Hot and humid! close to 90F
12/04/2009, Green Turtle Cay

All of the locals have been complaining about the high temperature and are looking forward to the cooler winds from Canada.....apparently it has been a very hot summer season right up to November.

All of the necessary bits and pieces have been obtained to repair the starter, so we plan on sailing north and throw out the anchor at high tide this morning after a shopping trip into town on the bikes. The daily mooring fee in this very protected harbour is $15 which includes high-speed internet access...

We've started to get organized for Anne-Marie's visit and started planning our Christmas celebration...

The satellite phone antenna has been repaired which makes for quite good outgoing calls and we're slowly unwinding from the mad scramble to get down here.....

Louise has evolved her beach searching activities to include a substance called "ambergris", a white waxy material that supposedly comes from the head of a sperm whale..... she hopes to make candles....so it goes...

Life is good!

glen

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85F, blue skies.... not a cloud in sight!
12/03/2009, Black Sound on GTC

Well, the wind is blowing from the south at 20-25mph so we probably could have easily stayed on anchor.

Regardless, it's smoother sleeping in a protected harbour, and I've taken the opportunity to tear apart my Onan generator to fix the problem with not starting.

Working on this thing is much worse than an English sports car! Imagine a tiny Japanese diesel engine, surrounded by a sound-proof metal box, stuffed in a remote corner of the bottom of the boat, with the only access possible achieved by laying on your stomach, reaching forward into the darkness, groping for small metric bolts..... lot's of fun.

The repair job involves decoupling the entire generator, shifting it (~300lbs) sideways 2" to be able to undue the 8 bolts of the sound proof cover, remove the oil filter, and thread a 13mm socket past the fuel pump to access the two bolts which secure the starter.

Having removed the starter, I now need to disassemble it to grease it, and the bolts snap upon attempting it. Off to the marina to search for replacement bolts (8MM - 4" long).

It turns out that the starter was rusted, and the power cable to it was completely corroded. You cannot see the cable until you remove the starter.

Rebuilt the starter, purchase new cable from local marina, wire-brush and paint entire bottom end of generator, and order new starter from US to be delivered to Ottawa so that Anne-marie can bring it with her at Christmas.

While I await the paint to dry before the re-assembly Louise jumps on her bicycle and heads off to the ocean for a long swim/shower and relax on the beach.

Salt water is very corrosive, and I'll need to take a close look at all metal/electrical items on board... once things start to go, they go really fast.
Another lesson learned!

The freighter from WPB arrived this morning, two days late, while waiting for a weather window to make the crossing. I'm happy we were able to cross according to schedule.

Last night we enjoyed attending a wonderful "full moon party" on the beach at Green Turtle Cay, with several new friends and a few old ones. A lovely evening watching the big red ball rise out of the ocean!

glen

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Hot and awaiting the next weather front
12/01/2009, Black Sound on GTC

Another full sun day with blue skies and no wind.
Unfortunately there is heavy weather expected over the next 5 days with thundershowers and winds over 45mph... the front is expected to arrive this evening.

Reluctantly we left our anchorage at Manjack this morning at 8am in order to catch the high tide which allows us to "hide" in Black Sound, tied to a mooring ball, safe from whatever nature throws at us.

We'll do some cycling, visit with friends, add more provisions, and buy the necessary tools to allow me to attempt to un-seize the starting motor of the generator...given the generators location (buried in the bottom of the boat) this is not a task I am looking forward to.

With the full sun days we have had over the past four days, the solar panels have completely charged all of the batteries on board.

News from the farm in Quebec indicates that while the chimney has been replaced after the chimney fire, and the new foundation has been correctly installed complete with proper footings and foundation, drainage and foam insulation (thank you Andre), the latest problem is a completely full septic system which will need to be completely replaced. Our daughter, Michelle, is doing a wonderful job of managing things although I suspect having 4 people living in the farmhouse while the septic system is replaced may be challenging.

Never a dull moment!

I'll spend this morning purchasing all the necessary equipment to allow me to continue to provide fresh fish and lobster for our daily intake...

It's fun to learn new things and get closer to our natural environment.

I hear it's white in Ottawa.... is that true?

glen

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