To see as much of the world as we can,
Using the smallest carbon footprint we can,
Spending the least amount of money we can,
Making as many friends we can.

Team Red Cruising

Ph. III, day 44, Stuart

Having a wonderfully low-key time in Stuart.

CA inspected the hose clamps. Which means lifting each cabin-sole board and reaching down with a tool to see if they can be tightened even a little. Any rusty ones are my problem to replace.

The USCG rules for fire extinguishers have changed. See Fire extinguishers requirements for the recreational boater FAQ.

Fire Extinguishers
Old and New Fire Extinguishers

The old (red) one on the left is original equipment. It came with the boat. Which means it dates from 1981. While fully charged, it's legally expired.

The new (white) one on the right dates from 2009, and fine until April, when it also expired. Hard to believe we've owned Red Ranger long enough to have all the fire extinguishers go bad on us.

We'll buy a new box of three with more modern dates ASAP.

CA is making bungs on our shabby lathe. The holes are slightly smaller diameter than the bung material, so she puts the little piece of dowling in the drill and sands it down until she can pound it into the hole.

Making Bungs
CA sanding down the bungs

Holding everything really steady, it will sand down the bung pretty evenly. The wind is blowing and we have a bit of wave action, so it's not easy to hold it all steady.

The wood color doesn't exactly match the interior teak. But it's really, really close.

Bung
You can make out the bung

I think she wants to find some dark wood putty to see if she can level up the hole. I'm not sure putty will ever match correctly, and we should stick with "close enough."