The aircon man didn't arrive as planned, last night, but he did call and tell us he would be here between 9 and 10am. He was true to his word. He thinks we have leaks in our two systems, forward bedroom and aft master suite....we have kind of known this was a possibility. We had the Salon aircon on last night, and that was just fine. Too bad it wasn't in time for out sleep, but we managed again with the two fans going full tilt. I would much rather be able to put clothes ON, because I am cold, than not have anything left to take off because I am hot. I guess we temperate climate folks need to adapt??
Waz was up and doing by the time I prised open eyes, around 8.40am. A cold water wash seemed to do the job of waking me up..kind of...a cup of coffee finished me off and got the brain working.
Just as we finished our ham and cheese croissant breakfast, the aircon man arrived. We will see him back in a week or two, to complete some procedures to make sure we have dehumidifying in the forward cabin, and the aircon in our bedroom is behaving.
The sun was slow to appear from under the overcast sky, but when it did arrive, it was fierce. Forecast for the weekend says we will have 90F most days..arrggghhhhh!!!!
Going to sleep last night, Waz and I were brain storming (no wonder I couldn't get to sleep quickly!!) about putting some more sun shade on the outside of the windows to help with interior heat. We got it figured out before he started snoring:)
We also need to put a tab on the dinghy cover to stop water pooling in the middle...the tab will go up and over the passarelle to make the cover tent-like. I see the sewing machine coming out of hiding in the very near future!!!
We have decided to make the new window shades out of Phiftertex . This outdoor fabric is what I made the back cockpit curtain out of, way back in Texas. It has served us well and cuts out 97% UV.
To leave the boat for our big trip, we cut silver metal 'paper' (that is normally used to insulate Hot Water cylinders) to fit all the inside of the windows. This has worked 'kind of' , but because it is on the INSIDE of the window, it still lets the heat in...as in, you can feel the heat on the paper. We didn't put it on the outside of the window covers (dark blue..duh!) because we didn't know if we wanted to leave them there and time didn't permit us to do that. HOWEVER...the heat would be a LOT worse if we didn't have it there:) We leave the thermo drapes closed as well, so this provides added insulation. BUT, it is no sufficient.
We have been out and measured the outside of the windows and what is required for the project....don't we love them? :) Waz is right now in the process of ordering the 9 yards of 54inch fabric with 22 clips and 25 feet of webbing to complete the job. The phifitertex is white in order to reflect, and it will let us open the windows for airflow without getting the heat, other than ambient warmth.
It is amazing how cool the cockpit deck is with all the curtains down, compared to when I take one of them off. Welcome to the USA (Florida) Summer heat:)
Moi on the back of the fly deck, washing her down (Note the stormy sky in background!) just after I made the back curtain, in Texas
This is the same material we made the front windscreen reflectors from, way back when in Texas. You can tell it is more than 90F, as Waz is wearing a cooly neckerchief....soak in water then refridgerate...he normally doesn't care about the heat:)
Here is our girl with all the curtains up over the cockpit deck. Now...Imagine that same look with curtains over the windows secured from the top railing (See the rail just above the back windows??) down to the hand railing, in the case of the back windows, and from clips that exist already, on the top of the front windows, down to the hand railing on the bottom.:)
All ordered and we will expect the makings within the next week..woohoo:)
We know we will be getting this same heat and humidity all along the east coast on our journey north, not to mention when we finally get into port/marina and need the same protection.
Well, we have to do SOMETHING to keep our brains active, don't we? :)
Time for some lunch...we have a date with Miss Mia, this afternoon, which we are very much looking forward to. Now that she is walking, we will be kept VERY busy, I anticipate. Too hot for a walk, right now, but I am sure she will find something to do on the boat with all the 'stuff' we still have lying around. I guess that might be incentive enough for us to get packing it all away!!!
Ciao for now..enjoy the day, and the weekend is nigh!
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