August 24 - In Hot Water, Again, or, Cruising is Boat Repair in
Exotic Locations.
Well, I wouldn't say that Cape May is an exotic location, but it
beats the middle of the Atlantic. When we left you, we expected
to go sailing again, and be in Sandy Hook by the time you read
this.
However, in the interim, you may also recall that we had no
water. We also had a leak in the rudder post, where the part
which is supposed to keep the water out of the boat where the
rudder post comes in wasn't doing a very good job. That's not an
emergency, but as long as there are other things to attend to,
that's a relatively easy one. The attending to part is that our
spare water lines were stored under the bed, which is also where
the rudder post can be found.
Conveniently, it's also the location of the steering gear, which
would allow me to check out our prior autopilot/power steering
repair. The occasion of the water lines is the presumption, as I
was able to isolate that water was coming out of the engine room
floor area in a place which had all the supply lines (buried
under the floor), that we had a rupture in one of the lines
running from the galley to the engine room. All of that was
exposed when we took apart the engine room flooring to make our
wreck repairs, so I had a very good picture, including some taken
during the rehab, of what that looked like in my mind. I'd been
convinced that one of the original plastic water lines had
ruptured, been cut, or somehow otherwise let a free flow of water
proceed out of our tank and into the bilge.
However, in a very convoluted story and position of which I'll
spare you the details, I discovered that those lines were intact,
and, instead, there was a failure some place in the engine room
of a hot water line. Again shortening the story, I made that
repair in a very contorted position, but it's all working again -
so I can be in hot water in my shower tonight!
While I was in the engine room I attended to a couple of other
minor and small maintenance items, and, since it was very hot due
to our having moved anchorages, was very glad to be outside where
the breeze is still very cool, when I was finished.
And, also while I was in the engine room, Lydia went off in the
dinghy to take a non-functioning wind machine (tells what
direction and force the wind is at the top of the mast) off to be
UPSd to the manufacturer for repair, to be returned to us in NY.
Since I didn't need the water lines I got out of the bed, I put
the bed back together after I'd put away the lines, addressed the
leaking rudder post and checked on the autopilot. All is well in
both regards, now.
I'll spare you the rest of the stuff we puttered on, but the
reason, really, that we didn't leave was that the weather looked
pretty crummy in the morning, and the forecast was still for sort
of lumpy going, along with some relatively brisk winds. However,
the biggest reason is that tomorrow (today's date) promises much
better winds and waves, and we got to do lots of "cruising" -
boat repairs in our exotic location. We quickly made the decision
to take advantage of a better weather window to do some repairs
as well as get more rest, though that's about all we've done in
the time we've been here, so it will be easy going for us as it's
only a day's (overnight) sail up to Sandy Hook.
So, we finished our chores, and, as we were headed out in the
dinghy, what should appear than another Seven Seas Cruising
Association boat, about to anchor. They're Commodores, however,
whereas we're lowly Associates. They've been cruising full time
since 1983, have a 14 year old daughter aboard, and have just
graduated a son from the US Naval Academy. You bet they're proud
parents.
As it happens, they're going in the same direction as we, and
will likely be leaving about the same time. We had a lovely time
getting to know them a little bit, and we're sure we'll hear more
from and about them.
Lydia had been a bit depressed by the failure of the water and
instrument and the other minor stuff, but was greatly heartened
by my rather simple (if convoluted in achievement) solution to
the water problem. She's also starting to accept that any 30 year
old systems are likely to require attention. She's also become
more aware of the fact that most of our instruments were put on
the boat 15 or more years ago, and likely will need replacement,
if not service, along the way. The reality of the prior owner
having many receipts where NEW instruments had to be sent back
under warranty also brought home that a marine environment is
very unforgiving, and stuff sometimes doesn't last as long as we'd
like.
And, finally, while in the engine room, I noted that the heat
strips for the wind generator's diversion (send overcharging
power to the heat strips, not the battery when it's full) dump
were hot. As the battery was very well down, this was very
confusing. That would explain the high drain we'd been having
that we couldn't figure out. So, I disconnected the heat strips,
and suddenly, everything works, again. The solar panels keep up
with the daily load. The wind generator, as little as it's making
without our being at sea, is enough to charge the battery. And
our battery no longer takes a dive every time we turn something
on. In the very overcast conditions that persisted all today, we
were making 15 or more solar amps, well over our usual load at
anchor; in sunny conditions, we'll have much more, and any wind
generation we get will be a bonus.
So, all in all, a great day, and I look forward to being in hot
water again tonight (our engine makes very hot water, which means
we don't have to use more than a smidgen to make the cold water,
which isn't very cold, warm enough to enjoy the shower).
With any luck, the next you'll hear from us will be from Sandy
Hook.
L8R
Skip
Morgan 461 #2
SV Flying Pig KI4MPC
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