Thursday, 30 May 2019 - The welded eyebolts I had ordered arrived yesterday, so today I drilled three holes in my deck and installed the three eyebolts; one to secure the auxiliary generator, and one each for my two kayaks. To attach to them, I made up three cables with eyes on each end to run locks through. Now I can lock all my gas, diesel, and water jugs, my kayaks, and the generator to the deck and not have to worry about someone simply pulling up to the boat, grabbing them and making an escape. It won't stop everybody, but at least they'll have to come to the boat with a serious set of wire or cable cutters.

Friday, 31 May - Today was terribly exciting. I had the pleasure of washing clothes at the marina.

Saturday, 1 June - The first day of hurricane season. - One of the other net controllers was having guests onboard his boat today so he asked me to fill in for him. I had a visitor onboard for a beer and conversation this afternoon, Tom Krueger.

Sunday, 2 June - Brunch at the Tiki hut at the marina today. Later, a trip to Sombrero Beach to watch the Dragon Boat Races, but we arrived too late. Tom Krueger and I had to settle with walking the length of the beach and watching Cuban girls in bikinis and thongs.

Monday, 3 June - I've got to learn to stop losing my tools when I clean the bottom of the boat. It seems like I lose something every time. I've lost scrapers, a suction cup handle that I use to hold myself in place while scraping the hull, a face masks, a snorkel, one pair of fins, and, today, another suction cup handle. I attached it to the rudder because I can hold onto the rudder itself or the propeller while I am in that vicinity and when I needed it to make my way down the hull, it had lost its vacuum and was gone.
                    I think the hull was dirtier today than I've ever seen it, I guess because the water is so warm. It's about 84°F. Last time I cleaned the hull it had very few barnacles on it. Today there were thousands. So many that it took an hour longer to clean the hull. The growth was so thick that it was significantly harder to scrape it off. I tend to go in one direction around the hull, leading with my scraper in my left hand and that hand got exceptionally tired. I'll bet it's sore tomorrow. I was using a 12 inch scraper, but the lesser leverage on my wrist if I'd use a 10 inch scraper would have been better. This is the first time I've experienced that.

Tuesday, 4 June - Today was spent putting away all the dive gear after using it, rinsing it, and letting it dry overnight. After that I moved everything out of the forepeak berth, opened the storage underneath it and removed the kiteboarding kite, then put everything back. That took about 3 hours. I'm thinking of selling the kiteboarding equipment. I haven't used it since I left Salt Lake and it's just taking up space. If I get the opportunity to kiteboard again, I'll just rent the equipment.

Wednesday, 5 June - I've been sitting here in the harbor in calm water so long that it took me several hours to get things rearranged so that when I go sailing tomorrow, everything won't tumble to the floor on every wave or each time I tack and the boat heals to the opposite direction. I also had to secure water, gas and diesel containers on deck and loosen ties I had on the sails that I'd put there to protect them from high winds and secure the dinghy for sailing.

Thursday, 6 June - I went sailing today out near Sombrero Key Lighthouse just to make sure the engine was Ok and not leaking. It was a gorgeous day with light winds of ten knots, so sailing was slow, but it sure was nice since almost all the lobster and crab traps have been removed for the summer spawning season. When Chuck Richardson and I sailed out here there were hundreds and we had to constantly weave our way through them. Today I only saw 5 or 6. Much nicer! My sailing technique was sure rusty. I was having a heck of a time holding a course in relation to the wind, even with the auto helm on. I couldn't hold a course by the compass. I'd think I had the sails balanced, then suddenly the boat would turn into the wind, the sails luff, and I'd be in irons. I certainly wasn't seeing the changes in the wind, but decided to make the auto helm sail in relation to the wind instead of on a magnetic course. That didn't work either.
                    Low tide was coming so decided I'd better get back into the harbor since the entrance to it is a little shallow. When I headed back I was heading downwind, but my wind indicator still showed that I was only headed about 90 degrees to the wind. Aha! The gauge was totally wrong! Now the problems I was having started to make sense. If I'd had good old simple telltales on my rigging perhaps I'd have realized that the electronics was wrong. Actually, I do have a couple left over from hurricane Irma, but the wind has frayed them down to too short to read.
                    When I entered the harbor mouth at the first two channel markers, my depth sounder indicated 6.5 feet of water for just one moment, but I didn't feel the keel hitting bottom. Once I passed that one point, I had mostly 8 or 9 feet of water again. I was entering the channel right as the tide was at Mean Low Tide, but low tide was to be about an hour later at 6:42 and another 5 inches less depth. I came in at just the right time.

Friday, 7 June - I announced that I needed a bracket for one of my fire extinguishers this morning on the Cruiser's Net and the lady on the boat next to me said I could have one off a boat that she and her husband are refurbishing, so I went and got that right after the Net. I had planned on draining the water from the engine and replacing it with antifreeze, but instead, when I got back, I started trying to debug the wind indicator. I called Raymarine, the manufacturer and was told to check out their user's forums. That gave me some information, but not explicit enough for a non-technical rookie like me. It said readings I get on some of the contacts should be 8 volts on one or 3 to 5 volts on others, but that if I get readings that are "significantly" different, there is a problem. I don't know the definition of "significantly". Is two tenths of a volt significant, or does it take two volts, or maybe double the given number to be significant? I don't know. I spent several hours looking at that, plus I dropped a 1/4" screw down into the bilge among the canned goods that I stow there. I spent another two hours looking for that screw, then thirty minutes looking for a replacement for it among my "tiny screws" collection. I almost gave up twice, but discovered more screws that I've collected just as I was about to put them away. Over the years, I've saved small screws out of glasses frames, old watches, small unusable electronics, etc. Unfortunately, most of those are machine screws and today I needed a sheet metal screw, but my hoarding did pay off. I finally found one about a 1/16th of an inch longer and it worked fine.
                    This afternoon I took the thermometer for the BBQ that I bought recently back to Home Depot and one of the raw water pump impellers back to West Marine. On the way back from there, I found three things that I've needed, or rather, wanted, for quite awhile. One, something I've been really looking hard for, a waterproof pouch for my phone to hang around my neck while kayaking, I found at the convenience store when I stopped to get a soft drink. A second item is a thin, unlined windbreaker for winter evenings here that are not really cold. Lots of times, any insulation makes a jacket too warm here. I had a couple of these from back it the 70s. They are very thin and can be wadded up and carried in the pocket of cargo pants or shorts. The third item was some excellent 316 stainless steel hose clamps at $4 each. Most hose clamps that are advertised as Stainless Steel are only 304 stainless, and most of those have a screw in them that isn't stainless at all and they rust out very quickly here. I tested these with the magnet that I carry in my pocket to make sure they have a very low iron content. A magnet won't stick to good stainless steel. These hose clamps probably originally sold for about $10 or more each so I bought 12. I'll need them eventually.

Saturday, 8 June - I drained 2.5 gallons of weak, watered down antifreeze out of the engine today and replaced it with 2.5 gallons of pure antifreeze, which brought the mix in the engine back up to almost 50/50. To get to the antifreeze, I had to unload the whole port lazarette, which included the two cycle oil for the outboard motors, so I poured the half gallon that was in there into quart containers that I keep in the dinghy. That left no more two cycle oil or antifreeze in the lazarette, so I went to Home Depot and got more to stow away.
                    It's so hot and humid down here that the freezer needed defrosting again. That means that it also defrosts quickly. I think I set a record at just over an hour to complete the whole process.

Sunday, 9 June - About all I accomplished today was to put everything back into the port lazarette that I'd gotten out in order to change the antifreeze in the cooling system.

Monday, 10 June - I spent some more time today looking online for information about the Raymarine wind indicator system and ran some tests of the voltage on the wiring for it. I also re-rove both of the blocks and tackle that I use to raise the dinghy onto the davits. One, which I'd replaced the falls on recently, needed to have the line reversed so that when I pulled on the line the natural angle of pull twisted the block in the opposite direction, a minor change which will make the line last longer. The other, which has been reaved the same way ever since I got the boat needed to have the blocks re-reaved all this time, but I'm just getting around to it. All I did was rotate the blocks so that they are perpendicular to each other instead of parallel, but it will be better this way because the falls don't cross each other as many times.

Tuesday, 11 June - I spent much of today learning more about the operation of the wind vane and indicator. I also re-cleaned all ten terminals and the wiring on the terminal block for the wind indicator located at the mast base. I had more information, in the form of PDFs, about the system than I realized.

Wednesday, 12 June - This morning I removed the control panel cover and checked the voltage at the wind display. As I expected, the readings were approximately the same as at the base of the mast, which is to say that the green wire was still reading a constant 4.4V instead of varying between 2 and 6 volts as it should. Two trips to the dock today for 45 gallons of water each time and lifting the nine five and six gallon jugs onto the deck was enough work for me this afternoon.

Thursday, 13 June - If I was getting anything but a constant reading on that green wire, I might have some hope that I have some bad wiring, but I believe I'm going to need to get another printed circuit board for the wind vane. The one at the top of the mast now certainly didn't last long. I was out of bread and milk so I went to the grocery store this afternoon on my bicycle and bought a few groceries.

Friday, 14 June - I was expecting a nearby sailor with an Echo Tec water maker like mine to get with me and show me how he uses his, but that didn't happen. I did, however, spend most of the day studying the manual and cleaning one of the filters for it. I've had it on board all this time but never used it. In fact, I've never needed it, so I haven't ever even turned it on. That means that the $500 reverse osmosis membrane is probably ruined, and this fellow has offered me his.

Saturday, 15 June - I thought I might get to sell my kiteboarding equipment today, but that fell through because after sitting packed up here on the boat for so long, it wouldn't hold air when I pumped it up to show the buyer. This afternoon I went through the ditch bag, a bag containing emergency items like signal flairs, first aid items, a water maker, long sleeved shirt and long, lightweight pants for protection from the sun, flashlight, etc. That keeps most of the things together that I might need in case the boat's sinking. I'll probably never need it, but it won't do me any good if I do need it if I don't maintain it.

Sunday, 16 June - We had rain off and on all day today with gusty winds preceding the precipitation so I spent most of the day finishing up the maintenance of the ditch bag. I renewed some of the items and added some glasses, sunglasses, more sunscreen, and a pair of binoculars to the bag.

Monday, 17 June - I spent much of the day today going over the owner's manual for the Echo Tec water maker again in anticipation of the fellow coming to my boat with a new membrane, but he never showed up. I also spent about three hours on the phone and online trying to find a new PCB, Printed Circuit Board, for the wind vane. Raymarine won't have any till the end of July and, apparently, their distributors don't stock them. I finally found and ordered one from Spain.

Tuesday, 18 June - David Cosby from the little sailing schooner Lucayan came over to Island Time with his Echo Tec membrane and pressure vessel, but upon arrival said that he's decided to keep it. I'm sorry to miss the opportunity to get a newer one but invited him aboard to show me how to use mine. Apparently my system is much more complex that his. His is a stand alone unit and mine is integrated with the cooling system for one of my refrigerators which has options to run on salt water through the hull or fresh water from my water tank. I had thought I had previously illustrated a computer schematic of the systems correctly, but, as we looked at the system on my boat and my illustration trying to figure out what valves needed to be reset, I realized that I've missed one or two valves that are fairly well hidden behind water lines and that I had combined one of the valves with the control panel because I didn't know how the inner workings of the control panel were arranged and operated. That's not good enough. I really don't want to end up with salt water in my water tank by having a valve set wrong. We found a schematic of the control panel and I need to figure out how the water flows through the system before I can go any further. He said he'd be glad to come back another day.

Wednesday and Thursday, 19 and 20 June 2019 - Both of these days were spent comparing the illustrations of the Echo Tec watermaker system supplied by the manufacturer, which is incorrect, and my illustration, which had some inaccuracies, too, then correcting mine so I can understand how the system operates better. Mine is a lot more complicated because Island Time's 12V refrigeration system's cooling system is interwoven with the watermaker. I also had to research the difference between two way valves and three way valves, and the difference between three way "L" and "T" valves. I know you guys in the construction businesses probably already think this is common knowledge, but I'm just a photographer. They don't have three way valves on cameras; at least none of the ones I had did.
                    Oh, I had to defrost the refrigerator again today, too.

Friday, 21 June - Tom Krueger of the S/V Malaya came to my boat and we talked for about two hours.

Saturday, 22 June - Two wood screws in the top hinge of the cabinet in the forward head have stripped the wood out, so I repaired the holes and screwed the hinge bace in place this morning. The Overseas Pub and Grill is under new management and I'd heard there was to be a big party there today, so at 5:30 I went over to join the festivities. The pig roast and party had ended at 3 o'clock so I just had a couple of beers and dinner, but as I was about to leave, I realized they were setting up for a DJ. The party started over at 9 o'clock, just as I left. Bad Timing on my part!

Sunday, 23 June - I've lost a 5 gallon bucket off the boat recently, so I went mangrove shopping today. In other words, I took the dinghy out and skirted the mangroves along the northern edge of Boot Key looking for the bucket. I didn't find it, but did see three boat fenders and a very good, although dirty, 5 gallon water jug. I left the fenders in the mangroves but rescued the water jug. I already have as many as I need, but will replace one of mine that isn't made as well with this new one. After that, I headed to shore to stuff bags at the marina with information for new arrivals to the harbor.

Monday, 24 June - It was windless and hot today so I spent the day reading several copies of "Sail" magazine that Tom Krueger brought over the other day when he came to visit.

Tuesday, 25 June - I started off the day by standing in for one of the Cruiser's Net controllers this morning on the VHF radio.

Wednesday, 26 June - I cleaned up the water jug today by knocking the exterior barnacles off of it with a screwdriver, then took it to shore and put gravel in it and shook the heck out of it to bust up the crud on the inside. Then I brought it back to the boat to rinse it out and put about a gallon of fresh water and a cup of Clorox in it to disinfect the interior. I'll lay it one each side, the top and the bottom for several hours each to clean it out good. I have spare caps for it, so it will be almost as good as new. I also had David Crosby over again today to help me with the water maker. However, we still didn't get it up and running. We opened all the right valves, started the engine, turned the water maker on...and nothing. The pump isn't coming on. Now I need to figure out why. Is the pump itself or the switch or wiring at fault? Time will tell.

Thursday, 27 June - I'm amazed how, for the second time recently, I've been able to find an item I need for one fifth the price if I'm willing to wait for a month for it to be shipped from China...and they'll include shipping that would cost as much as the item itself if I ordered it from the USA. Last time it was fuel filters; this time 12V 1/4" LED indicator lights for the water maker. Two for three dollars total from China or $5 each from the USA + $5 shipping. I ordered the one and a backup from the USA. I don't want to wait a month for it, but it will probably say, "Made in China" on it when it arrives next week.

Friday, 28 June - May and June have been almost devoid of wind, the longest period with the least wind since I've been here and that's made the last couple of weeks seem very hot. That changed today when a squall came through. The wind got above 30 mph, a boat or two drug anchor, a couple of dinghies parted from their boats, and lots of other items did too. I helped one of the fellows retrieve his dinghy. The painter on it, although more than thick enough, was made of polypropylene which, although it floats is also subject to deteriorate from exposure to the sun's rays. It was obvious that was what had occurred in this case. He was lucky to get it back. At least the breeze cooled things down quite a bit.

Saturday, 29 June - I'll pick up an Anchor Sail that I'm having made this afternoon. An anchor sail is a very small, flat sail that I'll attach at the very aft most point of the boom. It will almost be like having a mizzen sail, which is the aft sail on a two masted boat. I'll be using it while at anchor to keep the boat from yawing back and forth through the wind so much. By being on the back of the boat while at anchor, as the boat's bow crosses the wind and tries to run sideways, the anchor sail will force the back end of the boat to outrun the bow in the wind, thus making it straighten up again. It will still yaw back and forth sometimes, just not as far...hopefully!

Sunday, 30 June - I tested the circuit breaker on the water maker today and it seems ok, but when I tried to get all the hoses and wiring back into the panel, it wouldn't go. I have to pull it open again when the indicator light arrives, so I decided to just wait and put the energy into one installation rather than have to do it twice. I also got talked into going to the Hurricane for their blues session this evening, but, even though the musicians are excellent, I just don't enjoy blues as much as I do rock.

Monday, 1 July - I checked the wiring from the circuit breaker to the high pressure pump today and I have 12V getting to the pump. I could even hear the solenoid switching on when I flipped the breaker, but the pump still wouldn't come on.
                    I'm having trouble with my email program on my phone, too. I can receive email, but can't send email out for some reason. When I try to send an email, I get a message saying Mail can't verify the mail server. I've had the problem for about a week and have spent quite a bit of time on the phone with my ISP support personnel, but it hasn't helped. I'll try sending this via my laptop, but it still has to use the phone to get out since I don't have WiFi on the boat. My system uses my phone's data for internet access.

            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