For what it's worth:
Talked today to my insurance agent -- State Farm -- and obtained a no-cost rider to my standard policy to include the four major Bahamas Islands -- Great Abaco, Grand Bahama, Exuma and Eleuthra. Outstanding!
Spent the remainder of the day pulling new wires to the distribution panel on Rhiannon. Wow, what a job. Ancor shoulduse Rhiannon as some sort of testimonial. I replaced the original CD panel with a Paneltronics Model 2206 with quite a few more circuits. In the end, I had to run a section of 1 inch flexible conduit to accomodate all the additional circuits but I think the effort will be worth it. The new custom-built cabinetry is nice and will work well. Relocated the battery selector switch and an AC power control panel beneath the companionway in a sort-of temporary setup to be replace later with quality stuff. I will try and get pictures of all this before I leave on Dec 8 (+/-).
Some of the things I'm considering befor departure: the new Strong Trak system for mainsail hoisting (this is really slick), new batteries (the Lifeline's seem good), a new Stamoid cockpit awning (in silver, no less), and linking the Autohelm 2000 to the Garmin GPS (I have the interface but wonder about the wisdom of doing this).
Also, in the mail today came my reciprocal Bahamas ham license (C6A) so I'm legal for Bahamas communications! Too cool! With the PTC IIe, I can email along the way, but not in the Bahamas as they don't allow third party traffic. Down the ICW and the West Coast and Keys are okay, though.
Getting down to the short rows. Only a trip to Seattle to see daughter and a term paper as major obstacles before departing. YES!!!!
Rhiannon is looking good!
Andy Denmark
P.S. I can hose off the seagull poop in a few minutes and be under sail shortly thereafter -- try that with snow while on the hard.
trekker@coastalnet.com
Cruise preps
Moderator: Jim Walsh
-
Warren Kaplan
Re: Cruise preps
Andy,
All us CD27 guys are drooling I'll bet! Make sure you take a laptop computer or something with you. Keep us updated on this board about your trip. As one guy who has to deal with that snow, it'll be a little wierd, but during the winter I may keep my sailing life going thru your adventure!
Fair wind to you!
Warren
Setsail728@aol.com
All us CD27 guys are drooling I'll bet! Make sure you take a laptop computer or something with you. Keep us updated on this board about your trip. As one guy who has to deal with that snow, it'll be a little wierd, but during the winter I may keep my sailing life going thru your adventure!
Fair wind to you!
Warren
Setsail728@aol.com
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Catherine Monaghan
Re: Cruise preps
Andy,
How long will you be in the Bahamas? If you've not been there in December before, you're in for a treat. The Bahamans will be preparing for their <a href="http://www.bahamasnet.com/junkanoo/w.ju ... unkanoo</a> festival -- it's sort of like carnival or Mardi Gras except it's for Christmas. They'll be busy making their costumes and having marching/dancing practice sessions. It's a really noisy festival but the music, marching and dancing are alot of fun. The festival itself takes place December 26th through January 1st.
For what it's worth, when we sailed to the Bahamas early last year we sailed to Port Lucaya, Grand Bahama and tied up in the marina at the <a href="http://www.bahamasnet.com/portlucayares ... html">Port Lucaya Resort and Yacht Club</a>. It's an easy walk from the marina to the harbormaster's office where you can pick up a copy of the latest weather fax, the market and nearby casinos. I wish I could remember what it cost to stay there.
Have fun.
catherine_monaghan@merck.com
CD32 <a href="http://www.hometown.aol.com/bcomet/real ... ization</a>, #3
Rahway, NJ
Raritan Bay
catherine_monaghan@merck.com
How long will you be in the Bahamas? If you've not been there in December before, you're in for a treat. The Bahamans will be preparing for their <a href="http://www.bahamasnet.com/junkanoo/w.ju ... unkanoo</a> festival -- it's sort of like carnival or Mardi Gras except it's for Christmas. They'll be busy making their costumes and having marching/dancing practice sessions. It's a really noisy festival but the music, marching and dancing are alot of fun. The festival itself takes place December 26th through January 1st.
For what it's worth, when we sailed to the Bahamas early last year we sailed to Port Lucaya, Grand Bahama and tied up in the marina at the <a href="http://www.bahamasnet.com/portlucayares ... html">Port Lucaya Resort and Yacht Club</a>. It's an easy walk from the marina to the harbormaster's office where you can pick up a copy of the latest weather fax, the market and nearby casinos. I wish I could remember what it cost to stay there.
Have fun.
catherine_monaghan@merck.com
CD32 <a href="http://www.hometown.aol.com/bcomet/real ... ization</a>, #3
Rahway, NJ
Raritan Bay
Andy Denmark wrote: For what it's worth:
Talked today to my insurance agent -- State Farm -- and obtained a no-cost rider to my standard policy to include the four major Bahamas Islands -- Great Abaco, Grand Bahama, Exuma and Eleuthra. Outstanding!
Spent the remainder of the day pulling new wires to the distribution panel on Rhiannon. Wow, what a job. Ancor shoulduse Rhiannon as some sort of testimonial. I replaced the original CD panel with a Paneltronics Model 2206 with quite a few more circuits. In the end, I had to run a section of 1 inch flexible conduit to accomodate all the additional circuits but I think the effort will be worth it. The new custom-built cabinetry is nice and will work well. Relocated the battery selector switch and an AC power control panel beneath the companionway in a sort-of temporary setup to be replace later with quality stuff. I will try and get pictures of all this before I leave on Dec 8 (+/-).
Some of the things I'm considering befor departure: the new Strong Trak system for mainsail hoisting (this is really slick), new batteries (the Lifeline's seem good), a new Stamoid cockpit awning (in silver, no less), and linking the Autohelm 2000 to the Garmin GPS (I have the interface but wonder about the wisdom of doing this).
Also, in the mail today came my reciprocal Bahamas ham license (C6A) so I'm legal for Bahamas communications! Too cool! With the PTC IIe, I can email along the way, but not in the Bahamas as they don't allow third party traffic. Down the ICW and the West Coast and Keys are okay, though.
Getting down to the short rows. Only a trip to Seattle to see daughter and a term paper as major obstacles before departing. YES!!!!
Rhiannon is looking good!
Andy Denmark
P.S. I can hose off the seagull poop in a few minutes and be under sail shortly thereafter -- try that with snow while on the hard.
catherine_monaghan@merck.com
-
Lou Ostendorff
Re: Cruise preps
Hi Andy;
We all appreciate the info. on your cruise preps...makes me drool just thinking about it...could you say a few words on the advantages of being a HAM, vs. doing the Marine SSB thing, as most of us do? Also, what is the current status of receiving email while at sea? Can you do this with Ham Packet Radio? Thanks in advance...
Lou Ostendorff
CD25D "KARMA"
#63
louosten@ipass.net
We all appreciate the info. on your cruise preps...makes me drool just thinking about it...could you say a few words on the advantages of being a HAM, vs. doing the Marine SSB thing, as most of us do? Also, what is the current status of receiving email while at sea? Can you do this with Ham Packet Radio? Thanks in advance...
Lou Ostendorff
CD25D "KARMA"
#63
louosten@ipass.net
-
Andy Denmark
Re: Cruise preps
Hi Lou,
Ham vs. commercial SSB (hereafter "SSB" as ham is SSB too but will distinguish to prevent confusion) SSB works on discrete frequencies, i.e., channels. There is little one can do to manipulate the SSB rcvr for optimum reception (I'll spare you the technicalities)- you're pretty much stuck with what you click to. Ham rcvrs use a variety of means to optimize reception, most standard eqpt on good quality ham XCVRS. Ham stations have many more frequencies to choose from, enabling one to pick an optimum link depending on atmospherics, noise, propogation, etc. The number of shore stations is growing while the number of SSB shore stations seems to be diminishing. While a license is required for ham operation, the Morse Code part has been drastically simplified (read slowed down to 5 wpm) so you can almost pass this in your sleep. There are good study guides for amateur licensing, too. There is a down side for the truly long-legged cruiser -- one must have a reciprocal license to operate within the boundaries of another country. This must be obtained and the process varies from place to place -- some you can simply go the gov't office and fill out a form, others require formal application by mail and can take months to receive. It took my Bahamas license a month to get the back (but that was a renewal and new licenses take longer). Packet is the normal mode of at-sea email, called PACTOR. It is reliable but simple -- no attachments, pictures, graphics, etc. for efficiency.
The transceiver for reliable email communication is important. My first one (a Ten Tec Scout) wouldn't handle the tight frequency tolerance or the severe duty cycle. For normal ham SSB operation it worked great but the email req'ts were too stringent for it to work reliably (Ken Coit, take note).
I'm really new at this, never having done the email thing from my boat so none of this is from personal experience. Give me a little time and I'll know a lot more about it.
The dining room table is covered with cabinetry that's just been satin varnished, my evening project. A lot of it installs this weekend. I've been at this boat since daylight so this guy is headed for the barn! Later,
Andy Denmark
CD-27 #270, "Rhiannon"
Oriental, NC
trekker@coastalnet.com
Ham vs. commercial SSB (hereafter "SSB" as ham is SSB too but will distinguish to prevent confusion) SSB works on discrete frequencies, i.e., channels. There is little one can do to manipulate the SSB rcvr for optimum reception (I'll spare you the technicalities)- you're pretty much stuck with what you click to. Ham rcvrs use a variety of means to optimize reception, most standard eqpt on good quality ham XCVRS. Ham stations have many more frequencies to choose from, enabling one to pick an optimum link depending on atmospherics, noise, propogation, etc. The number of shore stations is growing while the number of SSB shore stations seems to be diminishing. While a license is required for ham operation, the Morse Code part has been drastically simplified (read slowed down to 5 wpm) so you can almost pass this in your sleep. There are good study guides for amateur licensing, too. There is a down side for the truly long-legged cruiser -- one must have a reciprocal license to operate within the boundaries of another country. This must be obtained and the process varies from place to place -- some you can simply go the gov't office and fill out a form, others require formal application by mail and can take months to receive. It took my Bahamas license a month to get the back (but that was a renewal and new licenses take longer). Packet is the normal mode of at-sea email, called PACTOR. It is reliable but simple -- no attachments, pictures, graphics, etc. for efficiency.
The transceiver for reliable email communication is important. My first one (a Ten Tec Scout) wouldn't handle the tight frequency tolerance or the severe duty cycle. For normal ham SSB operation it worked great but the email req'ts were too stringent for it to work reliably (Ken Coit, take note).
I'm really new at this, never having done the email thing from my boat so none of this is from personal experience. Give me a little time and I'll know a lot more about it.
The dining room table is covered with cabinetry that's just been satin varnished, my evening project. A lot of it installs this weekend. I've been at this boat since daylight so this guy is headed for the barn! Later,
Andy Denmark
CD-27 #270, "Rhiannon"
Oriental, NC
trekker@coastalnet.com
-
John Nuttall
Cruise preps & Seagull POOP
Hey Andy,
I thought my boat was the only one in Oriental that has seagull POOP on it !!!!!!!!!!!!
I just helped Ryan et al stow away 3 months of food, and bid them all farewell. It was alot easier this year, 'cause I didn't have to watch 'em shove off again. What a miserable feeling that was, watching yer buddies sail off while your feet are nailed to the dock..........
Anyway, YOU are not gettin' out of town without me buying ya one last Kieoke Coffie at M&M's. I have "obligations" (read: worthless land based activities usually involving inlaws) next weekend, but I'll get up with you soon.......
John
s/v "Aimless"
CD31
Lizard Lick, NC
nuttallj@msn.com
I thought my boat was the only one in Oriental that has seagull POOP on it !!!!!!!!!!!!
I just helped Ryan et al stow away 3 months of food, and bid them all farewell. It was alot easier this year, 'cause I didn't have to watch 'em shove off again. What a miserable feeling that was, watching yer buddies sail off while your feet are nailed to the dock..........
Anyway, YOU are not gettin' out of town without me buying ya one last Kieoke Coffie at M&M's. I have "obligations" (read: worthless land based activities usually involving inlaws) next weekend, but I'll get up with you soon.......
John
s/v "Aimless"
CD31
Lizard Lick, NC
nuttallj@msn.com
-
Ken Coit
Re: Cruise preps & Seagull POOP
John,
Keoke coffee, eh?
If we ever get together, at M&Ms or another venue, I'll have to tell you a couple of Keoke Coffee stories. They can get very expensive.
I'd like to catch up with Andy about the time he passes milepost 200, just outside Parfait's marina, then I'd like to follow him to Nassau. However, I suppose he will slip by without my even being able to wave.
Ken Coit
S/V Parfait
Raleigh, NC
Parfait@nc.rr.com
Keoke coffee, eh?
If we ever get together, at M&Ms or another venue, I'll have to tell you a couple of Keoke Coffee stories. They can get very expensive.
I'd like to catch up with Andy about the time he passes milepost 200, just outside Parfait's marina, then I'd like to follow him to Nassau. However, I suppose he will slip by without my even being able to wave.
Ken Coit
S/V Parfait
Raleigh, NC
John Nuttall wrote: Hey Andy,
I thought my boat was the only one in Oriental that has seagull POOP on it !!!!!!!!!!!!
I just helped Ryan et al stow away 3 months of food, and bid them all farewell. It was alot easier this year, 'cause I didn't have to watch 'em shove off again. What a miserable feeling that was, watching yer buddies sail off while your feet are nailed to the dock..........
Anyway, YOU are not gettin' out of town without me buying ya one last Kieoke Coffie at M&M's. I have "obligations" (read: worthless land based activities usually involving inlaws) next weekend, but I'll get up with you soon.......
John
s/v "Aimless"
CD31
Lizard Lick, NC
Parfait@nc.rr.com
-
Andy Denmark
Re: Cruise preps & Seagull POOP
Hi John,
I will certainly let you stand me for a drink before departing, but only if you allow me to return the favor one day! Let me know when you'll be at M & M's. Maybe Ken would like to join in and we'll make a party of it. We can't let Ryan and Robert have all the fun!
Do you have seagulls in Lizard Lick?
Andy Denmark
CD-27 #270 - "Rhiannon"
Oriental, NC
trekker@coastalnet.com
I will certainly let you stand me for a drink before departing, but only if you allow me to return the favor one day! Let me know when you'll be at M & M's. Maybe Ken would like to join in and we'll make a party of it. We can't let Ryan and Robert have all the fun!
Do you have seagulls in Lizard Lick?
Andy Denmark
CD-27 #270 - "Rhiannon"
Oriental, NC
trekker@coastalnet.com
-
John Nuttall
Seagulls in Lizard Lick
Hi Andy!
Yes we do get seagulls in Lizard Lick, NC.
If you draw a straight line from your dock to the E Raleigh Landfill, you will see it passes directly over Lizard Lick. Upon occasion, when landing conditions at the landfill are poor, some of the little buggers make a forced landing near my garbage can.
But my bimini is safe here, as it is now clean and currently inside drip drying over the tub !!!
As for M&M's.....I'll be down to the coast Thanksgiving Weekend. I'll ring you up.
John
nuttallj@msn.com
Yes we do get seagulls in Lizard Lick, NC.
If you draw a straight line from your dock to the E Raleigh Landfill, you will see it passes directly over Lizard Lick. Upon occasion, when landing conditions at the landfill are poor, some of the little buggers make a forced landing near my garbage can.
But my bimini is safe here, as it is now clean and currently inside drip drying over the tub !!!
As for M&M's.....I'll be down to the coast Thanksgiving Weekend. I'll ring you up.
John
nuttallj@msn.com
-
Andy Denmark
Re: Seagulls in Lizard Lick
Hey, John,
I won't be here Thanksgiving week as I'm headed to Bellingham, Washington, to see my daughter. My niece keeps her boat out at Friday Harbor and we may go sailing in the San Juans --- beautiful, but too cold this time of year. First weekend in Dec. will be last available unless I'm delayed. Departure is as soon after Dec. 8th as I can make it. No later than the 10th, no matter what.
Rain today really slowed me down. The rewiring project is taking forever. Interior cabinetry is going very well, though. Maybe you can see Rhiannon before we take off.
Andy Denmark
CD-27 #270 "Rhiannon"
Oriental, NC
35* 05.1 N, 076* 38.7 W
trekker@coastalnet.com
I won't be here Thanksgiving week as I'm headed to Bellingham, Washington, to see my daughter. My niece keeps her boat out at Friday Harbor and we may go sailing in the San Juans --- beautiful, but too cold this time of year. First weekend in Dec. will be last available unless I'm delayed. Departure is as soon after Dec. 8th as I can make it. No later than the 10th, no matter what.
Rain today really slowed me down. The rewiring project is taking forever. Interior cabinetry is going very well, though. Maybe you can see Rhiannon before we take off.
Andy Denmark
CD-27 #270 "Rhiannon"
Oriental, NC
35* 05.1 N, 076* 38.7 W
trekker@coastalnet.com
-
Warren Kaplan
Re: Seagulls in Lizard Lick
Andy,Andy Denmark wrote: Hey, John,
I won't be here Thanksgiving week as I'm headed to Bellingham, Washington, to see my daughter. My niece keeps her boat out at Friday Harbor and we may go sailing in the San Juans --- beautiful, but too cold this time of year. First weekend in Dec. will be last available unless I'm delayed. Departure is as soon after Dec. 8th as I can make it. No later than the 10th, no matter what.
Rain today really slowed me down. The rewiring project is taking forever. Interior cabinetry is going very well, though. Maybe you can see Rhiannon before we take off.
Andy Denmark
CD-27 #270 "Rhiannon"
Oriental, NC
35* 05.1 N, 076* 38.7 W
With all this rewiring and interior construction and time growing short, do you think you'll have any time for a "shake down" cruise before you take off? Any chance of "real problems" if some part of the newly rewired electrical system "acts up"?
Warren
Setsail728@aol.com
-
Ken Coit
Re: Seagulls in Lizard Lick
I was going to comment about those inland seagulls, but we probably have more crows and hawks here in Raleigh. Pines cause more trouble than the gulls. In Beaufort its the barn swallows that give me grief; they like to nest under the pier and sit on the lifelines to do their thing. Noisy little buggers, but pretty. They are gone now, having raised two broods.
Let us know if you ever pick a date & time for M&Ms, I'd be delighted to join you for a send off. We will probably be around Beaufort after the holiday, maybe even during, but I doubt it. If you get that way, come on by.
Ken
parfait@nc.rr.com
Let us know if you ever pick a date & time for M&Ms, I'd be delighted to join you for a send off. We will probably be around Beaufort after the holiday, maybe even during, but I doubt it. If you get that way, come on by.
Ken
John Nuttall wrote: Hi Andy!
Yes we do get seagulls in Lizard Lick, NC.
If you draw a straight line from your dock to the E Raleigh Landfill, you will see it passes directly over Lizard Lick. Upon occasion, when landing conditions at the landfill are poor, some of the little buggers make a forced landing near my garbage can.
But my bimini is safe here, as it is now clean and currently inside drip drying over the tub !!!
As for M&M's.....I'll be down to the coast Thanksgiving Weekend. I'll ring you up.
John
parfait@nc.rr.com