Dec 29

Posted on Sunday,December 29, 2013 by Alex Fletcher

Wind light, overcast.

2 ecotour vessels in the reserve today

There is a sea lion on the East bay of the island that has some kind of neck injury. It is usually higher up in the rocks and isolated from other sea lions. It’s neck is swollen on one side and fur is moist/matted, some blood is visible. It has been there for several days now. Though it does go into the water occasionally it is mainly stationary.

-cleaned solar panels
-replaced burnt out florescent tube lights in boat house, work room, engine room
-measured and photographed fuel lines on generator for replacement
-cut, chopped, stacked fire wood
-sharpened tools
-ran chain saw

Dec 27 Westerly

Posted on Friday,December 27, 2013 by Alex Fletcher

The wind picked up right around noon reaching up to 35 NMPH from the West with an average speed around 30 NMPH throughout the afternoon and into the evening.

One ecotour vessel was in the reserve.

-worked on trying to fine tune boat house door, unsuccessful.
-cut, chopped, stacked fire wood, successful.
-cleaned solar panels
-fuelled up station whaler
-replaced corroded hose clamp on whaler fuel line

NE swell

Posted on Friday,December 20, 2013 by Alex Fletcher

NE wind 10-15 NMPH , 2-3 ft swell coming into the jetty. The fog horn started up sometime in the middle of the night but stopped before sun rise, visibility was less than 5 NM most of the day. Light rain most of the day. Barometer falling.

I had planned on going in to campus for christmas lunch and to pickup guests but the lunch was canceled because of snow on the roads and the NE swell kept me from leaving the island.

Another day foiled by Black Oyster Catchers, I scrutinized around 12 of them on the South side of the island but no leg band seen.

-Sharpened bow saw
-cleaned solar panels
-ran desalinator

Off island

Posted on Thursday,December 19, 2013 by Alex Fletcher

Overcast, good visibility, wind NE 10 NMPH, light in the afternoon.

Went off island around noon to get parts and provisions.

-brought 15 fire extinguishers off island to the college to get serviced, brought back spares.
-cleaned solar panels

Ed note: Congratulations Alex…. this is the 1000th Posting to be added to the Race Rocks website.

West Wind

Posted on Wednesday,December 18, 2013 by Alex Fletcher

Steady west wind 15-20 NMPH most of the day. Bit of hail in the evening.

Chunk went off the island last night and is back on middle rocks with the female elephant seals. I have been trying to get a closer look at the Oyster Catchers to get the ID from the banded one but have not been able to see it yet.

-Cut, chopped, stacked firewood
-Cleaned solar panels
-Installed rain water container on down pipe of energy building to use for cleaning solar panels.

Fog

Posted on Saturday,December 14, 2013 by Alex Fletcher

Still grey out here, the fog rolled in before noon, fog alarm was going for a few hours. The fog had lifted by late afternoon. Wind has been light today and yesterday.

The DND were burning again yesterday at Rocky Point.

I went off island yesterday to get plumbing parts and some provisions. It was my first time using the new boat dolly. It is a much appreciated improvement that makes launch and recovery easier and faster.

-getting parts off island
-fixed broken pipe and faucet on roof for PV panels
-pressure tested then drained lines
-sent photos and measurements for wood stove
-ran desalinator

Grey

Posted on Thursday,December 12, 2013 by Alex Fletcher

Over the last few days the weather has been consistently overcast and there has been a consistent E/NE wind between 10-20 NMPH. It rained briefly today around noon.

In the morning the DND was burning invasive species (broom, Gorse) at Rocky Point, smoke visible.

-taking measurements for wood stove installation
-cutting and storing fire wood
-planning for solar panel replacement and tilt
-cleaning solar panels daily as there has not been much moisture
-reviewing new standard operating procedures manual
-got help from Jonathan (Pearson IT) to fix some problems with programs/files on station computer

Planning/making list for minor repairs:

-a water pipe on engine room roof needs replacing
-lower valve on rain water tank leaks when opened
-air vent pipe on main house letting water in which collects in the duct.
-hose nozzle on engine room roof broken

Chimney sweeps

Posted on Monday,December 9, 2013 by Alex Fletcher

overcast, misty, light wind. Temperature is up a bit from previous days.

Erik brought chimney sweepers out after noon to clean the chimneys in both houses.

-chimney sweeper suggested we get assist house furnace serviced as it is creating more soot than it should.

shake down of the new boat cradle

Posted on Friday,November 22, 2013 by Courtney Edwards

Clear skies. Moderate NE winds. 2+ ft chop

Today was the first real test of getting the Boston Whaler back on the new boat cradle with Easterly wind and waves. The trailer lowers down into the water great because we added big cement paving stones for weight and ballast. It also means that the boat doesn’t pull it up off the track when a wave rolls in. The boat stays pretty straight on the trailer, even with waves, because of the new stern posts. Although, it helps to run the stern line to a cleat on the jetty and then forward to be able to pull the stern in next to the jetty when you need to. The new ratchet winch (used to pull the boat up on the trailer) is safe for the fingers, easy to use, and has great torque. And despite filling my boots with water, the new setup works great.