Johnny told Nancy to go get his beacon but I can't click on the boat.

Are you trying to use Johnny's boat? You have to use your own sailboat.

No, I'm trying to use that sailboat. Johnny said the monkeys tore up his engine so I didn't try to use his boat.
Also, I didn't have the option to ask for the metal detector. I already have the journal from Shark Cove.

Have you read the book that's in the basket beside the sofa in the reception area back at the resort?

Yes I did. And I still don't have the option for the metal detector. There must be something I am missing.

I didn't go to Bat Steep because I couldn't find it. I went everywhere else. I even played a game with one of the monkeys.

Where is Bat Steep?

Be sure to have read the decoded page of the journal which mentions the Caridad wreck. Double check that this page is now fully decoded.

Bat Steep is at the NW part of the island. There is no paved road to it but a dirt trail.

The first three pages are fully decoded. And yes I read about the Caridad and the hidden treasure.

Oh okay. I have gone down some dirt trails but they didn't lead anywhere.

I still can't get the metal detector option. Just the beacon for the battery.

Thanks.

Ok, let's double check a couple of things.

For the decoded journal, another member had the same problem as you, but here's what they said fixed it:

"I tried hitting the enter key after deciphering each page and that seemed to work to get the game to moving forward."

You might check again that the pages really are fully decoded and you haven't missed an odd letter here or there.

As for Bat Steep, did you check the glass display in the hotel lobby and learn about the different bat species? Here's what MaG's walkthrough says as regards directions:

Bat Steep does not have a parking lot but a dirt path.
Take note that there are short cuts marked by tire tracks in the sand. Use them to see where they lead.
Take the top left road and go to Monkey Center, Bat Steep, Shark Cove, Blue Hole and then Sangre Beach.

Some reference points for you there.

And lastly, do be sure that you've read the book from the basket in the lobby from cover to cover, so that the game triggers that you have actually read it. Then see if you can get the dialogue with Johnny.

I did finally find Bat Steep but there was nothing to do there. I finally got the sail boat to work and I am just aimlessly sailing around.
I found a few glass bottles with notes in them.
Can't find the last one to finish the note.

I fed fruit to the parrot but she's no help. lol.

Johnny and George won't talk.

I don't know what else to do.

What are some of the things to do on your task list?

- Follow directions in that book I dug up.

That is the only thing I have on the list.
I still have never gotten the task to find the compass so I can get the metal detector. I can't even ask Johnny about the metal detector.

I can only suggest re-checking the journal decoding and re-reading the other book from cover to cover. Those are the critical triggers to move forward at this point in the game.

Is there a hotspot on the journal page that mentions the Caridad, that you can click on?

If you're desperate, I have a save game just past this point, with the compass won and in inventory. If you want it -- shout.

No, I can't click on any part of the journal page. I checked the walk through and I have the same decoded message that it has.

I have reread the book 3 times and nothing changes.

I don't know what the problem is.

So you've re-read the book from the basket back at the resort.

And UHS-Hints says this regarding the decoded journal:

Incidentally, it's very important that you flip through the entire book after you've got it all decoded. Even if you think you got it all, Nancy won't really digest it until you do this.

If you'd like to e-mail me your most recent dated save file in your save folder, I'll reinstall my game and take a look at it for you, and see if we can work out what the problem might be.

Or -- I can send you my own save to get you past this problem. Gameplay follows MaG's walkthrough.

Let us know.

I haven't followed MaG's walkthrough because I never got the compass request.

I have flipped through the entire journal. I read about the pulley etc.

I read through the book at the office 3 or 4 times.

Nancy doesn't say anything either time.

I don't have any saved games for Ransom except for one very close to the end of the game. Let's wait and see if someone else can help or advise you further. I'll take another look at the walkthrough too.

stonzee,

I sent you a saved game when all are decoded; also check the inventory for the battery.

Thanks. I already had the battery.
And the journal is all decoded.
I don't know what the hang up is. I'll go play with the monkeys again and see if I can get the compass.

What are you supposed to do with the wheel thingy you find in Shark Cove?

If you have collected all of the disks and they are now all on the wheel, the goal of the puzzle is to reproduce the owl by placing certain silhouettes (metal disks) over the center plate.