Progress is afoot on Quijote. The mast has been removed and inspected. Replacement parts for anything showing signs of wear have been ordered and a full re-rig is underway to ensure there are no hidden issues resulting from stress, corrosion, and cracking. Replacing the rig every ten or twelve years is advisable for boats that intend to go offshore. Quijote was born in 2007, so the time has come.
Removing the mast means disconnecting the wiring from terminals under the mast. While doing that I found some corroded wires that explain the intermittent behavior of the radar lately. I took the radar antenna down recently and had it bench tested. The test confirmed that there is nothing wrong with the radar itself so it was reassuring to find the problem with the wiring. After cleaning up the connections, I expect the radar to be fully operational when I put the mast back up. Hoooray!
I purchased a wind vane for Quijote recently and have started the installation. The vane will serve two purposes: as a tireless helmsman that requires no lunch or even electrical power (the auto-helm does require electrical power), and it serves as a backup rudder, should one be needed.
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