R15

Uneventful upgrade to R15. Looking forward to the WiFi updating so I don’t have keep downloading the update to a card then bringing it out the boat.

Also downloaded the Navionics Boating app. More to come on that...

New-New GPS Update

R15 was just released today by Raymarine. In addition to the other fixes and improvements “R15 allows users to connect their MFD and Raymarine network to a Wi-Fi hotspot and download and install future updates direct from Raymarine.” This will making future updating easier! Now I just need Wi-Fi on the boat (winter project).

Team Practice

Joined by Mark and Pete we practiced maneuvers tonight. With a small craft advisory issued for the area we didn’t venture out of the harbor. Also with no depth instruments running we only sailed in familiar areas. We did learn that push button tiller extension would easier for all instead fiddling with clips and pins.

Mixing it up

Mixing up fuel this morning. Added Seafoam to both diesel and gasoline. I usually add the oil, treatments, etc to the fuel containers first. So when I go the pump everything mixes well from the pressure of the fuel stream at the pump.  

2 gallons of diesel for Nauti-Dog with Sea Form & Star Tron Enzyme Diesel Treatment. 

2 gallons of gasoline for the dinghy with oil, STA-BIL and Sea Form 

Battery Switch

Finally mounted the mini dual battery switch this evening. I kept it simple using scrape plywood and black paint. It has been wired for several weeks but just dangling by the companionway ladder. Only 1 battery is connected now and supports both the starter and house electronics. Still need to purchase wire to connect the second battery. Next up will be to label the panel.  

Sputter, sputter, stall ….

The outboard has been running rough the past few days. The other night it completely stalled at mid-throttle. Sounded like a fuel issue. I decided to refresh the tank with new fuel. When I grabbed the Sta-Bil from the basement to mix a new tank the bottle looked as dark as oil. The Sta-Bil was given to me and I used it to in the tank for the outboard. I knew Sta-Bil only had 2 year shelf life and this bottle looked much older. Unfortunately there was no easy way to read manufacturing date but there was a 16 digit-alphanumeric code. After a quick search I found Cool Rides Online. (http://www.coolridesonline.net/news-blog/how-to-maintenance-tips/how-do-i-know-if-my-sta-bilis-still-good-to-use) The site explained the coding on the side of the bottle. After decoding it was from February 6, 2009. So off to the store now for new bottle.

Fair Winds Sagres

NRP Sagres departed New Bedford harbor this evening. Form the mooring you could see a people lining the whole length of the State Pier plus others gathered on Pope’s Island and the hurricane barrier. A missed group of mixed sail and power boat escorted her out of the harbor.

Fair Winds Sagres!