Winter work/wish lists

[tartansailor]

Sláinte is getting her first new mainsail in 33 years! UK Sails in Chicago. Do you think she'll notice the difference?

You Bettcha

[Stan W.]

-Send Ritchie Globemaster for factory service (big bubble!)

They rebuilt my bulkhead mounted Navigator last spring. Came back like new for about half the cost of new. Also very convenient for me as I live about 10 minutes from the factory.

When I decommissioned my boat in the fall, I had a bubble. When I went to recommision it in the spring, the compass was completely dry. They told me there are rubber seals that can dry out over time (my compass probably was over 30 years old) allowing air to get in and cause the compass spirits to evaporate.

Who knows, maybe they make more profit on rebuilds than new sales, but I doubt it. More likely, they're just very old school when it comes to customer service. Personally, I wouldn't buy a compass from anyone else.

[K Chiswell]

I have been lucky enough for a friend to let me put my boat in his warehouse. So my list keeps getting longer with the thing I would like to do while it is indoors.

One of my major projects is replacing the front motor mount. It is supported by a mild steel tube, that is extremely rusted, the goes across the bilge and is glassed into the sides. I has anyone done this before. Advice welcome!

[Dean Abramson]

Tim, you will LOVE your new sail.

After living for years with with a whacko, schizoid autopilot, I have bought a new corepack and am looking forward to the installing phase with some trepidation...

[Bob Ohler]

Dean, what auto pilot did you purchase?

[Dean Abramson]

Hi Bob,

I bought the Raymarine SmartPilot X-10 Corepack. The theory is that it will work with my fairly ancient Autohelm linear drive unit. The drive unit seems to work fine. I bought the P70 control head. It's all still sitting in the box it arrived in. Probably an April project.

12/24/12 I HAVE MOVED THE AUTOPILOT DISCUSSION that was here over to a new thread. Dean

[Hummel]

Hi Bill
Regarding your compass bubble. Its usually an easy fix.
First remove compass. Drain all fluid. You can clean card and inside with WD-40. Gently dry. Refill with odorless
mineral spirits. Trick here is store mineral spirits in fridge
After install fluid warms expands and no bubble.
See you around the campus
Jim

[Bill Goldsmith]

Hi Bill
Regarding your compass bubble. Its usually an easy fix.
First remove compass. Drain all fluid. You can clean card and inside with WD-40. Gently dry. Refill with odorless
mineral spirits. Trick here is store mineral spirits in fridge
After install fluid warms expands and no bubble.
See you around the campus
Jim

Thanks. Also have increasing cracks in compass dome. I can't find replacement domes anywhere. Seems as though they only want authorized service replacing those. Any other ideas?

[Hummel]

Bill
You can order a dome for the Globemaster from Vikingcompass.com for $60.00

Or you can have them do the overall. Ritchie also does rebuilds

Jim

[Bill Goldsmith]

Bill
You can order a dome for the Globemaster from Vikingcompass.com for $60.00

Or you can have them do the overall. Ritchie also does rebuilds

Jim

Thanks for that. Should've done the google search before speaking.

[Squid]

Don't share this with my XO or First Mate... She runs the books!.... Sliding most of this under the radar....

Sent the Main into SailCare for overhaul/referb.
Install a new VHF with AIS/Receive and remote mic at helm
Replacing the standing rigging, its shot
Running the halyards inside the mast and adding spare halyard
Replace topping lift
Replacing all the old cabling inside the mast
Replacing all the external Nav Lite fixtures with new... LED bulbs.
Moved the mast wiring termination to a box inside the head in the overhead
Clean and Lube all the winches
Hailer on mast
Replace two questionable hoses on engine
New backing plates on two Sea Cocks or hull valves
Replace old ST 50 anemometer
Replace broken Windex


Sad part is..... This all started with a broken ST 50 anemometer and a bad topside penetration where the line goes through the hull at the base of the mast... Sort of mission creep... It all seemed to make sense once I started... God help me!

[Bob Ohler]

Squid, that must be a darned big radar dome to hide all of this stuff under!

[Steve Laume]

All of these improvements and replacements are safety issues.

Sailing around with an ill equipped boat would be like driving around with bald tires. There is no way to argue with spending money on these things. If that doesn't work you could tell her it is cheaper and better for you than gambling, drinking heavily and chasing wild women around. Feel free to omit any of those habits that you might also be engaged in.

Maybe just stick to the safety defense. That will probably be safer, Steve.

[Dean Abramson]

With that chores list, who's got time for drinkin, gamblin, and wild wild wimmen?

[Squid]

Hiding under the radar is an old Submarine analogy... keep what you are doing below detection. When you hit them make them think it was an act of God... not the submarine! And yes... I played the safety issue card... May have overplayed it a bit, but couldn't think of another defendable approach to get past the board of finance. This all does provide for better drinkin, gamblin and chasing that other thing... It's now a safer voyage to get to that objective. My wife reminds me...., what are ya going to do if you catch one? Sort of like the 90 year old guy with the 20 year old girl friend, might look good but what are you going to do with it?
My search radar works real good.... I can acquire "all" the targets just no authorization to track and fire. My license has been revoked! But she is worth it.....

And to add... SailCare just called, ... the main sail in being shipped back today. These guys are good! Even got the First Mate to drive the sail up there!... God she is good to me.