More Aggravation The antenna for the single side-band radio In June we ordered back stay insulators for our Nav-tech rod rigging. Due to scheduling conflicts, they were unable to install them at the time, so a compromise was made to do the job at the end of the summer when we would be travelling through the area. An appointment was scheduled for September 12th for the installation. We coerced a neighbouring boater to assist with raising Barry to the top of the mast to remove the back-stay. Thanks Dave. A car was rented, we paid to dock our boat and we made the 50 mile trip to Virgil. The back-stay was cut to length, one insulator was installed, but the 2nd broke upon installaton. The replacement insulator will now have to be ordered from the Rhode Island factory, which unfortunately is closed at present as they are busy with the Newport boat show. So, we have decided to move on in our back-stay-less condition, which means we can't sail. We had intended to take the mast down anyway 30 miles from here, in Buffalo, to travel the canal route. Hopefully our backstay will be shipped to us. We'll just have Barry climb the mast a bit higher and keep in touch with them by phone. It's not the perfect plan but it's getting cold and we need to keep moving along.