Fred and I left TYC about 9am Saturday morning for the run to Newport and the Folk Festival. There was no wind to speak of and since it was a 42 mile trip give or take, it meant that we had to motor. Everything went well until we were off of Point Judith RI. The sea had been rather choppy and we bounced around a lot, rolling side to side as well as up and down and off of Point Judith, the engine started running rough and loosing power. Eventually it stall out and would not run. I checked the fuel filter and found that it was clogged. I got out a spare and replaced the clogged one and ABISHAG started right up.
We rounded Pt. Judith and had been headed up the Bay when the engine started acting up again. Eventually after about and hour she shut down again. I checked the filter and it was clogged again. Since there was was only one more spare filter, I knocked the filter against the side of the trash can and knocked out as much of the "grunge" that I could. I put it back in and we decide to let it run a bit. Good thing too as the dingy we were towing turned turtle: ie was upside down. I had borrowed a dingy from a TYC member and it was a hard, sailing and it had shipped water and that put it out of balance and it went over.
We dropped anchor, in the fog and in the middle of the channel, and spent an hour righting it and getting the water out. It required that I actually get in the water to accomplish this amazing feat but we got it done, a lot of straining and swearing later. The engine had continued to run just fine so rather than go into Point Judith, I decided that we would head off to Newport. It was about 6 miles away and I had spent $160 for a mooring for two nights at the Ida Lewis Yacht Club. Right off Castle Rock Light, about 3 miles from Ida Lewis, the engine quit again. By this time the wind had picked up and we raised sail and went forward that way.
I contacted the members of the cruise and they promised to send some dinghies to guide us in and help us moor. Did I mention that the Newport Folk Festival was going on at this time? There were boats anchored all over the place listening to the music and drinking was too much. With Fred at the helm we had to weave our way though the anchored boats to find a clear spot in the channel where we could wait for the dinghies to show up. Which they did. They latched on and propelled us to out mooring as neat as you please. We were finally safe at 7pm within spitting distance of the New York Yacht Club "Clubhouse." While Fred cooked I took the launch in to register and get ice ( which we had forgotten leaving TYC.) After dinner and wine, we were not moving, even though the members of the cruise gathered for a gam on VOYAGER. we were just too beat. We tried starting the engine with no joy, so we went to bed.
I figured that the crap that usually resides in fuel tank had been stired up and that a night of not moving or rocking would settled it back down. I tried starting again in the morning but again nothing.
In the afternoon, having had several members in the fleet come by and make suggestions that also didn't work, I called tow members whom I knew were very knowledgeable about diesel engines and their secrets. They came by and worked for two hours but even they couldn't get it going. They came to the conclusion that the injectors were clogged and that the fuel was not getting to the piston chamber. It was beyond their ability and tools to work on them, especially since they might have to be replaced.
After a steak dinner and several glasses of wine, I decided to call BOAT/US for a tow back to New London. I pay $149 a year for unlimited towing and I haven't used it since the ICW, so it was tome to use it. I called and set up a tow for the next day. I would get towed out into the Bay to a place where there was wind that would allow us to sail. If there was no wind, the tow would take us all the way to TYC. It would cost $3,000 . . . . if I didn't have the towing insurance, but I did, so it was FREE and I went to bed and slept the sleep of the just.
Next morning, the tow boat showed up at 8:45, hooked on and towed us to the wind, which turned out to be all the way down at Point Judith. We were able to sail all the way Watch Hill where the wind died and I had to call BOAT?US again. They towed us the last 8 miles to TYC and again, by 7pm, we were safe on a mooring, my very own mooring.
Tuesday will be boat cleanup day, contacting a diesel mechanic, and spending a lot of time in prayer that I have the funds to cover the repair, whatever it is.
AH!, THE JOYS OF BOAT OWNERSHIP!!!!!
Tuesday, July 31, 2018
Friday, July 27, 2018
WIERD DAY
The day before our departure for the cruise to Newport, I had the 9 to 5pm shift running the launch. I knew that it was going to be a strange day as I arrived at TYC and couldn't see a single boat nor the end of the dock. There was serious fog as well as several people waiting to go out to their boats. wisely, none of them asked for a ride out to their craft. And it was hot. And it was humid. I didn't like the "omens."
The one thing I wanted to do today was to bring my boat into the dock so that friend Fred could come down and load all the food and supplies for the cruise and have a place to sleep for Friday night. There were a couple of boats at the dock and throughout the day they kept being replaced by other boats. I had to get one of the other launch drivers to drive the launch for about 15 minutes of my shift so that I I could go out to ABISHAG, rig the dock lines, drive her to the dock and tie her up, and then get back to my shift. Whenever a spot at the dock opened up, it became incredibly busy and I couldn't make the change-over. Three of the launch drivers are going on the cruise and we were all trying to finish up loading and preparing our boats for the cruise. Trying to find the right moment was almost an exercise in futility. It literally took 5 hours to get it done but got it done I did.
And then there was the heat and humidity. Boy, did it suck all the energy out of me. Humid? I drank so much water and juice and despite all that went in, apart from the sweat, so little came out. It was tough to make the 100 yard walk from the club house to the launch and back again and it got worse during the day. Transient boast whop came in last night and now wanted to spend an extra day. we ended up playing a lot of "Musical Moorings" as we had more boats coming in today and we had to match moorings with boats based on length(Swing radius) and displacement (weight) with what a particular mooring can reasonably hold. It is no fun dealing with a "guest," who is on a mooring you need, who is in no hurry to leave or change location. And then there is the heat and humidity. ARGH!!!!!
My shift was to end at 5pm but my replacement was late! Isn't that always the way? I was too exhausted to complain. But tomorrow, I will be off on the cruise and I won't have to even think about driving the launch let alone driving it. Huzzah!
The one thing I wanted to do today was to bring my boat into the dock so that friend Fred could come down and load all the food and supplies for the cruise and have a place to sleep for Friday night. There were a couple of boats at the dock and throughout the day they kept being replaced by other boats. I had to get one of the other launch drivers to drive the launch for about 15 minutes of my shift so that I I could go out to ABISHAG, rig the dock lines, drive her to the dock and tie her up, and then get back to my shift. Whenever a spot at the dock opened up, it became incredibly busy and I couldn't make the change-over. Three of the launch drivers are going on the cruise and we were all trying to finish up loading and preparing our boats for the cruise. Trying to find the right moment was almost an exercise in futility. It literally took 5 hours to get it done but got it done I did.
And then there was the heat and humidity. Boy, did it suck all the energy out of me. Humid? I drank so much water and juice and despite all that went in, apart from the sweat, so little came out. It was tough to make the 100 yard walk from the club house to the launch and back again and it got worse during the day. Transient boast whop came in last night and now wanted to spend an extra day. we ended up playing a lot of "Musical Moorings" as we had more boats coming in today and we had to match moorings with boats based on length(Swing radius) and displacement (weight) with what a particular mooring can reasonably hold. It is no fun dealing with a "guest," who is on a mooring you need, who is in no hurry to leave or change location. And then there is the heat and humidity. ARGH!!!!!
My shift was to end at 5pm but my replacement was late! Isn't that always the way? I was too exhausted to complain. But tomorrow, I will be off on the cruise and I won't have to even think about driving the launch let alone driving it. Huzzah!
Tuesday, July 24, 2018
ALL MOST READY TO GO! ! ! ! ! !
I spent today getting ABISHAG ready for the cruise to Newport for the Jazz Festival and the Folk Festival beginning this coming weekend. It is a good thing that this is happening, for all the work I did today was stuff that should have been done back in the Spring, indeed before I brought ABISHAG to TYC for the season.
The "stuff" was more clean-up and putting things in their place than really doing some work, but it is all things that need to be done. It freed up lots of space for the trip and living on ABISHAG for about 10 days. I haven't done that in quite awhile and to really enjoy the cruise, it is important to get ABISHAG in cruising form and me as well.
Three 40 gallon trash bags full of trash were filled as I got rid of items that had been hanging around . . . . empty paint and varnish cans ( not quite sure what I was saving them for); wood strips from the take down of the overhead ( which I convinced my self I might need when the new overhead goes up); a bottle of coffee, a box of Splenda & a bottle of non-dairy coffee creamer each of which had morphed in to solid bricks that defied description, old items from the medicine cabinets that I never realized I still had. Most of the items were still left-over from the ICW trip . . . . .in 2010/11!
You have to understand that all sailors, except for serious racers, are pack-rats. Everyone of them has a locker somewhere on their craft that is basically the nautical equivalent of a "what-not" draw. It is filled with items left-over from projects that we done on the boat, kept on the off chance that it will be the solution to a future problem or repair. whenever the time arrives that the "great clean-out" takes place, either just before or just after an items designated for trashing provides just what is needed for a repair. and when that happens, the whole idea of cleaning out the locker get put on the back-burner less another item will shortly be needed. The only way to do is just to do it. If you haven't worn it, used it or eaten it in two years, out it goes.
There was a bit of an electrical problem that seemed to be initially serious but turned out to be no more than a loose connection on one of the batteries. When you have to bring all of your power with you when you travel, even a small problem has to be taken care of immediately because small problems can become big and dangerous very fast. That is why you are smart of have a backup to the backup for every system and its backup.
The "stuff" was more clean-up and putting things in their place than really doing some work, but it is all things that need to be done. It freed up lots of space for the trip and living on ABISHAG for about 10 days. I haven't done that in quite awhile and to really enjoy the cruise, it is important to get ABISHAG in cruising form and me as well.
Three 40 gallon trash bags full of trash were filled as I got rid of items that had been hanging around . . . . empty paint and varnish cans ( not quite sure what I was saving them for); wood strips from the take down of the overhead ( which I convinced my self I might need when the new overhead goes up); a bottle of coffee, a box of Splenda & a bottle of non-dairy coffee creamer each of which had morphed in to solid bricks that defied description, old items from the medicine cabinets that I never realized I still had. Most of the items were still left-over from the ICW trip . . . . .in 2010/11!
You have to understand that all sailors, except for serious racers, are pack-rats. Everyone of them has a locker somewhere on their craft that is basically the nautical equivalent of a "what-not" draw. It is filled with items left-over from projects that we done on the boat, kept on the off chance that it will be the solution to a future problem or repair. whenever the time arrives that the "great clean-out" takes place, either just before or just after an items designated for trashing provides just what is needed for a repair. and when that happens, the whole idea of cleaning out the locker get put on the back-burner less another item will shortly be needed. The only way to do is just to do it. If you haven't worn it, used it or eaten it in two years, out it goes.
There was a bit of an electrical problem that seemed to be initially serious but turned out to be no more than a loose connection on one of the batteries. When you have to bring all of your power with you when you travel, even a small problem has to be taken care of immediately because small problems can become big and dangerous very fast. That is why you are smart of have a backup to the backup for every system and its backup.
Saturday, July 21, 2018
AH SUMMER! ! ! ! !
We have had almost an entire week of beautiful, perfect weather, really what summer weather is supposed to be. Moderate temps, low humidity and even the rain co-operated, showing up only at night. And the sailing has been wonderful. But all good things must come to an end and end this weather will tonight.
Actually, the weather began to turn this morning as the wind started early and kept building all day. Down at TYC, people came down and all said some variation of, "Wow, great wind. Can't waste this!", and went off for a sail . . . and most came back within an hour of leaving. It was great wind, growing to 20 knots with gusts to 25. It doesn't sound like that much but if you don't sail a lot, that's a lot of wind. Add to it the waves it creates, choppy water when it is blowing against the tide, and even getting to your boat can be a bit of a thrill.
I had some work to do to get ABISHAG ready for the cruise that begins next Saturday and I had to bring her into the dock. The wind and waves made it the first time in a long time that I actually needed help docking. I had to get her propane tanks filled and the thought of transferring the tanks from ABISHAG to the launch to the dock, get them filled and then reversed the process was a bit daunting. So it was best I get on the dock for that task and the others that needed to be done. Being on the dock in a blow isn't all that pleasant. Rather than move with the wind and waves, a boat will fight against them and it is a lot less smooth. Still the dock has access to water and power and so it was a necessity. I only stayed at the dock a couple of hours before returning to the mooring, which was an interesting evolution in itself. Pulling up to the mooring pickup stick, cutting the forward thrust, running to the bow to pick up the pickup stick, hauling it in to get the pennants and put them on the cleats in now 25 knots of wind was "exciting "to say the least. I was able to do it in one shot, but like I said, "exciting."
However, the "gremlins" have struck again. for some reason, there is a problem with the batteries. There are three batteries broken up into two "banks." The battery selection switch (OFF-1-2- BOTH) works on "1" and "BOTH" but not on "2" and this is new, something that showed itself for the first time today. In addition to that, the electric bilge pump is not working, neither in automatic mode or manual mode. That means that it is not just a matter of the float switch being screwed-up, it means there is no power getting to the pump. The bilge pump still works if I use the pump handle, so it is not an absolute emergency but not having the pump work automatically, when I am not aboard, is not a good thing. Troublesome also is that the bilge pump is wired directly to the batteries so that they will, or should, operate whether I throw the power switch or not. So I will spend tomorrow trying to figure that situation out. It should not be a very complex problem but all things electrical are voodoo to me. So long as I get it squared away beforethe start of the cruise, all will be just fine.
Actually, the weather began to turn this morning as the wind started early and kept building all day. Down at TYC, people came down and all said some variation of, "Wow, great wind. Can't waste this!", and went off for a sail . . . and most came back within an hour of leaving. It was great wind, growing to 20 knots with gusts to 25. It doesn't sound like that much but if you don't sail a lot, that's a lot of wind. Add to it the waves it creates, choppy water when it is blowing against the tide, and even getting to your boat can be a bit of a thrill.
I had some work to do to get ABISHAG ready for the cruise that begins next Saturday and I had to bring her into the dock. The wind and waves made it the first time in a long time that I actually needed help docking. I had to get her propane tanks filled and the thought of transferring the tanks from ABISHAG to the launch to the dock, get them filled and then reversed the process was a bit daunting. So it was best I get on the dock for that task and the others that needed to be done. Being on the dock in a blow isn't all that pleasant. Rather than move with the wind and waves, a boat will fight against them and it is a lot less smooth. Still the dock has access to water and power and so it was a necessity. I only stayed at the dock a couple of hours before returning to the mooring, which was an interesting evolution in itself. Pulling up to the mooring pickup stick, cutting the forward thrust, running to the bow to pick up the pickup stick, hauling it in to get the pennants and put them on the cleats in now 25 knots of wind was "exciting "to say the least. I was able to do it in one shot, but like I said, "exciting."
However, the "gremlins" have struck again. for some reason, there is a problem with the batteries. There are three batteries broken up into two "banks." The battery selection switch (OFF-1-2- BOTH) works on "1" and "BOTH" but not on "2" and this is new, something that showed itself for the first time today. In addition to that, the electric bilge pump is not working, neither in automatic mode or manual mode. That means that it is not just a matter of the float switch being screwed-up, it means there is no power getting to the pump. The bilge pump still works if I use the pump handle, so it is not an absolute emergency but not having the pump work automatically, when I am not aboard, is not a good thing. Troublesome also is that the bilge pump is wired directly to the batteries so that they will, or should, operate whether I throw the power switch or not. So I will spend tomorrow trying to figure that situation out. It should not be a very complex problem but all things electrical are voodoo to me. So long as I get it squared away beforethe start of the cruise, all will be just fine.
Wednesday, July 18, 2018
I AM ON A STREAK OF SORTS
Last week was a bit crazy with all of the hours and the daily shifts as launch driver that we mine. It will be good when the paycheck comes in but it was exhausting. I have to remember that I am getting old and don't really have the endurance that I once had. Getting old is not for sissies.
This past weekend was the annual SAILFEST in New London and it 3was a success. That means that lots and lots of people tried to squeeze into downtown New London and all of them wanted wanted a parking spot, ideally one that was free of charge. As a result, since I was at TYC each day, I returned home to find someone parked in my spot. Being both hot and tired made it so much easier to call the tow company and have the cars towed away. It is not like there aren't big signs everywhere in the lot warning that the cars of non-residents would be towed, people just ignore them. well, there are three individuals he will pay attention the next time they see such a sign, particularly here. The three cars added to my overall lead in getting cars towed this summer.
Saturday night was the annual fireworks display here in New London and it was OK. It lasted about 30 minutes but it lacked a certain style, though if you had enough to drink, I am sure it was spectacular!
I left my blinkers on and ran the battery down to zip by the time I tried to start it Monday morning. I was able to get a jump which got it started and running the car recharged the battery. However, for some reason, jumping the battery in my car fried the radio. It was an after-market item and it probably was installed quite right, so I had to buy a new one and get it installed. It was amazing how "uncomfortable" it was driving and not having a radio playing.
A week from this Saturday, I am off on the TYC Cruise to Newport for the Folk Festival and the Jazz Festival. We will have moorings off the Ida Lewis Yacht Club on the two weekends and do some cruising to Martha's Vineyard during the week in between. This will be the best benefit of not having to work on weekends. I'll be spending the time until we leave getting ABISHAG ready. Not having done much in the way of cruising the last few years, I have let a lot of things sort of "slide" as they were unnecessary for day sailing but I will get everything up to speed in the next 10 days.
This past weekend was the annual SAILFEST in New London and it 3was a success. That means that lots and lots of people tried to squeeze into downtown New London and all of them wanted wanted a parking spot, ideally one that was free of charge. As a result, since I was at TYC each day, I returned home to find someone parked in my spot. Being both hot and tired made it so much easier to call the tow company and have the cars towed away. It is not like there aren't big signs everywhere in the lot warning that the cars of non-residents would be towed, people just ignore them. well, there are three individuals he will pay attention the next time they see such a sign, particularly here. The three cars added to my overall lead in getting cars towed this summer.
Saturday night was the annual fireworks display here in New London and it was OK. It lasted about 30 minutes but it lacked a certain style, though if you had enough to drink, I am sure it was spectacular!
I left my blinkers on and ran the battery down to zip by the time I tried to start it Monday morning. I was able to get a jump which got it started and running the car recharged the battery. However, for some reason, jumping the battery in my car fried the radio. It was an after-market item and it probably was installed quite right, so I had to buy a new one and get it installed. It was amazing how "uncomfortable" it was driving and not having a radio playing.
A week from this Saturday, I am off on the TYC Cruise to Newport for the Folk Festival and the Jazz Festival. We will have moorings off the Ida Lewis Yacht Club on the two weekends and do some cruising to Martha's Vineyard during the week in between. This will be the best benefit of not having to work on weekends. I'll be spending the time until we leave getting ABISHAG ready. Not having done much in the way of cruising the last few years, I have let a lot of things sort of "slide" as they were unnecessary for day sailing but I will get everything up to speed in the next 10 days.
Thursday, July 12, 2018
THIS IS REALLY SUMMER! ! ! ! ! !
Boy, the last few days have been spectacular. Low humidity, temps in the 70's, winds perfect for sailing. And while I was able to get a few hours in aboard ABISHAG, much of the time I have spent on the water was driving the launch. I have been filling in for the driver who will be filling in for me when I got off on the TYC Newport Folk Festival-Jazz Festival cruise at the end of the month.
I forgot how bad it is to be the launch driver on Wednesday evening when we have races. The races start at 6:10pm 17or so boats for them. Figure at least 4 +/- crew per boat and that is 70 or so that have to be taken from the dock to the boats scattered around the mooring field. And while some of the boats have at least one crew that comes somewhere between 4 & 5 to go out and get their boat ready, most of them show up after 5pm. The launch can only take 11 passengers at a time so it is a pill to get everyone out to their respective boats in time to get the boat ready and to the starting line. I did get everyone out to where they wanted to be in time to get the boasts ready and moving to the starting line but it is a stressful exercise. And it is even worse when the races is over.
Some boats do well and others do not and how a boat does naturally effects how the crew feels after the race. Have a bad race, toss in a few post race brews and finding yourselves down on the pick-up list does not improve the situation. I always pick-up boats in the order in which they call in to be picked-up. The 11 passenger rule is in effect and there is nothing worse than pulling up to a boat with a large crew and say, "I can only take two!" Usually, the boats finish the race in a rather staggered order which means the pick-up is spread out but this week everyone seemed to show up at once and they all wanted to be the first ones picked-up. In that it is after the 21st of June, it also means that the sun is setting earlier. This tends to slow down pick-up process even more which makes the bad attitudes in greater, having to sit in the dark on a boat. And when you pick-up the drew off one boat and bypass the boat right next to it, well it don't mke for a happy crew. I am just glad I won't have to do launch raace duty again this year!
I forgot how bad it is to be the launch driver on Wednesday evening when we have races. The races start at 6:10pm 17or so boats for them. Figure at least 4 +/- crew per boat and that is 70 or so that have to be taken from the dock to the boats scattered around the mooring field. And while some of the boats have at least one crew that comes somewhere between 4 & 5 to go out and get their boat ready, most of them show up after 5pm. The launch can only take 11 passengers at a time so it is a pill to get everyone out to their respective boats in time to get the boat ready and to the starting line. I did get everyone out to where they wanted to be in time to get the boasts ready and moving to the starting line but it is a stressful exercise. And it is even worse when the races is over.
Some boats do well and others do not and how a boat does naturally effects how the crew feels after the race. Have a bad race, toss in a few post race brews and finding yourselves down on the pick-up list does not improve the situation. I always pick-up boats in the order in which they call in to be picked-up. The 11 passenger rule is in effect and there is nothing worse than pulling up to a boat with a large crew and say, "I can only take two!" Usually, the boats finish the race in a rather staggered order which means the pick-up is spread out but this week everyone seemed to show up at once and they all wanted to be the first ones picked-up. In that it is after the 21st of June, it also means that the sun is setting earlier. This tends to slow down pick-up process even more which makes the bad attitudes in greater, having to sit in the dark on a boat. And when you pick-up the drew off one boat and bypass the boat right next to it, well it don't mke for a happy crew. I am just glad I won't have to do launch raace duty again this year!
Sunday, July 8, 2018
SAILING, SAILING, SAILING! ! ! ! ! ! !
What a great day! Great wind! No clouds! Not too hot and no humidity. One couldn't ask for a better day. This was confirmed by the fact that everyone seemed to be out boating. Getting away from the mooring and down river under sail was "exciting" to say the least, over-loaded boats going too fast everywhere. It was a great day! And I am exhausted. Early to bed.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
