Opua: oysters and entrophy
Opua: oysters and entrophy
As the above photos show I have made some progress.
When the yard office reopened Monday morning the regular office manager had returned from vacation. I was listed in the books as a “no show” on Friday. I explained that I was not the one who “no showed.” She is a nice woman and this was not her fault. She said they would try to lift me sometime during the day.
I already had a 9:00 a.m. appointment for a rigger to do some work up the mast. He appeared briefly and then had to go back up to his shop for a block. Shortly after he left, the travel lift operator came down and asked if I was ready to be lifted. I said ‘no’ because of the rigger, but then decided to go ahead as I wouldn’t be out long. Good decision. The rigger didn’t return for over an hour by which time HAWKE was again tied up alongside the dock.
Except for the prop and shaft, there was only slime on the bottom, which speaks rather well for International’s Micron Extra, considering that the boat sat on the mooring for six months.
Out of the water the objects on the prop were even bigger than I thought and appeared to be oysters. There are commercial beds in the bay, so perhaps these were escapees. The men blew them off with the power wash. I did not keep them either as appetissers or souvenirs.
The rigger returned and went up the mast where he replaced the failed wind transducer for the fourth time and checked the anchor light, which flickers on and off. Because it has a built-in solar switch, it can’t be tested during daylight; but seemed to him to be properly in its socket.
He also installed a block on the forward side of the mast for my experiment with setting a cruising spinnaker with Facnor gennaker furling gear. I’ll write more about this when I have the entire system in place.
While coming down the mast, he noticed that the port intermediate shroud has a cracked swage. So another appointment to have it replaced next week.
All this took until about 1:00 p.m.
On one of the nicest days since my return, sunny and no wind, I powered north into clear water beyond the last five knot speed limit marker and gave the engine full rpms. We were able to power at 7 knots and 3400 rpms. Before the lift-out, we could only manage 3.7 knots and about 2600 rpms.
After a half hour I returned to the mooring. I like it so much better out here swinging with the wind and current and with space around me instead of tied to a dock.
In a routine check of the engine, I found the alternator belt loose and water in the bottom of the compartment. Tightened the belt and traced the water to the fresh water tank in the stern, which I had filled while at the dock. In climbing over it moving stuff to and from the stern stowage area I pulled a hose connection partway out. So now I have too much fresh water, probably about forty gallons in a leaking fifty-two gallon tank. Actually I have pumped enough out through the galley sink so that the tank no longer leaks; but will probably have to wait until it is completely empty to try a repair.
After dark last evening I tried the anchor light. It did not light.
I’m not sure if the steps forward exceeded the steps back yesterday; but I count the day a success. I can power if not sail. For the moment I have wind information. And the afternoon was pleasant enough so I could sit on deck with a glass of wine and listen to music in late afternoon.
Wednesday, September 5, 2007