Friday night we completed the first round toward our full HAM radio license. Well, I should say, I did, as Dan attended all 5 classes with me but he already has his Technician’s license; now I do as well! Starting in two weeks we both start the General license course for another 5 weeks of lecture ending with an exam. Our intention is to be able to use our HAM radio/single side band that’s aboard Gypsy; she came to us equipped…Saturday dawned with cloud cover but a fair breeze. Our first stop was Defender to exchange the antenna we purchased last week for our GPS; the connection did not match. Another sales person with another view realized that the antenna is fine, we just need an adapter to make the parts fit together. Simple? No! This is not a part that Defender carries but they will make an attempt to get the part for us. To be continued… Strike one!
Second attempt of the day: replace the faulty LED masthead light that has been replaced by the distributor. We set up the generator to test the light before we placed it in its permanent spot. The anchor light seemed bright and true; switching to the running lights produced a cloudy haze inside the light chamber in less than 30 seconds. Not good! And I was the observer of the light function; Dan we have a problem here… Strike two…
I hesitate to be too descriptive of our next task, lest you have all the same sensations we had. The breeze and cool air seemed to create the perfect conditions for removing the holding tank for the now storage locker, formerly forward head. Space is too precious of a commodity to leave unclaimed so we had decided to remove the tank; we were waiting for the right conditions… With some major disassembling we may have been able to remove the tank in its entirety but the least disruptive way was to use the saws-all and cut it up! Even the inspection through the capped top yielded unpleasant findings so to lay the tank open was intense. With hatches open and lots of breath control we managed to remove the tank and clean the area. Both Dan and I are scheming as to what will be stored in that space. Being low in the bow we are thinking of things that are bulky but not too heavy.
Even meeting with some frustration today, we left for home feeling as if we had accomplished something big! Whether the task is big or not; if the hype builds up ahead of time, it feels BIG!
Sunday was a day like no other so far. Dan had a task: he planned and had prepared to fill and fair the open areas that had come alive once we had had the keel bolts tightened. What was I going to do?! More accurately: what could I do?! My lack of skills sent me to a frustrating place I have not experienced. Completing the sanding on Gypsy’s hull seemed the only logical task I could handle. Or so I thought! Our boat yard loans sanders and armed with the recommended sandpaper, Dan assisted me in setting up and tried a hand at the first few rounds just to guide me with any special cautions. Unlike most other yard boats, we had our bottom soda blasted so the remaining residue was uneven and often very light. The 120 sandpaper was too abrasive. This prompted a trip to Johnson’s Hardware. This store is a very special place. Packed with every possible solution to the customer’s need, the sales people are very accommodating. You never spend more than a few minutes in any isle looking for a solution to your special problem when a smiling non-intrusive voice asks if there is any way they can be of help – an old school type of place; a place where you feel the pride that the workers have in the service that they provide. I always like going there… only not for sandpaper – taking away from Dan’s project; me not yet started on mine! After much adjusting and thought it was determined that the bottom would be best sanded by hand; I set to the task… rubbing continuously, often with back arched, neck arched I was able to work out my frustration at my small repertoire of skills… there are several more days of sanding in my future…
