Update 5/28/2012
I should be off by now, but a few things are holding me back. A few weeks ago, before the boat went into the water, I had it surveyed. The reason for the survey is that I myself wanted to know if there were any present or upcoming problems that I should know about, and second the insurance company wants to know what the boat is worth, before they will insure it, for my trip to the Bahamas. A few days ago I got a letter from the insurance company wanting to know when I expect to address the issues noted by the surveyor. There were not many, but one that concerns the cockpit thru-hulls has to be repaired before I leave. I hope to get the part tomorrow and install it on Wednesday. Other then that I have to give them a time table within thirty days. Like I need this.
Other then that I have basically completed my food shopping. Now I am in the process of packing my clothes, and other items that might be needed for the trip. A potential problem ,that I have to avoid, is not to take too much stuff.
If all goes well, in the next couple of days, I should be off by the weekend.
Talk to you soon.
George
Monday, May 28, 2012
Saturday, May 5, 2012
Saturday, May 5,2012
A few days ago I sailed Sparrow from its Winter home on the Toms River down to Mystic Islands. I did the trip on the inside. I started at 9 AM, and ended at 7 PM. Ten hours. I figure that I gone about 35 or so miles. I followed the markings of the ICW. I was impressed with the condition of the route. there seemed to be plenty of water all the way. At one point though, near the end of Long Beach Island, I hit a sand Bar. I was following close to the red marker side, I spun the wheel and the current rotated me back out into deep water, and then I was on my way again. This I consider was a really good day and also good training for what is to come in another few weeks.
While I was at the Marina I continued to install my electronics, mounting antennas, and running cables. My installation of my SSB radio in finished. Only one problem though. I turned it on, saw the screen, and froze. This is one complicated radio. Nothing like the VHF that we are use too. With the VHF you just choose a channel that you which to call on. Channel 16 for hailing or emergencies. Channel 13 for bridges, and you also have your working channels, 68, 69, 71,72 etc. Actually all you have to do is remember a few channels that you would use for different situations. In no way do you have to know or even care about what frequency you are communicating on. With Single Sideband Radio you have channels like the above, the only thing is you have a set of these for each of several frequency bands. For example you have the 4 MHz band, the 6, 8 , 12, 16, and 18 MHz bands. Why so many Bands? Because depending on the time of day, and the distances involved, and also possibly some Sun spot interference, you may be able to communicate on some frequencies and not others. Now you have this term ITU channels, for example : a working channel in the 6 MHz Band would be in the ITU 601 to 608 group. Now the ITU 601 channel corresponds to a set frequency. I am not sure what that frequency is at this point, but If you want to call on the ITU 602 channel, you would step up in frequency by 3 KHz exactly. And of course if you want to call on the ITU 603 channel you would step up another 3 KHz. Suppose you only step up 2 KHz from one of these ITU channels. Then you will be over- lapping or stepping on two channels and In such case the Coast Guard or FCC will want to have a talk with you. At this point I am just studying this radio, and I feel that it will take a little time before I feel comfortable with it.
Also over the Winter I installed my Navtex Radio alerts receiver. As I described in a previous post this receiver gives me weather, navigation, safety, and pirates alerts in text format.
.JPG)
I am posting two photos one of how my navigation station looked when I first purchased my boat, and the other is how it looks today.
I still have a few items to finish up on, for example my wireless antenna, my HUG security system which also contains a SPOT satellite communicator, and also a trunk or case for the cabin top to store the panels for my enclosure. I need extra storage. I figure in about three weeks, if all goes well, I will be taking off on a trip.
Cheers
George
A few days ago I sailed Sparrow from its Winter home on the Toms River down to Mystic Islands. I did the trip on the inside. I started at 9 AM, and ended at 7 PM. Ten hours. I figure that I gone about 35 or so miles. I followed the markings of the ICW. I was impressed with the condition of the route. there seemed to be plenty of water all the way. At one point though, near the end of Long Beach Island, I hit a sand Bar. I was following close to the red marker side, I spun the wheel and the current rotated me back out into deep water, and then I was on my way again. This I consider was a really good day and also good training for what is to come in another few weeks.
While I was at the Marina I continued to install my electronics, mounting antennas, and running cables. My installation of my SSB radio in finished. Only one problem though. I turned it on, saw the screen, and froze. This is one complicated radio. Nothing like the VHF that we are use too. With the VHF you just choose a channel that you which to call on. Channel 16 for hailing or emergencies. Channel 13 for bridges, and you also have your working channels, 68, 69, 71,72 etc. Actually all you have to do is remember a few channels that you would use for different situations. In no way do you have to know or even care about what frequency you are communicating on. With Single Sideband Radio you have channels like the above, the only thing is you have a set of these for each of several frequency bands. For example you have the 4 MHz band, the 6, 8 , 12, 16, and 18 MHz bands. Why so many Bands? Because depending on the time of day, and the distances involved, and also possibly some Sun spot interference, you may be able to communicate on some frequencies and not others. Now you have this term ITU channels, for example : a working channel in the 6 MHz Band would be in the ITU 601 to 608 group. Now the ITU 601 channel corresponds to a set frequency. I am not sure what that frequency is at this point, but If you want to call on the ITU 602 channel, you would step up in frequency by 3 KHz exactly. And of course if you want to call on the ITU 603 channel you would step up another 3 KHz. Suppose you only step up 2 KHz from one of these ITU channels. Then you will be over- lapping or stepping on two channels and In such case the Coast Guard or FCC will want to have a talk with you. At this point I am just studying this radio, and I feel that it will take a little time before I feel comfortable with it.
Also over the Winter I installed my Navtex Radio alerts receiver. As I described in a previous post this receiver gives me weather, navigation, safety, and pirates alerts in text format.
.JPG)
I still have a few items to finish up on, for example my wireless antenna, my HUG security system which also contains a SPOT satellite communicator, and also a trunk or case for the cabin top to store the panels for my enclosure. I need extra storage. I figure in about three weeks, if all goes well, I will be taking off on a trip.
Cheers
George
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