OUTFITTING SEASON: VHF INSTALL

 Spring has come and the winter hiatus has released my gumption to the point where I am finally starting on projects that have long been planned. One of them is to install an additional VHF radio in the forward cabin. The radio was bought in 2018 so you can see I'm a little bit behind schedule. Every year I kept reminding myself I'll be able to do the installation during the summer but, never did.  Now is the time and the VHF install is first of the list this spring outfitting season.

First I had to place the flush mounted pattern that came with Standard Horizon GX2200 in the location where it would be mounted. I checked and double checked the space behind it to make sure there was nothing in the way. 

Once the pattern was outlined I drilled holes in the corners to allow for a jigsaw blade to be inserted.

Then using the jigsaw I cut out the the marked pattern for the radio.

Unfortunately, when I was removing the saw from the space I cut my finger on the jigsaw blade when I removed it.

Luckily it was not that major of a cut that I needed outside medical attention. But, still a painful enough reminder to remember to focus when using power tools.  Injury aside the physical install of the radio was completed without further injury:

  

WINTERLUDE 2018

It's been about a month or more since I last visited BIANKA. The weather has been cold and the winds blowing off Long Island Sound make it feel colder. But, since the fourth Nor' Easter is about to arrive tomorrow I figured I should make the trip. I needed to make some measurements and check on space availability for some various projects I have planned once the weather warms up.
I arrived at the boatyard a few minutes before Spring or the Vernal Equinox happened. Though it sure still felt like winter. I did the usual checkout of the deck and charged up the batteries. I then moved the piles of cushions, boxes of parts and tools so I could check the space where I planned to relocate the new Jabsco Macerator Pump. It looked very doable and should be a pretty easy job:

Which was a relief. However. the location where I planed to install a new Standard Horizon 2200 VHF radio was not going to go as smoothly.  Behind the bulkhead where I wanted to install the unit was hose and fitting for BIANKA's anchor wash down outlet.

It may require that move the outlet. But, perhaps not I'll know better once I get the unit and see how it fits. But, at least I'll be prepared to do the work.

Not much else to do in the cold temperatures on board once the batteries were topped up except to check the bilge. There was some water there. Not surprising since the boat has weather three Nor' asters and some heavy rains since I last visited. I took out the Micro Wet/Dry Shop Vac and sucked the water out of BIANKA's deep bilge. The small shop vac makes the job so much easier, faster and cleaner. 

   I empty the Shop Vac into a five gallon bucket . One that I had labeled to show one gallon for deck washing solutions.  It showed I had only about a gallon in the bilge.

Having accomplished all I had planned to do. I buttoned the boat up disconnected the power cord and went home to await the storm. Hopefully warmer Spring temperatures will soon be on the way.

CHECK PLEASE! RADIO CHECK THAT IS.

Here on the waters of the Northeast U.S. radio checks are required to be done on VHF channel 9. This was done to keep channel 16 clear for hailing and distress calls only. The trouble is a lot of people do not usually listen to channel 9 and even fewer respond to calls for radio checks. This is especially true if one is trying to get a radio check in times of low boater activity like early mornings. Attempting to do a radio check on channel 16 will usually get a reprimand from the U.S. Coast Guard that radio checks are to be done on channel 9. What's a sailor to do? You want to do a radio check but, if no one answers it kind of defeats the purpose. That situation has now changed for the better thanks to technology. Boaters can now get a radio check 24 hours a day thanks to companies like Sea Tow that have set automatic radio check sites in various harbors. To see how it works watch the video below.  You can find what channel to do an automatic radio check in your area by clicking here. 

COMMUNICATION BREAKDOWN

There is a good reason why all airline pilots are required to speak one language. But, on the waters of the world not so much.

TALES FROM THE VHF: STOWAWAY

I made a post a few weeks ago about making sure you knew who was on your boat. I probably should have said make sure you know who or what is on your boat. This was a transmission I heard yesterday:

VESSEL ROCKMA: East Hampton Harbor Police. This is Vessel Rockma.

This call was repeated several times but, got no response. After a few tries the Coast Guard made contact.

COAST GUARD: Vessel Rockma this is Coast Station Montauk Point. Are you in need of assistance?

VESSEL ROCKMA: Yes, This may be a new one for you. We were heading out and about a half mile passed Sand Beach we discovered we had a live Raccoon on board. We are coming back in and were hoping to land at the town dock.

Long Pause
COAST GUARD: Vessel Rockma do you have a cell phone on board?

VESSEL ROCKMA: Yes

COAST GUARD: Suggest you give us that number so we can contact you by cell phone.

Capt. Mike's Note: Another reason to keep things closed up when you are at a dock. Well, at least the crew of the Rockma will have a story to tell but. also a mess to clean up.