I installed the steel slugs for the new Tide Marine SailTrack system by cutting the old plastic ones off the mainsail. The process was simple and only took about 20 minutes.
Tide Marine SailTrack Slugs Installed
Aegir-Ran’s New Home
The Alajuela 38 has a new home in Marina San Carlos.
Aegir-Ran has Splashed!
After six months of work, seven days a week, the refit of my Alajuela 38 is complete, and the boat splashed. The work that remains is relatively minor and can be completed on the water.
The Refit Is Done!
After six months of work, the refit is finished. Aegir-Ran received a through washing today in preparation for splashing in the morning.
Mast has been Restepped
After seven weeks, the mast has been restepped. She’s no longer an RV but rather a sailboat again.
Anchor Light with Photodiode
I installed the masthead light with the circuitboard today. The photodiode was epoxied into the top of the water-tight box containing the electronics. My neighbors in the yard were impressed and suggested I should market the device.
Adding A Photodiode Circuit to the Anchor Light
I ordered a new LED anchor light that is supposed to turn on automatically at night. Imagine my disappointment when I installed the light (after an eleven-hour round-trip to Tucson to pick it up) to learn that it emitted RED light! The company I ordered it from apologized and sent a replacement. After another trip to Tucson to pick it up, imagine my continued disappointment to learn that the new light has a different mount AND it does not have the automatic on/off feature. A call to the company confirmed that the lamp they sent me is all that they have. Since I am restepping the mast in a couple of days, I did not have time to arrange for a new light, but I really wanted the automatic on/off feature. So … I ordered a small circuit board from Amazon (with one-day service) that is designed to turn automobile headlights on automatically at night. Naturally, the circuit board came with ZERO instructions. Here I am doing a quick test of the circuit using my car battery to confirm that it works.
The white wire in the lower left had the photodiode at the end (covered with black electrical tape). A few tests demonstrated the relay on the board can either be configured normally on or off. The first time I wired it backwards (the anchor light was on during the day), but switching a couple of wires fixed the problem. Since I imagine this add-on would be of interest to other sailors, I will post the details later.
Spreaders Repaired
For weeks ago I discovered one of the tangs on the spreader had nearly pulled out. I ha a stainless steel cap made, which was installed today. Note I had a bracket welded on for a small block the starboard side (for courtesy flags) and the port side (for a radar reflector).
I also sewed on leather boots:
