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Well I left the house Saturday around 10:00
AM to get the oil changed on my Infiniti I35. Returned at 3:00 PM in my new Jeep
Grand Cherokee. It is a end of year special '04 with "0" miles and a full tow
package and large wheels and a tow capacity rating of 6,500 lbs. I know this
will work as this is my third GC and have towed my last San Juan with it but did
not have quite the tow package this one has. Can't wait to hitch
up.
Now an update on the boat.
- Wiring is about done and waiting on new
Blue Sea 10 circuit breaker panel to arrive.
- Gene Adams has done a new set of drop
boards and I just got his package of a complete 1/8" standing rigging
package.
- Stern pulpit is next from Gene along with
his SS Mast crutch design.
- Complete Aqua Signal lighting. Stern light
will be rail mounted as will the bow bi-color. Will run wiring inside the
tubing down to the deck plate which will be drilled to get wiring into cabin.
Deck/running mast light will exit mast base and into a new lo-profile deck
glass filled fitting that is designed for 5 wires. Using the same type fitting
for the VHF. These fittings are much more water-tight than the chrome units
and also much more rugged.
- Have ordered a tiller-lock from a Canadian
source that is the best design I have ever seen. And while out of business
with this product owner is filling this order from parts he has. (If anyone
would like a pic or additional information, give me an email - This is a very
rugged design.)
- The reason I ran across this product is the
company also has a wind vane product for small boats. I am waiting for
information to arrive. The Tiller-Loc is also used with the wind vane system.
At the same time I have contacted a man with a small boat wind steering design
built around stern-hung rudders and with outboard motors. If one of these
designs turns out to be build able I may make the investment for my Chesapeake
trip this September. I have used a Hydrovane before and know how this can take
the strain out of a long trip (left Baltimore harbor at noon and dropped
anchor 0400 next morning in St. Michaels. Best trip we ever had.... sailing
under Bay Bridge at 0100 with a glass of wine and good music).
- If anyone is interested here is a link to a
Wind Steering forum: http://cruisenews.net/cgi-bin/windvane/windvane.pl/#1124
- Just ordered boat graphics. If interested,
here is a great guy to work with. Is on the Trailer Sailor forum and runs a
small business in MN. Rik's web site can be found at: http://www.rjsgraphics.net/Contact_Us.html While
there, check out his Flicka pics. The graphics Rik is doing for me is in
progress.
J. Carl Miller
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