Bat ship

What is it with all the bats?

In Venezuela cruisers have experienced large vampire bats entering their boat at night, climbing into their bunks, and suckling. That doesn’t sound like fun! We have vampire bats here too. The fruit bats are swarming around like gang busters. I like them around because the also eat mosquitoes, and I loathe mosquitoes! I’m putting up the mosquito netting at night which also keeps the bats out. However this morning when I went into the cockpit there was one hanging from my fruit net staring me right in the face. I got a good video clip of him and will upload it as soon as i can.

There haven’t been so much going on. I’ve been it the boat most of the time because of the monsoon rains. I haven’t been spear fishing because of the murky water and its driving me a bit bat ship. I must say the excessive rain and lack of sun is getting me a bit down. We have another 6 weeks left in the rainy season and I’ll be happy when the trades fill in. I found a new book (1776 by David McCullough) and I’m planning on starting it tonight. Anyone read it?

I’ve become the stew master. I make a pretty good vegetable stew and have my spices dialed in perfectly. I also add a bit of TVP (soy meat) and its a good meal. I’ve been making a good granola by toasting oats and adding nuts, fruit, honey and molasses. When I make a batch it usually lasts me about 4 bowls (days) which I eat with soy milk. If I cant go fishing soon I may put one of these bats in my stew and see how it turns out :)

I’m blocked off from civilization for the next 4 days. They are celebrating the “Black Christ” in Portobello and the road to colon and Panama City is blocked. Portobello is where they have the Black Christ and church,its a pretty big deal around here.

There are a few ports that leak along with the chain plates. I’ve been putting off dealing with the chain plates as I want to replace them with ones that I will strap to the hull. I don’t like chain plates going through the deck and will be rid of this system soon. When the rainy season is over I’m going to pull the rub rail on both sides of the hull, paint the hull, and install new steal chain plates and the rub rails. I may shorten my rigging and put in a length of chain to bring the turn buckles up to eye level. I don’t trust stainless and prefer galvanized steel. Keeping a good eye on stainless is always good practice. Splendid is my 5th sailboat and I haven’t lost a rig yet, knock on wood! I’m also considering getting rid of all the stay lock fittings and braiding the wire rope to itself.

The original stainless on Splendid is real crap! Once I get the rub rails refastened and the stanchions replaced I’ll be done with most of it. The stainless used on Splendid was more than sub-standard. Good thing the majority of it was replaced with her new rig 10 years or so ago.

I’m going to Panama city next week. Once I get the proper sized belt and a new external alternator regulator I’ll be charging my battery bank with the little Kubota engine (1/8 of a gallon an hour). I still don’t like my raw water electric pump and will replace it with an electric EWAKI (spelling?) pump as soon as I can. They are supposed to be good for 10,000 hours of continuous duty. If i ever come across a belt driven impeller pump I’ll install it and use it on the same belt that drives the alternator. At over $400 a pump I may be sticking to the twelve volt ones.

I’m contemplating making a batch of pineapple wine. Pineapples are cheap and yummy around here. The fruit has a high fructuous content and should make a nice wine. I’m also thinking of making a batch of Sake but you need a special yeast and rice. I do love sake.

Splendid is a lot of boat for one man. She’s spacious and comfortable and I love her. I’m thinking when I’m older I may trade down.  If I ever was to trade down I’d take a real hard look at a Cape George or a Bristol Channel Cutter. The Cape George is a bit more comfortable then the channel cutter, awesome boats!

Take care.

Sail far and live slowly.

Alex