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Surprise!

Agreed. The carbon foam batteries can tolerate some abuse, but perhaps I should routinely combine the bank when I leave the boat.

I used the big autopilot and the electric winches a fair bit yesterday. It was interesting to see the current readings after I got back and played with the combiner switch. With the bank still separated, the meter was showing a plus 3A on the two forward batteries. (As the urologist said, "Good flow!") Then with the bank combined it read a minus .3A
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I'm trying to create some fun - I'm kinda going nuts. I've even thought about clearing off the workbench and building a model boat or something.
 
BobJ said:
I'm trying to create some fun - I'm kinda going nuts. I've even thought about clearing off the workbench and building a model boat or something.
Click to expand...

Well if you want to make two labels that say:

IMPORTANT!

Remove bolt before raising centerboard!​

Otherwise I'll have to get out a sharpie and some white electrical tape!
 
To build an exquisite model, set your standards like Dan Newland when he made Pegasus in full scale as well as a model. Dan is highly talented, as the model shows.

image.jpeg
 
Beautiful model! The full scale version is right in front of our club, looking flash. What's the boat in your drawings?

I remembered I need to build the teak boxes to cover the winch motors. I'm kind of jazzed about that project now that it's back in my mind.
 
BobJ said:
Beautiful model! The full scale version is right in front of our club, looking flash. What's the boat in your drawings?

I remembered I need to build the teak boxes to cover the winch motors. I'm kind of jazzed about that project now that it's back in my mind.
Click to expand...

My model is a 19 inch version of the Lightning sailboat I brought to CA when I moved in 1977. Racing SBRA out of the RYC was fun. I learned to like coffee after drinking Irish coffees after a cold dinghy day on the water.

My lightning is a Dumas kit. Dan built his from plans. The RC kits are also fun if a pick a model that the local race.

Ants
 
I built a Soling 50/800 and raced it for a couple of seasons, many years ago. All the same whining from skippers with almost none of the exercise. I went back to the real thing. But some RYC skippers enjoy it as a needed diversion.

I think these are DF95s. The taller rig is a ODOM (One Meter One Design) From A dock last winter:

RC Race.jpg
 
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During his recent visit to E dock, Rich Baker asked why I hadn't updated this thread in so long. Truth be told, I was getting burned out on the projects. So I've been racing, daysailing and "cruising out" with Surprise! and not working on her. She's looking rather unkempt at the moment.

Greg is nearly done with the e-rudder project. I tested it on the way back from Napa and it works well - Philpott posted a video link below. We're finalizing the Pelagic actuator's attachment to the e-tiller and then the project will be finished. During the annual meeting, Brian mentioned there may be some SHTP seminars after the first of the year. How about another e-steering show-and-tell and race? Surprise! will be in better shape for it this time - my attempt at using a drogue in the last one was a dismal failure.

Oh, you want photos? Of course you do. Here is a recent attempt to make her go downwind better. Flying the A2 from the bow roller isn't cutting it. Adding a pole is more complicated but it shows promise:

A2 Pole 1.JPGA2 Pole 2.JPGA2 Pole 3.JPG
 
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Sharp eyes may notice that in the middle photo above, the starboard (lazy) spinnaker sheet is not resting in the "gybulator" as it should be. That's because the sheet was under the boat when the photo was taken. I need more practice gybing the pole. It's been a few years!

I like to re-use boat parts when possible. The pole and large-bail Tylaska are from Ragtime!, the guys were made from her old mainsheet, and the two Sparcraft snap shackles are from Troubadour.

Troubadour is the boat I owned when I joined the SSS. She was a fine and competitive boat but a bit much for single-handing. She's been in Hawaii since I sold her in 2002, and is still in great shape.

Troubadour GGB.jpg

Photo by Mariah's Eyes (I think)
 
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Burnt out on projects...oh yeah.

That's a great shot of Troubadour. I remember the red J-33.

E-rudder looks good! I bet it weights 15% of mine!
 
I was camped out in the lazarette yesterday afternoon, installing a rudder reference transducer. When I started to run its cable forward I discovered a couple of unconnected, two-conductor wires. Hmm - what were these for? I chased them, eventually reaching the cavern below and behind the main panel. I kept pulling and this came out - neither end was attached to anything!

Wire Nest.jpg
 
There are three pieces: About 17', 22' and 33' The longest piece has 26" of the white cover stripped off. It's all Ancor 2 Cond, 18 AWG.

Anybody need it? If not, I'll put it on Danny's give-away table and Philpott will grab it.
 
Dueling rudder references. The one on the left talks to the B&G, the other to the Simrad backup. New problem: The Simrad will want to hear from the emergency rudder too (when in use).

Mr. Hedgehog says I should just hook up the Pelagic computer to use with the e-rudder, since it doesn't require rudder reference input. Then that's THREE autopilots - where does it all end?

IMG_2309.JPG
 
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