We are finding that St Martin really is a good place to obtain parts and to get things done.

 

Dave from Custom Fit Marine came on board and traced our fridge voltage drop to the circuit breaker at the switchboard.  This has now been bypassed and an inline fuse inserted elsewhere.  Now some resistance has been taken out of the circuit the current draw has improved noticeably and it doesn’t switch itself off now. 

 

Some of the woodwork surrounding the fridge is damp because the insulation foam is getting wet with condensation.  I had put this in when in the Med and because access to the fridge box is so bad I drilled holes in various out of site places and filled the gaps around the fridge box with spray foam.  This has worked well for a few years now.  However the humidity in the Caribbean is so great we get condensation which stays in the air cells in the spray foam rendering the insulation pretty useless.  I need to get the foam out and fit proper closed cell refrigeration insulation panels but can’t get access without breaking into the cabinetry.  This is a big job but the weather forecast for the next ten days isn’t good, with uncomfortably high winds so once Dave confirmed that Custom Fit have carpenters who could do the job and have the appropriate insulation we decided to arrange for someone to come and inspect the job.

 

Lin has been frustrated with our cooker for some time.  It really is on it’s last legs.  She discovered that one of the chandleries here supplies our make of cooker which is a surprise as it is Italian and we couldn’t find anyone in Europe who carried the stock on display.  We wanted to see one in the flesh so we could take precise measurements as there is little room for error (it has to swing from side to side on gimbals as the boat heels when sailing).  Island Water World had our model in stock (except it has 3 burners instead of two) and this is now fitted and the old one disposed of.  So, no more rust with dinner.

 

Please admire the shiny new cooker:-

 

 

 

We have found LED bulbs to fit our existing internal light fittings and also one to fit our anchor light at the top of the mast.  These draw a tenth of the old halogen ones and are now in place.  We have replaced our fire extinguishers as we feel our 14 year old ones are probably past being recharged.  And we have updated some of our flares so the Coastguard man should be happy.  Perhaps he is on commission.

 

More importantly we have a result with our hydraulic ram.  FKG came out to the boat, looked at the ram and removed it to their workshop for inspection.  I gave them the new hydraulic pump I bought in Antigua to fit.  They came back 2 days later, explained that the old pump is fine, the system is fine after cleaning.  Similarly the solenoid valve was not rusty, just dirty and doesn’t need replacing either.  The ram is refitted and seems to be working properly which means the noises of protest from the pump were hydraulic not electrical and the failure to operate was a contaminated solenoid valve.  So, in two days FKG have resolved what two companies in Antigua failed to do in two months and we now have a spare US$1000 hydraulic pump!.