Thursday, 16 March 2017 - I feel pretty good about today's accomplishments, even though I really did only two things worth talking about, washing clothes and finally learning something about the Single Sideband Radio, or SSB. While listening to the Marathon (Boot Key) Cruiser's Net this morning on the VHF, one of the participants asked a question about his SSB. They switched channels for their discussion and I followed them to the other channel. They resolved the fellow's problem quickly and as soon as they finished, I broke into the conversation and explained my frustration trying to learn how to use my radio and asked the more knowledgeable of the pair if I could pay him to come to my boat and tutor me on its use for about an hour. He said, "No". Then he said he'd be here at 4pm, but I couldn't pay him. He was very patient and helpful. I was afraid me might take offense when I told him I didn't want him to touch my radio, but when I explained that if HE sat at the radio manipulating the buttons and knobs, I wouldn't learn anything, but if he told ME what knobs and buttons to push and why, I would learn by hearing and doing, he understood totally, and that's the way we proceeded. That worked well and I learned a lot, but still have a long way to go. This is a very complicated radio that can send and receive voice transmissions, faxes, email, ham radio, and other transmissions, but learning how to do so will take awhile. When he left, I listened in to the world wide Cruizeheimer's Net (Cruisers with Alzheimers), afternoon session, called the DoDah Net (You can tell they take this very seriously), but still had a very hard time hearing and understanding anything on it. I'm still not convinced that the radio or its grounding system doesn't need some tweaking to make reception better. I'll try to listen in on more in the morning and see if I can hear it any better then. There is lots of background noise on these radios and he said you can't just dial it out with the squelch like you can with the VHF, so maybe I just need to learn to ignore it through practice.

Friday, 17 March - I helped rescue a fellow sailor that was new to the harbor from running aground. When he tried to anchor near shallow water the small engine that he had on his little sailboat couldn't overpower the brisk winds he needed to maneuver into. He was able to deploy his bow anchor just in time to keep from grounding, but couldn't power away, and the tide was going out. He put out a distress call on the VHF radio asking for help and I happened to hear him. He was unfamiliar with the area and couldn't describe his position properly. I finally spotted him only two boats away from me and told others where he was, then lowered my dinghy to go help. Three of us showed up. The first one there didn't have enough power to pull him off, but my 15hp Yamaha moved him easily. We pulled his anchor up, then I moved him and redeployed his anchor. Having done that, I headed over to Castaways Pub to celebrate St. Patrick's Day with Robert Dahmer.

Saturday, 18 March - There seem to be quite a few Cajun country boaters here and they had another Cajun lunch today for the marina with some very good food, jambalaya, cray fish, and a few dishes that, although very tasty, I'd never heard of. One, I asked what it was and the cook refused to tell me until I had tasted it and pronounced it delicious; pork belly, not bacon, but stomach. Pretty good but very chewy.

Sunday, 19 March - I spent about 4 hours today at West Marine and Home Depot trying to find a viable replacement for the covers for the UP and DOWN switches at the bow for the anchor windlass. I helped Rick George, the previous owner, install new switches and covers on the boat before I bought it, but the covers on the switches are flimsy plastic and one of them only lasted about 2 weeks before it got stepped on or the anchor chain broke it. The other didn't last too long either. The covers don't keep water out, a rubber seal does that, but the caps keep you from accidentally stepping or dropping something on them and turning the winch on unexpectedly, which could be very dangerous, and they keep the sun from destroying the rubber seals. I certainly didn't want more of the same covers, so I was hoping to find something much heavier duty. I had no luck finding something better that was made for the purpose, so it became time to jury rig something. Home Depot usually has something that will work, all you have to do is figure out how to make it do so. I decide the end cap for a 3" PVC schedule 40 pipe would do exactly what I needed. I bought two, one for each switch, and will modify them tomorrow.

Monday, 19 March - After breakfast and the Boot Key Harbor Cruiser's Net this morning I headed to shore with my water jugs to fill and refrigeration charging manifold to loan to a fellow so he can service his refrigerator. After that, I returned to the boat and cut the 3" PVC caps down so that the domes on them were about all that was left. That will allow the caps to cover the switches, but not stick up so much that I'll be tripping over them all the time. They were about 3.5" high, now about 1". They are so thick, about a quarter inch, that I can't think of anything on the deck, short of the anchors themselves, that will hurt them. Besides that, the anchors really rarely come up on deck. They stay mounted hanging forward off the bow when not in use, not on the deck. I think these will be perfect covers and I attached them so they can't blow or get washed away, but can be removed and placed out of the way, tethered, when I need to use the switches.
                  Later that evening I went to The Hurricane Bar for some pizza and beer and happened to meet Steve and Cindy of the S/V Slip Away and joined them for dinner.

Tuesday, 20 March - Since the air tank that I recently purchased used flunked its pressure test, I decided to get one from the shop that tested it. I couldn't believe the service I got. I called them to find out the price of a used one, then mentioned that I probably should have left the bad one with them because I don't have transportation to take the aluminum to a scrap metal yard. He couldn't help me there, but said that he'd come get me to look at used tanks, picking me up here at the marina and bringing me back, no purchase necessary. That's service! They had several, I took my pick, getting a freshly tested and filled galvanized tank for $85, and he brought me back to the marina.
                  After that I went back over to West Marine, having measured the diameter of my pushpit railing and bought a pair of clamps that I needed, to replace one that has deteriorated from the UV of the sun, and tried to get a replacement for a sheave on one of my snatch blocks, but they didn't have the right size.

Wednesday, 21 March - Today, Robert Dahmer, Steve of the Gulfstar "S/V Slip Away" and I went snorkeling and lobster hunting, and when I say hunting, that about all I mean. Robert had caught one before Steve and I arrive, but we get skunked for the rest of the afternoon, so Robert has lobster for dinner and Steve and I go hungry. We still enjoyed a beautiful, calm afternoon on clear green seas. It was nice to get out and get the exercise and soak up some sun.

            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