Posted By RichC on March 21, 2014
Before I renew my current VPN service it is time to keep them honest when it comes to their subscription pricing. I’m testing the lower cost AnchorFree’s Hotspot Shield Elite 
using their trial program before renewing my more expensive, but easy to use VPN service just to see if there is any difference. So far so good, but if you know of a better inexpensive VPN (under $30/yr) let me know.
Posted By RichC on March 20, 2014
My son Taylor is back for a few days from North Dakota to visit friends (and mom and dad) and do a little shopping. That last part about shopping is my theory since I don’t think they have many JCrew stores or the like in Williston, although I could be wrong?
Anyway it is nice to have him home if even for a short few days. At least we’ll get his taxes done and a few loose ends tied up in following up on a dentist appointment.
I’m also working with the Mophie people to see if we can get his “relatively new” Juice Pack Air iPhone 5 case fixed (I think it is the switch … so far it sounds like they stand behind their product?? We’ll see)
Here’s a left over photo from my trip to Florida – it’s not that often you see a Great Blue Heron from the “above” perspective.
Posted By RichC on March 19, 2014
It’s a big day for Fed Chairwoman Janet Yellen as she took the stage and continued a third wave of tapering of the Federal Reserve’s bond buying program. Not that any of this was unexpected, but it an indication that the Fed sees the economy improving and is slowly removing the nation’s fiscal training wheels (its embarrassing, really). Hopefully we’ll see continued improvement in both economic growth and in the unemployment numbers … which has historically been Yellen’s number one priority. Today, she detailed “her deep concern about unemployment far more than she expressed an eagerness to raise interest rates.”
The Dow Jones Industrial Average was largely flat ahead of the statement, tumbled by as much as 200 points in the hours that followed, then ended down about 114 points.
On a follow up note, I do tend to be partisan when it comes to liberal appointments to powerful positions, but I’d like to give Yellen the benefit of the doubt, even if philosophically there are differences. She is supremely qualified and probably one of the more capable Fed chairs “on paper” and was a reasonable choice considering President Obama’s leanings. Before my right colleagues attack me for my softness, I’ve just finished a excellent and enlightening eBook assembled by the WSJ called Yellen and The Fed.
If you are interested, check with Jon Hilsenrath to see if he’ll send a link for a free download.
Posted By RichC on March 18, 2014
In wrapping up the “work trip” (cough, cough) down to Florida … I figured the trip would not be complete without at least a walk on the beach. Sunday 
afternoon sunshine made a good excuse to see how the sand felt on my feet – nice (panorama with the iPhone 5 above – click for larger … I’m still impressed at what a cellphone camera can do nowadays).
One of best parts about being at the boat is being able to spend a little time with my friends Mark and Dar. We enjoyed lunch together and time just catching up sitting in the cockpit. Dar’s eyesight after her stroke is improving, but still a long way from back to normal. It has improved enough that she even spotted a wasp building a nest in our bimini … something I missed when opening up and cleaning the decks. The had a nice bosun’s chair (used for going up the mast) and gave it to me so I could retire my 1982 homemade 2 x 6 model I used on Brenich when I was young and stupid (photo right). 
On my final day I drove down to Delray Beach in order to show my mother-in-laws condo to prospective renters for next winter. It doesn’t look as if she is going to be able to stay alone or wants too, so perhaps offsetting the maintenance by renting January – March is a good thing. We all are getting older and change is inevitable. So glad that Fran and Fred had 20 years to enjoy their places together.
Posted By RichC on March 17, 2014
Above is an iPhone panorama photo of the aft of Encore but it was so distorted that I had to try and tweak it in Photoshop. Better than it was, but still a quirky perspective.
The fenders used to keep boats from bumping together or into docks and pilings take abuse and get pretty weathered. They are usually white and get black mold (I assume) and very grungy looking … sometimes even sticky. If I were smart, I’d buy dark colored fender covers (cloth that covers and can be washed) and even keep the scuff marks from appearing on the side of the hull … obviously I’m not smart or just too cheap. Anyway my point is that Dawn Dish soap which cut grease better than most other soaps seems to do a pretty good job with the newer fenders … give it a try if you are looking for something (I also soak the lines in the detergent bucket … trying not to beach too much)
As usual, I rented a Ford Focus again (below) and this time got a brand spanking new one. It is nice to rent a car with that new car smell. 
Posted By RichC on March 16, 2014
The to-do list for today listed the 12 volt LNG Propane gas switch, detector and solenoid diagnosis for the stove and oven aboard Encore. I almost ordered a new solenoid before the trip, but am glad I held off. Seems the weak link in the circuit is the detector/horn (top right) and has unfortunately been re-engineered by Trident Marine. I’m sending an email for advice but like most out of date components, suspect they’ll want me to install a new setup?
For now, I’m glad the solenoid still works so I’ve disconnected the gas detector … let’s just hope we don’t go BOOM! We’ll see. 
Posted By RichC on March 16, 2014
Saw this cute story about a problem and laughed at the creative solution.
According to a news report, a certain private school in Washington recently was faced with a unique problem. A number of 12-year-old girls were beginning to use lipstick and would put it on in the bathroom. That was fine, but after they put on their lipstick they would press their lips to the mirror leaving dozens of little lip prints. Every night, the maintenance man would remove them and the next day, the girls would put them back. Finally the principal decided that something had to be done. She called all the girls to the bathroom and met them there with the maintenance man. She explained that all these lip prints were causing a major problem for the custodian who had to clean the mirrors every night. To demonstrate how difficult it had been to clean the mirrors, she asked the maintenance man to show the girls how much effort was required. He took out a long-handled squeegee, dipped it in the toilet, and cleaned the mirror with it. Since then, there have been no lip prints on the mirror. There are teachers, and then there are educators…
Posted By RichC on March 15, 2014
One would think that with me aboard working on a variety of projects this weekend that the fish eating Osprey would leave me alone? Unfortunately he or she has decided that a clean boat is a target (just finished washing down).
Besides the bird bombing mess, my instrument upgrade did not go as planned. Unfortunately the information I was told regarding being able to use my old depth transducer with the used Raymarine ST60+ was false. I’m now suspecting that the existing transducer is 210khz and the Raymarine is 200khz? At least that is what I am hoping since I ordered a new in-hull transducer that I’m hoping will work. It’s never easy.
Posted By RichC on March 14, 2014
Just another plug for Freedompop’s LTE wireless access; it is providing better wifi access than public hotspots and even Time Warner Cable at home.
Posted By RichC on March 14, 2014
Although I know spring is around the corner, the Florida sunshine is nice, although I can’t say I felt much of it today as the temps were mid-60s
and I spend the afternoon with my head buried below decks working on electrical gremlins – with some success I might add.
Tomorrow the plan is to address the depth and transducer issues with the goal of not having to pull the boat out of the water just to pop out two of my three transducers. I’m hoping that the used Raymarine ST60+ displays I purchased will talk to my Navman items and that I can figure out how to rewire the depth transducer.
I had the electric panel out today and as you can see there has been a few changed made over the years … and yes I also added another circuit for a soon to talk about project. One of these days I’m going to have to address the questionable panel.
