Chip & Debbie Willis on s\v Elegant'sea: 2020

Playing the Guitar and harmonica "Blowing in the wind" by Bob Dylan - 2020

Playing guitar and harmonica for the choirs of "Blowing in the wind" by Bob Dylan. I sing the song the choirs and then pay the Choirs with the harmonica. Spared you the singing Debbie took this for our grandson, he is playing the harmonica.

December 2020 - Anchored in Tenacatita

Ocean Kayak Malibu-Two hoist, made by Debbie - 2020

Ocean Kayak Malibu Two hoist, made by Debbie.

No need to struggle with the Ocean Kayak Malibu Two. It is 12' long and about 50lb.It is about the same weight as a jerry jug but bigger. To move it from the surf racks to the foredeck for overnight passages is much easier and safer with the hoist and main halyard. Lowering it to the finger pier for hurricane season is much easier when raising it with the hoist.

While anchored in Tenacatita a favorite cruiser past time is to play Bocce Ball on the beach.

We took our own set in and played in the shade.

Anchored in Tenacatita doing varnish, Bocce Ball etc. - 2020

Anchored here in Tenacatita...varnishing among other activities. Such as swimming, Bocce Ball

cards, Yahtzee, bottom cleaning, hiking etc

Our TelCel modem is working great! We are anchored in Tenacatita and after changing locations with TeCel (easy task) we are surfing the net, doing emails, downloading etc!

We had to get a gender changer for the modem to antenna cable.

Leaving Barra de Navidad

Had an uneventful little passage from Barra de Navidad to Tenacatita. Once we got out of the Bahia Barra de Navidad and out past Cuastecomates,and into the open ocean it calmed right down.

You can see the red - low tide spot on the Garmin GPSMAP 942 chart plotter. As soon as we turned on the instruments the low water alarm went off😜😁 We were healing a bit over when Debbie realized that Ok, yes, we were aground! It was a negative low tide and that's what got us. We had been anchored at that spot for a few days without a problem.

Anchored at N19 11.266 W104 40.420

Adding coats of varnish for glassy look - 2020

Here I am varnishing the eyebrow to look like glass. I went over last years varnishing which was a start over from when we used Sikkens Cetol Marine Natural Teak about seven years ago. The teak was looking bad. So I stripped it and applied Epifanes clear varnish. Now to get that varnish looking really good. It needs a couple new coats anyway.

When we purchased our new Beta 38 water pump we also purchased a new thermostat for the motor. 71.0 19.5

Thermostat 600-72450 Gasket 600-80490 - Purchased in July 2020 from Beta Marine (Beta Marine West) in Sausalito, CA

Short anchor bridle using rolling hitch in Bahia de Navidad Lagoon - 2020

We are anchored in the Bahia de Navidad Lagoon which is mud and about 10 feet deep. So putting any bridle in the water which is less than clear or down to the mud makes a mess of the bridle

There was a fishing panga going by our boat at anchor in the Bahia de Navidad Lagoon so we hailed them over. We gave them the Garmin GPS 72. and they seemed pleased. We had put fresh batteries in it and it was ready go.

LOMVUM Laser Tape Measure Laser Measurement Tool 393 ft with M/In/Ft Unit Switching, Backlit LCD. We purchased this tool for anchoring, among other things. We can measure how close a rock or boat etc really is. Purchased from Amazon. We purchased this on July 29, 2020

Garmin hand held GPS Etrrex 10...purchased - 2020

Garmin GPS Etrex 10

We had an older Garmin GPS 72. we used for a while for anchoring mainly. But it was really slow at getting satellite data and was not that easy to use. So we upgraded to this new one. We only need basic functions and mostly just to take a Mark (waypoint).

Purchased from Amazon July 2020.

Debbie and I added the red sticker and some bungee chord to our used Starboard 2017 Atlas EXTRA Starlite 12’0″ x 36″ that we had purchased this summer. The board had been repaired and then partly painted which left it a bit plain.

Anchored in Tenacatita December 3 - 2020

Here in Tenacatita anchorage with only 3 other boats. In a month or so there will be, say 30 or so. It is nice to have the place to ourselves...well kind of. The weather is nice and very much enjoying life here. Not that a crowd is not fun just this is nice also.

Anchored off Isla Cocinas (Kitchen Island) at Chamela (Perula). Another sloop is here at the smaller island (Isla Pajarera) and a sport fisher just anchored and became our neighbor boat.

Anchored at Chamela\Perula Isla Cocina - Kitchen Island (Pérula) - 2020

Perula Isla Cocina- Kitchen Island (Pérula). It is peaceful here and the water is really clear. There are pangas going by once in a while bringing people out to the Isla. These islands are state parks.

We are anchored at the big island. That's how fellow cruisers are calling them. There is also a boat here at the little island (Isla Pajarera).

Chamela\Perula pier and malecon being built - 2020

The pier being built is part of a malecon that is also being built. It seems it will have a boat launch ramp and another spot will have some boat docks. Maybe for the launch ramp or fishermen or? Anyway, not big enough to be a marina, per se. They paved the main road through town all the way to the malecon. There looks like a men's and ladies' restroom building there also. Also another building for ??.

First anchorage paddle with new\used Starboard Atlas EXTRA Starlite in Camela (Perula) - 2020

The new\used Starboard 2017 Atlas EXTRA Starlite 12’0″ x 36″ paddle board I bought from Surf Mexico is much better suited to my size than our Starboard Whopper ASAP Paddle Board that I had previously purchased from Surf Mexico. The Atlas Extra is 2" wider and 2' longer. It will float up to 280 lbs. So a person and small dog say. The Whopper will float up to 220 lb. I am at 210 lb and can sometimes go a bit heavier😧

Debbie unpickled our Spectra Ventura Watermaker 200T Deluxe! We are back making water again now that we are at anchor! This picture shows our settee unfolded (makes a double bed) so Debbie can get at the water maker. This is after we fixed a pre-filer problem.

Wow, what a difference some years makes!!! We're anchored in Chamela (Perula Mexico) where a simple click on the TelCel website, a hundred pesos (for the modem location change) and we're back in business with high-speed internet. No more using the old technology of the bands ancha USB stick!! Or using the phone as a hotspot. We do have an outside antenna that we connect the modem to for help boosting the signal. Works great!!

Ipala anchorage and shore trip then sail to Perula (Chamela) - 2020

While in Ipala (Tehuamixtle) we went ashore and had some lunch among other things. Quite fun. Our first stop here in the Fall. Usually we do an overnight sail to Chamela(Perula). The weather is so much nicer here now than when we stop on the bash back up the cast in the Spring!

Paradise Village Marina to Punta De Mita - 2020

We anchored in 23 feet of of water and our weather window is for 5 days. We should have 2-4 foot seas and winds at 4-9 knots. Of course there is always the chance of more. For instance, on the way here, we had 20 knots apparent for a while. We shoot for the low numbers as we will be going around Cabo Corrientes (Cape of Currents) in a couple days.

Our new vanity mirrors. Not a straight forward project like you would think. First we took the old mirrors to a glass shop in Mezcales to have the new ones made. They made one too big so we had to bring them back for a recut. Then we could not get them in the slider slot. It turns out they are too thick! So now we need to get the edges beveled. Yet not at the original shop!

We needed to take the Spectra Ventura Watermaker 200T Deluxe pre-filter housing up to a vice so we tagged along the BetaMarine 38 hp motor zincs we needed to cut. Off we went to the Paradise Village Marina aquatic rental shack on "A" dock. We know behind the shed there is a nice work bench with a vice!

Out on a shake down motor and sail in Banderas Bay Mexico - 2020

Out on a shake down cruise testing out the Beta Marine 38 motor and other items including the PSS Type A Shaft Seal.

Good shakedown motor sail and sail on Banderas Bay - 2020

Sailing Banderas Bay, Mexico for our shakedown. Went well with only a few issues - eg the main sail batons are not set in the slugs correctly,

The had to purchase the 1\2" shackle at Zaragoza Chandlery but we had the 3\8" swivel. We tried the swivel on the chain hook but it would not fit. We also tried a 1\2" swivel on a stainless steel one at Zaragoza Chandlery but the closure would not work correctly. You can do without the plastic closure but we chose to keep it.

Varnishing up the forward teak eyebrow; ready to set sail - 2020

This eyebrow has sat all summer and needs a little sprucing up. There were a few marks where the varnish was gone.

4th part of our boat cover off for adjustments - 2020

This is the 4th section of our boat cover. We sent it back for more adjustments and are waiting for it to be returned. We are also hoping to set sail soon for the season.

There were some repairs needed with the Velcro on our side shade for the cockpit. Debbie fixed it up nicely! Our handy dandy Sailrite Ultrafeed LSZ-1 Sewing Machine has got some years on it now. Debbie keeps it oiled up and keeps up the attachment inventory and some spare parts.

It is better for us to service the J Series VacuFlush Vacuum Tank while at the dock in a marina. So we decided to do service our J Series Vacuum Tank early and include the piston.

The back to our "Directors Chair" helm seat back was too tight for the new arms so Debbie made a new one😎

The Groco ARG Series Raw Water Strainer had a broken top (handle) so it was sitting cockeyed in the housing.

The mast boot was looking kind of sad and was not fitting so nice any more. It is years old and needed some sprucing up. Debbie put some new Velcro on it and made some adjustments to the fit. Debbie made this boot back in 2010 when we were in San Diego.

Sitting in Chuck's condo.

We purchased these from Chuck on s/v Chelsea Crew out of La Cruz. Our current set is a well worn 15 years old or so and the one handle we have left is a bit burnet. We did purchase a Saute/Omelette Pan for our set a few years ago and this set came with one also. These Magma Products, A10-366-2 Gourmet Nesting Stainless Steel Cookware Set, 10 Piece Ceramica Non-Stick + Saute/Omelette Pan are in great shape!

First we removed the old tarp covering the cockpit and then the Sunbrella coverings Debbie made for the winch and stern running light etc. Debbie had done some re-stitching of the Bimini a few weeks ago.

Replaced our old #6-#3 STR Split Bolt which we purchased at Home Depot. Our new one is, I think, a #2 and it fits better. I stripped off some new wire and all is good.

On our 1978 Islander Freeport (s/vElegant'sea) we have a compartment in the lazarette for electrical. We can access it through the Nav Station through a louvered door. That is where I am now, inside the compartment through the louvered door. Lots of wires to tidy up!

This cover is to keep the sun off our Honda 9.9 hp outboard fuel tank. We had some cracks in it which we repaired.

Painting new Beta water pump\bilge touch up - 2020

Our original water pump is showing its age and we thought we should get a spare. We have 1000 hours on our Beta 38 and it is 8 years old. The pump came without any paint. So painting it now is much easier than once installed. "PlastiKote" by Valspar (209 universal red). It matches our Beta engine paint perfectly. It is high temp engine enamel paint

Used some Rust-Oleum paint so this (black coupling) would not get all rusty.

Debbie grabbing the early morning shade to replace some Velcro with twist fasteners. This is our Bimini side shade and a spot that attaches to the stern rail was not holding any more.

This project turned out a bit easier than we had thought it would be!

Got to love that! It was a bit messy but not by much. All done and working.

Caframo Ultimate 757 12V 2-Speed 7 inch Fan - Direct Wire are the new fans. Our Caframo "Ultimate" 2-Speed Fans old fans we purchased from a marine swap meet and they were a much older version. Eventfully one stopped working and the other worked on only one sped. They are sooo nice to have out in the cockpit!

The ball is held on with some twine. Tie it on both sides and it will not come off.

It keeps the paddle board from resting on the top edge of the life line stanchion.

These seats fit our Ocean Kayak Malibu Two. We use these for quick trips ashore in the kayak (or no seats). These have bronze clips that are worn out and do not stay closed. So Debbie sewed on some that we had that work!

Here Debbie is testing for propane leaks in our Force 10 stove. Just a maintenance thing. She also installed a new AA battery for the electric start for the burners, broiler and oven.

You can see the difference between the port rack and the one I took off the starboard side. We shortened the one set some years ago but now find with our new\used paddleboard they need to be wider! The Starboard Atlas Extra SUP Starlite is wider and we find the wider racks fit better.

Test of Jabsco bilge pump Model 6600 operation and flow - 2020

After doing the plumbing, installing the "out" hose to the thru-hull/valve and putting in a in hose with strainer down into the Jabsco bilge, it was plumbed. Then we ran wires to the nav station and wired them up to a switch and a buss. We put the switch into the electrical panel then fused the pump with a 10-amp fuse.

2pcs SMA Male Plug (Male Pin) to RP-SMA Female (Male Pin) Coupling nut Connector Adapter for FPV Drone/ 0-6G RF application Wi-Fi Antenna Connect amplifier Signal Booster/Repeaters/Radio/Extension Cable etc. to antenna.

Strainers for our Sherwood sea strainer which we have three of. One each for our Mermaid Marine Air conditioners and one for our Spectra Ventura Watermaker 200T Deluxe.

We ordered this one from Marine Exchange\Downwind Marine. 700503 11lb STEEL LPG CYL. W/OPD VLVE. We have already purchased one and it has been working great. Our old tanks have been recalled years ago but we kept using them and then one broke at the valve. Composite cannot be fixed. These fit in the same box we built and are just hard to get brought down here. Not for sale here in Mexico.

JP WinLook Pickleball Paddle Set - 2 Premium USAPA Approved Graphite Rackets Honeycomb Composite Core Ultra Cushion Grip; Gift Kit with Accessories - Portable Racquet Bag and 3 Balls, Indoor Outdoor. Should work well in Paradise Village Marina(Tennis courts) and in Bahia de Navidad among other places.

We purchased this 90mm Backyard Bocce Set with 8 Balls. These should work great for us in Tenacatita, amongst other anchorages and their beaches.

We had Luis, the mechanic, take out our Racor fuel filters and essentially rebuild them.

We installed the replacement Whale IC Gulper Pump sensor - 2020

We installed the replacement Whale Gulper IC Diaphragm Bilge Pump sensor and it is working. We have a deep bilge that is out of reach so we can not screw in a strainer like on the Rule 2000 bilge pump or the Whale Gulper IC Pump. So to get around that we attached the sensor to a big zinc and lowered it into the bilge. The zinc keeps the sensor\strainer from jumping around when the pump is running, holding it to the bottom of the bilge. For the Rule pump, we use a PVC pipe with it clamped to it.

This switch is a bit hard to get to. We installed it before we headed to Mexico and now realize we need to use it more than we thought. We are moving it to where we have three more and access is much belter. Purchased the wire and terminal ends at Zaragoza Chandlery

We purchased new Truper tires for our DaNard Dinghy Wheels as our tires were worn out - all cracked etc. The new Truper tires are actually wheel barrow tires - which are slightly bigger. So we gave away our old covers to s/v Eyes of the World in La Cruz and needed to make new ones.

Debbie's mess! Ok it's our mess that needed going through. We passed a lot of items onto the dock workers like old cans of spray paint etc.

There are varnishes, solvents, thinners, epoxy's etc in here.

They are stored in old battery boxes. One had a crack which Debbie fixed, epoxied.

Our sight gauge is black. No telling how much fresh water we have with this!

We still need to stake down the wires with screw-in wire ties.

Finished painting the bilge/starting battery area & Whale IC bilge pump back in place - 2020

New Gulper IC Diaphragm Bilge Pump sensor test...works!

We refreshed the bilge paint job because we were going into the yard and needed to remove the items here so we could have the PSS Shaft Seal Maintenance Kit installed. Also our Whale Gulper IC Diaphragm Bilge Pump sensor stopped working so we are replacing it.

Jabsco Model 6600j (now 36600) is sitting in place and will get wired to the switch at the Nav Station. Next week it will get plumbed. We need to get some hose and we already purchased some #14 wire at Zaragoza Chandlery .

We went to Bucerias and purchased some paint for our flat deck areas. For instance around the inside of the gunnels and some anchoring areas. We will paint at anchor in the spring when the weather changes.

The harder of the two was the Bimini. It is larger and hard to handle. Debbie was not looking forward to either project(chaps or Bimini) but the Bimini was the least liked. She plowed through and after a couple days they are both done.

Another piece of our boat deck shade done: dodger area - 2020

Next to last part of our boat cover is done. This has a zipper on each side for boat entry. We can use this cover with our sails on or off the boat. Helps keep the boat cool and sheds the heavy rain water.

Our new-to-us used Starboard "Atlas Extra" SUP - 2020

This is a used Starboard Atlas Extra SUP Starlite

. It is 12x36x4 3\4 made of Starlite (fiberglass). Also bought a used paddle. We also have a Starboard Whopper" that my wife will now use. I wanted a bigger board for choppy days while at anchor etc. Got it used from Surf Mexico at their sale.

This is what our 1 1\2 inch bronze through hull, valve and elbow looked like before it was installed at the Opequimar boat yard.

Yes we have our Blue Sky Energy IPN ProRemote working now! We do only have one solar panel out of the four hooked up for testing. It is modern and gives us a lot of good info on the batteries and we can equalize the batteries using the solar panels right from the remote.

The lid to the refer gets hit when we put them back on and even sometimes when we remove it. We added the insulation when we rebuilt the refer.