November 8 Running Right

November Eighth   -  Migration Week and Getting the Boat ready to launch

Our travel blog was interrupted after we left Nunavut in August. Our return to home territory was characterized by a frenzy of activity, kicked off by Ethan and Sarah’s wedding. Tristan was back for the event too – so all three sons were together for a while. In mid September we arrived just in time for the birth of the new grandson, Felix. 

Felix

Lego fun

Visits to the daughters and grandchildren in Halifax and in Sackville were fantastic.   We tried to touch base with as many friends as possible during the brief time that we had in the Maritimes. 

Justin helping with mast

We also spent some time and effort getting the BIG boat ready for a survey, a survey which she ACED!!!   

Bow of BJB

With all of these things: the visits, the weddings, the grandkids and Sue’s mum and family in Harvey, massive boat cleaning (and then winterizing her) we were exhausted when we departed. The trip south got off on the wrong foot immediately when I misread the intent of a sign calling for ALL RV’s to use a certain lane at US Customs.  Seeing that sign (and not being in an RV), I chose the only other open lane, which turned out to be the NEXuS lane. We were invited to the main office while the customs guy had a look in the van. He was a little curious as to why we had a red diesel engine bolted to a pallet on the floor behind the middle seat. Our explanation was simple enough and we offered evidence for his perusal of the “Canadian engine going to a Canadian boat” kind.  His boss was looking on and he gave the Customs agent a shrug and on that note we were sent on our way.

There were snowbanks along the highways in Maine – but that was the last of the bad weather for our trip. We were feeling mellow and when lunchtime rolled around we left I-95 and drove into Hampton, NH for lunch at Fast Eddies Diner.  Sue was pleased with her Philly-cheese sandwich and I with my Reuben (top score: two thumbs up!).

 As the trip started – so did it continue.  I was pulled over by a Mass. State trooper, for a sudden lane change (Plexus?). My ‘last second’ lane change was another signage event. Could it be an eyesight event?. There is always a doubt... but in any event, if they don’t want ‘last second’ lane changes maybe the signage should not be ‘last second’ either. The cop wasn’t interested in anything I had to say. On the positive side – while he was writing me up, I left my vehicle to remove some debris which I would otherwise be forced to drive over – and discovered myself to be the new owner of a large yellow crow-bar.  Price tag of this WONDERFUL crow-bar: $210.00. We had been hoping to avoid the congestion of I-95 in New England and Washington, however, the join-up of I-485 and I-90 was a total shambles in the area of Framington, Mass.   The rest of the drive was great, with minor construction delays in Pennsylvania.  I guess they are spending some of the fracking wealth on highways in PA. One town appears to have changed its name in celebration of the new wealth, calling itself Fracktown, USA. Wasn’t that the name of one of those social commentary movies on the subject? Sad to say, the town did not look terribly prosperous, at least from what we could see as we passed by.  

Our retread van, a 2003 Chevy Venture given a reprieve from the ‘nackers yard’ was yielding fabulous fuel economy. The trip average of exactly 10 litres per 100 km was at posted speed limits as high as 75 mph, with most of the mileage being rung-up at 70 mph. Lower gasoline prices this year offset the more expensive to operate vehicle on this year’s migration. We actually drove three-hundred more kilometers to get south this year and only exceeded last year’s fuel costs by thirty dollars.  It is too bad the dollars we are spending have ‘cost’ us so much more this year!

We owe thanks for this fabulous vehicle to my brother Ken, who had parked it and de-plated it last year in anticipation of having it hauled away. Further thanks have to go to our mechanic, Firth, who handled everything the vehicle could throw at him. I really thought the stainless steel muffler from a Dodge was a great touch.

In a further attempt at parsimony, we ‘cheaped-out’ on motels when possible on the way south this year. The new ‘cheapest room’ title goes to:  {drum roll} ... the Royal Inn of Lumberton NC at a mere $34.56 taxes in – and while ‘clean’, the room was definitely ‘past its prime’.

 ( Question:  Which continent did their ‘continental breakfast’ celebrate? Answer: Lilliput!). 

We dropped by the St Augustine’s Sailors Exchange as soon as we arrived in Florida and talked to D’Arcy about roller-furling.  He advised me last year that when I was ready to buy – to come see him. He had some Hood 6-series units new on the shelf for $1400. A good price if I wanted a Hood furler – which is what we want to replace. I can’t get any enthusiasm for this unit at this price and will probably just put the new bearings in the existing Hood unit and get a separate Genaker furler this time around.

Susan reminded me as we drove away that the priority is for a furler for the mainsail, not for the jibs.  It’s a good thing she was able to remind me of this...I sometimes forget important details.

We were very happy to trade the snows of NB for the sea and sand of Fort Pierce.

With only a 3 hour drive to get us back to Panacea we have fallen into a dawdling mood yet again.  We drove the highways and side roads looking for a trader in dinghies and other small boats – but never did locate him. We over-nighted in St Augustine before finishing the drive south.

Arriving on Saturday (Nov 8^th) at about noon we set about rearranging the stored items from within the cabin so that there would be room for us aboard Panacea tonight. By late afternoon I had a vague plan of how I would remove the old and install the new boat engine. By early evening we were strolling the aisles of Home Depot when my eyes fell upon a display of Uni-strut, next to large sizes of ElectroMechanicalTubing. On Sunday, between the showers, we cut and drilled and bolted-up a pretty good facsimile of an R&G Roofers hoist.

Susan pointed out (quite correctly, might I be hasty to add) that we had never attempted to make this ‘new to us’ diesel run – and so Monday was spent getting diesel fuel, changing oil and filter, cleaning it off so that we might better see any oil leaks and then trying to run the lovely little thing. We were able to wiggle our van in between the neighbouring sailboats and their hurricane tie-downs, close enough to attach our booster cables to the starter.  The cables weren’t adequate to the task so we ended up putting a new battery with new cables on it for the test.  The glow plug relay engaged, the fuel pump ran smoothly...and after adjusting the throttle up a little she started and ran. First video without adjustments

wb started
https://vimeo.com/112426188

 There was just a little smoke to begin with but as she warmed a little, no more smoke. Second video running right

running right
https://vimeo.com/112426189

The raw water pump was not pumping and after disassembly it was clear that the impeller needed replacement.

damaged impeller

Luckily, West Marine had one on the shelf, as well as replacement anodes for the heat exchanger. In the matter of spare fuel filters – we were not so lucky- although we will probably find them online.

The Balmar high-performance alternator (with controller) was an unexpected bonus feature of this engine. When installing it I arrived at the conclusion that the 39.5 inch vee-belt which drives both the alternator and the internal cooling pump was too short. After much driving back and forth to the auto supply shop, I ended-up with a new belt of exactly the same size, and had upsized the pivot and line-bored it to reduce the misalignment of the alternator pulley caused by a bolt that was too small in diameter. The Balmar installation on this W-27 is second-rate design work. Simple maintenance has been made difficult either from mis-specifying the alternator model, lack of good design practice or simple laziness.

 The exhaust must be disconnected and the removed from the manifold in order that the alternator can get close enough to accept a belt.  Access to this end of the engine is ‘normally’ very restricted when these engines are coupled with a vee drive – and any designer would know this.  I wonder what Balmars excuse could be?

By noon on Wednesday we were ready to move forward. After just a little more wiping we opened our new can of epoxy white paint. The day was so hot that the paint got a second coat in the same afternoon.  Touchups followed on Thursday and then we went to work restoring the cooling system to its original layout for easy anode replacement in the heat exchanger.

 At 11:30 on Day 7 Susan went out to do some laundry while I prepped the Atomic Four for its removal. Sue found a laundromat with good WiFi and had I my final moments with the old engine. My fingers found the hidden connections, nuts and bolts, pins and wires with easy familiarity after last years festival of dirty fuel, ignition problems and a leaking head gasket.

The next morning saw the old engine lowered to the ground early in the day without incident.  The hoist worked as anticipated – but the deflection experienced on mid-span of the unistrut ‘track’ led me to the conclusion that we would need an additional support when the heavier new engine was brought inboard.

ready to hoist

We broke for lunch at 12A Buoy near Seaway Bridge, where Susan had fish strips and I had the lobster mac and cheese(two thumbs up). By the time we got back it was obvious that the new engine would not be going aboard on this day. In any event, I wasn’t prepared for the setbacks as they kept coming up. We made four separate trips for various bolts, ready rod and angle and by sunset we still had not found and tested the true centre of balance. The engine is endowed with three separate lifting rings, no combination of which will allow the engine to be raised ‘on an even keel’. My first lifting brace which diagonally joined all three of the lift points - was unsuccessful.  Susan has suggested removing the vee drive – but lacking useful Internet  (the WiFi at this marina was taken out by lightning) and also lacking a manual – all I can see down that path is a bigger can of worms.

Who can say what tomorrow will bring?  Tune in next week for another thrilling installment of Boatboy and Sailor Sue – fixing boats.