Binical repair for rubbing linkage. 2024

 We were getting ready to back out of our slip on April 21, 2024 (Sunday morning), warming up our Beta 38hp engine and I was turning the wheel. Debbie and I were hearing a clunking sound as we turned the wheel to port. That, we decided,,was not good and needed further investigation. So scrap plans for going cruising in the Sea of Cortez for a couple months or so and instead take apart the binnical for investigating the issue. 

Come to find out it is part of the cable linkage on the shifter cable not clearing the chain that the wheel turns to steer the boat. The chain was clipping the cast arm that holds the cable.

Spectra watermaker Ventura 200T was giving us grief 2024

In the dock cart.

 Our Spectra watermaker Ventura 200T was giving us grief when Debbie unpicked it. We tried the tricks we knew but to no avail. It would cut out at 125 psi. Something was stuck. We took it to The Watermaker Store and had them repair it. 

Pool time at our marina at Costa Baja La Paz 2024

 Today after finishing up a couple projects Debbie and I went to the Hotel Indigo @ Puerta Cortés Pool in La Paz (at our marina, Marina Costa Baja) and had Club sandwich, fries and Diet Cokes for lunch with some swims in the nice pool and card games. There also is a Starbuck's at the pool and we had vanilla cream frapachino. Not our first time at the pool it is always nice. 

Hot water heater blow out - 2024

 Our Seaward F600 hot water heater blew out and was leaking water badly. We installed it in 2012 so about 11 years old. It may have been leaking for some time as our freshwater pump seemed to be losing pressure at times and we never could figure out what the cause was.

Recived our replacement Oceanair Surface Skyscreen SFSS-1080 - 2024

Our new replacement Oceanair Surface Skyscreen SFSS-1080, 18-1/2''x18-1/2'" has arrived at our house sit in San Diego.

NoCry Professional Gel Knee Pads purchased - 2024

NoCry Professional Gel Knee Pads for Work with Soft Foam and Gel Cushion — Heavy Duty Cap, Adjustable Straps & Military Grade Rivets — Perfect Construction Knee Pads for Men or Knee Pads for Women

 While in the US I purchased these knee pads to replace the ones i have as they do not slip and are nicer. Thess should work great up on deck and all around the boat.

Purchased from Amazon.

Purchased new SmartPlug for our shore power connection - 2024

 Purchased a SmartPlug for our shore power needs. This setup will automatically shut the shore power off if the temperature gets to 200 f which is about where the wire insulation melts. That will prevent a fire.
 We did have a problem with our shore power connection, and it almost caught fire. Luckly I was onboard and was able to unplug it but not before it sustained burn damage This was during a storm and the connection worked loose.
 We will install this in the next couple months while we are at anchor and not using our shore power cable.

 Also the plug at the end of the chord that goes into the dock box is a bit corroded so we will replace it with the new plug and watertight jacket.

 Purchased this all from San Diego Marine Exchange.

Tested the Jabsco Hydro Air bilge pump sensor today - 2024

  We have gotten our new Jabsco Hydro Air bilge pump sensor installed. This sensor will turn on our Whale Gulper bilge pump. It works on air pressure. When one inch of water gets in the bilge the Whale Gulper will go off. It is our everyday bilge pump. We ran a test today by putting the garden hose into the bilge and adding water. It seems it was more than an inch of water but not by much and it did start the Whale Gulper and shut it off when the water got low. So a good test! We also test the other bilge pumps and alarm and all are working fine!

Replaced our throttle cable -2024

 Debbie putting together the bracket that holds the cable away from the alternator belt. In hindsight I should have just loosened the bracket and slid the cable in and then put the linkage on. The nut on the bracket was hard to get back on.

Painting the engine space with Bilgekote Enamel March - 2024

 We painted out the engine space with Bilgekote Enamel paint. It looks good and makes it easy to spot leaks and other item hopefully before they get to emergencies. 

New Jabsco Hydro Air bilge pump sensor installed.- 2024

 We have gotten our new Jabsco Hydro Air bilge pump sensor installed. This sensor was recommended by Curt and Jill on s/v Namahana. It works on air pressure. When one inch of water gets in the bilge the Whale Gulper will go off. It is our everyday bilge pump. 

Commissioned Chava to do some varnishing. - 2024

Today we commissioned Chava to do some varnishing for us. That's right - I am passing on the varnishing brush. Mow that we are in La Paz as a home port it is time to let most of the varnishing go.

Clogged poo filter blow out bellows - 2024

Debbie removing poo filter.

 The adjustment to the Marina life has been let's say, somewhat different. Normally we would be at anchor now somewhere on the Mexican Riviera. 

Replaced galley freshwater foot pump - 2024

  We were just saying we can't remember when the Whale Gusher MKIII Cabinet-Mount Galley Foot Pump freshwater foot pump started to leak, rendering it unusable as we replaced it today with a new one, we brought down from the States. Since we were working on getting the PSS Shaft Seal vent hose out of the way of the shifter cable, we thought it was a good time to get the pump switched out.

We are replacing our shifter cable: installing - 2024

We are replacing old shifter cable with this new Dometic Extreme 

CCX66320 ASM 3300 blk 88499 shifter cable.

We are replacing our shifter cable: removing - 2024

This is at the transmission. The cable going from our Yacht Specialties binnacle to our Techodrive TMC 60M transmission which is attached to our Beta 38 hp diesel motor needs replacing. It is really rusty where it is connected to the tranny and also has some slices in it by the shaft which are rusty.

PSS shaft seal, and shifter cable issues - 2024

 Ok we were in the process of adding a new bilge pump sensor when we discovered our PSS shaft seal had spun where the vent hose is. It broke the hose barb on the PSS shaft seal also and the hose clamp.

Varnishing upper eyebrow - 2024

 It is that time again. It is actually past that time because of my health reasons set us back from some of these things. A bit of varnish started peeling and I had to remove it. Some places some water got under a bit of it. I did sand it out and got a coat of Epifanes Clear on and it looks ok.

Put a coat of Teak Wonder on out teak cockpit - 2024

It was past time to put a coat of Teak Wonder on out teak cockpit grate. We also do our fold down stern steps and three steps into the boat but those we do separately. Looks good and keeps the teak in nice shape.

We purchased a Moeller marine fuel tank - 2024

 We purchased a Moeller marine fuel tank for our Honda 9.9 outboard. It is 3 gallons or 11 liters. We purchased it from Lopez Marine chandlery here in La Paz. Our old tank we repaired once a few years back by melting it together and adding some plastic.