Hola Amigos,

We woke up at 6AM to get the boat ready to go to the fuel dock. We really don't need fuel but there is always fuel available when you don't NEED fuel. When you need fuel, a Super Maxi Yacht just beat you to the fuel dock and sucked them dry or their fuel pump just broke or they just got a bad load of fuel.
We started the engine and heard it "Spitting". Spitting means that the sea water pump which cools the engine is working ,spitting hot water engine exhaust over board and your engine will not over heat. After a few minutes ML hears that the engine sounds different. We look at the engine exhaust and it has stopped spitting. We immediately stopped the engine.
ML suggests that we check the sea water strainer because recent rains have made the marina look like a recycle center. Lewis checks the strainer and it's cover breaks in his hands. Not good.
Luckily we are in a major marina and were able to get a new cover. For good measure Lewis replaced the sea water pump's impeller that moves water through the hoses like a Side Wheel Paddle pushed a steamboat down the Mississippi.
So we fixed everything and our engine should "Spit". Of course "WRONG". Books out, Internet searched. Is water coming in? We had a diver check our water intake and it was fine. Maybe an air lock. NO!
Lewis finally had to ask for our "Go to guy" to fix our boat.
He systematically disconnected one hose at a time. Clear, clear, clear, clear, clear, an elbow hose from a heat exchanger was blocked. In a couple of minutes the Merry Lee was spitting like a major league baseball player.

Happy spitting to you until we blog again.

Mary Lee and Lewis