We are still here in Chaguaramas, Trinidad, waiting for local shops to finish (or even start!) work for us. The big projects that others are doing are replacement of dodger and bimini, an outboard motor hoist to be fabricated and welded to our arch, and new refrigeration/freezer compressors. Best guess on the canvas is maybe complete by November 12. No idea on the stainless work ("we'll fit you in as we can"). And the last word from the refrigeration folks was end of November, maybe middle of December.

Once we get the new bimini completed, maybe late this week, I think we'll take off and do some sightseeing, or cruising, or something. The marinas are all full and we won't have a slip (well at least one worth having) past Wednesday. We'll have to return for the dodger and we'll probably have to return yet again for the refrigeration, but we're getting antsy.

The brand new bottom paint has a great marine growth on it already. We need to scrub the bottom and we've just been back in the water for a little over 3 weeks.

So what have we been doing to stay busy? Here's a sample from my todo list:

• try to get a Chinese wind generator purchased and delivered from a dealer in northern Ontario, Canada without breaking the bank on shipping
• ditto with 2 130W solar panels
• rigging inspection and repair of minor rigging problems discovered
• clean primary fuel filters on main engine and genset
• remove and reattach line to the end of our anchor chain so it can be cut away in an emergency (the old line wouldn't fit through the deck fitting, making it pretty worthless)
• replace secondary bilge pump
• clean bilge (yuk)
• replace throttle control motor on genset
• replace current masthead anchor light with LED (low energy) version
• replace pressure sensor on secondary water pump and spare water pump
• replace forward head seals (turned out not to be necessary - how did it fix itself?)
• remove brackets and wheels from dinghy (an abortive attempt to be able to roll the dinghy up onto a beach; wheels were too small and dinghy too heavy to work)
• tighten main engine belts
• tighten genset alternator belt
• find zinc anode spares for Autoprop
• find zinc anode spares for bow thruster
• fix slow leak at rudder stock
• get sails inspected and repaired as necessary
• put staysail and jib back on furlers; put main back on in-mast furler
• install new salt sensor on watermaker
• replace block and tackle for hoisting dinghy (old was too difficult; increased purchase from 3:1 to 6:1)
• fit new outboard engine lock that doesn't want to fit on dinghy transom
• replace transom clamp I broke because I didn't keep the transom lock lubed on the dinghy outboard engine mount
• refill 3 scuba tanks used when cleaning the bottom last season
• remount swim ladder where the painters had installed it incorrectly (and find a source for the large split rings used to secure the pins after dropping one in the drink)
• replace lifeline damaged while backing the boat along a dock at Rum Cay
• tighten all lifelines
• install new LED (low energy) reading lights in aft cabin
• install motion detector on deck (for safety from shady characters in dubious anchorages)
• disassemble, clean, grease, and reassemble windlass
• ditto 8 winches
• get damaged stainless rub rail sections straightened and polished, the remount onto repaired teak rub rail base (damaged in North Carolina from hitting a pier in a storm)
• replace 2 lost mainsail battens
• remove and inspect main engine heat exchanger
• fix inoperative primary bilge pump switch and bilge alarm switch
• have old flag pole removed from pushpit (hidden by arch, so useless)
• remount pushpit seats (arch installation removed them, need some welding done)
• repair (replace?) corroded SSB antenna cable connection
• change transmission fluid
• fix transmission fluid leak around forward/reverse selector
• drain and replace engine coolant
• install new generator raw water pump impeller
• replace latch on trash container door
• repair rip in generator diesel exhaust hose (punched a hole when trying to start generator after working on it; turned out to just be a weak engine-start battery)

So that's what I've been up to. I generally get one or two items done a day. And consider it a successful day when I get 2 of them. Isn't cruising fun? :-)