Rant of the Day: BUDGET MARINE St. Maarten

Yesterday when Bob went to open the starboard cockpit locker, he couldn't do so because a hinge had frozen up (odd term to use in the tropics!). We installed four new hinges on our cockpit lockers about 6 months ago. Bob had to unscrew the hinge to access the locker... not happy.

So, bright and early this morning we went to Budget Marine to buy a replacement as this is where we bought the original. We weren't looking for a refund or a swap, although that would have been a nice gesture.

This is a heavy-duty stainless steel hinge, and the Budget Marine employee told us we shouldn't buy cheap sh*t. This wasn't their cheapo, stamped, nickel plated Perko hinge, it was the best they had at the time. Then, when we were shown to where they had just moved the hinges to, they didn't have the same thing (of course) but some lighter weight, less expensive crap ($2.50). I asked if they had one like we had and was questioned why do you want a heavier one?... Because it is better quality... So It Goes...

We are accused of buying their Cheap Sh*t and then they want us to buy a crappier one. Aargh...

'nuf said...

Hauled out at Bobby's Boatyard in Simpson Bay Lagoon

We are now on the hard at Bobby's Boatyard in Simpson Bay Lagoon in St. Maarten. We were scheduled for an 8am haulout and stayed on the dock the night before.

We have allocated two weeks for our various projects aboard So It Goes but hope to be back on the water sooner than that.

More later...

It's AUTUMN, soon will be time to FALL back

Well, here it is... the first day of Autumn. I thought the season usually changed on the 20th or 21st so I was very surprised that Fall begins on September 23rd this year... So it goes...

On October 29, 2006, Europe (including the UK) will change their clocks back at 1am Greenwich time, and the United States will "fall back" at 2am in their respective time zones.

I specified the UK, because back when we were living in France, England use to change back at a different time to the rest of Europe. It seems to have been standardized several years ago... In the Caribbean we don't change (neither does Scottsdale, AZ according to a new client. Learn a lot being a charter yacht broker!) Anyway, I usually forget to put my watch on when we go out and Bob's tan lines on his wrist disappeared years ago :)

All the best!

Tuesday is TALK LIKE A PIRATE DAY

I missed it last year!
Tomorrow, Tuesday September 19th, is International Talk Like a Pirate Day. Yaaar, it be true...

Here's a link to a funny instructional video on how to speak pirate: LEARN PIRATE-SPEKE

Here's a link to a posting on this subject from BOINGBOING.NET

Enjoy!

ANOTHER Tropical Depression - TD8

Well, at least we are over hump day for the hurricane season which was Sunday, September 10th, but there is Tropical Depression #8 to keep an eye on.

The NOAA predicts that it will swing to the north of the island chain. HURRAY!


Click to view larger image

My favorites: The Fab Four, The Beatles - video clip

Yesterday, we placed a classified ad on the CROOKS AND LIARS blog. You can see it in the right column if you scroll down it bit...

One of the features that I like about Crooks and Liars is his "Late Night Music Club" post. Friday's had a Beatles video.

You can see it here: C&L Beatles Video

By the way, we also have a new ad on the LAWYERS GUNS AND MONEY blog.

Have a great Labor Day weekend!

It's September already!

September is the worst month of the H-season. We have been very thankful for how nice this summer has been and we hope it only continues to improve.

Here's an image of Tropical Storms for 2006 that comes from http://www.wunderground.com/tropical


Click above for a larger image

Today we have a tropical wave passing through, but it's not too bad. There's two other waves out there in the Atlantic right now:

• along 39w S of 18n with a 1009 mb low along the wave near 11n moving W near 10 kt
• along 20w/21w S of 17n moving W 15 to 20 kt.

We have had quite a bit of atmospheric dust which, while it doesn't make for pretty skies, it does put a damper on these tropical systems.

Once again, here is the statistical graph:


Here's hoping for a safe and sane season...