Friday was a holiday in the Bahamas, their Labor Day. So things were quiet around here. I spent a lot of time using their wifi to get caught up on e-mails, Facebook and my blog. And it wasn't too bad on my neck. Between yesterday and today, Dave finished up some little projects. He changed the oil in the transmission. And he finished zip tying some loose wires around the alternator. We are hoping the predicted rain will hit us. We will scrub the deck using rain water if it does. Or at least Dave will. I am going to use this neck stain as long as possible to get out of any physical work :)
We spent some time visiting with another couple that are stranded here, too. Their boat is “on the hard”. So they are above ground, not in the water, like us. Dave, Dan and the security guard visited much longer. Dan had more stories than Dave, if you can believe that. But Dave wanted to talk to Pete more about the Bahamas. Dave is skilled at interrupting conversations, ask Don Perdue who once told Dave to “shut the f+++ up”. (Richard’s Dad)
Peter, the security guard, is from Nassau. He said it is like a war zone there now. My friend Cheryl just sent me an article about how the crime rate in the Bahamas is worse than NYC or Chicago. And I believe all the problems are in Nassau. We didn’t care for it, but we didn’t go to Atlantis and the casinos where the big money is. We were slumming it.
Friday, June 5, 2015
June 4, 2015 day in Marsh Harbor
We had a rap on the boat at 8:00 this morning. I was just making coffee and found out that the boat yard wanted us to move our boat so they could get another boat to their lift along the wall we were tied up to. Their motor didn’t work at all. So we moved our boat to another wall and back again all with in about an hour or less. Well, throwing lines and pushing off of pilings didn’t help my neck.
We lined up Rinsssor, the taxi man, to pick us up for my appointment. Dave went along to run errands. We had time to have a nice lunch at Wally’s before my 1:00 appointment. Wally’s is across the street from the docks. They advertise fine dining, and it was very good. But while we were eating, Dave noticed a rat run across their front yard. It’s the islands. We were a couple miles away from the harbor that we usually would anchor in. Otherwise we could have walked from the dinghy dock.
Tricia, the massage therapist, was very helpful in giving us ways to get free phone service to the states through our computer, which we will set up for next year. She even offered to let us come to her place and do updates on our charts using her wifi. Updating charts use a lot of our data. And if we are at a restaurant with free wifi, it is really slow. So Dave may do that this weekend. She is a boater and understands the wifi situation.
Dave said it must have been delivery day to the island. Everywhere he went, he had to break into cases that has just been delivered to get what he needed.
Back at the boat, we decided to go for a dinghy ride to get out of the boat yard. It was pretty calm, so not too rough on my neck. If felt much better, but still needs a little recuperation time.
We lined up Rinsssor, the taxi man, to pick us up for my appointment. Dave went along to run errands. We had time to have a nice lunch at Wally’s before my 1:00 appointment. Wally’s is across the street from the docks. They advertise fine dining, and it was very good. But while we were eating, Dave noticed a rat run across their front yard. It’s the islands. We were a couple miles away from the harbor that we usually would anchor in. Otherwise we could have walked from the dinghy dock.
Tricia, the massage therapist, was very helpful in giving us ways to get free phone service to the states through our computer, which we will set up for next year. She even offered to let us come to her place and do updates on our charts using her wifi. Updating charts use a lot of our data. And if we are at a restaurant with free wifi, it is really slow. So Dave may do that this weekend. She is a boater and understands the wifi situation.
Dave said it must have been delivery day to the island. Everywhere he went, he had to break into cases that has just been delivered to get what he needed.
Back at the boat, we decided to go for a dinghy ride to get out of the boat yard. It was pretty calm, so not too rough on my neck. If felt much better, but still needs a little recuperation time.
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| this is a mangrove jelly fish when it is swimming on the surface. all the others I have seen were sitting on the ocean floor |
June 3, 2014 wasted day
I woke with a strained muscle in my neck. I used to get treated regularly when I was working because of the position I always sat in to work. I was hoping that would just go away after I retired, but those muscles have memories. I used a heat pack on my neck and took a couple naps. I was most comfortable laying down. It would actually spasm at times. I e-mailed a massage therapist in Marsh Harbor for and appointment. I was given her name a couple weeks ago when this started. And she will see me tomorrow! Yeah!!Today at the boat yard, we saw a truck pull up to a boat with rolls of siding in the back of the truck. Two guys were running a machine that cut the siding to length, put the crease in it for the fold to help it hang. Then they loaded the pieces of siding into a fishing boat to go to another island. No wonder things take so long to get done in the islands.
About 6:00 Dave asked if it was 5:00. Me: no it’s almost 6:00. Dave: Wonderful! I’ve wasted almost the whole day and was worried I wouldn’t make it!
We were expecting an inch of rain today, so we didn’t want to start anything outside. But it never hit here.
About 6:00 Dave asked if it was 5:00. Me: no it’s almost 6:00. Dave: Wonderful! I’ve wasted almost the whole day and was worried I wouldn’t make it!
We were expecting an inch of rain today, so we didn’t want to start anything outside. But it never hit here.
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| this is the truck with the siding and the boat to deliver it |
June 2, 2015 more engine problems
We were up early and ready for Dennis and Dexter by 8:00. It was closer to 9 by the time they arrived. They tested the oil again and then had Dave run the engine. Dennis thought it sounded strange and the RPM’s were’t going as high as they should. We agreed on the RPM’s. So he tested the fuel injectors to each piston and one was bad. Who knows how long we have been running the engine on 3 pistons.
Dennis checked the surrounding islands and couldn’t find a fuel injector for our engine close by. So it will have to be ordered from the States and probably won’t be here until Monday.
We can stay here in the boatyard for free as long as we don’t need electricity, which we don’t. And the weather forecast is calling for a lot of rain through the weekend. So we may as well stay here and work on some things. We’ll be more protected if the winds pick up, too. We just don’t have as nice of a breeze coming into the boat. But we have fans. It has been in the low 80’s, but will be a little cooler with the rain.
The Mercury outboard was back together and the carburetor was rebuilt all except one gasket. Right now it looks like it will be 3 weeks to get that part, which we won’t wait for. They are checking into getting it sooner. It runs and we have the 2.5 HP Lehr as a back up. So we won’t wait if it’s not here by Monday.
I spent some time up near their office updating some apps on my phone. Dave putzed as usual.
Dennis checked the surrounding islands and couldn’t find a fuel injector for our engine close by. So it will have to be ordered from the States and probably won’t be here until Monday.
We can stay here in the boatyard for free as long as we don’t need electricity, which we don’t. And the weather forecast is calling for a lot of rain through the weekend. So we may as well stay here and work on some things. We’ll be more protected if the winds pick up, too. We just don’t have as nice of a breeze coming into the boat. But we have fans. It has been in the low 80’s, but will be a little cooler with the rain.
The Mercury outboard was back together and the carburetor was rebuilt all except one gasket. Right now it looks like it will be 3 weeks to get that part, which we won’t wait for. They are checking into getting it sooner. It runs and we have the 2.5 HP Lehr as a back up. So we won’t wait if it’s not here by Monday.
I spent some time up near their office updating some apps on my phone. Dave putzed as usual.
June 1, 2015 Marsh Harbor Boat Yard
Welcome Hurricane Season! It officially starts today. Our insurance wants us north of Florida July 15- November 1. So I usually think of that as hurricane season. Our life is dictated by the winds.
We contacted Marsh Harbor Boat Yard-MHBY-at 8:00 this morning via VHF radio. They said their engine mechanic would be able to look at our engine first thing in the morning and that we should come into their boatyard today. Yippee!! It is about 5 nm away.
By about 9:30 Dave started bringing up the chain and anchor by hand. He didn’t have to physically pull it up. He had a device to ratchet the chain through the windlass by hand. Dave had added this just for cases like this where the engine wasn’t running, or if the windlass was broken. It worked great because it held the chain in place as it was brought up. We had brought out the main sail, so once the anchor was free, I was able to sail out of the anchorage. We had a few boats to go through, but nothing too close. There was an eerie quietness leaving by sail.
We had “light and variable” winds this morning. That means about 3-6mph. We also put out the jenny sail. So we averaged about 2.5 knots. “Slow boat to Marsh Harbor”. About 11:30, we were about a half mile out of their channel entrance. We called ahead to warn them that we would use the engine coming in, but may have to shut it off if it starts running hard again. They gave us directions as to where to tie up and said they would have 3 people on the dock to help us.
We had taken down the main sail earlier. As we turned into the channel, the jenny helped give us enough power to continue on without the engine. Dave went out on deck to help throw the lines to the dock hands. And I brought the boat up to the dock at the helm. Dave said the guys on the dock were complimenting me on bringing in the boat and how I brought in the jenny sail. Dave said “I know, I have a good one there.”
After collecting our wits, we went up to the office to see how to proceed. Loretta was very helpful. She said Dennis, the engine mechanic, had a cancellation that afternoon and should be able to look at our boat today. So we were glad we headed over here right away. The outboard motor mechanic was there, too, John. Dave visited with him a little about the problems we were having and he knew it was the carburetor. So we decided to let him look at ours while we were here.
Dennis listened to our story and checked things out for himself. He thought that there was only one way for diesel to get into the oil and that was the lift pump. They had one in stock, so they recommended changing that, no rebuild kit was available. Dennis even called his Yanmar company man to see if they knew of any other possible condition and they didn’t. So we went ahead with exchanging the part. Dave then changed the oil himself and kept the old pump to rebuild and have as a spare.
In the meantime, someone came by to get the Mercury outboard. They decided it would be difficult to lift it off, so they took the dinghy to their shop. Of course, the fuel bulb wouldn’t hold pressure. So the guy rowed the boat across the boat yard basin.
Dennis came back to run the motor and check the oil, etc. He wants to go on a sea trial in the morning with us to check everything out.
We took advantage of their free wifi and spent some time on the computer tonight.
We contacted Marsh Harbor Boat Yard-MHBY-at 8:00 this morning via VHF radio. They said their engine mechanic would be able to look at our engine first thing in the morning and that we should come into their boatyard today. Yippee!! It is about 5 nm away.
By about 9:30 Dave started bringing up the chain and anchor by hand. He didn’t have to physically pull it up. He had a device to ratchet the chain through the windlass by hand. Dave had added this just for cases like this where the engine wasn’t running, or if the windlass was broken. It worked great because it held the chain in place as it was brought up. We had brought out the main sail, so once the anchor was free, I was able to sail out of the anchorage. We had a few boats to go through, but nothing too close. There was an eerie quietness leaving by sail.
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| Dave ratcheting the anchor and chain onto the boat |
We had “light and variable” winds this morning. That means about 3-6mph. We also put out the jenny sail. So we averaged about 2.5 knots. “Slow boat to Marsh Harbor”. About 11:30, we were about a half mile out of their channel entrance. We called ahead to warn them that we would use the engine coming in, but may have to shut it off if it starts running hard again. They gave us directions as to where to tie up and said they would have 3 people on the dock to help us.
We had taken down the main sail earlier. As we turned into the channel, the jenny helped give us enough power to continue on without the engine. Dave went out on deck to help throw the lines to the dock hands. And I brought the boat up to the dock at the helm. Dave said the guys on the dock were complimenting me on bringing in the boat and how I brought in the jenny sail. Dave said “I know, I have a good one there.”
After collecting our wits, we went up to the office to see how to proceed. Loretta was very helpful. She said Dennis, the engine mechanic, had a cancellation that afternoon and should be able to look at our boat today. So we were glad we headed over here right away. The outboard motor mechanic was there, too, John. Dave visited with him a little about the problems we were having and he knew it was the carburetor. So we decided to let him look at ours while we were here.
Dennis listened to our story and checked things out for himself. He thought that there was only one way for diesel to get into the oil and that was the lift pump. They had one in stock, so they recommended changing that, no rebuild kit was available. Dennis even called his Yanmar company man to see if they knew of any other possible condition and they didn’t. So we went ahead with exchanging the part. Dave then changed the oil himself and kept the old pump to rebuild and have as a spare.
In the meantime, someone came by to get the Mercury outboard. They decided it would be difficult to lift it off, so they took the dinghy to their shop. Of course, the fuel bulb wouldn’t hold pressure. So the guy rowed the boat across the boat yard basin.
Dennis came back to run the motor and check the oil, etc. He wants to go on a sea trial in the morning with us to check everything out.
We took advantage of their free wifi and spent some time on the computer tonight.
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| trying to eyeball the entrance to the boat yard |
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| sailing through their entrance channel |
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| dock hands helping stop the boat and tie it up |
May 21 and May 27-28, 2015
I just noticed that these two posts were in my drafts. I was able to post the one for May 27-28, but somehow, the May 21 post was deleted. Here's what I remember of that day.
We were anchored north of Marsh Harbor, but motored into the harbor to take our son to the airport. He spent the morning packing. Then we all went to Snappa's, a restaurant on the shore, for a late lunch/early dinner before he had to leave for Nassau.
When we arrived at Snappa's, there were about 5 young women sitting outside on the dock hanging their legs over the side. Dave quickly named them the "dinghy girls". After we tied up and ordered our meals, we went outside for a photo of the three of us. We asked them to take the photo. Then we started a conversation about how they had never been in a dinghy. So Dave took a couple of them around the harbor and by our boat. They were form Colorado and had rented a home for the week.
Rinssor the taxi man picked up Pete to take him to the airport. We really enjoyed having him on the boat with us. It is nice to see him relax. It reminds me of a Zac Brown song "all your worries, you can drop them in the deep ocean. But you gotta get away to where the boat leaves from."
We were anchored north of Marsh Harbor, but motored into the harbor to take our son to the airport. He spent the morning packing. Then we all went to Snappa's, a restaurant on the shore, for a late lunch/early dinner before he had to leave for Nassau.
When we arrived at Snappa's, there were about 5 young women sitting outside on the dock hanging their legs over the side. Dave quickly named them the "dinghy girls". After we tied up and ordered our meals, we went outside for a photo of the three of us. We asked them to take the photo. Then we started a conversation about how they had never been in a dinghy. So Dave took a couple of them around the harbor and by our boat. They were form Colorado and had rented a home for the week.
Rinssor the taxi man picked up Pete to take him to the airport. We really enjoyed having him on the boat with us. It is nice to see him relax. It reminds me of a Zac Brown song "all your worries, you can drop them in the deep ocean. But you gotta get away to where the boat leaves from."
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| Dave, Mary, Peter |
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| Dave and the dinghy girls |
May 27-28, 2015 Matt Lowe Cay
Wednesday, Dave decided to give his pulled muscle a break. So no heavy
work today. We did a lot of things on the computer and Dave did a lot
of reading. Always learning something new about sailing, or reinforcing
what he does know.
We made bread again, and it is improving each time. We may have to buy more flour before leaving the boat this summer. And we have been paying $4-5 per loaf in the Bahamas. They are American brands, so you wonder where it is made and how long it took to get on the shelf here.
Thursday, we needed to make water. Even if we weren’t low, it’s good to run it every few days to keep the lines clean. So we decided to go outside of the harbor again. There is a small island called Matt Lowe’s Cay a ways beyond where we anchored last time to make water. It will protect us from the NE wind better. It is a beautiful anchorage in front of a beach.
Since we were making water, we decided to do more laundry. Earlier this week it was 2 days of sheets and towels (remember that if you are company in the future). Today it was clothing. I prefer to hang my underwear out here instead of in the harbor where boats are much closer :)
Before starting the generator and water maker, Dave always checks the raw water screens. They are always full of reeds and grass.
Dave raised the furler fair leads to bring the furling line higher (the line that rolls up and unrolls the furler). They were running along the jerry cans of fuel on the deck and he was worried about them wearing through.
Dave worked on the outboard. When he went back into the carburetor, he checked the drain for the fuel bowl in the carburetor and it had real fine grit in it. Once that was cleaned, it ran fine. But with adding fuel, it stopped again. So he thinks the problem is coming from dirty fuel. Now we need to figure out how to get rid of that gas and clean out the tank and jerry cans. Finding the source of the problem doesn’t automatically solve the problem.
I enjoyed snorkeling around our boat and found 4 conch! Dave cleaned them by breaking into the shell, cutting them loose and pulling them out of the shell, which isn’t always easy. Then he has to skin them. While they were in a bucket, they would stick their “eyes” out of the shell. Interesting. We plan to make our own conch salad once we pick up a few things at the grocery store.
We made bread again, and it is improving each time. We may have to buy more flour before leaving the boat this summer. And we have been paying $4-5 per loaf in the Bahamas. They are American brands, so you wonder where it is made and how long it took to get on the shelf here.
Thursday, we needed to make water. Even if we weren’t low, it’s good to run it every few days to keep the lines clean. So we decided to go outside of the harbor again. There is a small island called Matt Lowe’s Cay a ways beyond where we anchored last time to make water. It will protect us from the NE wind better. It is a beautiful anchorage in front of a beach.
Since we were making water, we decided to do more laundry. Earlier this week it was 2 days of sheets and towels (remember that if you are company in the future). Today it was clothing. I prefer to hang my underwear out here instead of in the harbor where boats are much closer :)
Before starting the generator and water maker, Dave always checks the raw water screens. They are always full of reeds and grass.
Dave raised the furler fair leads to bring the furling line higher (the line that rolls up and unrolls the furler). They were running along the jerry cans of fuel on the deck and he was worried about them wearing through.
Dave worked on the outboard. When he went back into the carburetor, he checked the drain for the fuel bowl in the carburetor and it had real fine grit in it. Once that was cleaned, it ran fine. But with adding fuel, it stopped again. So he thinks the problem is coming from dirty fuel. Now we need to figure out how to get rid of that gas and clean out the tank and jerry cans. Finding the source of the problem doesn’t automatically solve the problem.
I enjoyed snorkeling around our boat and found 4 conch! Dave cleaned them by breaking into the shell, cutting them loose and pulling them out of the shell, which isn’t always easy. Then he has to skin them. While they were in a bucket, they would stick their “eyes” out of the shell. Interesting. We plan to make our own conch salad once we pick up a few things at the grocery store.
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| Dave testing the outboard motor while I do laundry |
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| working on the outboard AGAIN |
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| conch I found snorkeling |
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| either we scooped up this little fellow with the sea water, or he was inside one of the conch |
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| the "eyes' peaking out of the shell |
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| The "eyes' were on the end of the two "feelers" |
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| going after another one |
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| before skinning |
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| after skinning |
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