Anchor chain washdown with SurFlo PRO BLASTER™ - 2014

October 2014 - Currently in Paradise Village Marina in Banderas Bay Mexico (by Puerto Vallarta)
 We are installing a bleeder valve to our wash down system.

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.

Debbie up the mast for Garmin Wind Vane - 2014

September 2014 - Currently in Paradise Village Marina in Banderas Bay Mexico 
 We moved up to "E" dock to get some relief from the summer storms.  There is not much of a surge or wind or wave action up there in Paradise Village Marina.

Broke cleat, hurricane Odile- tough weather this summer - 2014

September 2014 - Currently in Paradise Village Marina in Puerto Vallarta, Banderas Bay Mexico
 First one screw started to loosen, then the foot broke off around the screw, then the whole cleat broke apart.