Sunday, September 22, 2013

First Night or Fixing Your Boat In Exotic Locations

Well maybe not exotic but still away from the dock.  That's right.  We had some maintenance/repairs required at anchor last night.  While it's not the first choice of activity while anchored in a lovely, quite river, it's also not unexpected.  Not that we thought this would happen.....fridge and freezer would not start back up.  The strainer was clogged up big time.   Ooops.  We checked it 2 -3 weeks ago, honest.  So Tom cleaned it out but the units still wouldn't start.  Then he messed with this and that while I got this tool and that and flipped switches on and off and we troubleshooted what it could be.  Fridge started running but we could't get freezer to start.  Tom tested pump and it was fine.  Water flow in now cleaned seacock/strainer was great.  Finally he changed the freezer pump diaphragm.  This seemed to do it.  And yes, my brilliant husband found one spare onboard when we moved aboard and thought "hum....I should probably order a couple of more since we have multiple pumps that use this part."  He also changed the seacock O ring and then doubled it up when it leaked a tiny bit after changing.  Freezer started up and ran all night.  Yay!
My point in all of this is....things are going to break and maintenance is required even in a nice anchorage.   Even after being at the dock for 3 1/2 months, we had to do repairs and maintenance the first night out....officially cruising!  But we didn't let it get to us.  We know this.  We expect it.  I would even say its the norm or standard.  Will we have maintenance and repairs every night?  I hope not.  Will there been consecutive nights where we have repairs and maintenance?  You bet.  But that is the price we pay for life afloat and on the go.

6 comments:

  1. Good recovery. I better count my spares.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Spares are good. More spares are better. I would gladly give up clothing/shoes space for spares.

      Delete
  2. I am so excited for you guys. I have been following you from my home in Charleston, SC since before you left your jobs and can not imagine what you must be feeling. What direction are you headed? Any chance I get to buy you a beer while you head through my beautiful city?
    Capt. Annie Simpson
    m/v Three Belles

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Annie,thanks for following along with us. Free beer? We are there! Actually we so enjoyed Chuck town when sv Honey Ryder was there in 2012. Where do you keep your boat? We are headed north but I don't know yet if we will stop in Chuck town.

      Delete
    2. I used to keep my boat at St. John's yacht harbor but it is not at a small marina at Folly Beach called Mariner's Cay. I can stay on it for beach weekends to be within walking distance to the small downtown and the beach, it is fantastic. Just let me know if you stop anywhere in the Charleston area. I would love to meet up. I have future aspiration of casting off for long term cruising. As of now I love my job as a professor at the medical university here. But I dream...a lot!
      -Annie
      email: simpsona@mail.com

      Delete
    3. Annie
      Awesome. I sent you an email.

      Delete