We spent a lot of time and money in December at the boatyard repairing and upgrading systems before heading south this time. The idea was that we would just cruise and relax. We also acquired many, many spare parts just in case….
Well that worked for a while but 4 months later things are starting to catch up with us. The dryer quit a couple weeks ago. We hope it’s just the motherboard. They don’t make this model anymore so we ordered a used motherboard and it’s being shipped to Grenada for installation in early June. Meanwhile doing laundry has become interesting. You can find clothes drying all over the place in our stateroom, the hallway and guest rooms. Unlike a sailboat we don’t have all those nifty lines outside you can hang things from. Thank goodness it wasn’t the washer that broke because then we would have to schlep our laundry on shore which is a real inconvenience.
If it’s not the motherboard we’re facing a new washer and dryer combo. Not a big deal except they have to fit a specific space and we have to get them to Grenada. At this point it costs more to ship them then to buy them. Hopefully someone in Grenada will have a better solution when we get there if we need it.
We also discovered the sump pump in the master head (bathroom for landlubbers) gave up the ghost when the center bilge alarm went off because the shower was draining directly into it. So we cleaned all the parts and realized that the pump motor was at fault. Break out the spare motor and after 45 minutes and two us us working we got it fixed and operational again. A quick trip to the marine parts store in Antigua and we now have another spare for when the next one quits. We have several sump pumps on board so it’s just a matter of time.
Then after 2 weeks in marinas we decided to anchor out only to discover when attempting to drop the anchor that it wouldn’t deploy. That’s when I told Gary that it was all his and I took over the helm. 30-45 minutes later after taking apart the windlass and lubricating all the moving parts it was working again and we successfully dropped anchor for the night.
That’s not the first time I’ve pulled the “it’s all yours honey” line. It’s good to know your limits and I know mine. A few weeks earlier we were attempting to anchor and the anchor just would not catch which is unusual. When we pulled the anchor back up I noticed the small chain that was attached to the anchor to allow for emergency retrieval had come loose and was impaled on the point of the anchor. The anchor couldn’t grab because the chain was in the way. I couldn’t move the chain because it was imbedded on the point of the anchor. Nothing a good bolt cutter can’t cure. Bolt cutters on a boat? Saved our butts!
Or how about the time In Puerto Rico when Gary was in VA and a storm knocked the flag off the back? Not a big deal but the flag was attached to the top of a navigation light and I didn’t want water to get inside and corrode where the bulb is located. Nothing a couple good rubber bands can’t fix at least temporarily. A couple weeks later we really knocked it off bringing the dinghy back up in a windstorm. Now it’s been fixed by GRC and it WILL not come off again.
We’ve also had the gas shock for the engine room hatch access go bad, resulting in a creative use of bungee cords (bungee cords and duct tape- 2 of the 7 wonders of the world). We ordered a new shock but it’s not strong enough to handle the weight of the hatch cover so we’re looking for someone that can add more gas to give it more omph. Maybe in Grenada. Otherwise we’ll be ordering another shock.
Over the past several months we’ve had to replace engine exhaust circuit breakers, a dinghy master switch and voltage regulator, deck courtesy lights (no not the bulbs), deal with the windlass and anchor issues, replace the sump pump and fix the danged flag holder. This in addition to the normal maintenance and cleaning.
Through all this I’ve gained a new appreciation for not only spares but the tools needed to put them on. And the patience. Especially the patience. Oh, and someone with way more technical knowledge than I have. Thanks honey!