Screwing On
07 June 2016 | En Route Bawah
Monday 6 June 2016
Good diving in Ajam; several boats in a beautiful anchorage NE Djemadja; great beach barbie, then retiring to "Charlie" until late.. rum, wine and quite a bit of Amarullah from Zimbabwe. Ouch. Nevertheless everyone underway by 0730 en route to Bawah, 35 NM. Hopes high for a great spot to spend a couple of days - protected lagoon miles from anywhere, reported great diving and snorkeling.
There has, heretofore, been no mention of outboard playing up due foul fuel fancied to have buggered compressor engine. Yesterday cleaned screen, fuel pump and carbie (which appeared pristine) and she still won't idle. Pshaw or stronger words to that effect. Motor off dink and on rail to properly clean idle jet before arrival this afternoon. Depending upon enthusiasm, may also change out ratty compressor belt with one just obtained from another cruiser who had the correct size.. maybe.
Sea littered with sailboats heading same direction. Somebody blabbed that Bawah was the duck's nuts so we'll have company. These are the same people who are responsible for over-serving us last night. Shame on them. We'll be on alert so they won't sneak up on us so easily tonight.
- Later
Re-cleaned innocent, but obviously deceitful Yamaha carb. Special attention paid to wee holes in slow speed jet. Feeling frisky, then disassembled compressor (replacing belt was probably made as difficult as possible for a darn good reason) to discover, oddly enough, that belt fit perfectly. After some re-engineering of bits connected to other bits holding all the bits together so that protruding bits don't (theoretically) have disadvantageous contact with belt, put the thing back in its box and strapped her down. In a second amazing coincidence no parts, tools or people were dropped into the ocean off bouncing aft deck during foregoing, admirable display of productivity.
Reports of large pieces of timber (that's Aussie-speak for logs) in the water has induced finishing this crap and actually watching where we're going. This sailing thing is just full of stuff one has to do instead of just screwing off. Somebody should have mentioned this before we spent all that money on a boat.
Jack