We have now been back in Paradise Village for just over 3 weeks. As mentioned in our last blog we had a few "boat issues" to sort out. And while living in Paradise (Village) this long wasn't exactly part of our plan, we can think of a thousand worse places to be stuck in while we work on boat projects!
The most significant issue to sort out was the hydraulic ram for the autopilot. For you technical folks, it's the clutch mechanism that engages the autopilot that has been causing our problem. For you non-technical folks, an autopilot is a modern day convenience we've become so spoiled by that the thought of sailing without one is inconceivable!! Why would we hand steer for miles (and days on end) when we can let the autopilot steer the boat on a pre-set course all by itself, while we relax and enjoy the view? Unfortunately, as great as Tom is at fixing things, this project requires parts and tools that only the manufacturer has access to. So we're buying a new autopilot, and sending the defunct unit out for repair (which we'll keep as a spare).
Have we mentioned that things happen slowly here? The new unit was supposed to arrive 5 days ago, but we're still waiting for it. Luckily (or not), we have a number of other projects to keep us busy while we wait...
First on our list is the new and improved rudder for our self-steering gear. As luck would have it, the Hydrovane company owners just happened to be tied up at the dock 3 slips away from us - so they were able to provide us with a replacement rudder last week.
Tom ventured up the mast again, this time to sort out a minor problem with the spinnaker halyard. He's also taken the watermaker saline probe out (which was a miserable job, as it required him to work upside down while squeezed into a small lazarette!). Saline probes are not easy items to obtain in Mexico, and fortunately we can live without it for now, so we've decided to obtain one from home this summer and replace it when we return in the fall. We've also decided to live with our VHF radio problem until next season, as we can use our handheld unit as a backup. Similarly, the logistics of repairing and/or replacing the particular VHF radio model we need is complicated and time consuming, so this is another item we'll deal when we're back in Canada this summer.
Tom pulled out and scrubbed off 2 inches of growth from our knot meter impeller again, which has become quite a frequent task. In fact the sea is so rich in nutrients here that you can practically watch growth accumulate right before your eyes on anything beneath the waterline. Of course our hull's underside is painted in anti-fouling paint, which reduces growth significantly. But because the spinning device on our knot meter is not coated with anti-fouling paint, growth accumulation can literally seize it up within days. This has led us to the conclusion that the best thing to do with a knot meter impeller is to take it out as soon as you tie up at a Marina. (The trick of course, is to remember to put it back in before you head out to sea!)
We've been in the tropical heat long enough to appreciate the reason many yachts are outfitted with sun-protective covers. S, we're having hatch covers made to prevent the sun from crazing (cracking) the glass, as well as a sun shade for our 240 degree center cabin window (which will block out the scorching heat without obstructing our view from inside), and we're also having a screen enclosure for our cockpit made which will keep the mosquitos out and provide sun protection, without obstructing our view when we're outside.
Ahhh yes, there are always plenty of boat projects to keep us busy and give our pocketbook a workout. Budget... what budget??
While we're waiting for our autohelm and canvas work to be completed, we've spent some time in Puerto Vallarta browsing through boutiques, appreciating art in gallery tours, and eating in excellent restaurants. Tom has also tried his hand at surfing (with marginal success!) at a small town called Sayalita, which is an hour away by bus... the jarring bus ride was an experience in itself and precluded the need for a chiropractor after the day of surfing!
We broke down and bought a cable cord so we can watch the hockey playoffs and keep abreast of what's happening in the news while we're hooked up at the Marina. We try to do laps at the pool and ride our bikes fairly regularly to keep in shape, and spend many evenings together with fellow boaters.
Hopefully, the new autopilot will arrive early next week and the canvas work will be finished, so we can set out to explore new anchorages on both sides of the Sea of Cortez before heading home for the summer.
We'll share an update on our trips to Bucerias and Sayulita, and some of the interesting wildlife we've seen recently in our next blog...
(new images for this blog in the photo gallery)