Posted by Monty
The other day, I looked at our calendar. It's starting to get a little full. And we still have a few projects left before we check out of Point Marina in October for the trip south.
I'm not saying I'm worried, but I might be a little under the gun. This is sort of a semi-hard deadline. The first one we have really had to deal with and can't put off. I guess we could, but one of the big reasons we are doing this is to avoid cold weather. And October can have some cold days.
We can't really leave before then, as we are scheduled to attend a wedding for the youngest son. On a cruise ship. So we have to drive to New York, sail past my boat to Nassau, sail past my boat again to New York, and drive back to North Carolina, where we are then planning an early Thanksgiving with the family as we are not going to be there for the real event. All well and good and fun, but that will take up most of the first half of October, so we pretty much need to leave when we return.
That doesn't sound too bad, but then I realized that it means the boat has to be ready before we leave. And it's the middle of September.
OK. Time to get to work.
The other day I spent working on the Mercury for the dinghy. Replaced the impeller for the water pump (maybe overheating is the problem), rebuilt the carburetor (maybe trash or a bad fuel pump is the problem), and ran it around for about twenty minutes.
I'm not saying I'm worried, but I might be a little under the gun. This is sort of a semi-hard deadline. The first one we have really had to deal with and can't put off. I guess we could, but one of the big reasons we are doing this is to avoid cold weather. And October can have some cold days.
We can't really leave before then, as we are scheduled to attend a wedding for the youngest son. On a cruise ship. So we have to drive to New York, sail past my boat to Nassau, sail past my boat again to New York, and drive back to North Carolina, where we are then planning an early Thanksgiving with the family as we are not going to be there for the real event. All well and good and fun, but that will take up most of the first half of October, so we pretty much need to leave when we return.
That doesn't sound too bad, but then I realized that it means the boat has to be ready before we leave. And it's the middle of September.
OK. Time to get to work.
The other day I spent working on the Mercury for the dinghy. Replaced the impeller for the water pump (maybe overheating is the problem), rebuilt the carburetor (maybe trash or a bad fuel pump is the problem), and ran it around for about twenty minutes.
Came right up on plane...
...and ran like a scared rabbit...
...but you, dear reader, know where this is going, don't you?
At least this time I could get it to idle me home. No need to break out the paddles. My next theory is that the ignition coil breaks down when the engine heats up, causing a weak spark that shuts down the engine. Parts are ordered and will be in tomorrow.
Another "do before we leave" project is the holding tank sensor. Also waiting for parts there, should ship tomorrow for arrival early next week.
I'm not looking forward to that one. It involves drilling into the septic system, but, it must be done. And Carol won't do it. I've asked.
Still another project is the sole in the forward stateroom. No "fillet of" involved here, "sole" in a boat is the floor. Ours is soft. We have known this since we bought the boat, as there was, at one time, a bit of water in the boat (it's a boat, right?) and the ply floor had started to delaminate. The process has accelerated since the boat is seeing daily use (we do, after all, live on board), so we decided to replace it. We went today to Deaton's boatyard and purchased a replacement piece of teak and holly veneer and will go tomorrow to purchase a piece of substrate to reinforce it. Today we tore the old floor out.
At least this time I could get it to idle me home. No need to break out the paddles. My next theory is that the ignition coil breaks down when the engine heats up, causing a weak spark that shuts down the engine. Parts are ordered and will be in tomorrow.
Another "do before we leave" project is the holding tank sensor. Also waiting for parts there, should ship tomorrow for arrival early next week.
I'm not looking forward to that one. It involves drilling into the septic system, but, it must be done. And Carol won't do it. I've asked.
Still another project is the sole in the forward stateroom. No "fillet of" involved here, "sole" in a boat is the floor. Ours is soft. We have known this since we bought the boat, as there was, at one time, a bit of water in the boat (it's a boat, right?) and the ply floor had started to delaminate. The process has accelerated since the boat is seeing daily use (we do, after all, live on board), so we decided to replace it. We went today to Deaton's boatyard and purchased a replacement piece of teak and holly veneer and will go tomorrow to purchase a piece of substrate to reinforce it. Today we tore the old floor out.
This is where I get out of bed. In the middle of the night, half asleep to go to the bathroom. There is a transducer for the knot meter, a water hose to the forward fresh water tank, and an emergency wooden plug underfoot, as well as a rib and a couple of stringers. Hopefully I will live through the night.
We also got (most of) the last port replaced.
Oh, I forgot to mention, we are also meeting some good friends the weekend after next in Myrtle Beach for a celebration of some sort. I'm a little fuzzy as to the occasion, but will make up almost any excuse to spend time with these people. Looking forward to it.
We also got (most of) the last port replaced.
Oh, I forgot to mention, we are also meeting some good friends the weekend after next in Myrtle Beach for a celebration of some sort. I'm a little fuzzy as to the occasion, but will make up almost any excuse to spend time with these people. Looking forward to it.