G'day All and others !,
Itz such a progressive week that I felt that it waz necessary 4 me 2 update mid-week! Cos I reckon I'd have 2 much stuff to say by Friday. And as I have 2B (pencil) awake until 3 am when the Nascar replay from the weekend will be shown, I figured it waz thyme 2 show U all whatz bean happening this week aboard The Yot!
1st up!! "Beef Jerky" any-one??
My first batch of Qld Beef Jerky is a "roaring success !" After the 3 day drying process the final product is now being consumed at an alarming rate. The same thing happened in
Perth with the first 3 batches!
Inside The Yot, much progress on the new console!, this is the "FUN" bit!
With the basic layout and shape proving 2B (there's that damn pencil again) so good, during the Birthday trip (see last entry), I'm now confident that I can fix all the electronix and wiring in 2 their final places.
Much progress haz followed!
The switch boards R now fitted, the circuitz R gradually coming on-line and with the arrival of the digital amp meters, I now know watz happening with the electricity and can control it.
The console fit-out haz bean inter spaced with a "Luv Job" on the small cradle. Nick (Owner of the boat) Has helped So many people in Townsville during his life, but is now terminally ill,well he needed his pride and joy painted and anti-fouled.(while I don't know Nick I know of him) So all of us have donated our thyme 2 the task! "Cos we can!"
That hasn't slowed the Yot progress down any! With my goal of wiring 2 circuits / Day being easily achieved.
Now the switch panelz R finally in place I can get rid of the tangled mess that haz bean the basic temporary wiring up until now.
What a relief!
Organised "Chaos" is the new Norm. With new circuitz coming on line each day, the nite thymes are interesting as I switch different circuits on while monitoring the amp gauge. Itz amazing 2 find out the "basics" Computer, modem, stereo and inverter draw less than 1 amp while I'm typing this.(Not 2 Bad). That'll change once "The Fridges" R brought on-line!
With everything on the Yot switched on (currently wired) I'm only using (at most) 7 amps. When an hours sunlight yields around 24 amps from the Solar panels, I'm kind of happy with my power consumption levels.
The fitting and covering of the panels is progressing well with ceiling panels and cupboards turning from basic pieces of plywood into "built in" partz of the new console.
Before the weekend arrives I should B able 2 re-install the Skippers chair and covering panels, revealing the "New Brain".
I have still yet 2 decide on a final place 4 the compass and Autopilot control panel, but with 2 possible final locationz (wkoa) presenting themselves during the early part of this week I should have this little issue solved B4 the end of the week.
Mum and Dad have jetted off 2 Thailand for a well earned Holiday! While Brother Andrew haz returned 2 Groote Island (aka Fishing heaven) and is spending many days catch lotz of
fillets 4 the freezer. Brother Mark and I are in final preparation (wkoa) mode, for our trip 2 Bathurst. I'll be flying down 2 Sydney rather than taking Galleycat! Itz a simple matter of economics and thyme, $370 round trip aboard a plane and 5 hours flying time versus 4 weeks sailing (one-way) and around $1000 fuel and expenses along the way (NO CONTEST). I will hopefully get the Yot as far as The Whitsunday Island group so I can moor her there, then spend a week or 2 fishing my way back 2 Townsville on my return leg of the journey.
Bak 2 the refit! with the arrival of more Led strip
lighting this week, I've also been able 2 fit the new main cabin lighting. The 2 recessed panelz in between the skylights have now been fitted with a length of warm white led's that R giving heaps of light over the whole main cabin area.
The skylight covers are soon to have very small holes drilled through them, in the pattern of 2 major constellations (wkoa). This will provide an interesting effect of " Day thyme stars" while your sitting inside. Different!
The whole console haz bean designed with the KISS principle in mind! With the final layout being very simply laid out, giving a functional
uncluttered feel 2 the whole area. I'll need 2 do 1 more trial trip B4 I finish covering and wiring the area but I'm pretty sure the whole thing will work really well over the next 4 or 5 years sailing. The Raymarine Radar unit is now installed and working and once the mast comes down for itz refit in the next few weeks the transmit dome will be around 10 meters above the deck giving a range of around 24 miles "visibility"??
I'm still not "happy" with the current TV position but it'll do 4 now, as itz proving 2B (damn pencil) a stcking point or brain freeze.
Once the wiring stage is completed (around this weekend) I should be able 2 return to sea for a solo trip 2 the reef. This will be the final test of the "base" layout. If all goes well? then Galleycat will be ready for a final sand and primary paint.
This is a huge stage! As it means The Yot is now "safe" to use!
That doesn't mean itz finished! But it does mean I can head South over the next few months as the temperature and rainz increase. Should be a lot more pleasent !
If everything works and the starz and moon align correctly I should be spending this Christmas at sea. I can't (or shouldn't) head North at this thyme of the year as the Cyclone season is just beginning! But I can head towards Airlie Beach, Rainbow beach, Fraser Island and several hundred other desirable locations ( wkoa). "Tuff Hey!"
That is if everything works! As I've learnt during the past 18 months Everything working is a "pipe dream" but one can only hope!
I'll update again during the weekend, as I've got a double batch of Distilling 2 do in preparation (wkoa) 4 My Bathurst trip. This batch should yield a special 5 litres of Bourbon that'll accompany me to "The Mountain".
It seems as if the yard work is increasing with the warmer weather so the next 5 weeks I'm sure will fly by and B4 I know it I'll be Sydney bound. Mermaid Amanda will be in Sydney around the same thyme so if all goes well we should cross paths.
Thatz it 4 now1
Enjoy every day as if itz your last,
Captain Felix
Progress on my "humble" WFT type version is progressing really well,with the Console nearly completed and the task of wiring Galleycat well on the way!
