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1- Mike McGowan / Sacha Warunkiw
NIPKIN-Alberg 30

The dream started back in 1990 when Sacha and I decided to go 50-50 on a full keel sailboat that could take the world's oceans or simply lake and coastal sailing. We hawked everything and started the transformation of NIPKIN. After two years of bodywork and replacement of rigging sails and engine, it was time to rewire and slap on the equipment that would guide our vessel through anything mother nature could sling. It was about that time that we heard of Ray Singh. While we would like to say allot of great things about Ray and his dedication to work, it would take volumes. So here it is in a nutshell. Ray spent hours of his time advising us on what our options were and how to go about outfitting for offshore. It started with a complete rewire of the boat, an AC/DC electrical panel, installation of a Heart Inverter, cold-plate refrigeration, hot water system, an Espar heater, Autohelm autopilot, complete set of instruments, battery charger, alternator, wind charger and state of the art instrumentation, radar, & 2 GPS. In the final analysis, Ray prepared us for every eventuality and for the next 5 years of living aboard in the cold winters of at Port Credit Marina, on the trek down the Erie canal, Hudson River and I.C.W. to the Caribbean where we endured 41 cold fronts while wintering in the Abaco. Through hot anchorages, high humidity, salt air, heavy seas, a hurricane and shallow water, everything worked like a dream and . . . when the one and only problem occurred, (malfunction of a circuit in the Autohelm Instrument) Ray took the time over long distance cellular to troubleshoot and got us to ship direct to the manufacturer with a 24hr. turnaround at no cost. Ray always said, buy good equipment, keep it serviced and it will take care of you. It did! Thanks Ray, the money spent on your work and the equipment you suggested made for VERY comfortable cruising indeed.

Michael McGowan