Position: N 23 31.640 W075 45.952
We've
often heard cruising defined as “working on your boat in exotic
places”. As much as we'd like to deny it, there's altogether too
much truth in that statement. Take the last several months for
example...
November,
Isle of Palms, SC: install new below deck autopilot. Remove stuff
from basement, stow on deck under tarp, crawl around in the aft
pointy end of the boat (big thanks to Jim & Betsy for the use of
their shop and to Randy & Pat for the use of their truck. You
guys rock!).
One month later: Remove tarp, put stuff back in basement, and head south using new autopilot.
One
day later: Autopilot quits working.
December,
Vero Beach, FL: replace faulty parts on the new autopilot. Remove
stuff from basement, place on deck under tarp, crawl around the aft
pointy end of the boat. Finally finish new autopilot installation.
Remove tarp and put stuff back in basement.
January,
Black Point, Exumas: wind generator centrifugal brake breaks –
can't use in more than 20 knots of wind until fixed. Contact friends
in Vero Beach, Florida who are Bahamas-bound to bring along a piece
of stainless steel (among many other things – thanks, Roger &
Jane!) so we can have a new part fabricated.
February,
Thompson Bay, Long Island: friends w/ stainless delayed, so we go to
Thompson Bay to have the wind generator part welded. While we're at
it, we also have extra bracing added to autopilot bracket to reduce
flexing under load. Do the stuff out of basement, crawl around in
the aft pointy end of the boat, stuff back in basement routine again.
February,
Red Shanks, George Town, Exuma: anchor windlass quits while
anchoring. Turns out the brushes in the motor are shot. Order new
parts to be shipped in via air freight.
March,
Red Shanks, George Town, Exuma: after spending way too much money on
shipping, customs, a customs broker, and local delivery, and spending
two frustrating days chasing around after customs, paperwork,
customs broker, etc., our windlass brushes arrive. After spending
several more frustrating days taking windlass apart, installing new
parts, and reassembling, windlass works fine – we can finally haul
anchor and move! On our way to Stocking Island we discover new
autopilot doesn't work again – now it's blowing fuses. For crying
out loud – enough with the autopilot, already!
March,
Stocking Island, George Town, Exuma: troubleshoot autopilot w/
manufacturer – he says it's a cable. Same old drill - stuff out of
basement, stuff back in basement. Cruising friends have visitors
scheduled to come, so we make arrangements to have them bring a new
cable to replace the suspected faulty one (Thanks “Jezebell” and
“Steve”). New Cable isn't problem. Other cruising friends have
visitors coming the following week who bring replacement circuit
board (Thanks “Aeolus” and “Hootie Hoo”). That fixes it.
Take a test run back out to Long Island for a mini-regatta for which
no racing boats show – many of us who were there have taken to
calling it the “Long Island Mini Non-Regatta”. Chased back to
Georgetown by weather. Scrub exterior teak and apply teak sealer in
our spare time.
April,
Stocking Island, George Town, Exuma: Sun damaged thread on homemade
“stack pack” sail cover begins failing. Remove stack pack,
restitch all seams, and reinstall. Luckily, nothing needs to come
out of the basement for this job!
Toss
in a bunch of other, smaller jobs and you get the picture – we're
not just sitting around on a sandy beach contemplating our navels and
watching the sun set while sipping wine. However, we ARE in the Bahamas,
there ARE sandy beaches and crystal clear water, there ARE happy
hours and friends around, there ARE beautiful trails all over the
island that we love to walk, and there definitely ARE worse places to
be stuck doing boat jobs!
Cruisin'
along,
Mark & Julie
(And thanks to Barefootin' for the photos!)
