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| Black Point Town Dock |
Yesterday we worked on the windlass wiring. It had
been wired “downstream” of the house battery bank 60 amp fuse, so if
any serious load was applied the house bank fuse blew. We’ve blown three fuses
in the six months we’ve been cruising, with the most recent being yesterday
morning. Rewired it into the 300 amp fuse at the batteries as Lighthouse, the
windlass manufacturer, recommended. This required crimping new ends onto a
longer piece of wire, but we had the tools and had acquired the correct lugs
from Cat’s Cradle, just before leaving Miami. We wired it up and the windlass
works.
been wired “downstream” of the house battery bank 60 amp fuse, so if
any serious load was applied the house bank fuse blew. We’ve blown three fuses
in the six months we’ve been cruising, with the most recent being yesterday
morning. Rewired it into the 300 amp fuse at the batteries as Lighthouse, the
windlass manufacturer, recommended. This required crimping new ends onto a
longer piece of wire, but we had the tools and had acquired the correct lugs
from Cat’s Cradle, just before leaving Miami. We wired it up and the windlass
works.
As we were crimping the lugs on with a hammer, a call
came in on the radio for a crimping tool. Turns out that one of the local
homemade Bahamian racing boats needed to crimp on a new forestay fitting. Just
so happens that we had the tool out and it did the job! Smashee spent the
afternoon working on the rig with the help of several cruisers. Just before
sunset, the boat sailed by with the crew hiking out yelling “Thank
you Intuition.” It made our day and we have some okay photos.
came in on the radio for a crimping tool. Turns out that one of the local
homemade Bahamian racing boats needed to crimp on a new forestay fitting. Just
so happens that we had the tool out and it did the job! Smashee spent the
afternoon working on the rig with the help of several cruisers. Just before
sunset, the boat sailed by with the crew hiking out yelling “Thank
you Intuition.” It made our day and we have some okay photos.
Our wiring project precipitated another problem since
when hooking up the new windlass wire I thought I’d turned off the house switch
and hadn’t. The Nexus instruments stopped working – the most important of these
being the depth sounder. Traced it to a blown fuse. Replaced the fuse, but the
replacement blew too.
when hooking up the new windlass wire I thought I’d turned off the house switch
and hadn’t. The Nexus instruments stopped working – the most important of these
being the depth sounder. Traced it to a blown fuse. Replaced the fuse, but the
replacement blew too.
It was a night of rock and roll, fore and aft, and
side to side with a Southwest wind in the mid-twenties. Good holding here in
the harbor so everyone stayed put, but not a good night for sleeping.
side to side with a Southwest wind in the mid-twenties. Good holding here in
the harbor so everyone stayed put, but not a good night for sleeping.
After breakfast we vetoed school and started to
investigate the instrument problem. Disconnected all the wires from the Nexus
CPU except power and the fuse didn’t blow. Added the sensors back in one at a
time and it was okay. Added the cockpit displays and the NMEA out to the
multiplexer and computer and still okay. Stopped at adding the Multi repeater
at the chart desk since that was our suspect and is only a “nice to
have”. Also because we are down to one spare fuse of that size. We’ve got
over a hundred fuses aboard, but not quite the right ones.
investigate the instrument problem. Disconnected all the wires from the Nexus
CPU except power and the fuse didn’t blow. Added the sensors back in one at a
time and it was okay. Added the cockpit displays and the NMEA out to the
multiplexer and computer and still okay. Stopped at adding the Multi repeater
at the chart desk since that was our suspect and is only a “nice to
have”. Also because we are down to one spare fuse of that size. We’ve got
over a hundred fuses aboard, but not quite the right ones.
The electronics project was done with the boat rolling
through 25 degrees with a westerly swell, so as soon as we finished we vetoed
school and headed for shore.
through 25 degrees with a westerly swell, so as soon as we finished we vetoed
school and headed for shore.
Starting our leisurely stroll out of town we met a
local lady on her way in that stopped to introduce herself and welcome us to
Black Point. Everyone here has been really friendly. Took a nice hike out to
the Sound side and explored a beach. Lots of lizards, a hermit crab, a
bannaquit and a hummingbird were found along the way. The sky was clear and the
it was 86 by 1000, so we were glad we brought cold water.
local lady on her way in that stopped to introduce herself and welcome us to
Black Point. Everyone here has been really friendly. Took a nice hike out to
the Sound side and explored a beach. Lots of lizards, a hermit crab, a
bannaquit and a hummingbird were found along the way. The sky was clear and the
it was 86 by 1000, so we were glad we brought cold water.
The heat got to us, so we turned around and headed
back for town in search of a spare fuse. Neither of the grocery stores or the
marine store stocked any fuses. Met Lorraine and she said stop into the cafe anytime.
It is a place that feels like home. You go in, help yourself to drinks and
write down what you take in a notebook under your boat name. Noah wandered
about and peaked in the school which was just two doors down. We decided
to stay for lunch and Beth asked the school principal if it would be okay for Noah
to attend classes in the afternoon. It was casual Friday (no uniforms), so he
fit right in, and the principal agreed to let him attend.
back for town in search of a spare fuse. Neither of the grocery stores or the
marine store stocked any fuses. Met Lorraine and she said stop into the cafe anytime.
It is a place that feels like home. You go in, help yourself to drinks and
write down what you take in a notebook under your boat name. Noah wandered
about and peaked in the school which was just two doors down. We decided
to stay for lunch and Beth asked the school principal if it would be okay for Noah
to attend classes in the afternoon. It was casual Friday (no uniforms), so he
fit right in, and the principal agreed to let him attend.
The teacher was Ms. Rolle. Three other third graders
and four or five second graders were in the class. PE and reading were the
subjects for the afternoon. They chased butterflies in PE and caught (and released)
three or four. Noah read to the teacher and she told us he is a fine reader. He
enjoyed the experience and mentioned that he could live here – if his friend
Charlie’s family from home moved here too.
and four or five second graders were in the class. PE and reading were the
subjects for the afternoon. They chased butterflies in PE and caught (and released)
three or four. Noah read to the teacher and she told us he is a fine reader. He
enjoyed the experience and mentioned that he could live here – if his friend
Charlie’s family from home moved here too.
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| Lorraine’s Cafe |
Beth and I visited with other cruisers at Lorraine’s Cafe.
The wind calmed considerably so I ran back to the boat and picked up the
camera. Also printed out some photos of “Smashee” to give to the
captain. After school Noah met kids from Milano Myst, a boat we had last seen
in Vero Beach as we were leaving — another third grade boy! All the boat kids
played together with the local kids. They were opening coconuts, playing tag
and playing with a new puppy. Shouldn’t have any problem getting to sleep
tonight.
The wind calmed considerably so I ran back to the boat and picked up the
camera. Also printed out some photos of “Smashee” to give to the
captain. After school Noah met kids from Milano Myst, a boat we had last seen
in Vero Beach as we were leaving — another third grade boy! All the boat kids
played together with the local kids. They were opening coconuts, playing tag
and playing with a new puppy. Shouldn’t have any problem getting to sleep
tonight.
Back at the boat we had a light dinner and read some
from “Journey of the Oceanauts” before hitting the sack. Plan to head
further south tomorrow, taking advantage of the light winds to go out into the
deep waters of Exuma sound.
from “Journey of the Oceanauts” before hitting the sack. Plan to head
further south tomorrow, taking advantage of the light winds to go out into the
deep waters of Exuma sound.
