Friday, 25 May 2018 - As per the weather forecast, I was expecting rain and winds around 18 to 20 miles per hour almost all day, so I didn't really plan much for today. Not only that, but I didn't want to run the generator in the rain to charge the batteries, assuming the wind charger would do that for me. In actuality, we got very light sprinkles and light and sporadic winds.
                    After having let the adhesive on the dinghy cure overnight, I pumped the dinghy up around noon. Tomorrow morning I'll know how well this round of patching went.
                    I noticed a little bit of water from recent rains in one of the stowage compartments in the saloon the other day, but couldn't really tell where the water was coming in from. At first I suspected one of the stanchions or chain plates, but on inspection on deck, that looked unlikely. I did, however, notice a crack in the toe or cap rail on the gunwale, so I assumed that must be the culprit. The wood is too wet to make a permanent repair, so I merely taped over it. If that stops the water intrusion, I'll make a permanent repair when things dry out, but that may be awhile since the weather forecast promises rain for the next full week.

Saturday, 26 May - As I think I mentioned before, I've been looking for a way to protect some newly acquired navigational charts and a better, more accessible way to store my existing charts. My existing charts are stored flat, but buried under the foam mattress in the forepeak; not too easily accessed. I'd been to Home Depot and Office Depot looking for plastic sheeting, but couldn't find anything clear enough, large enough, cheap enough and thin enough that they would sell me. I decided I needed to think out of the box. I got on the web site for Home Depot and found that they sell one kind of trash bag that would probably fill the bill. Today I went over and bought one box of 50 five gallon trash bags. They are only 1.1/1000ths of an inch thick, clear enough, and when cut up, each bag makes four 25" X 36" sheets. My new charts are now interleaved with a sheet of plastic between each one and should be kept much drier, easier to access, and, when rolled up in a 5" tube, much safer from damage. I don't have the tube yet, and I hope I don't have to buy a whole 10 foot section, but I'm sure that shouldn't be too hard to find.

Sunday, 27 May - Subtropical storm Alberto finally got a name and has move further north and passed us, so unless it turns around, which, by the way, is not unheard of, I'll let the people in Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, or Georgia worry about him for now. With hurricane season getting jump started this early, the coming summer may be interesting around here again.

Monday, 28 May - Right after the morning Cruiser's Net on the VHF radio this morning, a request for assistance was broadcast. Some lady's dinghy motor had died and wouldn't restart, so she had blown into the mangroves near me. I launched my dinghy and towed her back to a friend's boat where she could get assistance. On the way back to my boat, my engine died twice, reminding me that, once again, something is wrong with my fuel system. I discovered that yet another of my Yamaha fuel tanks has a bad fuel outlet connector. This would have been the third to go bad within the last few months because of the fuel outlet, The fourth tank developed a crack. I can't believe three have had exactly the same problem in such a short time span. When I tried to replace this valve, I discovered that, although it looks identical on the outside, the connector and tank configuration are quite different, so my final spare couldn't be used, although I think I'll be able to modify the tank with a coping saw to make it fit. I had to siphon the remaining fuel out of one tank and into another with a new valve to get going again.
                    Later, I walked over to the library to return some movies I had checked out, but, of course, it was closed for the holiday. I got back to the marina just after they closed, so I didn't get to check for mail.

Tuesday, 29 May - Much of today was spent fine tuning the Bilge Pump Switch, adding a small float to the bottom of the existing float arm to compensate for the 3/4" thick weight that I added to the bottom of the switch to hold it in place. It took three different tries, with different floats; a prescription bottle, an old Kodachrome film container on its side then on its end, then, finally, a small shampoo container from some motel, to get the height right on the float correct. If it was too high or too low, the sump pump wouldn't be turned on and off at the correct depth. Turning it off at the right time is especially important. If it doesn't turn off before it sucks air, it will burn up the pump. Upon completion of that, I headed over to the Home Depot to buy some magnets to hold the shower curtain in place so water can't get directly on the woodwork in the head and a pool noodle (foam tube) to cushion the strap that holds down the dinghy when it is on the davits. Upon arrival back at the boat, I installed the new strap and foam noodle, but realized I cut the noodle too short, so I'll have to get another.

Wednesday, 30 May - On the way to the library to see a movie, I checked for mail at the marina, but had none, then walked to Home Depot and bought another pool noodle, then installed it upon my return to the boat.

Thursday, 31 May - During the Cruiser's net this morning, Wayne on the power boat "Blue Max" said he needed another pair of hands to help remount a couple of electrical panels on his boat, so I went to his boat about 10 o'clock. We mounted the panels within about 20 minutes then started talking about boats, women, skiing at Alta and Telluride, etc., and I got back to my boat about 2:30. I had a sandwich for lunch, then applied more adhesive to two still extant leaks in the dinghy. I'll let it cure overnight, then pump the dinghy up again in the morning and squirt it down with soapy water to see how successful this attempt was. I still have yet to deal with the leaky valve.

            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