Our first morning in Santa Barbara revealed a major issue with the propane system – it had ceased working.  Discovering a major equipment failure on a boat,  is always discouraging,  but when the system is intimately connected to the production of coffee, it is a crisis.  An inexperienced sailor would immediately suspect that the propane tank was empty but experienced salts will of course know that boat problems are never, ever, that simple.  With all hands on deck we were able to bang and smack the propane tank solenoid with various implements until gas was again flowing. After coffee and breakfast the  propane solenoid, sporting screw connections as corroded as a crooked politician, was rewired and bathed in WD40.  All is now well and a once again dependable supply of morning coffee has kept a nearly mutinous crew on the straight and narrow.

An itemized list of broken and otherwise disappointing equipment will soon be published in this space.  A similar list of outstanding equipment will also be published.