The part for our jib furler is out being anodized. Hopefully, it will be back early this week, and we can get the boat back together and get sailing again. Our plan continues to be running up to Nova Scotia, more or less directly, exploring there, and then working our way south again.
In other news… we did complete the install of the new timing belt on our main drive engine. It’s an easy job, actually, after you have done it once. My challenge was the very last step: Retiming the fuel injection pump. I set up the new dial gauge (every project needs at least one new tool, it’s a rule!) and saw that I needed to rotate the pump to get it back in spec. Try as I might, it would not turn. Knowing this was an expensive and precision part, I didn’t force it, but slept on the problem instead.
After an overnight brain soak, I thought I had the answer. A look online at a picture of the engine (from the side I could not see) showed me a nut–I could not see–that I had neglected to loosen. Once it was loose, the rest of the process went exactly according to plan. Engine all happy again!
We got out jib-head swivel repaired, and rebuilt, that went without a hitch, it’s ready to install once our furler motor is back together.
And lastly… we have a new internet project–one I’d love comments on. This blog has been a great format for our travels and keeping people who are interested in where we are, and what we do up to date, but there was a lot more I wanted to do around our fishing exploits. Both on the story telling side, and teaching what we have learned. If you’re interested (and remember, it IS a work in progress!) check out http://TheFishingSailor.com and please, let me know what you think!
fetchinketch 
Hi Bill, I read and watched all of your fishing posts and offer here a couple of comments. First, I enjoyed them. Keep ’em coming. Second, I clicked on your u-tube icon (logo?) to subscribe and receive notification of future videos to no avail. Following each attempt to subscribe the video simply repeated the last sentence spoken. Finally, each entry would benefit (IMHO) from a short action narrative or video catching fish! Sailors and fishermen love a good story. What better way to whet our appetite for the promised report on gear, technique, etc.? You write really well and I’d enjoy reading/hearing about the sun beating down, lumpy swells keeping you off balance, sweat in your eyes, muscles burning while you labor to retrieve 500 ft of line from vertical jigging. Share the scent, sounds, excitement as your fishy prize first comes into view through crystal clear water. Even if it turns out to be an old sea boot on the end of your line, or a shark devours your dinner right in front of your eyes. Hey, that’s fishing! Then tell me about the gear and stuff that led up to that moment. Just my two cents worth… However you format it, just keep ’em coming. Curt
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Hey Curt!
I like your comments!
Sometimes the engineer in me wants to get to the point a little too quickly. I actually have some fish stories in production and they should be up in a few days.
Thanks for the heads up on the youtube issue. I’ll drill down into that and see if I can figure out where my setup is in error!
We have our parts all in hand, and should be ready to move on by the beginning of next week… hopefully we aren’t aground on “Coffee-ground Reef” here!
Bill
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Bill, If you make it as far as Nova Scotia drop me a note. We have been here since 2005. In general, the shore from Lunenburg North to Cape Breton is very worthwhile. Tons of protected and beautiful harbours with very few boats in most. Charts tend to be excellent. I highly recommend the Bras D’Or Lakes which is an inland sea and a beautiful cruising ground. Warm enough to swim most summers. Pretty harbours abound, clear water and no one there. Your Mantus will hold everywhere and most areas have no current and essentially no tide. Visit St. Peters Marina just after clearing the locks turn to Port you can’t miss it., Cheap and the most friendly place we have ever been. No locks, padlocks, a very safe place. Lots of eagles!
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