Shark Shield Freedom 7 for sale for $300. 
   Sold

The fact that you're getting some kind of light probably means this suggestion is not going to be helpful, but Just in case:
   Shortly after buying and using mine a few times, I couldn't get mine to turn on.  The problem was that I was rinsing it with a hose with some pressure and it got water under the turn-on knob, which corroded the little magnet that is part of the knob which activates a switch inside the plastic case.  SS sent me a new knob and O rings and that fixed it.  After that, I rinsed it by dunking it in a bucket of fresh water.

   I'd been on sailboats for a total of 2 hours max when I decided to build one.  This was in the early 70's when that was a pretty common way to get into the sport.  I thought I was building something like a rowboat with a sail, it turned out to be a go-fast racing boat.  Sailed that all over the Delta and the Bay for about 5 years and then got a 25 ft cruising sailboat and cruised the San Joaquin Delta, weeklong trips to the Bay, Angel Island, SF Marina clubs.   When the kids got to be teenagers, they'd had enough of that, and I got one of the first Windsurfers and sold the sailboat.   Windsurfed mostly at Sherman Island, Chrissy, other Bay spots, getting new gear every few years, faster and faster.  Meanwhile, sailed in long races on friends' boats  (South Tower Race from Stockton to SF and return - 150 miles of pure joy, or at least some good stories).  Along the way, I got the kids an El Toro (8 ft pram).   I finally gave the 15 ft racing boat away because I couldn't get anyone to buy it for $150. even though it was in good condition and the trailer was worth that much.  It would still be a good way to get into sailing: buy a small boat for almost nothing.  Best to get someone with some experience to help you decide which boat. You'll learn more and more quickly on a small boat and you'll be a better big boat sailor if you decide to head in that direction. 

  Interesting thread.  I've been curious about how 3d printers work, but never even tried to You Tube them. 
  But while reading, an idea, not necessarily a good idea, occurred to me: Instead of building up, why not whittle down?   Couldn't you find a block of some kind of semi-flexible material and cut away everything that doesn't look like what you want to end up with?   

From my long-ago power boat days, I seem to recall that when the boat was stopped quickly the boat's wake would come rushing up the stern.
Also, re.: inflatable PFD's: In this month's Latitude 38 (free Nor Cal sail-cruising mag available in boat stores and marinas (at least for a few days after the 4th of the month - or on-line  " 'Lectronic Latitude" ) there is a discussion about whether one should trust inflatables, though conceding they are better than nothing, and discussing how closed-cell foam ones help to protect the torso from violent blows like one might suffer on a sailboat thrashing about in rough seas.  I've spent many days and nights wearing foam vests and only in very hot weather could I understand why people were reluctant to wear them all the time.

I'm so glad there are people like you, and the others who helped, who take the duty to assist seriously.  Thank you!
    I was the first on the scene to a couple of rescues last year within about month (I started to wonder why do people try to kill themselves when they're around me?!), one off the cliffs, one a kayaker , and the lesson I learned is that it's what happens after you start to help that really complicates things - I could grab the hand of guy clinging to the cliff, but he was bigger than me, and I couldn't move him,  the guy in the kayak seemed dazed and couldn't understand instructions that would save him, and he and his barge of a kayak also were too big for me to tow or lift.  Luckily, in both cases other help was nearby and both guys were o.k..
       

Thanks for the report NWM. 
    I'm going Tuesday, but probably won't launch til after 7 - taking advantage of long nights, and instead of forgetting my tackle box (now I've mentioned it, it'll be something else),I'll get a little more shut-eye, then do the east-south-north route, trying to get some live bait, then troll less/ drift more.  Ch 69

Great recovery from a bad start to the day!  Loved the write-up, blow by blow - good plotting!