Another summer month gone and still weeks away from finishing the reconstruction on “Fleetwood”. My current estimate is that I’ll sail away the first week of September.

I installed the new cockpit coamings this morning and have the first section of the new rub rail installed. I keep running into unexpected complications. As an example, it turned out that there were uneven slopes of the deck where the coamings go. It took extra hours and sweat trying to make them fit. I am very pleased with the replacement of my Teak for the coamings and the rub rail. I am now using Sapeli, a Mahogany like West African species. The plywood of “Fleetwood’s hull and transom are also Sapeli. As you can see it has a very attractive grain and color and it is reasonably durable and strong. The rub rail is slightly stouter and taller than the old teak rail. I bought the Sapeli from Joep Huismans at v/d Stadt in Zaandam (Not the v/d Stadt boatbuilder in Zaandam). Joep and I have known each other for the last 40 years, he used to be a customer of mine for Douglas Fir sawn lumber.

Monday my sister drove me to Volendam to bring my main sail for repairs, only to find out that they are closed till August 13, for summer holidays. I had not read all the way down their web page and was not familiar with the European tradition that businesses just close the shop for three weeks.  When I started looking for alternatives I  found out that the other sail makers are also closed down. Try that in the USA….

There are still a number of chores before I am ready for the Atlantic. I need a new EPIRB, the life raft has to be inspected.

I’d like some input from my cruising friends for my navigation systems. I have never used a chart plotter, just the laptop. A few years ago I purchased a Horizon VHF with AIS reception, but I have never been able to make the AIS work on it and after trying to program it more than twice you have to send the whole radio back to Horizon. I understand that there are chart plotters that also have the AIS reception. Any one with suggestions? I also like to be able to watch my electronic charts in the cockpit. I often have to take a quick dive into the cabin to check my navigation, like in a crowded harbor. Then I have to readjust my eyes from bright sunlight in the cabin. Ideally I’d be able to take the plotter into the sunlight in the cockpit. I started out in 2005 with my electronic charts in Nobeltec and have used the Open CPN in the last couple years. But I want to start using Navionics, because their charts are far superior. I have not purchased the software (Fugawi?) yet, just the Western Europe chart. I am debating of investing in an I-pad because they have a free app for Navionics. Any suggestions?

The other question I have is about my e-mail and blog updates when off shore. I have used SailMail via my SB-radio and modem. The last time I used it, in 2009, it was  $250 per year subscription. I only use it for the long crossings and that will be for about a month in November/December. I tried getting a HAM license so that I could use their free e-mail service but that turned out to be way above my pea brain. Would it be cost effective/practical to use Satellite telephone? You need to bear in mind that my power generation is limited to my solar panel and if need be the engine. I hope you can help me.