22, 2011
Hot! Real Hot! Damn Hot!
SHIP'S LOG:
Actually, yesterday was too, too bad, merely horrible. we were lucky enough to have an on-shore breeze, which meant that because the land heated up faster than the water, the air over it rose, sucking in the air from over the water which was much cooler. Still it was hot, real hot, damn hot, and humid too! But then I guess I am not telling you much of anything new, am I?
Today is supposed to be worse! It is payback for all the winter cold and snow. It is probably what all the locals dreamt about in December and January, forgetting what it could really be like when the hot weather machine gets into full gear . . . and it is only July!
Hopefully there will be enough wind to go out for a sail today. It may end up being pretty much of a float as oppose to a sail but the difference from being on land will be very noticeable. Just walking from the clubhouse to the launch dock takes you out over the water and that drops the temperature a bunch, or at least if feels that way. It's a good day for air conditioning, which I don't have, or at least a swim. Right now the 53 degree Maine Ocean water sound pretty good. O, to be "blue" and shivering!
Actually, yesterday was too, too bad, merely horrible. we were lucky enough to have an on-shore breeze, which meant that because the land heated up faster than the water, the air over it rose, sucking in the air from over the water which was much cooler. Still it was hot, real hot, damn hot, and humid too! But then I guess I am not telling you much of anything new, am I?
Today is supposed to be worse! It is payback for all the winter cold and snow. It is probably what all the locals dreamt about in December and January, forgetting what it could really be like when the hot weather machine gets into full gear . . . and it is only July!
Hopefully there will be enough wind to go out for a sail today. It may end up being pretty much of a float as oppose to a sail but the difference from being on land will be very noticeable. Just walking from the clubhouse to the launch dock takes you out over the water and that drops the temperature a bunch, or at least if feels that way. It's a good day for air conditioning, which I don't have, or at least a swim. Right now the 53 degree Maine Ocean water sound pretty good. O, to be "blue" and shivering!
Thursday, July 21, 2011
The Lights Went Out In Georgia . . . Actually New London!
SHIP'S LOG:
As I have mentioned many times before, I view electricity as something akin to Voodoo. No matter how hard I try I can not seem to grasp the concept except in the most vague and limit manner. Anything more electrically complex than a flashlight and I am at a loss. And if fixing it requires anything more than replacing the batteries, well . . . . just forget about it.
Thus is was no fun when the lights in the salon stopped working. Damn! If one had stopped, or perhaps two, I could have let it slide, my usual method for dealing with things electric. But all the lights and all at once, no that was a matter to be dealt with. Unfortunately, it wasn't a batteries problem!
All of the electrical items and switches and outlets are all connected to the house battery Bank ( the source of power) panel of breakers at the nav table. The breaker which controlled the lights was also wire to control the propane solenoid as well. Well that worked because I would have been without morning coffee otherwise, not a good thing, but the lights did not. This little bit of information told me that there was juice to the breaker and that was the first place to start. I unscrewed the 8 screws holding the breaker panel in place and checked the appropriate breaker for a loose wire. No such luck.The next move was to check out the wire connection at the light fixture nearest the breaker panel. Sounds simple but it entailed taking down the ceiling. that meant unscrewing the 18 little screws that hold it to the overhead(and not loosing any) and horsing the panel out of its spot and into a place where it would be out of the way. Oh, did i mention that it was 89 degrees and 97% humidity? NO? It was! And no breeze!
After the ceiling was down, I was able to access the back of the fixture and there it was, a wire broken of a stud on the light switch. It seemed easy enough to fix through it entailed removing the fixture so that I could get at it with a soldering iron. this particular fixture was a gooseneck lamp for the nav station and its design made it necessary to not only disconnect it from the ceiling but also to cut the wires connecting it to the power. Then I needed only to re-solder the connection and reconnect the wires and reattach the fixture to the ceiling then reattach the ceiling to the overhead and the job would be done. Simple.
I had a butane soldering iron, a jar of flux . . . . . but no solder. So Call the launch, get ashore, drive to Radio Shack, get the solder, drive back, get the launch out to the boat and fix it. And I did. The light work perfectly as did the other light on the port side of the boat. Darkness still reigned however on the starboard side. Both of the florescent fixture were "non-responsive!" While wired to the same breaker switch, they probably took power from the propane solenoid panel. I say probably because I don't know for sure. I do know that i had to put the ceiling back and to investigate the florescent side of the issue meant taking down another ceiling panel on the other side of the salon, as well as dealing with the back of the solenoid power panel, which, despite my best previous efforts, still bore some resemblance to a bowl of spaghetti. It also meant having to deal with some ham-handed wiring that was even worse than my own.
I hate to say it, but I have pout it off for awhile. It is too bleeding hot and, based on the first foray into the ceiling, which took from about 11am to 5pm, it will be an all day affair of the first water. The prospect is not so much daunting as debilitating, what with the serious heat wave heading our way(actually, already here!). Next week is bound to be cooler, plus it doesn't mean i can't go sailing!
As I have mentioned many times before, I view electricity as something akin to Voodoo. No matter how hard I try I can not seem to grasp the concept except in the most vague and limit manner. Anything more electrically complex than a flashlight and I am at a loss. And if fixing it requires anything more than replacing the batteries, well . . . . just forget about it.
Thus is was no fun when the lights in the salon stopped working. Damn! If one had stopped, or perhaps two, I could have let it slide, my usual method for dealing with things electric. But all the lights and all at once, no that was a matter to be dealt with. Unfortunately, it wasn't a batteries problem!
All of the electrical items and switches and outlets are all connected to the house battery Bank ( the source of power) panel of breakers at the nav table. The breaker which controlled the lights was also wire to control the propane solenoid as well. Well that worked because I would have been without morning coffee otherwise, not a good thing, but the lights did not. This little bit of information told me that there was juice to the breaker and that was the first place to start. I unscrewed the 8 screws holding the breaker panel in place and checked the appropriate breaker for a loose wire. No such luck.The next move was to check out the wire connection at the light fixture nearest the breaker panel. Sounds simple but it entailed taking down the ceiling. that meant unscrewing the 18 little screws that hold it to the overhead(and not loosing any) and horsing the panel out of its spot and into a place where it would be out of the way. Oh, did i mention that it was 89 degrees and 97% humidity? NO? It was! And no breeze!
After the ceiling was down, I was able to access the back of the fixture and there it was, a wire broken of a stud on the light switch. It seemed easy enough to fix through it entailed removing the fixture so that I could get at it with a soldering iron. this particular fixture was a gooseneck lamp for the nav station and its design made it necessary to not only disconnect it from the ceiling but also to cut the wires connecting it to the power. Then I needed only to re-solder the connection and reconnect the wires and reattach the fixture to the ceiling then reattach the ceiling to the overhead and the job would be done. Simple.
I had a butane soldering iron, a jar of flux . . . . . but no solder. So Call the launch, get ashore, drive to Radio Shack, get the solder, drive back, get the launch out to the boat and fix it. And I did. The light work perfectly as did the other light on the port side of the boat. Darkness still reigned however on the starboard side. Both of the florescent fixture were "non-responsive!" While wired to the same breaker switch, they probably took power from the propane solenoid panel. I say probably because I don't know for sure. I do know that i had to put the ceiling back and to investigate the florescent side of the issue meant taking down another ceiling panel on the other side of the salon, as well as dealing with the back of the solenoid power panel, which, despite my best previous efforts, still bore some resemblance to a bowl of spaghetti. It also meant having to deal with some ham-handed wiring that was even worse than my own.
I hate to say it, but I have pout it off for awhile. It is too bleeding hot and, based on the first foray into the ceiling, which took from about 11am to 5pm, it will be an all day affair of the first water. The prospect is not so much daunting as debilitating, what with the serious heat wave heading our way(actually, already here!). Next week is bound to be cooler, plus it doesn't mean i can't go sailing!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
