9/25/2002 - 10/29/2002

---

Boat Work and Systems Update

If you are not into the boat systems talk, you may skip this section. We updated the Microsoft project plan (seriously), roughly prioritize our last “before we leave” tasks, and decided to get a few last minute things fixed or installed.

The first thing we noticed in San Diego is the wide availability of marine repair and refit services.

Our first stop in San Diego was to the "cruiser's chandlery" Downwind Marine.

---

Downwind Marine

We met Steve Ford when we first went to Downwind Marine, and Steve became our personal chandlery consultant during our two month stay at the San Diego Yacht Club marina.

If you need it, they can get it -- charge your on-file credit card, and get the goods to you anywhere in the world.  This is a great service.  We also attended a Baja Ha Ha party hosted by Downwind.

---

The toy store for cruisers.

---

Offshore Outfitters

We hired Shea Weston from Offshore Outfitters in San Diego to help us with several remaining electrical tasks. Duncan “assisted” Shea (i.e. looked over Shea’s shoulder saying “what’s that do?”). By hiring someone that knows what they are doing we got the work completed in 1/10^th the time it would have taken Duncan.

Shea diagnosed our genset exhaust back-pressure issue, and reviewed the entire install to help us eliminate our genset exhaust gurgle.  We replaced the existing thru-hull with a larger diameter fitting to reduce the back pressure.

Shea also installed our new Balmar marine alternator, voltage regulator, tachometer, echo charger, and installed a “jumper” switch between the house and start banks (if we ever need to combine the battery banks).

We also got our stereo system working, finally  eliminating the annoying 2-3 second subwoofer kick-in delay.

He also worked on our Danfoss compressor RF radiation problem (with only minor success), and installed the new dual-thermostat that turned our Isotherm freezer into a refrigerator or freezer ( a great success).

We also installed a Keyspan USB 4-port serial hub to integrate several individual interfaces to our computer.  This device allows us to connect all our instruments, GPS, Pactor II Pro modem, and ICOM 710 radio control to our computer with a single USB cable.

The hub is installed behind the scenes. Our Navigation/Weatherfax computer now plugs in to a single small USB plug on the Nav station bulkhead.

---

HAM General Class FCC licenses

We also decided to get our HAM radio licenses while in San Diego. Gordon West is a HAM evangelist and instructor that offers classes nationwide and is responsible for qualifying about 80% of all new HAM operators for their FCC licenses. Gordon (or “Gordo”) scheduled an early October 3-day class in Chula Vista, just south of San Diego. We rented a car for a week to get us to and from Chula Vista.

---

In order to get our “world-wide” band/frequency privileges, one (or both) of us had to pass our Technician and General Class tests -- including a 5 word-per-minute Morse code test. The General Class license gives us the ability to participate in several valuable “nets” that operate on HAM frequencies. These nets/networks are groups of HAMs (shore based and cruising) that help each other out with area/passage information, advice, warnings, troubleshooting, weather reports, weather forecasts, phone patches, message relaying, position reporting, etc. They can be especially helpful in any type of emergency where long-range communication is required.

We received the Gordon West study materials a few months in advance of the class, but did not start studying for the tests until a month before the class. There is a question pool of almost 800 questions, from which about 70 are selected, but you need to learn most of them (74%) in order to get a passing grade. The General Class license also requires the successful completion of the 5 WPM code test – with a demonstrated ability to send and/or receive Morse code.

---

Duncan did very well on the written tests, but only squeaked it through on the Morse code test to get his General. Robin did great with both the written and the Morse code tests to get her General Class license. Although we both dreaded the class and the test the day before attending, Gordon made it VERY fun, funny, and interesting. Three days of intense classroom time, focusing on the areas that were the most practical for marine-based HAMS to learn, we passed our Technician tests with 100% (and think we had similar scores on the General test).

Robin is KG6NNW, and Duncan is KG6NNV. We are very glad that is over and look forward to participating in some of the cruising and Mexico nets.  We also made a trip to Tijuana to get our Mexican “exchange” HAM license that allows us to operate in Mexico.

---

The dreaded Windows XP Upgrade

We also upgraded both of our computers to Windows XP. Robin’s machine ran Windows 98 first release and Duncan’s computer ran Windows 2000. This was a simple 2-3 day task for Duncan’s computer, but Robin’s older ThinkPad (1999 600e) has been a reluctant participant.

After the cost of the software, new hard drive, and new memory – not to mention the four weeks to get everything back installed and in working order – has been an expensive and frustrating experience. Robin's machine is still not 100% stable.

---

The oven finally works!!!

After almost three years of wrestling with the oven, it finally works.  The oven would light, and after 10 to 20 minutes, "pop" out -- and not easily re-light.

After a first thermocouple replacement and a second fitting and solenoid replacement -- a total of about 6 hours spent -- the oven now works.

---

Whisper goes to the spa

Robin describes it as Whisper's "spa week", where she gets a complete exfoliation and hydrotherapy -- including a bottom paint job.  We spent four days in the yard living aboard while Whisper got her treatments.

---

A coral reef has formed on our prop.

---

Whisper's new bottom paint.

---