StJohns part 2

 

As Paul explained, I put myself in a fine mess by trying to remediate the mainsail track issue – I woke up with an idea for the fix, and stupidly decided to check out this solution even before I had breakfast…  I should never start working before a first coffee ! Totally fumbled it. I still have in mind a slow-motion  of the mainsail track segment  toppling out of position, falling on the mainsail cover, then bouncing form the deck into the water.  Amazing how a fine day can be ruined in an instant…. Remediation solutions started to flash through my brain, but there was a haze of panic and desperation shrouding everything. But Paul wisely recommended that I let go of it, and I decided to burn off my tension by cycling off to the shopping area, which is a good hour ride away from the harbor. All industrial (and big-name) vendors are lined up there, and I though it would be a good start to check if I could find some replacement.

The drive is pretty uninteresting (and even unpleasant,  as this is a high-traffic road where cyclists do not belong) but in some ways, those outskirts of large towns are also part of what is “typical”.

The marine supply shops turned out to be very limited in what they stock (and in what they can order). But it was a nice day, I was already 5 miles out of town, and I decided to cycle the remaining 5 miles to the RNYC, thinking I might get some connections or ideas over there.

So after a 3 hours cycle, I had a good break at the RNYC. As I was leaving I advised a gentleman that had talked to us talked during our “research” evening with Windwood crew, and I explained my situation.  We talked about machining a new part (no good, it is extruded) and then the guy suggests that I try with 3d printing local shops. And THAT immediately sounds like a solution – I already have a fairly accurate design from the manufacturer catalog. I mail the design to my son, who confirms that he can build a 3D CAD file next day.  Even better,  as we have dinner with Windwood crew, Molly mentions that her brother is a pro at 3D engineering – and by next morning he has sent me a file, with exact quotes – what I could do with my son in comparison is very amateurish, in retrospect, the printed part would never had worked, as the specification would have be too far off (and in the wrong material, etc…). But I am slightly embarrassed, as it is clear that Michael (Molly’s brother) has spent probably the best part of his Sunday working on this. …

And my streak of luck continues, on the Monday morning, I submit Michael’s CAD files for  quote to a 3D print shop, run in the usual IT upload problems, but the guy answers immediately and, and by mid-afternoon I hold the new part !!! There is a bit more of it of course, but in short, an amazing feat. Cheap too, it costs me more in taxi to collect the part, than to fabricate it !

It takes me a morning to fit the printed track (there are ball bearing tracks on each side, a rod that runs through it with quite strict clearance, all that needs to be quite perfectly aligned, I do it with careful filing) but by noon I am done, and it works beautifully ! In addition, it was quite interesting to experiment with this 3D printing process, which has a bit of a black art to it.

Eric arrived on time, July 23. Of course I was eager to see the friend, but equally interested in meeting the courrier, as he brought a bunch of parts for the propane cooker. Greetings were expedited and we started to work on that right away.

Sure enough, the ideal solution (Europe to US connector), failed, and we had to revert to plan B, which was not too dodgy, as Eric had brought a good sample of hoses and alternate connectors. As you might guess, some sealant was involved, and by the evening, we were cooking on good US propane ! A good problem solved – well, if we assume that the connection patch is durable and safe. It should last a season.  That gave our first evening together a good positive spin.  

By next morning, we went to the shopping malls to purchase a spare tank. By then I was getting familiar with this area, which extend for miles on the plateau in the back of StJohn, and connects suburban neighborhoods that seem to be the economic engine of the area.

 

A very common activity for cruisers – criss-crossing the industrial outstskirts, fetching cans, gas, spare parts, calling cabs….