Cold in the Keys

This morning Sonja and I woke up to 50 degree outside air temperature and 64 degree inside cabin temperature. That observation was quickly followed by "Turn on the heater" from under two layers of blankets. It really didn't seem that bad until I went outside to make sure I had good water flow through my reverse cycle air conditioner and I was met with a 15 kt wind in my face. What happen to the balmy breezes?

The resultant weather conditions were caused by a pair of cold fronts that swept the Keys Monday and Tuesday with high winds and rain. On the dark side of this is the fact that I packed up all of our winter clothes and sent them home, but on the bright side of this is that Orlando had 38 degree temps and back home in Panama City they had 30 degree temperatures, so 50 degrees doesn't seem all that bad, besides it will warm up to 68 degrees today and 74 degrees tomorrow.

Well lets talk about projects; The current project is the Lofrans windlass that decided to eat up the two foot switches that were its source of life. So we have not been able to go outside of the harbor and anchor up to clean the bottom because I'm too lazy to gather the anchor rode back on the boat by hand.

So far I've replaced the old plunger type foot switches that incorporated their own solenoids with one control box and two separate foot switches. After lying on my back with my head stuck in the chain locker staring at the under side of the deck I finally finished installing the control box which is the heart of the components. Back on deck in 15 kts of chilly wind I was able to fish the switch wires from below deck (with the help of the admiral and mechanical fingers) and attach them to the foot switch.

I summoned the admiral and ask her to endure one more task; the "Burn test." Reluctantly she agreed to operate the main windlass switch if it wouldn't be too much trouble to fetch her a fire extinguisher to protect her from the flames. Needless to say, I was not impressed with her sarcasm.

Throwing caution to the wind, the admiral turned on the main breaker switch for the windlass and surprisingly, there was no smoke. Next came the important part; to see if the foot switch actually brought the windlass to life. So carefully and without regard for my life, I engaged the foot switch while I held it in my hand. The windlass jumped for joy with no serious burns note. One problem, the windlass was turning the wrong direction for which I had intended since I was pressing the up switch and the windlass was rotating down.

The admiral was summoned with great coxing and promises of gold and perfume at the next topical oasis we visit, to once again go down and fetch me the "Other" wire that I had so keenly marked "Down" so I can connect it to the "Up" foot switch. I explained to the Admiral that a small error on the part of the manufacture lead to the mislabeling of the wiring diagram.

With the wires corrected, the main switch was thrown open again and as I pressed smartly on the foot switch the windlass jump to my command rotating in the proper direction , much to the admiral's surprise. As I called for a celebration on the foredeck and ordered an extra ration of rum for the entire crew, all that I could muster from the admiral (doubling as the rum mister)was a scathing "Whatever."

I was so happy I left the chain locker with wires hanging in every direction and proceeded with my victory "Sundowner" even though it was only 4:00 PM. But Mon, who would care if sundown comes early?

Coming soon will be the scoop on my next project: Red instrument night lights for the pedestal.