Samsung Tablet as GPS Plotter.

I was thinking a lot about the installation of GPS plotter, because of the high price, at the end I decided to go for my old Samsung 10.1 tablet with installed Navionics charts. I used fixation for the tablet above the navigation table (a.k.a. sink :) ), and connected the charger through the USB port. Looks nice, and the plotter because of it size is also seen from the cockpit :) On top of that of course one could use all the features of a tablet on board, like wi-fi, internet, TV :)

Anchor thoughts.

In the Netherlands, anchoring is not really an issue because most of the people do not anchor. North sea is too dangerous, and in another sailing areas there are plenty of harbours. The Netherlands is probably one of the best organised for sailing. I decided to look more carefully into the subject, since last week, when I was in open sea my motor did not started. Luckily there was enough wind and I was able to sail into Scheveningen harbour. The accidend brought me to the thoughts that if there was not enough wind, I have could been carried by the currents along the coast. This made me check my anchor possibilities. I upgraded my plough anchor on the bow with 32 m of 14 mm line and 8 m of 8 mm chain. I was wondering should I do all chain, but I saw on J. Rogers website that he sells the new Contessa 32 with similar set up; and decided that it will be more than adequate for the 2 times lighter Contessa 26 :). As the second anchor I decided to go with something which I can easily move around. I choose Fortress Guardian G-16 completed with 5 m of 8 mm chain and 30 m of 12 mm polyester line. The whole set-up weight is 12.6 kg which makes it easily to store and carry around :)

Relocating to the new home haven.

Two weeks ago I relocated Sasha to the ne harbour of residence :)

It was nice 90 NM opening of the new sailing season.

New harbour of Scheveningen really looks great, it will be easier for me to sail more :)

Bye lovely Den Oever, it was great time spent there, and last two years gave mi time to prepare Sasha for North Sea :)

Launching 2016

I launched Sasha in the water during the last weekend :) The sailing season 2016 is officially open :)

Ready to rock :)

Last works before the new season.

Sasha got this year Interspeed Extra from International as antifouling. The engine was checked, the water pump neaded changing. All the filters and oil were changed, and the fuel tank was cleaned.

Isn't she a beauty :)

At the top of the hard antfouling she got a layer of soft one (Interspeed Cruiser Uno).

In such a way, she has as a ground Primocon and a hard antifouling. At the top is the soft one, which could be washed under presure and renewed every year without geting many layers of an old antifouling during the years.

Fixing new instruments in December

I found really nice offer of double depth and log transducers and display and GPS repeater display from NASA Marine and decided to upgrade my instruments. I got the displays in October and I had a chance to try to install them after I moved my boat out of the water. Current instruments in Sasha were the original B&G instruments. I started removing the original B&G log transducer, because I did not wanted to drill extra hole in the hull. When I removed it I discovered that the hole diameter in the hull was 49 mm, and the NASA Clipper Duet log transducer was 42 mm. Instead of filling the hole I decided that it will be easier to just get another transducer with the appropriate diameter.

NASA Clipper Duet and GPS repeater

I went for Raymarine i40 speed with P317 transducer from Airmar. The diameter was 50 mm, so I had to enlarge the hole with 1 mm. I did it with circular saw and install it with Sikaflex 291i. Actually I was very happy about upgrading to Raymarine, the difference in the quality of the materials are to be seen immediately and of course it is also to be seen from the price of the items.  I found a lot of disturbing information about NASA transducers failures in internet, but still many people are happy with them. It seems that they have had a problem with specific sealant which actually have deteriorated the through hull feed through. I tried to return the Clipper Duet, but I bought it from internet company in Germany and they did not answer my e-mails. Another point learned, when buying instruments better do it from a local shop where you could return the item if does not fit :) I decided to install the display anyway and to use just the depth transducer. I decided to mount the transducer in hull in the front port side compartment of the ship :)

I just installed the Raymarine display and decided to check how my wind Navman Wind 100 was doing, the display remained in my hand. Very exiting :) Navman are out of businesses from several years all they products are discontinued. My question was should I change now the entire system, my wind transducer is still working.

NAVMAN Wind 100 Display, surprisingly still working when pushed against the electronics.

I found in Marktplaats a second hand display from NAVMAN 3150s wich I was wondering if will be compatible with the sensor from Wind 100. I contacted the Navico which offer support of NAVMAN in the Netherlands, and they told me that the Wind 100 transducer and Wind 3150s display are compatible. I bought the second hand display, but the display had 8 pin plug, and my transducer cable had 5 pin plug. I found some info in Internet about the NAVMAN transducers. 

It looks like the NAVMAN transducers use just 5 cables, which was a good sign. In my case down from the mast were coming five cables red, brown, white, green, and a cable without a cover. I cut the 8 pin plug and indeed there were just 5 cables: red, brown, white, green, and a cable without a cover. I connected the cables, checked the red and the cable without cover were the power cables and the other 3 were the information cables. It worked :)

Raymarine i40 speed and Navman 3150s

So it was pretty busy December indeed :)

Out of the water.

It was a fantastic day today. When I started from home, it was heavy raining and pretty windy (6 bft). When I arrived in Den Oever it was sunny and almost no wind. I got down the sails, and went for the lifting. When I got there, guys from the Search and Rescue asked me if I mind to let them first launch their boat. I agreed and had a lovely sail on motor around the harbour. 10 min after it was rain again :) Then I got Sasha out of the water. There was 1 hour window of perfect weather for getting down the sails, having last ride, and lifting the boat. It was a nice end of a brilliant sailing season.