A crowded ocean
23 October 2011 | Mazatlan, Mexico
Larry Nelson
We've arrived in Mazatlan where we are docked at the Marina Fonatour. This dock is convenient to Total Yacht Works where we are scheduled to have work done. The key problem is that the engine overheats at moderate to high power settings even though all the heat exchangers have recently been removed and cleaned. The warmer water (currently measuring 87F) is not enough to explain the overheating problem. My guess is that the salt water exit into the exhaust is carboned up but that remains to be confirmed. It may be more complicated than that. The other problem is that the house bank alternator front bearing is making inappropriate noise and the windlass backing plate is corroded badly (which is a little like a cancer than may include the windlass motor or gear train. It all has to be brought into good condition before we start our trip south. Those are only the really big things. Other tasks include the vang (which has lost its nitrogen charge again), putting the water maker back into an unjury rigged configuration, the bow thruster (which now exhibits huge and unrepeatable delay between command and thrust), a door for the forward head that won't latch shut, a scuba compressor that needs a new third stage piston and ring assembly, a bottom paint repair on the keel (from where I touched a sand bottom...removing all the bottom paint from the bottom of the keel), uneven cooking in the barbeque (probably needs a new burner assembly), and a chain that needs to be re-marked so we can see how much we've put into the water. We've pre ordered the parts we expect to need, but also included enough time in the schedule that we can get what we need but don't have. We can probably get everything except maybe the vang fixed here. We'll know soon. While all this is being fixed we will be living in a messed up boat (to give full access to the engine room). The pain is worth it. We need things working properly for the trip across the Pacific.
Also, while work is being done we plan to go to the Copper Canyon to see what is reported to be a wonderous and fun part of inland Mexico. Our friends Ed and Connie Quesada will be joining us. That should at least double the fun.
So what about the trip south? Well, we can report a fairly uneventful and safe but long journey. This particular trip was different because we expected to be in an empty ocean (which is normal) but found instead that the entire 200+ mile trip was congested with shrimp boats. We did have to stand a careful traffic watch. It was like freeway traffic. About 50% of the time we had enough wind to sail and that was nice. We had our usual trouble with sleep deprivation and sleep pattern disruption. That is the downside of ocean travel. We made a safe arrival a day early (we had allowed time for light air sailing). We are connected to power and enjoying air conditioning once again. Mazatlan is hot and humid. Winter isn't here yet.
The picture is of racoon tracks on our deck. It was taken in the morning at San Carlos. Who knows what happens when you sleep?