Slow Progress

I finally made it back to the boat for a week. Although it was essentially a work-related trip, I did try and get some things accomplished on the boat itself. As usual, however, nothing is easy. My main projects of the moment are the completion of my ongoing solar power initiative and the search for a reliable autopilot solution. On both counts, I have fallen short.
The last time I was in Nanaimo, I ordered some fittings for the stanchions that would allow me to run a new stainless steel rail above the life lines, on to which I was going to mount the solar panels, one on each side of the cockpit. When I went to pick up the fittings it turns out that they were not quite the same as the pictures in the catalog. It now appears that the fittings as pictured do not really exist. So back to the drawing board.
I have come up with a new idea for stringing the life lines through a 1" stainless steel pipe, attached with some fittings that do exist, although no-one actually has them in stock. So I have orderd these fittings and it is back to the waiting game - I will continue the battle next time I can get back to the boat.
Meanwhile, the autopilot project is totally going nowhere. Getting the specifications for every autopilot on the market, and taking careful measurements of the current steering setup, it is becoming more and more apparent that there is nothing on the market that will meet out needs. The simple wheel pilots are not powerful enough, there is no room for mounting an actuator for a below deck unit, and all of the existing hardware hanging off the back of the boat makes it impossible to mount a wind-vane system. I have asked the local expert to take another look but am not hopeful.
I did book the boat for a haulout and bottom paint for next week, so at least we may be able to go sailing in the near future.