We tested our vhf radio and antenna today with swr meter 2025

       Today we tested our Standard Horizon MATRIX AIS+ VHS radio with our Digital VHF/UHF 125-525Mhz Antenna Power & SWR Meter. We have an Antena splitter for the vhf radio and our Vesper Marine smartAIS XB 8000 ais system.

March 2025⛵ Chip & Debbie 💑 curently in Marina de La Paz, ⛱️ La Paz BCS (Baja), Mexico 🇲🇽
All is working well. We were not sure because on the morning vhf net we do not hear some boats and this tells us it is not on our end.

New stern step swedges and amsteel lines 2025

     About two years ago one one two life lines that hold our stern steps when they are down and in the water broke. We stopped in Mazatlan on the way to the Sea of Cortez and had amsteel lines installed but they did not have a swedge machine.

Binical top got painted 2025

While having some deck painted by Chava we decided to have the top of the binical painted.

Debbie made a 12 volt extension chord for our pump 2025

     We realized we needed a longer cord for our electric pump that we use for inflatables. Most of the time we use a hand pump but now it seems we want to use our electric pump. 

Relocated the Spectra Ventura 200T fresh water flush hose 2025

    Debbie is finishing up on our Spectra Ventura 200T water maker watermaker flush hose relocation. 

New grab lines on our Achilles dinghy 2025

       Today Debbie and I launched our Achilles LSI dinghy and we are putting new grab lines on the dinghy tubes. Our old ones have been eaten by the sun and salt. Our dinghy is about 12 years old. 

We had our non-skid painted on the decks 2025

The painting of the gunels, sail track areas and non-skid looks really good. Also the area by the winches and back around to the stern steps were painted and look great.

Companionway hatch boards storage container 2025

Debbie made us a companionway hatch boards storage container from some Sunbrella. It has been working out great! 

Beta 38 engine temperature guage stopped working 2025

    Our Beta 38 temperature guage stopped working on the enging control panel.

We have tried grounding the wire from the sensor to the block, the guage should peg out but does not.

Debbie made new winch covers 2025

    Debbie decided it was time for new winch covers. We had purchased the fabric (Sunbrella) a while back. Inside of the cover there is a choker (bungee) to keep the cover on the winch in windy weather.

Had our Sampson hurricane lines spliced 2025

We had Sirgio of Dawn Rigging here in La Paz Mexico splice and whip our hurricane lines (three 25-foot lengths of 5/8" Sampson double braid).

New guitar case, shaker 2025

    On Wednesday of each week at Club Cruceros (in Marina de LaPaz) there is a musician jam session. I have been attending the last few weeks with my guitar (and harmonica) and have been enjoying it.

New house batteries 2025

    New house batteries for s/v Elegant'sea. Our old house batteries lasted about five years. They are not holding a charge as well now. They do run down quicker at anchor not leaving us many ah in the over 70% range at night.

New engine OPTIMA starting battery 2025

Our new battery.

    OK, time for a new Beta 38 hp diesel engine starting battery. The one we have is a bit over seven years old and they are supposed to last seven to eight years. We think it is not cranking the engine over fast enough for it to start quickly. It starts but after several cranks. 

Bottom job time, in the boatyard in La Paz, BCS, Mexico 2025

        We are in the boat yard for a bottom job at Marina Palmar. Not a problem getting in there but we had a really hard time backing out of our slip and up the fairway in Marina de La Paz. First time backing out of our slip. 

Harkin traveler line respliced 2025

    We just had Dawn Rigging fix our Harkin traveler line. The line was originally spliced by Downwind Marine in San Diego but the splice is now stiff and too big to go through the sheave at the other end.

Added check valve and accumulator tank to fresh water system 2025

    Today we purchased a bronze check valve for our fresh water system project. It is 3/4 inch so we are reducing it to 1/2 inch for our water lines. This will go in our cold water line just before the hotwater tank.

Upgraded topping lift 2025

We had Sergio and Carlos from Dawn Rigging (Buceo Bahia) upgrade our topping lift. We had them use dyneema line. It is white and it needed to be longer which it is.

Forward deck, gunels and cove line painted 2025

    Having the forward gunels painted started this expanding project. Actually it was repairing a scupper that I had done but was looking a bit ugly. I asked Chava if he could fix it up and paint the area. We'll he did and it looked so good we decided to have the two forward gunels painted.

Hot water heater installed working - HVAC & hints 2025

    We have finished installing our hot water heater and have tested it out. It is working with both 110 volt and 12v solar. The solar is not much but worming the water some now as it is in the low 50's at night and upper 70's 🌡 daytime here in La Paz.