Curtains for Encore — Just call me Sailor Homemaker

Posted By on October 6, 2016

EncorePorts_cLet’s hope this “curtain call” (cough, cough) isn’t a precursor for Hurricane Matthew bearing down on Encore in Fort Pierce Florida?

The subject line was more of a slip of the tongue regarding “curtains” when I really intended a twisted “Suzy Homemaker” innuendo — Sailor Homemaker (my attempts at sewing curtains).

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Failed joke aside, I did bring home one of the old nasty looking curtains or port coverings from our sailboat in order to replace. The thought was that I would get Brenda to sew up 7 of these for the boat, but “if you want it done, you just have to do it yourself.”

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Actually I could only muster one of these (for now) as I need to take apart the old ones in order to reuse the fabric and plastic hooks. After being taught to use a seam ripper it wasn’t all that bad. I made a straight edge “fence” for the Sailrite Walking Foot Sewing Machine and dialed in the tension and threading setup for the lightweight fabric and threads. After some trial and error, I was able to stitch up the first of 7 … although I’ll have to check to see how it fits next trip down.

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Hurricane Matthew projections are not good for Encore

Posted By on October 5, 2016

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Perhaps I’m being a bit to self-focused in worrying about “just a sailboat” when millions of lives are going to be impacted by Hurricane Matthew? I think it is time for the final preparation … pray for safety for those in the path of this storm (and Encore).

Hurricane Matthew models

EDIT: A buddy of mine was asking where the most dangerous winds were in the hurricane eye. Answer: When going north like Matthew, that would be the NE quarter — but the other big concern is over the storm surge which happens to be the NW quarter. This is projected to impact much of Florida and I’m not sure I’ve got enough long spring lines spidered to Encore? We could always do more.

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Pop up reminder on my calendar that today was a birthday

Posted By on October 5, 2016

TootsiePostFrom151114Google calendar has automatically added a few important annual events to my calendar (my settings), but unfortunately it is not artificially intelligent enough to remove or delete.

Today I was sent a reminder that we normally celebrate our late dog Tootie’s birthday on October 5th. She is missed and I often catch what I thought was a glimpse of her nosing the back door (as she always did). Strange how our eyes and mind can play tricks with things.

After 17 years with a great companion, I’m not sure I want to go through the last year of life with another dog again … I think we’ll remain dogless.

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Hurricanes Matthew prep a priority for Florida and Encore

Posted By on October 4, 2016

hurricanematthew161004amThe Category 4 Hurricane Matthew is wreaking havoc on Haiti with 145 mph wind and up to 40 inches of rain, I’m keeping a close eye on new projections that put this powerful storm way too close to Encore.  

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Thankfully my good friend Mark called me last night and offered to add a couple of extra lines and take down the Sunbrella covering that I left up this year. It would definitely get damaged even in tropical storm force winds, let along something of hurricane strength! This storm is sure to impact everyone along the Florida east coast and from what I’m hearing, the entire eastern seaboard of the U.S.

Phone scams, Do-not-call lists and IRS fraud

Posted By on October 4, 2016

Mail fraud and phone scams are ongoing problems if you live in the U.S. unless you are lucky enough to ndncrlogoexist under a rock. Throughout the years I’ve been targeted by shady hoodlums looking to make a quick buck using fraud and deceit as a way to access money or more information. Likely these criminals pickup databases of phone numbers, addresses and accumulated personal information found freely online, or less "freely" from hackers doing business on the dark web. Years ago I was able to track down a company in Atlanta that carelessly released my personal information which ended up in sinister hands (credit and bank fraud before banks put many safeguards in place). The source was computer hardware auctioned off after a short-lived online bank closed their doors. Careless for sure … and obviously they were not quite as careful to BleachBit my personal information as someone else we’ve IRSSCAMREPORTINGall been hearing about.
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After eliminating our home landline phone some years ago and registering our cells and my business lines on the Do Not Call Registry, the number of calls decrease. Unfortunately this year the incidents have picked up again and I’ve opted to fill out the complaint form on the Do Not Call Registry and more recently the US Tresury.gov Inspector General forms for this most recent IRS Impersonation Scam.

Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration Jan 20, 2016 Press Release

  Voicemails from IRS Scam requesting a return phone call – 10/3/16

My expectations for any kind of resolution are low due to the bureaucracy that is our government (I’m also sure they overwhelmed with complaints), but without an involved citizenry, there is really little room to complain.

We will see if anything comes of my complaint … or if some do-good vigilante hacker decides to calls 917-341-2116 on their own and turns the tables on them I’m betting that I wouldn’t be the only one wryly grinning. Maybe Donald Trump had it right on Monday (10/3/2016) with going on the offensive when it comes to cyber security and cyber warfare?

Boat generator and securing cage project ready for Encore

Posted By on October 3, 2016

IMG_7657The generator "security cage" project for our sailboat Encore is ready to be installed. I’m not fond of making a few more holes in the deck, but it needs to be done.

The final touches (minus adding Velcro) were taken care of this past weekend. That included softening the aluminum edges, adding shrink tubing to the matched keyed brass/stainless Brinks locks (keeps them from rattling), making a longer cord, final fitting and sanding the seat/workbench/fish cleaning board … and sewing the Sunbrella cover … with Brenda’s sewing machine!

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To the casual eye, it may look as if the generator would slide out even when locked in place, but the handle of the Honda EU2000i fits up into the "seat section" and locks the generator to the deck. It can’t be move out of the "open" cage without breaking something.

Positioning on the aft deck is something to ponder as well. I’m hoping it will fit on the starboard aft since I may add a wind generator in the future and it would be nice to be able to step on the generator cage in order to reach an additional 18" up the mast. I’m not sure exactly how it might all fit, but since the battery bank in starboard and the solar panel already has wire going into the starboard cockpit locker, that would make the most sense. Besides, the outboard motor hang on the port side rail and there is an access gate through the lifelines in the center. Of course a lot will have to do with where it will fit.

Keeping a close eye on Hurricane Matthew – 10/02/2016 1

Posted By on October 2, 2016

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Customer service, car covers, warranties and cheap wire

Posted By on October 2, 2016

b2blogo2This past week I’ve made a few frustrating online transactions and purchases. First, in dealing with NewEgg, I attempted to use a credit on my business account and decided to handled it on the phone with customer service rather than risk it online. I explained that I was using a "store credit" and wanted to pay the difference with a credit card. The transaction went through, but the credit did not … so I called back to adjust and instead the next customer service rep voided the order entirely and processed a credit. He then indicated the credit could take up to a VanCoverTWO160929week to be issued and appear. Great … the purchase was canceled … my card charged and won’t be credited for a full week! He then attempted to process a repeat order this time applying the credit and notified me that the item was "out of stock" and that that I should call back next week. Unbelievable!

On to problem number two:

I bought a replacement cover for my 2001 Honda Odyssey which I leave in the harsh sun of Florida November thru June. Last year’s cover made it only one season and did not come with a warranty, that I know of? So this year, I opted to try a cover from BudgeIndustries who offer a hard to believe 10-year warranty. It seems like a long time for an outdoor car cover, BudgeIndustriesCarCover2016but it will be interesting to see if they stand behind it? The cover looks to be slightly better material, but lacks the straps that go under the car, the mirror pockets and I noticed some sloppy stitching(see circled photo above). I’m hoping they will stand by their warranty.

Finally problem three:

I’m completing the Generator Cage project, I realized the really nice power cord my friend Mark gave me was going to be too short. After pricing the wire locally, I "foolishly" opted to pick up some cheaper wire on eBay … and NOW I know why it was cheap. The exterior coating that is usually a solid rubber material and protects the heavier stranded 10 ga wire inside was somewhat brittle. On bending it, it cracks easily and does little to protect the wires inside. In fact the insulation on the wires inside aren’t anything to write home about either — likely made in China with very questionable materials (cheap, cheap, cheap). The cost to return this fairly heavy wire would be too much so opted to use it for my home generator extension … where I won’t be flexing or walking on it regularly. To top it all off, I paid for 20 feet and received what looks to me about 19-1/2 feet.

The old adage is true in this case … "you get what you pay for."

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Saving the Sailrite “How to make a Dodger” video playlist

Posted By on October 1, 2016

Sailrite has years of on and off water How-To YouTube Videos

Jamaica prepares for the strongest Atlantic hurricane since 2007

Posted By on October 1, 2016

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Hurricane Matthew grew into a powerful Category 5 storm late Friday building strength as it crossed the Caribbean Sea and heading north. Jamaica is preparing to get the brunt of a projected landfall on Monday but the first effects will be felt as early as Saturday.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center has described Matthew as the strongest hurricane in the Atlantic since Felix in 2007.

Desultory - des-uhl-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee

  1. lacking in consistency, constancy, or visible order, disconnected; fitful: desultory conversation.
  2. digressing from or unconnected with the main subject; random: a desultory remark.
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