The first obvious one was the wind indicator. The years spinning at the top of the mast in rain, shine and in some cases snow, the unit was giving intermittent readings. It would work for weeks on end then stop. So I had to reset the relay and hope it would come up and give me the vital piece of information - the wind strength. I had been up and down the mast so many times I lost count so in the end I took it down, collected the wind digital display and installed it on my workbench at home along with a 12 volt fan to turn the cups. The instrument after a good overhaul work perfectly on the bench in Canberra. OK so it it did not work when installed at the mast head then it must be the cable from the top of the mast to the navigation station. I tested that and found that all wires were good BUT when I connected the wind instrument it did not register even a breath of wind.
Simrad had long discontinued the top of the mast wind indicator and moved to the more modern NMEA 2000 so that avenue was closed off – even the second hand market gave no results. The search was on for a unit which would interface to my instruments and the chartplotter without a full time conversation unit. I found one at Digital Yachts which according to the specifications met all my need. I looked to source the unit in Australia and found CJ Smith, a chandler in Melbourne according to their web site had one in stock and ready to ship the next day to arrive If I paid a little extra within 5 days. Out with the cc and purchased the unit. Wait, wait, then phone calls. “Where is my unit?” I will get back to you…. Sorry it is not in stock, we have your money but will not refund it but it will be shipped to you next week. Wait, wait. “Where is my unit?” Sorry there has been a mix up and we are expecting it in a few weeks. “What? Cancel the order and refund my money.” Sorry we cant do that at this stage because we have ordered it via the agent here in Australia from the UK. “Why did your website say it was in stock?” That is only and indicative position…..
I will not bore you with the details because we have all gone through this before where Australian chandlers say they have the goods but in fact they are just an indent agent ordering from the over seas supplier. If you had cone to the original manufacturer you may have got the unit within a week. So how long did CJ Smith take to deliver the wind instrument? One month? Two months? No there is more... They took more than three months to deliver the unit.
Thankfully when the unit arrived I tried it on the workbench and it worked and then off to Malua to install it at the mast head. A local live-aboard helped push the electric winch to pull me to the top of the mast and scoffed all my chocolate biscuits as he waited for me to come down. Thanks mate “You own me big time” Oh yes why? My time. But that is another story.
The unit fitted as per specifications and worked first time I connected it to the network, display instruments and to my Raspberry Pi and was able to display wind reading on all units. I was happy and ready to set sail.
You may ask why it took me so long to prepare to sail to Queensland that is just one example. There are others but finally Malua was ready and a weather window opened along with a full moon and Malua set off north. I had Jim G on board for the three day trip to the Gold Coast.
