Recent improvements

[capt jake]

Well, since I have space in the shop and the weather has been well, cold: I have been doing some improvements to the Weekender.

Built small speaker boxes for the stereo speakers and permanantly installed them. Installed the AM/FM/CD also. It freed up a lot of space inside the cabin as it was all in a portable box prior to this.

Located some pretty slick jam cleats at a surplus store and installed them on the boom for my jiffy reefing system. They take of less space and work more effectively.

Built another furling drum and sewed another Dacron stas'l. This one will be installed aft of the present lapper. It can be used in conjunction with the lapper for light air days or indepentantly for stormy weather. Both are roller furling so set-up and use will be easy from the cockpit. I hope to have the final pieces of hardware today to finish the set-up (SS Swivels).

Sewing the Dacron was fairly easy with my semi-heavy duty machine. It really struggled on the hem where multiple layers were present.

A new traveler was also fashioned for use with the new stas'l. 5/16' brass rod on Jatoba riders.

New Jatoba fairleads were made to accomidate all of the new line that needs to run forward. I should be able to install them today as well.

Of course I had to make several eye splices in some of the line. I really like the Brion Toss splicing wand! I don't find his accompanying instructions too efficient though. I ended up using the instruction from New england Ropes with Brions wand. It worked quite well, but you have to remember to reverse several parts of the instructions as the fids work backwards from each other.

Progress has been ralatively slow as the temperatures in the high bay have been extremely cold. 22 yesterday AM, today it is a balmy 42. I have heat in the main workshop but it is still cold on the feet from the chilled concrete.

Bought a new computer to replace my present one. Present 98SE machine is fine, but I know it is a matter of time before it dies. I have too much information on this one to let it pass without transfering it to a new one.

Now to figure out the most effective way to transfer the files and data? It has been many years since I set up a network. File sharing would make this the most effective, but I have never tried to make win98SE talk to winXP. New machine don't come with floppy drives! I bought a flash drive (USB stick) but they don't like to talk to 98! Worst case, and probably the one I will go with, is to burn the information to CD and transfer it over that way. The only program that I will be missing is Office 97 as I can't locate my disk! I am bummed on this one as I am not sold at all on Office 2003 (slower than Molasses in January).

[mrthethird]

A Cross-over cable works well for transferring files. No guarantee on 98SE programs working on XP. You will have to create a Network disk, but XP walks you thru this. If you've done it before, it's a good way to go. If not, be prepared with a large bottle of industrial strength analgesics. CD-rs may be cheaper..

[capt jake]

Yeah, I remember all of he pitfalls in setting up networks and mapping drives in 98. Trying to provide access while still providing security.

I see that XP has a program to tranfer files, but it appears to only work between like OSs; correct?

[Phil Gowans]

Jake, I've been the stone age for a long while. I finally upgraded computers a few months ago. At home, I've been using a 10 year old machine (still running 95) turns out, transferring files was about impossible. My Zip drive died and that's how I used to get larger files off it. Can't write cds - 95 won't use a writable drive. Of course no USB. Couldn't get xp and 95 to network. No serial or paralell port on new computer. The amazing thing about my old machine though, is it still runs fine and the monitor is still perfect. I just couldn't get data off it easily.

Best solution I found was to remove the drive from the old computer, put it in an enclosure (about $30) and plug in usb. Runs like a champ - fast and everythings there immediately You can copy the data disc to disk and replace it in the old computer. Or do as I do use it as a backup drive on the new computer.

[capt jake]

Now THAT is a slick idea, Phil. I never contemplated that angle.

My old machine still runs fine also, just getting a little panicky.

I still have an old 95 and maybe even a 3.2 around here. I need to format the discs and find a home for them.

Thanks for the idea!

Hey Phil, a very quick search and I didn't find it. Any idea of it's 'name'? Or a brand name?

[mrthethird]

OR, if you're adept enough, install the hard drive from old computer "A" into new computer "B" as a second hard drive. That's what I've done on my last three computers.

(Get 'em in trade, cuz I'm a sucker fer junk. )

[Phil Gowans]

I got one from compusa similar to this one. I just did a search for "enclosure" on their site and got 64 hits. There are lots of types. I got a 3.5 IDE usb2 external.

Brit, I couldn't install my old drive in the new machine. They have changed the interface cables since then.

Jake, let's not talk about old machines. For one example I've got a working Lisa from around '85.

[capt jake]

Well, I have it up and running now. LCD screens a wierd! Not used to that!

I have the home network 'close', but I still can't access the things I need. I will play with it the rest of the week and see if I can get it going.

I made the mistake of switching to Mozilla Thunderbird for e-mail a while ago. No export feature for e-mail. I can eport the address book, but can't import it into Outlook. ARRGG!!

[John B]

Jake, That seperate hard drive idea is the go. I have one and periodically back up the old work win98 pc onto it, take it home , add to the xp machine there and dump the xp files back onto it as well. 120 gig IIRC.

THEN, I drop it over to my Mothers house in case of breakin / fire/ whatever. To have one is a good investment IMO... backup.

[capt jake]

Well, maybe I wil have to buy the external hard drive case. I finally got the address book tranfers, can't get the e-mails exported though.

Got the bookmarks transfered. I decided to bag th cookies and start fresh. I think I have all of the logins and PW's entered now.

Networking: the wierd thing is, I can view the old machine on the network, just can't access it. I tried avery combination of things I can think of; releasing bindings, etc. I tried reloading Client for MS networking and it prompted me to insert the 98se disc. I did and it says there is no information there, but there is 'cause I opened it to verify. :? I have to be close if it shows up on the network. :?

[capt jake]

Now onto the new sail. I have it all sewn and installed. It won't roll like the other one.?? I used 7/19 SS 1/8" wire, same as the other (ubt from a differnt supplier). It seems that the wire is wanting to twist excessively. Thus, it needs to get the twist out before it transfers the load to the swivel (applying force at the drum on the bottom). This means that it takes a lot more effort and strain to make it furl (compared to the other sail).

Any thoughts on this one? I would hate to have to remove the wire, buy some more and re-sew it in place. :roll: Could it simply be the wire??