Thursday, 16 February 2017 - Not a lot going on here today. I took my two scuba tanks over to the dive shop to have them tested. One will be a simple visual inspection, the other will have to be pressure tested. After that, I headed over to Home Depot to return some hardware that I got yesterday and trade it in for something more substantial. It was hardware to add an "All around white light" to the back of the dinghy. What I had gotten yesterday would have met the letter of the law for a little while, but I decided it would probably not last long, so I decided to replace it BEFORE I drill holes in the transom to avoid having two sets of holes. I also went to West Marine in search of a gasket for the head, but had to order it in since they didn't have it in stock. The associate said it should be in early tomorrow morning and that they will call me. I'll believe that when it happens.

Friday, 17 February - Wow! I'm beat. I gave up on West Marine calling me at noon about the part I'd ordered yesterday coming in. I called them and before I could talk to anyone that knew about the order, they called me while I was on the phone with them. I went over and got the part, then spent all the rest of the afternoon at Home Depot trying to figure out how to repurpose some unrelated pieces of hardware to make the mount for a light for the dinghy. I finally left there at about 6:30pm, but I did finally come up with a simple and inexpensive solution. The involvement with salt water and the electrolytic corrosion caused by dissimilar metals complicates making anything here more difficult, as does the different methods that different trades, like plumbers, mariners, and electricians make and measure things.

Saturday, 18 February - I fixed the toilet in the forward head, then drilled holes in the transom on the dinghy and mounted the light pole for the all-around white light.

Sunday, 19 February - Since I feel a need for more space, I've decided to see if I can sell a spare $4000 brand new mainsail for the boat. It was purchased by the previous owner and since it is a traditional sail that raises and drops to reef, and since Island Time now has roller furling sails, the chance of my ever using it would be awfully slim. In fact, to be able to use it, I would have to remove quite a bit of hardware and mount appropriate blocks, pad eyes, hooks, etc. just to make this sail work again, I'm pretty sure it won't get used. What a shame. It's never been used. Maybe I can find a new, better home for it. It was stuffed clear up in the forepeak, under the births, so it took me about an hour just to get it out, then I put it in the dinghy and took it ashore to spread it out and measure it so I'll know how to describe it for sale.
                  While I had the sail spread out on the ground, Gene Ramos, a power boater from Ft. Myers Beach happened to be passing by about a block from where I was while bringing his truck down to Key West. He's the fellow who is going to take advanced scuba lessons to become an instructor and dive master. He's bringing the truck down today, will take the Key West Express back this evening, then bring his powerboat down starting Tuesday.
                  Around 6pm, I went over to meet Robert Dahmer for dinner at the Hurricane Seafood Restaurant., He's a sailor I met up at Fort Myers Beach who has just sailed down here and is anchored on the gulf side of Marathon.

Monday, 20 February - While filling the tank in the dinghy from one of my gas jugs stored on deck, I realized that there was something in the boat's tank that shouldn't be. I couldn't tell if it was dirt, water, or something else. I spent about an hour collecting the tools, a kitchen baster, a piece of plastic tube, a piece of copper wire to insert into the tube to let me control the tubes shape; then an hour sucking the material out. When I finally got it out, I realized that it was rust and that I could have gotten it out with a magnetic retrieval tool in about 5 minutes had I only known what it was. Next time I'll suspect that first...if I can remember. Sometimes I can't remember what I've just said or done, much less what I did a month ago. Sometimes I can't remember what I've just said or done, much less what I did a month ago. I have no idea how rust got into a plastic tank that was filled from a plastic jug. Another one of the mysteries of boating.
                  I also started researching and studying the reverse osmosis water maker on board. I think I should have looked at it much sooner, but, here in the states, I have had no need for it; I get my water ashore. Once I leave the states, however, water will be expensive and sometimes hard to get at all. Being able to make my own water would be a great solution to the problem.

Tuesday, 21 February - I took a hand written notice about the mainsail and posted it on the bulletin board at the marina today. I, also, got my teeth cleaned and the dental hygienist discovered a cavity, so I'll be going back for more fun. On the way back from the dentist, I stopped and bought a very few essential groceries; bread, milk, bananas, and a pair of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups.

Wednesday, 22 February - A blustery, rainy day here. I intended to spend time putting things back in order that I had to move to get the spare mainsail out of the forepeak and clean up the boat a bit, but got side tracked and spent all afternoon pulling the 150 feet of chain that is still in the chain locker out and lubricating it to see if that would help with the pyramiding problem. I put almost a full can of WD-40 on it, but it didn't help a bit. I've gotten several ideas from friends about how to fix the problem, but I don't think there's enough room in the locker to make some of them work, and others, I think might have scenarios that could go wrong and cause problems. I think one idea would simply move the stack to a different spot. One sounded cheap and simple; put a traffic cone in the space, and I like cheap and simple, but I really don't think that would work, either. I think the cone would just take up space and support the pile. The chain just doesn't want to slide over itself. I really think there needs to be a mechanism to move the chain fore and aft as it falls into the space. One other idea I really liked, but I don't seem to know how to implement it. That is to get a pretty girl to come on board and move the chain forward and aft as I raise the anchor. I need to work on that one. Oh! It might be nice if she could cook, too.

            Until next time.
                        "Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming "Wow! What a Ride!" - Hunter S. Thompson

                                          Rick