Anchored and going ashore in Las Hadas, Manzanillo, Mexico -2014

End of December 2014 Las Hadas, Manzanillo, Mexico

Tied the Achilles LSI-310E dinghy to a rock in case of a rouge wave 
coming in and sweeping out the dink 😁

Anchored in Las Hadas, Manzanillo - re-anchored for storms, cleaned bottom - 2014

Late December 2014 - Anchored in Las Hadas, Manzanillo, Mexico
Today we swam at anchor and I cleaned the bottom using the snorkel. In Zihuatanejo we will clean it proper with the dive gear.

Solstice Tracker inflatable kayak – Junk! - 2014

End of December 2014 - Anchored in Manzanillo 


This was taken in La Cruz anchorage with Debbie out in the kayak..
Our Solstice Tracker kayak has turned out to be a piece of junk.

Anchored in Las Hadas, Stormy, waiting for a weather window to sail to Zihuatanejo - 2014

End of December 2014 - Anchored in Las Hadas, Manzanillo, Mexico
 Waiting for a weather window here in Las HadasManzanillo, Mexico
The storm has moved up to us now. We are getting lots of rain, thunder and lightening and swells!

Sailing to Las Hadas, Manzanillo , Anchored, dingy to marina, resort pool - 2014

End of December 2014 - Anchored in Las Hadas, Manzanillo, Mexico

We passed this bird breeding rock and you can tell by the color :) (Piedra Blanca = White Rock).

Not all work - Barra de Navidad - Grand Isla Navidad Resort - 2014

December 2014 - Grand Bay Hotel in Barra de Navidad, Mexico

The "crew" of s/v Meridian and s\v Elegant'sea  enjoying a recreation break at Grand Bay Hotel in Barra de Navidad, Mexico last week. Can you spot Debbie and Chip?!?
Its not all boat work.

Anchor rode re-build\switch - 2 of 3 - 2014

December 2014 -  in Barra-Bahia de NavidadMarina Puerto de la Navidad(Barra Marina), Mexico 
We went into Grand Isla Navidad Resort Marina for a day to sort out our anchor rode and chain.
We borrowed a angle grinder from Eric and Karen (hope we got their names correct!) 
on s\v Miha, a Vagabond 43'  boat that was built in San Diego.

Anchor rode re-build\switch - 1 0f 3 - 2014

December 2014 -Anchored in Barra-Bahia de Navidad Lagoon, Mexico

 OK we have a problem. Our anchor chain is just not going work out any more. We have been keeping a measurement log and it is just gotten too thin in places. We were hooping to get this season from it. Not so. There is probably about 100' that needs to be discarded. We have in the past cut off some from the chain. This summer we cut 5' from the anchor back as it was worn. So we have about 185' of 3\8 3B chain. Another 125' of three strand rode spliced o to that. We will go into the Grand Isla Navidad Resort Marina for a day to string out the chain onto the dock and cut out the bad part.

Anchored in Barra de Navidad Lagoon, Birthday party in Barra-Bahia de Navidad - 2014

Mid December 2014 - Anchored in Barra-Bahia de Navidad Lagoon
 Had fun at the birthday celebration of Eulalie of s/v Elizabeth Jean, along with her mate Eric and other cruisers at the restaurant "Bamboo" in town in Barra.  

Kato Marine Island Davits - refit - 5 of 5 - 2014

Beginning of December 2014 Barra-Bahia de Navidad Lagoon


The Kato Marine Island Davit project is complete. We are currently in Bahia de Navidad lagoon and have the dinghy with Honda 9.9 on it and the DaNard dingy wheels with the other gear inside (fuel tank, oars, fender 20’ lock and cable etc). and the davits are holding up just fine. We can lower the stern steps and raise them, securing them with the sliding bolts and the rail slides. OK we have one bummed out rail slide because our stern steps are not working perfectly. The hinge on the stern steps needs to be re-built so the stern steps hang to one side. This has nothing to do with the davits, the Achilles dinghy weight puling on the stern rail. This was a problem before we re-did the dinghy davits. We could not open or close the stern steps because with the dingy loaded it was causing the stern rail to prevent the steps from closing properly and we were concerned that without the steps secured the stern rail would fail.

Warning – a poop story, you may not want to view - 2014

2014 Barra de Navidad, Mexico

Warning – a poop story, you may not want to view

OK, lets get started then. On our way from Tenacatita to Bahia de Navidad, Mexico we decided to pump out. We opened the through hull valve, inserted the fuse and the macerator pump sounded fine only nothing came out of the boat. Damn.

SSB static in Tenacatita - 2014

December 2014 Anchored in Tenacatita, Mexico
In Chamela we had no problem checking into Amigo net (6.227) mHz but here in Tenacatita we cannot hear much but static. We think it is because we are tucked in by the hills.

Sailing to Tenacatita from Chamela, Mexico - Anchored etc - 2014

Mid December 2014 - Sailing to Tenacatita, Mexico

 We had a nice sail for over half the way to Tenacatita from Chamela. The winds were light with about 12 knots apparent. We were averaging about 4 knots so that was fine. The seas were a bit more mixed and at a shorter length - about 8 sec instead of the 13 sec as "advertised". 2-5' more like it but we had a nice sail.

 We tried some new techniques with the autopilot and furling and reefing and that was good.

The other half of the passage was motor sailing and the Beta did just great. There is a bit of an oil spattering coming from the oil change pump I will need to look into at a later time.
Our passage took about 10 hours all told. You cannot account for the fish nets and some tacks out of the way!

Sailing to around Cape Corientes to Chamela (Perula Bay) - 2014

End of November 2014 - Anchored in Chamela (Perula Bay), Mexico
Sailing out of Banderas Bay Mexico
We had a fine sail out of Banderas Bay and the trip around Cape Cabo Corientes was somewhat lumpy and rolly but we made it just fine. We had some good wind the next day and some nice sailing. We made it into Chamela (Perula Bay) and we are anchored off the town of Perula (Punta Pérula).

Varnishing stateroom - around shutters - 2014

Middle of November 2014 - Currently in Paradise Village Marina in Banderas Bay Mexico 
This we did earlier this summer.

Sailing south from Banderas Bay - our Itinerary - 2014

Middle of November 2014 - Currently in Paradise Village Marina in Banderas Bay Mexico

Our first leg will be:
 That’s an overnight-er. About 24 hours (91 nm). Getting around Cabo Corrientes safely is the man concern here. It can be quite nasty.

Debbie up the mast again for Lazy Jacks - 2014

Beginning of November  2014 - Paradise Village Marina in Banderas Bay Mexico

We moved up the river for some in-coming weather and so decided this was a good time for Debbie to go up the mast again. The "Lazy Jacks" needed to be put through the blocks on the spreaders and.

Beta engine motor mount rust - OSPHO and paint - 2014

Middle of November 2014 - Currently in Paradise Village Marina in Banderas Bay Mexico

  
We have found and are working on our motor mount rust.

This one is by Beta Marine engine zinc and at first I was not that careful when removing the zinc for a quick check on the condition. The salt water would splash out. Now I am real careful not to spill any salt water 😥

Goodies arrived by snow birds Ken and Nancy on s\v Gitane - 2014

Middle of November 2014 - s\v Elegant'sea is currently in Paradise Village Marina in Banderas Bay Mexico (by Puerto Vallarta)
Ken and Nancy on s\v Gitane brought these goodies down with them for us as they returned for the winter (snow birding) or summer birding.

Kato Marine Island Davits - refit - 4 of 5 - 2014

Middle of November 2014 - Currently in Paradise Village Marina in Puerto Vallarta, Banderas Bay Mexico
Our Harbor Freight winch arrived and bracket. 


Ken and Nancy on s\v Gitane brought this down with them as they returned for the winter (snow birding).


When the davits get back from the weld shop this time we are hoping to fit the winch to a davit and then have some supports welded on for the bracket. We still need to send the supports out to the weld shop for additional welding :(  We are however running out of time as we wanted to be gone cruising by now this year. We will be leaving soon one way or another!

The diesel pump for the Racor filters - 8 of 8- it works but different - 2014

Middle of November 2014 - Currently in Paradise Village Marina in Banderas Bay Mexico 
Each container in the bucket is a Racor filter full of diesel fuel.

Beta 38 hp diesel would not start after oil and filter change! - 2014

Middle of November 2014 - Currently in Paradise Village Marina in Banderas Bay Mexico
We changed the oil and filter in the Beta Marine 38 hp diesel engine and then we tried to start the engine to circulate the oil through the filter before adding more. The engine would not start. Turn the key and the buzzer came on and the idiot lights but no starter action, no solenoid action, not even a click!

Prepping and painting binnacle 1 of 2 - 2014

Beginning of November 2014 - Currently in Paradise Village Marina in Puerto Vallarta, Banderas Bay Mexico
The area around the binical and compass was pretty beat up with stains and scratches and green primer paint showing through the white paint. It has been a work bench and catch all for some years now.

The diesel pump for the Racor filters - 7 of 8 valve labels - 2014

Middle of November 2014 - Currently in Paradise Village Marina in Banderas Bay Mexico

 After testing out the new diesel fuel pump it was apparent that we were not getting fuel directly from the tank but only from the line that runs through the fuel pump.

Kato Marie Island Davits - refit - 3 of 5 - 2014

November 2014 -Currently in Paradise Village Marina in Puerto Vallarta, Banderas Bay Mexico

 We bought our Island Davits from Craigslist in San Diego and had no idea how to install them. We found a boat just like ours at the Kato Marine Island Davits on the boat list and copied the installation. The davits have worked for two cruising seasons but it is time they get modified for ease of use and safety.

Honda 9.9 hp outboard motor serviced for cruising season! - 2014

Beginning of November 2014 - Paradise Village Marina in Banderas Bay Mexico


Seeing as there is no boat on the other side of our slip and no finger pier in-between we slid over to the other side so we could tie up on the port side.

Kato Marie island davits - refit - 1 of -5 - 2014

Beginning of November 2014 - Currently in Paradise Village Marina in Puerto Vallarta, Banderas Bay Mexico


 As part of the dinghy davit refit we had to raise the Garhauer Marine “Lifting Davit” or outboard motor lift by four inches. We had previously cut this down while in San Diego for the initial install.  This will insure that the Lifting Davit  will pass over the island Kato davits to remove and replace the Honda 9.9 hp outboard on and off  the stern rail perch.

The diesel pump for the Racor filters - 6 of 8 - 2014

End of October 2014 - Currently in Paradise Village Marina in Banderas Bay Mexico 
We decided to give the diesel pump a test to make sure it was going to work.
Also we wanted to check out the flow rate from the pump.

The diesel pump for the Racor filters - 5 of 8 - 2014

End of October 2014 - Currently in Paradise Village Marina in Banderas Bay Mexico
When Debbie was in the US she picked up this Moeller valve. None here we could find.
She could only get a 3\8 as there were no 1\4 inch which fits the 5\16 Trident fuel hose better.

Stern anchoring revisited with our Fortress anchor - 2014

October 2014 - Paradise Village Marina in Banderas Bay Mexico
Our Fortress  FX-16 which is usually mounted on the stern.

The diesel pump for the Racor filters - 4 of 8

October 2014 - Currently in Paradise Village Marina in Banderas Bay Mexico
 Diesel pump work.
We got the shelf\bracket made and painted it. A piece of 3\4 marine plywood and a piece of teak.
Then we put the hose barbs in the valve and the "T" and it was a messy job. We touched up the paint job (not shown) and this is ready to install. Still need some fuel line hose.
We used the Permatex 1 Forn-A Gasket (1B) for the hose barbs sealant. 

Air Breeze wind generator up and running again

October 2014 - Paradise Village Marina in Banderas Bay Mexico

  The Air Breeze wind generator is up and running again!
 Our Air Breeze quit working over a year ago. We had to move it from the mast it was mounted on at the stern because it was a pain to keep tying it off as the wind changed. We finally tested it all out to find the electrical board inside was not working. Then to get it repaired. We were going to do it but it was still under warranty and the board was a bit pricey at about $250.00 plus getting it to Mexico. So we waited till Debbie took a trip to the US and she brought the Air Breeze with here, then shipped it for repair etc.

While re-mounting the Air Breeze wind turbine we decide to make an improvement on the battery connections. We bought a couple of battery post connections with studs on them from the SYS chandlery here at Paradise.

Putting on the negative battery connection. Like the dew? Cut it myself this summer!😬

The diesel pump for the Racor filters - 3 of 8

October 2014 - Paradise Village Marina in Banderas Bay Mexico


You see the one of two filters we are using. This is our every day filter.
The right filter is in case the left goes bad.
This is junk from the fuel tank. Our diesel in our tank has been polished last summer but the tank has no access port for cleaning. They did the best they could but as you can see there is some sediment that comes into the filters over time and bouncing around. The fuel filter on our Beta engine will pick this up.
As it sits now we have the pump mounted. The switch is installed and wired. The pump turns on and will run. Now to do the plumbing.

The pump came with a filter which you see on the left of the pump. The pump states in bold upper case print not to run the pump without the filter. We were originally planning top just let of the diesel fuel pass through the pump and when we needed to use the pump to re-fill the filters turn it on. As you can see from the Racor filter the sediment may clog the filter to the pump or the pump over time. There is no replacement for the filter to the pump. So we decide to run a bypass so the diesel fuel goes to the Beta engine.
 This is the bypass valve we purchased and some fittings for this purpose.
This was recommended to use to seal the threads on the fittings.
Now a trip to the local automotive store to pick up some more fuel line and we are ready. Debbie already picked up the SS hose clamps.

Varnishing stateroom bed step - 2014

September 2014 - Paradise Village Marina in Banderas Bay, Mexico
The stateroom step to the Pullman berth. The oak step that needs a good varnishing.

Barient 28 winches re-visited - fixed winch handle problem - 2014

October 2014 - Currently in Paradise Village Marina in Puerto Vallarta, Banderas Bay Mexico Barient 28 winches
 The starboard winch was sticking up where you put the winch handle in about a 1/4 inch or so. This was not correct and made it a bit testy getting the winch handle under the stern rail. Sooo..apart it came this summer for re-work. Last summer we completely dissembled them both and cleaned and greased them up and it made a world of difference.
What we found was one spring had come lose out of the flapper that breaks the winch from spinning back. The winch still worked but was doomed to fail at a most un-opportune time :)
The little flapper in my hand.
I am putting the spring back in the flapper.
This is it and hoping I got it right this time :)
he box is so I do not drop stuff over the side.
Did a few tests and all seems fine this time.
These are not our videos and we never watched these videos but I thought it may be handy for some one else doing this job.
From some one on YouTube.
From some one on YouTube.