We'll be driving down the Baja this weekend. Best contact is via email. Destination La Paz. It will be our first time on the Baja via car!
Friday, January 30, 2015
Thursday, January 29, 2015
LightSpeed is back in the water.
Kathy drove our 'Craigslist' cruiser car down to Alameda and I sailed LightSpeed the 40 or so miles in under 5 hours.
The next morning we jumped in the car for a road trip down Baja.
It's going to be a quick trip as Kathy has a job starting in about a week.
Tuesday, January 20, 2015
OpenCPN version 4.0.0
As of January 8, 2015 OpenCPN version 4.0.0 is available as a stable release. 
OpenCPN, the go to PC or MAC software for cruisers sailing both on and off the beaten tack.
Charts for most USA waters can be found here: http://www.nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/mcd/enc/download_agreement.htm
Charts of the ENTIRE world are a litte harder to aquire, just walk the docks and ask a salty looking cruiser for a copy of their CM93 v2 charts. Note: USE CM93's with caution as not everywhere is accurately charted (i.e. Tonga, Fiji, Vanuatu and many other remote locations). No fault of the charts, it's just the accuracy of the underlying survey of some very old surveys on which the charts are based.
Supplement and compare the above charts with super accurate Google earth images that you can custom create using GE2KAP found here: http://www.gdayii.ca/
OpenCPN is a great planning tool, that can also be used for live navigation, weather analysis and much more.
That's it for now.
OpenCPN, the go to PC or MAC software for cruisers sailing both on and off the beaten tack.
Charts for most USA waters can be found here: http://www.nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/mcd/enc/download_agreement.htm
Charts of the ENTIRE world are a litte harder to aquire, just walk the docks and ask a salty looking cruiser for a copy of their CM93 v2 charts. Note: USE CM93's with caution as not everywhere is accurately charted (i.e. Tonga, Fiji, Vanuatu and many other remote locations). No fault of the charts, it's just the accuracy of the underlying survey of some very old surveys on which the charts are based.
Supplement and compare the above charts with super accurate Google earth images that you can custom create using GE2KAP found here: http://www.gdayii.ca/
OpenCPN is a great planning tool, that can also be used for live navigation, weather analysis and much more.
That's it for now.
Sunday, January 18, 2015
Dew Dew Dew de da da da
January 18, 2015
Dew dew dew dew De Da Da Da
Don't think me unkind
Dry decks are hard to find
They are only a sign of more painting time...
All morning I've been humming Sting's Do Do Do song. The boat yard is getting pretty boring, especially when we have foggy mornings that keep the decks covered with dew. Today is extra Dew Dew Dewy.
Every night we get some dew. However, when we have heavy dew and foggy conditions it either ruins the previous days work or delays any new work until the fog has lifted and the decks have warmed and dried. Today it's already 9:30 AM and the fog is still super thick with no indication that it intends to burn off. Last week we had an entire day where the fog never abated.
The ongoing BIG GIGANTIC MASSIVE project is repainting the decks. Progress is going slow due to the Dew Dew Dew.
Here is a break down of the steps involved.
Remove deck hardware
Clean out holes to remove old sealant
Sand
Wipe clean with solvent
Temporarily fill penetrations with epoxy putty (to keep out the next days dew).
Sand
Prime
Sand again
Now the surrounding deck is ready for prep
Sand
Fill any imperfections
Sand
Prime
Sand
Wipe areas to be painted with solvent to clean any contaminants
Pray for no rain or heavy dew
Final paint areas to remain white
IF paint is still shinny in the morning Hurrah. Move to next step. If not, repeat sanding and painting step.
Let paint dry for a few days
Tape off newly painted white areas
Wipe areas to be painted with solvent to clean any contaminants
Paint a section of Awlgrip Whisper Grey
Let it dry overnight
Paint areas again with Gray paint.
Sprinkle in non-skip while paint is still wet.
Let dry overnight
Pray for light dew and no rain.
Paint again
Remove masking
Clean deck hardware
Purchase new bolts
Trim new bolts to length
Install new bolts with sealant
Whew. One area is now done and you can move to the next.
That's it for now.
Dew dew dew dew De Da Da Da
Don't think me unkind
Dry decks are hard to find
They are only a sign of more painting time...
All morning I've been humming Sting's Do Do Do song. The boat yard is getting pretty boring, especially when we have foggy mornings that keep the decks covered with dew. Today is extra Dew Dew Dewy.
Dew on a deck winch this morning.
Every night we get some dew. However, when we have heavy dew and foggy conditions it either ruins the previous days work or delays any new work until the fog has lifted and the decks have warmed and dried. Today it's already 9:30 AM and the fog is still super thick with no indication that it intends to burn off. Last week we had an entire day where the fog never abated.
The ongoing BIG GIGANTIC MASSIVE project is repainting the decks. Progress is going slow due to the Dew Dew Dew.
Here is a break down of the steps involved.
Remove deck hardware
Clean out holes to remove old sealant
Sand
Wipe clean with solvent
Temporarily fill penetrations with epoxy putty (to keep out the next days dew).
Sand
Prime
Sand again
Now the surrounding deck is ready for prep
Sand
Fill any imperfections
Sand
Prime
Sand
Wipe areas to be painted with solvent to clean any contaminants
Paint areas to remain white
Sand in between coatsPray for no rain or heavy dew
Final paint areas to remain white
IF paint is still shinny in the morning Hurrah. Move to next step. If not, repeat sanding and painting step.
Let paint dry for a few days
Tape off newly painted white areas
Wipe areas to be painted with solvent to clean any contaminants
Paint a section of Awlgrip Whisper Grey
Let it dry overnight
Paint areas again with Gray paint.
Sprinkle in non-skip while paint is still wet.
Let dry overnight
Pray for light dew and no rain.
Paint again
Remove masking
Clean deck hardware
Purchase new bolts
Trim new bolts to length
Install new bolts with sealant
Whew. One area is now done and you can move to the next.
That's it for now.
Sunday, January 11, 2015
Happy New Year! Epic boat projects.
January 11, 2015
Napa, California
Yep, LightSpeed is still on the hard. We had a buyer before the holiday, he flew out to inspect LightSpeed and after a full days inspection, we put a deal together. Unfortunately, the buyer could not arrange financing within the agreed time frame and the terms expired. A real bummer as we liked his plans for LightSpeed
The good news is we have many interested parties and expect something to happen quickly.
In the interim, we've been wrapping up projects. We're proceeding as if we're prepping LightSpeed for another huge multi-year adventure far from any support services in the wilds of the Pacific. Yes, there's a little wishful thinking going into decisions on preparations, on the wild chance we didn't need to sell. We truly wish we could afford to keep on sailing LightSpeed instead of selling.
This last week it was new Yanmar SD20 diaphragm kits. This requires the engines be unbolted and moved forward off their mounts, then the saildrives can be removed from the boat for service and new diaphragms installed.
With the engines unbolted we installed new motor mounts, not because they were broken, just because it was the thing to do, ensuring trouble free operations for thousands of engine hours down the line. Plus, plenty more of that 'just because' thinking we installed new alternators. Then routine maintenance such as new coolant, oil and filter. Yep, the engine and engine rooms are looking really good, spic and span after a deep clean when the saildrives, exhaust system and engines were out of the way.
There are four Atlantic 42's currently for sale. Two on the East coast and two on the West coast. I've personally seen two of the other boats which lends conviction to our firm price near the top.
Boats require constant attention and updates to maintain a high level of reliability. It's not just about 'maintenance' or just fixing what's broken, it's about preemptive replacement and upgrade of gear, so the vessel improves with age. It's also about what spares to have aboard. LightSpeed's systems are continuously refined for reliability and optimized for ease of use, then of course tested with thousands of ocean miles!
Currently, we're pulling deck hardware, inspecting each deck penetration, fixing any problems, priming, renewing non-skid and painting the decks. It's a monumental project that will take probably 3 more weeks of solid labor. The main traveler has 62 bolts alone! Did I mention this is an epic huge project!!!
We're also pulling the tracks that secure the trampoline to the under wing. Tons more bolts nuts and washers. However, these fasteners are going to be eliminated and replaced with a really cool detail for lashing the trampoline like that found on the ORMA 70 trimarans. Another massive project, but the new detail will have a super clean modern aesthetic, be super strong, lighter and eliminate all those potentially leaky bolts. Look for progress pictures soon.
Inventorying upgrades since July 2010...all this stuff has been replaced:
Twin Raycor fuel filter housings
Fuel hoses
Exhaust hoses
Raw water hoses
Engine throttle cables
Transmission control cables
Alternators 2015
Engine wiring loom
Engine control panels (tachs, ext).
Engines
Sail drives
Propellers
Motor mounts 2015
Engine room ventilators 2014
Engine room blowers 2015... need to install.
Domestic water heater 2014
Water heater hoses and header tank 2014
Cabin heater exhaust hose 2014
Cabin heater thermostat
Propane solenoid 2014
Propane sniffer and switch 2014
Galley under counter lighting 2015
Salon reading laps 2015
Lewmar size 60 interior hatch trim
Shower pump 2014
Bilge pump switches 2015
Navigation PC 2014
Inverter/batter charger 2013
Drogue attachment points 2014
Rebed deck hardware... in progress
Deck painting and non-skid... in progress
Trampoline lashing rail... in progress
New anti-fouling bottom paint 2015
Topsides paint touch up, polish and wax 2015
Interior varnish touch up excluding floors 2014
Simrad 3G radar 2014
Simrad NMEA 2000 GPS 2014
Simrad IS20 Wind/Depth/Speed/Water temp 2014
Simrad over sized Autopilot 2011
The list of new or upgrades continues on and on.
That's it for now.
Napa, California
Yep, LightSpeed is still on the hard. We had a buyer before the holiday, he flew out to inspect LightSpeed and after a full days inspection, we put a deal together. Unfortunately, the buyer could not arrange financing within the agreed time frame and the terms expired. A real bummer as we liked his plans for LightSpeed
The good news is we have many interested parties and expect something to happen quickly.
In the interim, we've been wrapping up projects. We're proceeding as if we're prepping LightSpeed for another huge multi-year adventure far from any support services in the wilds of the Pacific. Yes, there's a little wishful thinking going into decisions on preparations, on the wild chance we didn't need to sell. We truly wish we could afford to keep on sailing LightSpeed instead of selling.
This last week it was new Yanmar SD20 diaphragm kits. This requires the engines be unbolted and moved forward off their mounts, then the saildrives can be removed from the boat for service and new diaphragms installed.
With the engines unbolted we installed new motor mounts, not because they were broken, just because it was the thing to do, ensuring trouble free operations for thousands of engine hours down the line. Plus, plenty more of that 'just because' thinking we installed new alternators. Then routine maintenance such as new coolant, oil and filter. Yep, the engine and engine rooms are looking really good, spic and span after a deep clean when the saildrives, exhaust system and engines were out of the way.
There are four Atlantic 42's currently for sale. Two on the East coast and two on the West coast. I've personally seen two of the other boats which lends conviction to our firm price near the top.
Boats require constant attention and updates to maintain a high level of reliability. It's not just about 'maintenance' or just fixing what's broken, it's about preemptive replacement and upgrade of gear, so the vessel improves with age. It's also about what spares to have aboard. LightSpeed's systems are continuously refined for reliability and optimized for ease of use, then of course tested with thousands of ocean miles!
Currently, we're pulling deck hardware, inspecting each deck penetration, fixing any problems, priming, renewing non-skid and painting the decks. It's a monumental project that will take probably 3 more weeks of solid labor. The main traveler has 62 bolts alone! Did I mention this is an epic huge project!!!
We're also pulling the tracks that secure the trampoline to the under wing. Tons more bolts nuts and washers. However, these fasteners are going to be eliminated and replaced with a really cool detail for lashing the trampoline like that found on the ORMA 70 trimarans. Another massive project, but the new detail will have a super clean modern aesthetic, be super strong, lighter and eliminate all those potentially leaky bolts. Look for progress pictures soon.
Inventorying upgrades since July 2010...all this stuff has been replaced:
Twin Raycor fuel filter housings
Fuel hoses
Exhaust hoses
Raw water hoses
Engine throttle cables
Transmission control cables
Alternators 2015
Engine wiring loom
Engine control panels (tachs, ext).
Engines
Sail drives
Propellers
Motor mounts 2015
Engine room ventilators 2014
Engine room blowers 2015... need to install.
Domestic water heater 2014
Water heater hoses and header tank 2014
Cabin heater exhaust hose 2014
Cabin heater thermostat
Propane solenoid 2014
Propane sniffer and switch 2014
Galley under counter lighting 2015
Salon reading laps 2015
Lewmar size 60 interior hatch trim
Shower pump 2014
Bilge pump switches 2015
Navigation PC 2014
Inverter/batter charger 2013
Drogue attachment points 2014
Rebed deck hardware... in progress
Deck painting and non-skid... in progress
Trampoline lashing rail... in progress
New anti-fouling bottom paint 2015
Topsides paint touch up, polish and wax 2015
Interior varnish touch up excluding floors 2014
Simrad 3G radar 2014
Simrad NMEA 2000 GPS 2014
Simrad IS20 Wind/Depth/Speed/Water temp 2014
Simrad over sized Autopilot 2011
The list of new or upgrades continues on and on.
That's it for now.
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