2009: Trinidad to the Chesapeake

We said goodbye to friends in Trinidad

Work Completed Underway: 2009

We managed to escape Trinidad ….eventually!  The budget was somewhat depleted but we now had an autopilot - a tolerant and hardworking addition to our crew.  Our lives became a lot easier - although the self-steering, Burt was a bit miffed at being packed away!  More repairs underway took centre stage – always at the wrong time. 

Galley Bench.  The galley centreline bench was not attached at all to the stringer at its base on the floor, as it should have been and as shown in the Owner’s Manual.  I had to carry out repairs after the bench started shifting while we were sailing along in a seaway between Dominica and Guadeloupe; it was no fun for either skipper or crew!  Sadly, an example of lack of supervision in the manufacturing process.

Found an aquarium all to ourselves
in the Bahamas

Hose Clips.  I have also replaced quite a lot of old hose clips on fuel lines as we travel on. Loose clips allow air to be sucked in which occasionally cuts out the engine – and that never happens at convenient places or times.  We even found clips in out of the way places like Black Point (Exumas) so I now have a box full of various sizes and regularly check hose clips whenever accessing the boat’s plumbing.  Even though they are stainless steel an extraordinary number of them corrode and you only have to try and tighten them with a screwdriver/wrench and it soon becomes apparent when they no longer hold i.e. they easily rotate without tightening.  I throw these old ones away.

Engine Fan Belt.  The fan belt broke just as we were coming into a tricky anchorage at Normans Cay, the Bahamas!  The engine’s horn sounded and its dial showed a rather high temperature, but when I throttled down, I was able to lower the water temperature (I knew because the horn stopped blaring) and made for the anchorage at almost idle speed.  Not good when dodging coral bommies in an unfamiliar harbour.  After anchoring, I replaced the fan belt with a spare (fortunately) carried on board.  A very forgiving engine!!

Do you think they sell fan belts & hose clips too?