Thursday, 24 September 2015 - Purchased synthetic boards at a sign shop and created and fit soles for the bilge compartments. Repaired the support for a drawer that had been stapled and glued in originally and whose staples had totally rusted away and the glue broke loose. I fixed it with four screws that should last a long, long time.

Friday, 25 September 2015 - I had planned on putting everything away or in a spot that items couldn't shift when sailing so I could go out tomorrow, but instead spent almost all day (11:00-5:30)on the phone with Apple and Webintellects, my domain name server for Photographers1, trying to resolve ongoing problems with email and a problem I had updating my iPhone's operating system. Argh! (Can you believe my spellchecker knows that word?) Later...well, I managed to put things away. I can sail tomorrow!

Saturday, 26 September - I took the boat out today to simply practice a few things and refresh my memory about others. Each day that I do this will be a learning experience for sure. I spent about an hour just practicing backing the boat up to a buoy down river that I had visited with the previous owner. About all that I learned was that I still haven't learned how to make this boat back up to port. The prop walk that makes it move to starboard in reverse gear is very powerful and, at this stage, I'm not sure it can be overcome with this vessel. I couldn't even make it back straight up. It pulled to starboard every time and regardless of what I did to the rudder or the engine...so I moved on and anchored, pulled out one of the books on the auto pilot and read it for awhile. It doesn't seem to be working quite properly. It tells me that my steering wheel is centered when it is not, but I couldn't find the information on calibrating it.
                There were also several little things that I forgot to do on this trip that should have been done, like installing a snubber on the anchor rode. It was very calm waters, so it didn't matter. If it had been rougher waters, maybe I would have remembered, but I need to get in the habit of doing it. I'll get better with practice - I hope! Anyway, I learned a lot while I was out there. A good day indeed.

Sunday, 27 September - I decided to take it easy today. I need a break. I went to Walmart and bought three bottles of nail polish, red, yellow, and blue glitter, to use to mark items like keys, switches, tools, etc., then headed over to the boat to do some reading up on some of the electronic devices onboard. It's starting to sprinkle and that means hard rain is only moments away. I'd better go close up windows and hatches! Later.
                The afternoon went by really fast as I read the manuals for my depth finder and autopilot. I can see that the calibration on the autopilot needs to be done and it needs to be done while I'm out on the water. I'll try to do that the next time I'm out.

Monday, 28 September - I have finally decided that I know enough about the boat that I can have it hauled out of the water and worked on...the things I can't do myself. I went to the boat yard first thing this morning to set a date. They said they couldn't get to it until the first of the year! Holy mackerel! I never dreamed they would be booked out that far. I can't wait that long. I have to get out of Florida waters before New Years or pay $7,000 in taxes and a $14,000 penalty. I should have arranged for this the minute I bought the boat, but thank goodness I didn't. At that time, all I knew that needed to be done was one bolt in the rudder replaced and some welding, and the welding "could" be done while in the water. Now, I know of several other things that need to be done, so had I had it hauled for about $400, to replace a ten dollar bolt, then put back in the water, I would have had to have it hauled again for more work and another $400. Of course, that would still be better than paying $21,000.
               When I explained this to the boat yard, they decided maybe they could work me in on November 9th. Whew! Scared me to death!

Tuesday, 29 September - I went into Walmart this morning to get a few groceries and on the way back to the motorhome I discovered an incredibly beautiful, hollow mushroom. I couldn't find it on Google, so I took my own picture that I'll attach to the bottom of this post. I bet it'll taste delicious!
                  It rained hard last night and when I arrived at the boat I decided I'd better check on my previous leak repair. I saw no water on the floor, which is good, but I thought I'd better take a closer look into the pantry behind the stove and oven. As I unloaded it, I set some of the things on the port side settee and realized that its cushion was very wet. I hadn't noticed moisture there before, so that means I have another pretty good leak that needs to be fixed. I pulled the cushion out and took both covers off the foam to dry it all out. Luckily, the sun came out in the afternoon and did a pretty good job of drying out the foam that I put out on the deck. I dried out the storage area behind the settee and found that some of my dry goods are no longer dry. Ruined, I'm sure.
                  While things were drying, I had one of the marina employees come to the boat to, again, show him that I'm not able to get online for research and email, etc. He spent about 4 hours and eventually got me online.

Wednesday, 30 September - I came to the boat this morning fully intending to catch up on my email and then getting online to try to find how and where to sell all my windsurfing gear. I won't have room for it on the boat. I couldn't get online at all, so I decided that this would be a good time to renegotiate my contract at the marina. They admitted that their internet was down and were willing to sign me up - at the usual rate. I said, "No, I think I need to talk to the manager." He wasn't available and was supposed to call me when he came in. I haven't heard from him yet, and it's 9 pm.
                  I did the insurance forms, noticed that the internet had come on, and sent the forms.
                  Now it was time to figure out where that water's coming into the boat. I spent about 3 hours watering down the gunnels, drains, scuppers, stanchions, and shroud chainplates with no success. Couldn't make anything leak a drop. Finally, I noticed some moisture on wood about 10 feet from where I was expecting it. I turned the water onto my forward port chainplate and plenty of water poured in. Now that I've found it, I think it will be easy to fix, but I need to let it dry overnight and pray that it doesn't rain tomorrow 'til after I've fixed it. Leaks like this need to be fixed quickly on a boat or the wood that holds the boat together will start to rot and let the whole boat fall apart. I hope I'm in time.

Thursday, 1 October - I tried for an hour last evening to post this, but Apple's Photo program wouldn't work right, so I gave up temporarily. I'll try again today.
                  This morning I quickly sealed the stanchion base, but believe that one or more of the screws stripped the wood out. I had a fellow coming to help with my internet problems, a retired Internet Protocol expert, or so he says. He seemed lost and was having the same amount of success that I do until I showed him what I had done recently to get into the antenna's control panel. We did it on his machine that has a built in ethernet card. Mine doesn't, but I had been able to access it on my old PowerBook. I could make changes on mine, but they wouldn't save, probably because of the age of the browser on my old machine. Anyway, we got it done. The only problem is, when I leave here, I won't be able to change the WiFi settings to another network without plugging directly to my old PowerMac again. Perhaps if I get a USB to Ethernet card that will work. It's worth a try.
                  Hey, Photos is working today, so I was able to post those pictures to iCloud. There were two more of those mushrooms at Walmart this morning. Haven't had a chance to cook them up, yet.