fetchinketch

Back in the water again.  All the underwater work is now for sure done, since the boat has been launched.  All the major things are working just fine. Everything left to do is not critical for our departure, but would be nice to get done while we are here with an extensive marine supply infrastructure.

The little tiny electric motor that raises and lowers the bow thruster is the most frustrating piece.  When the motor was being disassembled at the repair shop, a tiny little copper brush holder broke. The motor shop has been trying to sort out how to get it replaced/rebuilt.  Hopefully they can figure it out within a few days. Right now we have a manual lifting system rigged up, so everything works, after a fashion.  Just a good deal less convenient than pushing a button! This is really the only thing left we have to do here.  The worst case is that the motor is not fixable.  In which case we live with the manual deployment until we can find a replacement.  Not a disaster.

The weather looks good for a crossing over to the Bahamas in the middle of next week.

Our project list is starting to look better and better. Only a few things left!

1. # Bow thruster maintenance, including electric motor inspection.  Still waiting for the jack screw motor.  In the meantime it works, manually.
2. * Raw water manifold disassembly and inspection.
3. * New zincs on the rudder.
4. * Grease the feathering propeller.
5. * Install new speed and water temperature sensor thru-hull fitting. 
6. * Improve installation of in-hull depth transducer.
7. * Install new instrument display.
8. Delrin plate to protect deck from anchor chain. Probably not getting to this one…
9. * Mark both anchor rodes for length.
10. * Lubricate seacocks.
11. # Install second water pump.
12. Install upgraded anchor wash pump.
13. * Tighten middle hatch support spring.
14. * Wash and wax hull
15. * Paint transom bumper.  Changed to install NEW transom bumper.  
16. * Straighten bent rail.
17. * Install arch and solar panels. 
18. # Install new water maker membranes.
19. Install new switches for deck winches.

The wiring of the solar panels is done, and they are making power!  Happy day!  The controller from Victron is a small blue box with just a light or two one the front, but it talks to a program that runs on a phone, tablet or computer to give me all the performance details. Very cool.

We are still scheduled to be back in the water on Wednesday.  The only hold up right now are the electric motors for the bow thruster. They have been re-built as needed, and are awaiting testing.  As told to me on the phone today, the relay on the shop’s test bed had failed.  Knowing they had promised delivery today, they tried bypassing the relay with a direct connection to the battery with a clamp.  I guess they weren’t thinking ahead…

The main motor for the bowthruster is a beast at 7.5 kilowatt, about 10 horsepower.  They apparently had way more excitement than they wanted when they struck a 24 volt, 300 Amp DC arc connecting the clamp to the battery post. Imagine an arc welder.  Imagine a baby lightening bolt. Imagine molten metal spraying around. Imagine very loud zapping noises.  Imagine much shouting and yelling. I’m sure it would have made a great youtube video…

They have a proper high amperage relay coming for their test bed tomorrow so they can finish testing.

More and more projects get checked off the list.  The big one for the last few days is the installation of the arch that will support our new solar panels.  That was completed yesterday.  Today’s work was to fabricate the aluminum structure that will attach the panels to the arch.  Tomorrow the first order of business will be to lift the panels up to their new home. We are hopeful that the 630 watts of solar generating capacity will supply all of our electrical needs without resorting to the diesel powered generator.

Karen’s efforts on the hull have really paid off.  It is hard to believe that the boat is 20 years old with the shine on the topsides.  Most boats of this age are on at least the first paint job.  Although she has a few dings and dents indicative of a life well lived, it’s truly amazing how good she looks.  Amel did a spectacular job in construction quality and the previous owners did an equally spectacular job of maintaining her “like new” look.

The only catch in our schedule has been the delay in getting the bow thruster motors back from their overhaul.  Originally scheduled for today, they are not available until Monday.  While it is technically possible to launch the boat without these being installed, it will be much better if we wait.  Fortunately the yard has flexibility to let us stay here in our parking spot for a few days.  We are now scheduled to be back in the water on Wednesday morning.

Once the solar panels are up, almost all of the rest of the work will wiring and minor plumbing upgrades inside the boat. For the past few days the weather has been typical of Florida, hot and HUMID.  Getting work done inside will be much nicer once we are back in the water and can turn the AC on.

Here is the status list. Not a lot of new stars marking finished projects, but lots of progress on big pieces of the puzzle.

1. # Bow thruster maintenance, including electric motor inspection. The mechanical maintenance to the thruster drive train is done, and the unit is ready to put back in the boat as soon as the motors come back. Both the main drive motor and the much smaller jack screw motor needed significant rebuild.  The big motor is ready, the jack screw motor will be ready Monday.
2. * Raw water manifold disassembly and inspection.
3. * New zincs on the rudder.
4. * Grease the feathering propeller.
5. # Install new speed and water temperature sensor thru-hull fitting. Physical installation is done, wiring not yet started.
6. * Improve installation of in-hull depth transducer.
7. * Install new instrument display.
8. Delrin plate to protect deck from anchor chain.
9. * Mark both anchor rodes for length.
10. * Lubricate seacocks.
11. Install second water pump.
12. Install upgraded anchor wash pump.
13. * Tighten middle hatch support spring.
14. * Wash and wax hull
15. Paint transom bumper.  Changed to install NEW transom bumper.  Shipping from La Rochelle France on Monday.
16. * Straighten bent rail.
17. Install arch and solar panels. The arch is installed.  The structure for the solar panels has been fabricated, and hopefully they will be lifted in place and bolted to their permanent home tomorrow.

The contractors have finished their work.  The bottom is painted, and the saloon settee cushions have new foam.  Very, very comfy.

It’s a standing joke between sailors that each individual boat comes in a variety of sizes.  It is a little known fact that a boat actually changes size depending on the situation.

From smallest to the largest:

• A boat is at its tiniest in the middle of the ocean, in bad weather.
• When you tell the harbormaster how big your boat is, it shrinks because you pay by the length for the dock.
• A boat gets quite a bit bigger when you are trying to park in that dock you just rented from the harbormaster!  The more current and the more wind, the bigger the boat grows.
• When you are bragging about you boat in the local sailor bar, it grows again.
• But the biggest your boat ever gets…is when it is time to wax the hull! Karen has been doing a fantastic job, for future reference, it takes about three full days of steady work to polish and wax the topsides.

Our project list continues to get more marked “Done” every day!

* = Done, # = In Progress

1. # Bow thruster maintenance, including electric motor inspection. The mechanical maintenance to the thruster drive train is done, and the unit is ready to put back in the boat as soon as the motors come back. The motors are awaiting evaluation at Broward Armature and Generator.
2. * Raw water manifold disassembly and inspection.
3. * New zincs on the rudder.
4. * Grease the feathering propeller.
5. # Install new speed and water temperature sensor thru-hull fitting. Physical installation is done, wiring not yet started.
6. * Improve installation of in-hull depth transducer.
7. * Install new instrument display.
8. Delrin plate to protect deck from anchor chain.
9. * Mark both anchor rodes for length.
10. * Lubricate seacocks.
11. Install second water pump.
12. Install upgraded anchor wash pump.
13. * Tighten middle hatch support spring.
14. # Wash and wax hull
15. Paint transom bumper.
16. * Straighten bent rail.
17. Install arch and solar panels. Waiting for delivery on the key parts.  The arch left New Jersey by common carrier on the day before Thanksgiving. The panels are ready at the warehouse just down the street.

In addition to the above projects that we have been working on, we have contractors who are painting the bottom, and putting new foam in some of the cabin cushions.

One of the things that have to be true in the world, is you have to take things apart before you can put them together!  Or, as my thermodynamics  professor might have said, entropy has to increase before the system’s order can increase.

I think today has seen our point of maximum entropy for the projects on this haulout.  Most things that need to come apart, have been disassembled, and are ready to go back together. A few of the smaller tasks have been completed and crossed completely off the list, and others are getting close to that point.

We have disassembled the bow thruster as part of its regular maintenance schedule for oil and seal changes.  I also removed its massive 24 volt electric motor to take to the local shop for evaluation.  These motors are no longer manufactured, so taking very careful care of this one seems like an excellent idea!

What’s on our list?  We have a couple of projects that we have contracted out, but here is a list of the ones we are doing ourselves.  In no particular order, and I am sure I am missing something!

1. # Bow thruster maintenance, including electric motor inspection.
2. # Raw water manifold disassembly and inspection.
3. * New zincs on the rudder.
4. Grease the feathering propeller.
5. Install new speed sensor thru-hull fitting.
6. * Improve installation of in-hull depth transducer.
7. Install new instrument display.
8. Delrin plate to protect deck from anchor chain.
9. Mark both anchor rodes for length.
10. Lubricate seacocks.
11. Install second water pump.
12. Install upgraded anchor wash pump.
13. Tighten middle hatch support spring.
14. # Wash and wax hull
15. Paint transom bumper.
16. * Straighten bent rail.

# -> started
* -> Done!

There we go!  Harmonie dripping wet!  Out of the water, and waiting to be powerwashed.  By the end of the afternoon the yard crew has already gotten the bottom sanded and the first coat of paint on. They are fast!

The trip up the New River through Fort Lauderdale to the boat yard I think took about 5 years off my life.  A long, twisting, narrow river with crazy busy, HUGE boat traffic, and six(*) bridges to wait for openings, and a strong current from behind.

How bad is it?  We had a 74 foot sportfisher following behind us as we negotiate the bridges. Never too close, but having him shadowing us did limit what we could do. We have to hold position in a narrow (100 foot) channel with that strong current from behind us while waiting for the bridges.  You can’t just stop, the current will carry you away, so it’s a constant, dynamic process to hold position.  At one point we had to wait for about 45 minutes for two trains to go by.  When the bridges finally open, there is a line of 6 or 8 large boats coming at us from the other direction lead by a 112 foot monster who takes more than half the channel width.

Oh yeah, and…  there is a storm drain outlet right where we are waiting.  Now, this is Florida.  There is no “downhill” for the water to flow, so it must be pumped up into the river.  Every 10 minutes or so the pump turns on and a powerful jet of water comes shooting out, spinning poor Harmonie around in the narrow space like she was going down a drain. No chance to relax.

Everybody is talking on the radio to try and coordinate things, and that’s somewhat helpful, but they are frequently using the names of local landmarks that aren’t on the chart, so it’s not always as much help to a foreigner like me as it could be  (“Excuse me, Captain. Where, exactly, are ‘The Wiggles’?”).

The trip took two hours to go about 4 miles. But we are here, without significant issue. My blood pressure is back to normal levels.  We have a last minute rush to get the boat completely, finally, totally ready for her winter excursion out into the Caribbean.

(*) Locals will tell you there are only 5 bridges.  But they aren’t counting the railroad bridge because it normally stands open unless there is a train coming.  Or two.

We got in Port Everglades at 10AM (almost right on schedule!) and found a suitable anchorage (26º 07.7’N 80º 06.6’W) while we wait for our haulout time tomorrow morning.  The weather is delightful.  We aren’t in a quiet and secluded place, but it works for now!  We are enjoying a last afternoon of peace and quiet before “haulout hell” begins.

For those of you who have never owned a larger boat, the periodic times when she is out of the water are crazy busy.  There is never enough time to get everything you want done, and every day costs money–money better spent out actually sailing!  There is no such thing as taking a break until it is all done.

In the meantime, do go back and have a look at our postings about the owl https://fetchinketch.net/2016/11/14/stowaway/  and the dolphins https://fetchinketch.net/2016/11/15/the-most-interesting-thing-around

They have been updated with pictures and video!

Time: 14:20 local
Lat: 27 54.9′ N
Log: 80 08.5′ W
Distance from Hilton Head Is: 256 NM
Distance to Port Everglades Harbor Entrance: 109 NM

What happens when you are the most interesting thing around? You get lots of attention! Today we have gotten a lot of attention from a pod of spotted dolphin. They have been hanging out and swimming with us pretty much the whole day. No good way to count, but certainly dozens. At any given time we have three to ten buzzing close around the boat keeping a close eye on us. We did get some pretty great video… better than my beginner editing skills should be working on!

In addition to the dolphins, our daily wildlife count includes a green sea turtle, two flying fish on deck, and a school of remoras that have adopted Harmonie‘s bottom as their temporary home.

Light winds have us making slow, but steady progress south. Wind has been straight from behind us between 8 and 14 knots. When we are on a run like this, 8 knots is barely enough to move the boat, 10 knots gets us about 3 knots of boat speed, and 14 knots has us cooking along nicely at 6 knots.

We are very much looking forward to getting our new “ballooner” sail, replacing the one we ripped on the way north. It makes running straight downwind like this fast, and really easy. It would be waiting for us in Fort Lauderdale.

Time: 13:30 local
Lat: 29 43.3′ N
Log: 80 48.3 W
Distance from Hilton Head Is: 145 NM
Distance to Port Everglades Harbor Entrance: 229 NM

It’s not unusual when sailing offshore to have land birds perch on the boat. Blown out to sea, the are exhausted and are looking for any place to perch and rest. I have found warblers, wrens, and sparrows on boats, sometimes great distances from land. I have even had them perch on a fishing rod I was holding in my hand.

But today while about 30 miles off Jacksonville we had a rarer visitor find refuge on the boat. An Eastern Screech Owl. He spent most of the morning moving around to boat trying to find a place he was most comfortable. He seems to have settled on standing on the foredeck as his best option. Fortunately for him, our course is taking us closer to shore. Hopefully he’ll hang out here long enough to get within whatever flight distance he has left in him of shore.

Right now he is just standing on the deck, watching the world go by. I wonder, does he understand that we are moving? Does he know we are getting closer to shore?

If we keep up our current pace we’ll be entering the inlet at Port Everglades on Wednesday morning.