heating, drying, sealing and covering

Visited Phoenix.... and put a secure cover over the hole left in the deck by the mast removal.... the yard had covered it, but i've put a more secure cover on...

Also, while I was there, I took the opportunity to put a frost guard heater and a dehumidifier on... so she should be dry and frost free.

In the meantime, i've also ordered a heavy duty tarpaulin off eBay to cover the cockpit and some of the rails... its a 250gsm, so pretty robust, and with holes every 50cm and reinforced corners for tying it down. Its big at 8m x 10m as I wanted to cover the cockpit properly, as the hatch in the cockpit floor leaks slightly, and I don't want to repair it, as it will be getting taken out when the engine is removed, so seems a bit pointless trying to seal it in the interim.... also, there appears to be a very slight leak through the bolts that secure the genoa track to the capping rails... the nuts are below deck, and a couple on each side are weeping very slightly... so getting a cover over the track will give me time to sort this in the spring, without the water doing any damage in the meantime... they will be 'difficult' to repair, as the bolts are 25cm long, and the nuts are up under the join between the deck and hull, so very hard to get at, and hence hard to knock out... I tried to do one earlier this year, and got nowhere... next step is an impact screwdriver, and if that doesn't work, then i'll just resort to a bead of sealant round the base of the track and over the bolt heads.... I don't want to damage the bolts, as 40 lots of 25cm counter sunk 316 satinless bolts will be expensive... we're probably looking at £10 to £15 each.

NMEA network

I've been designing my NMEA network for the boat...

Its not as esay as you'd think.... there are several principles that are obvious... only one device can be connected to a 'listening' port, but several devices can be connected to a 'talking' port. Each port has a specific speed, usually either 38400bps or 4800bps. Some devices have several ports, some can have different ports configured at different speeds, some can't. Different devices use floating grounds, some use the negative side of the 12V circuit... and the most complex one, there is a long list of NMEA 'instructions' (the messages sent out on an NMEA network), and you need to make sure that the right ones are available to be sent, and can be understood by the receiving device... most devices can understand a subset of the NMEA instruction set.

I have 3 instruments (wind, depth, log/speed), a VHF with AIS built in, a plotter with built in GPS, and an autopilot, all of which need info from one or more of the other devices.

Its a fun exercise, and in my case needs a further devices, an NMEA mux that allows several devices outputs to be combined into one single output... this needs a PC connecting to it to configure the ports.... it also provides, in my case, a USB port, that I can connect to a PC to use as a further navigation option.

I have a background in IT.... god knows how some people cope with it!

The one thing I can almost guarantee... my design won't work first time, and i'll spend a few hours debugging why!!!

Phoenix has arisen.....

...out of the water, and into a cradle ashore.

Mast is down, and the winter tasks begin.

I have to, at some point, start working on the engine... I will take a few of the heavier and more 'sticky outy' bits off, to make the removal easier (and possibly get a few quid for ancilliaries that are OK still)

In the meantime, the polycarbonate for the hatch is now stuck in place and firmly screwed down... just a bit of sealant round the edges, more for neatness than watertightness, and that's ready to go back on.

The job hunt continues.... and once I'm gainfully employed again (for which I am now properly ready - getting bored at home), then I can get on and order the new bits I need to make the next big steps forward, including obviously the engine, but also new headlining, new door handles and catches, new plotter and radar, and heating system (plus possibly a new bow thruster).

Soooooo much still to do, but still hoping that 2015 will see us out of the marina, even if just for a test trip.