… reader.

By a process of systematic elimination involving much shinning up the mast and down again (what fun – NOT!), the Sherlock Merediths have successfully deduced Butterfly’s VHF and AIS problems (chronically short range – less than 2 nautical miles each) are definitely due to:

(a) AfricanCats using the wrong spec of co-ax and -
(b) some – shall we say – “creative” if highly illogical wiring. In fact, given the wiring configuration, we’re amazed that we managed to pick up anything at all. Alas, mis-labelled wires only added to the confusion.

And that’s the good news – understanding, at last, the whys and wherefores of our communications woe. Correcting the wiring faux pas was also good news – very easy to do, once spotted. The bad news is changing the coaxial cable for the right one is not going to be easy. Running it through the mast is okay, but it’s the access at the foot of the mast that’s a challenge*. Dick, at 6ft 3″ is not built for small crannies (titter ye not – y’know what I mean.) At 5ft 6″, I can play Jack-in-the-box more successfully, but have bugger all wiring expertise. I can change a fuse and fit a new plug and – well, that’s yer lot, mate.

But at least we know what’s needed to sort things out – so that’s another mystery sorted. Next!

(And on that happy note, Holmes & Watson tootle off to investigate a dysfunctional shower pump …)
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Shhhh … keep this under your hat but we’re fast becoming bus junkies. Grenada’s buses are just a delight. Not buses as we in the UK know ‘em (graffiti-bedaubed things that only turn up in convoys after hours of waiting) – but people-carriers that stop to gather passengers anywhere they find them, along the way, and off the way; their operators touting for business with a cheery bawl and a lot of whistling. The driver, usually bedecked in copious carats of bling and the obligatory black shades, winds his way up alleys and sidestreets – anywhere another fare might be found, while his ‘conductor’ side-kick, leans out of a window and acts as press-gang meister. They run with such frequency, you never have to wait for one, and while there’s an inch to spare, nobody is turned away. And just to keep the festive party spirit going, loud reggae blasts from every speaker. It’s a raucous, jolly adventure that inevitably puts you in a happy mood – and this from one who abhors crowds and loud music with a vengeance. But hand on heart, never before has travelling by bus been such fun, nor so efficient – and all for EC $2.50 (about 60p)

Bus mania – Yay, bring it on!

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Footnote * This was the verdict of the electrician at the time he visited the boat. Of course, we’ve subsequently found out there is very little room in the mast, so exchanging the coax for new is possibly going to be a sod of a job, too. As for the co ax, we’ve since been informed by African Cats that their mast and rigging supplier was responsible for using RG58 within the mast.  That doesn’t alter the fact it was African Cats themselves who installed RG58 between the radio and the splitter.