Space Technology

I was still playing around with my satellite connection but had given up almost all hope, on
fact i had resigned to the idea of no blogs and worst no up to date grib files for the next
10 days. Luckily i have Navtex which is going to give me at least basic info, i thought,
when i turned my head to see if i had any new forecasts: the Navtex was dead! The digital
world of marine technology at its best, now it works, now it doesnt, nothing in between the
two state.

Navtex is a very simple piece of kit, you think nothing can go wrong with it, so i decided
to take off, once again the control panel and investigate. A little splash of WD40 at the
power connector and problem solved!

Now, the temptation was high, but you think, that's space technology, no way you can fix it with WD40!
So, a little undecided i cooked myself lunch, six rashers of bacon and 2 eggs, an orange to follow.
Then i attented the hour meter that counts how many hours i've been running the engine to estimate
fuel consumption: i had installed it incorrectly and had to re-do it all, the wires, the connectors.
When i finished i worked out that in fact a blinking light is what you get, not a constant one, so it
was fine from the beginning but at least i entertained myself for over an hour. Now, back to the
satellite phone, i hesitated a minute than took the antenna off, the data kit, the serial cable, the
usb to serial adapter, every bit, then sprayed everything in WD40, reconnected the lot and gave it a
go. Now i have email again, so much for space technology.

On the other hand there is equipment that is much more creative when breaking up. Take my autopilot,
remember i sheered off the pin during the bluqube solo 1000? remember i had fixed it once and it broke
again... i ended up screwing the whole thing through the deck with a bolt the size of my thumb, this
morning i looked at it proudly, bullet proof i thought. An hour later the pilot calls me and says, you
know marco, that bolt you put is really strong, i know, i replied. So the pilot said it had decided
to sheer off at the attachment to the tiller snapping in half the screw that holds the L shaped plate.
Tool box in hand i drilled another hole through the plate and fixed another screw. I didnt spend too
much time on it, i'm sure this'll hold and the pilot will think of another way to break. No wonder
autopilot failure is reason number one for retirements, they are absolutely useless.

Ciao
Marco
British Beagle.