Norfolk, VA
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.
When we lived aboard, we didn't winterize. Winterizing is a potentially big job. But we think we're getting a grip on it. Except for one thing. And this year, it was a problem. So we had to do some diagnostic work.
Here's the …
There's a love-and-care gap exposed by visiting the Red Ranger only on weekends. This leads to weirdness.
Once upon a time, we covered so many miles in one year (something like 2,000) that oil changes happened pretty often. It's about 200 hours, which (at 6 knots) is about 1 …
This was our old helm arrangement.
The white box on the left is the "chart plotter". GPS receiver with charts that shows exactly where we are. It's integrated with the radio and receives AIS positions from other ships and shows them relative …
Two winters of sitting — and a summer with only a few trips — has left Red Ranger awfully dirty. Also, some mission-critical things had failed.
Here's CA washing the galley fan. She's scrubbing the power cord with a toothbrush. (Mine, I think.)
If the galley fan is dirty, what …
When we're sailing, the prop is left spinning — freewheeling. It appears that either some transmissions say "never let this happen" or sailors have determined through the rumor mill that this is bad. The idea is that the transmission has no pressure to circulate fluid and this causes wear …
On Red Ranger, we use the 5F's of safety.
Flooding
Falling Overboard
Fire
First Aid
Fatigue and Famine
These help us separate what's safety critical from what's merely a good idea.
Which leads us to pumps. Hull integrity, hose integrity, and hose clamps are important preventative measures. A dripless shaft …
Our two most recent zinc anodes haven't lasted 6 months.
They used to.
What changed?
(1) Solar panels. (2) GFCI outlets. (3) A few small things.
The solar panels mean that we now generate power constantly. Constantly.
I added a Camp zinc grouper. This is 6 pounds of …
Took some of the family — Niece Hjördis, CA, Sis Nancy, Mom Judy — to see Red Ranger on the hard at the boat yard.
Not shown in the picture are Bro-in-Law Andy, Nephew Sumner, and Nephew Winsor.
Red Ranger weathered the winter without too many problems.
The bilge froze …
A few years ago, one of the bigger boat jobs was adding a second electric bilge pump. See A Manifold of Bilge Pumps. At the time, it felt epic because it was a job that was safety-critical. As in "your life depends on doing this right." Or maybe "Do this …
Sigh.
The fun thing (two weeks ago) was ascending the mast to examine someone else's lighting. They had a short. Somewhere. I want aloft to look around. It didn't seem to be up there. The Aqua Signal was clean and tidy. Bulbs looked good.
Sadly, they'd looked at the …
We'll call this the "Menehune Modification" to the Whitby/Brewer fuel tank vent issue.
For non-sailors the essential issues are these:
Your boat has some fuel tanks. Red Ranger has one. Sister ships have as many as three.
A fuel tank needs an air vent. Fuel going in will displace …
Coping with operator error is difficult.
The ColRegs (The International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea) are required on boats. Rule 20 describes when lights must be used (sunset to sunrise and restricted visibility). Rule 25 describes lights to be used on sailing vessels.
We have both version of the …
What are the odds of seeing other Whitby folks in cars at the corner of 27th and South Dixie Highway.
Actually, remarkably high. We don't get that far up 27th all that often.
On Thursday, we were up there so we could take the train to the modern art museum …
I've gone the full round of sparring with Mr. Lehman, eventually got in two waza-ari, and came out victorious. And I have the cuts and bruises to prove it.
Earlier (Miami Connections) we rounded up the parts: Cole Hersee push-button starter switch and M202 solenoid.
The question is this: "Do …
Previously, we have noted that Mr. Lehman has been reluctant to start. The starter solenoid is a little rustball, and perhaps is on its last legs. For some history, see Mysteries, Cleaning and Watching.
Today, the starter didn't work.
Now we have time to do some diagnostics.
Previously, we could …
We've lost track of our mystery case files, so I don't know what number to assign this particular case, but it was as baffling as any case we've tackled.
Earlier this week, CA went looking for her favorite black hoodie. And came up dry. No hoodie.
Clearly. It's misplaced …
There's a standing Thursday night party here at the Vero Beach City Marina. Fabulous. We got to meet many of the cruisers who are staying at Vero. Some are leaving soon to get south ASAP. Others are leaving eventually.
And more are showing up, too. Today, for instance, we …
The Commodore has two safety items for Red Ranger.
Class B AIS Transponder.
Radar.
We've got a good AIS receiver in our Standard Horizon GX2150 radio connected to our Standard Horizon CP300 chart plotter.
But that's not a transponder. We're only visible to big ships as a radar blip, not …
It's 1°C this morning. We're thankful for unlimited shore power, and two 1500W electric heaters plus a propane heater. Being at a dock is expensive, but sometimes the money's well spent.
We're thankful that I figured out how to operate the excess fuel cold start device on the Mr …
Breakfast. Round-Table Conversations. Lunch.
Talked about tools and saw the coolest device for accurately measuring specific gravity optically. But a drop of battery acid onto the glass and look through the eyepiece and get a precise measurement of specific gravity. Very cool.
Talked about electronics and electronic charting. I …