Radar and Wind Mounted, Mast Cradle Constructed

Ok, Radar is mounted, wind generator is up and running, I thought. 

I got it all mounted and then went down this week and solar and wind are not working, I have a problem that needs to be tracked down.  That is not something that I need to be doing right now, as the mast is coming down this week, so its just one thing added to my already full plate. 

The month of October turned out to be busier than I had expected, my work schedule for Sep was insane, giving me less time to things, thus it all got crammed into Oct.   That being said, I am almost done except for fueling, pumping out, topping off water, getting mast down, and now tracking down this new mystery problem.  If this anything like the other things that I am done it will stretch into more time than I have.  LOL, is all I can do, and if I had time, have another rum, LOL, anyhow. 

The Radar and Wind Gen install went pretty good, I good help thru it all my kids, 13 Girl and 17 Boy, what great help they were.  A little trying at times, but couldn’t have done it without them. 

We did the Radar pole first, tested it all out and then ran all the wires, Wow, what a chore getting the radar cable down the pedestal to the hull, then to the radar, but its done and its up and running, I think the only thing that went wrong with install is the screen on the chart plotter got some scratches on it from the person holding it rested it on the fiberglass corner of the Nav pod, oh well, its not bad, but wish it wasn’t there.  Wind went fine as well, had almost exact amount of cable that I needed, if I would have had an inch less it would have not been enough, wow, talk about cutting it close. 

Got the Mast cradle built and once again the kids come thru and are the best help.  Great workers.

Preparing for trip South

Barry / HOT
08/11/2010, Grand Rivers KY 37.00624N, 88.22605W

Currently working towards my first retirement and slowly preparing Surprise for the trip down the Tenn-Tom to Mobile Bay and Pensacola. I got the solar panels mounted last summer and I am going to mount the Radar dome and wind generator this summer. I have a Raymarine C80 chart plotter and will link this all up when I get my mounting poles the end of this month. I will try to post pics of the set up when it's completed. I will have an antenna loop on top of the radar dome mount and place a VHF antenna on top for the AIS. I will only be getting the receiver as I want to save money and don't see the need to transmit. If I know who is there I can hail them and let them know I am out there as well change course if needed to avoid them. This will link up nicely with the Radar and help track targets. I am going to mount an Air X 400w wind generator on the opposite side of the transom. That gives me radar on port side and wind on starboard with solar in the middle. The solar does a great job as long as the sun is out, so I will use the wind to supplement and provide at night or on cloudy days.
I am so excited to finally be heading south and look forward to the trip each day. I will be a fun trip and great to share it with friends. I will try to keep this updated as I am able. There will not be a lot of internet on the way down, so will probably post the night before maybe that morning and then whenever I have access to wyfi on the rest of the trip.
Cheers
Barry

more prep

Hot, but cooler
08/25/2010, Green Turtle Bay Ky

Ok, ordered the mounting poles for wind gen, and radar, and cross bar for firming up the solar mounting.
Each day that passes puts us closer casting off dock lines for the voyage south. I look forward to that day impatiantly and yet anxit as I relieze all that has to be done and the limited time that I have to get it all done. I have faith that it will be done, just have to keep planning lol.
only two purches for this trip, thats the wind generator and AIS, that will have us set for the trip down the river and the short jump to Pensacola. Ok, guess thats it for today. more later.
Capt. Bear

This my trip south on my Catalina 42 Mk II Surprise
She has been kept since I got her at Green Turtle Bay Ky, I have sat in the harbor and dream as I watched and listened to all of those that have been and passing thru, I longed to follow in thier steps, Now I get that chance.  Its my turn. 

Capt. Bear