![\"7-2-16a](\"http:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/7-2-16a-003.jpg\")
The unit is very easy to use and appears to be quite sensitive. \u00a0The sensor itself is attached to a cable so you can place it wherever you wish to take a reading. \u00a0 Here’s what the company says about it’s use…<\/p>\nIt’s the beginning of the July 4th weekend, a time when I would have, in a previous life, been fully focused on being out on the water. \u00a0However things are different now that I am retired and spend more time “on the hard” during the summer and much of my time afloat in the winter months.<\/p>\n
In spite of it being over four years since I retired, I still have to remind myself that “long weekends” aren’t the best time to be out sailing as just about everybody else is doing just that. \u00a0What a treat it is to be able to choose when to go based on wind, tide and weather.<\/p>\n
Of course, all of this is tempered by Brenda’s “new reality” now that she has had melanoma. \u00a0This combined with the fact that once you’ve had it you have a higher chance of getting it again gives one pause for thought. \u00a0 I don’t blame her for being timid about spending time in the sun given the danger of recurrence and the lingering pain of the surgery. \u00a0I doubt that being able to show off her nearly 12 inches of “battle scars” is reward enough for what she’s been through.<\/p>\n
A major problem with spending time on the water is increased sun exposure, mainly UVA and UVB rays which are strongest between 10:00 and 16:00 along with the reflected light from the water. \u00a0In spite of my best efforts, I have been unable to find anyone to quantify the risk except to say that “you have to limit exposure”. \u00a0Yes, of course I get that, but what does that mean? \u00a0Live in a cave? \u00a0Take up mushroom farming or, as it’s known in the trade, Fungiculture.<\/p>\n
Brenda’s surgeon feels that she has to be careful with sun exposure but also says that she might “not want to live in a cave”. \u00a0It’s a complicated issue and I can certainly understand her concern.<\/p>\n
Anyway, I got to thinking about how to define “risk” and UV exposure in general. \u00a0As they say, “you can find anything on the Internet” so I started looking and found a scientific instrument that measures, yes, you guessed it, UVA and UVB light. \u00a0It’s a pretty neat gadget with a sensor that you point toward a light source and it will give you a very accurate measurement of these portions of the light spectrum. \u00a0 There are a number of companies that make these devices and I settled on one made by General Instruments. It cost less than $175 including shipping. \u00a0 As a point of notice, the reading on the screen in this photo was in shade on our back deck. \u00a0In the sun a few feet away the reading was a whopping 8,500. \u00a0Still, I was surprised at the reading of nearly 900 in full shade. \u00a0I guess that’s reflected light. \u00a0Of course, inside the house the reading was “0”.The unit is very easy to use and appears to be quite sensitive. \u00a0The sensor itself is attached to a cable so you can place it wherever you wish to take a reading. \u00a0 Here’s what the company says about it’s use…<\/p>\n
![\"7-2-16a](\"http:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/7-2-16a-006.jpg\")
Here’s what it looked like after I was “done”. \u00a0 Wasn’t that easy?![\"7-2-16a](\"http:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/7-2-16a-011.jpg\")
Today, I’ll finish rerouting some plumbing that is in the way and frame up for the pan and shower seat. \u00a0Of course, a girl has to have a seat\u00a0to perch on when she shaves her legs. \u00a0“Too much information Bob, stick to reno details!”.<\/p>\n![\"6-27-16a](\"http:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/6-27-16a-007.jpg\")
Oh yeah, one more thing. \u00a0Remember my dead lawn mower? \u00a0 And you know how much I love to mow the lawn. \u00a0 Well I was able to find a used commercial 48″ wide Bob-Cat mower. \u00a0Now I can “love” cutting it for a lot less time each week. \u00a0Well, that’s the theory at least. \u00a0 So far, not so fast as it’s a “beast” of a machine. \u00a0 So far, mowing with this is more like “the dog walking me”.\u00a0![\"7-2-16aa\"](\"http:\/\/www.sailpandora.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/7-2-16aa.jpg\")
Yes I have a plan. \u00a0 A plan to head to Maine. \u00a0That seems pretty likely. \u00a0And a plan to measure UV. \u00a0 \u00a0What Brenda and I will be able to do with that information is anyone’s guess.<\/p>\n