11/14/2009, Vero Berach, FL

November 9th, 2009 Vero Beach, FL
With the weather in question we decided to remain here until the end of the week which allows us to get some boat projects finished. Steve and I met Jim at his dock for a trip to get propane and a stop at the hardware store.
On our return, I went to work on replacing the boom-vang bracket. I had to re-tap the mast and drill the holes in the bracket a little to make things fit. It took a while to get everything lined up, but eventually the job was done.
Kathy made some lunch and then we headed to shore to make a provisioning run with Nancy. We returned with a dinghy full of food at around 4:30.
Steve had purchased a standing rib roast a couple of days ago and had it in the oven. He said that it looked too good to eat it themselves and invited us over for dinner. We made a salad ... and joined them.
It was the best beef we've had in months.

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11/14/2009, Vero Beach, FL

November 8th, 2009 Vero Beach, FL
While we were drinking coffee below, we were hailed by Kim and Steve to check out the rat sitting on the transom of our dinghy. I grabbed a dock pole and tried to knock it off, but instead it crawled into the plastic cowling that wraps the lower unit.
I started the engine go try to get him to move, but it didn't work. I left it alone and went on to work on the boom vang that needs to be remounted.
Steve took Kathy and Kim to shore to meet up with Nancy for a day of shopping. When he returned, we used his motor lift to haul our outboard off the dinghy and then lower it to the point where the area where the rat was located was under water. Nothing happened.
We returned the motor to our dinghy and I removed the cowling and there was no rat. He must have made his escape at some point in the morning when no one was watching.
Since I had the top off the motor I decided to remove the carburetor for a cleaning. It took about 45 minutes, and seemed to idle much better when I was finished.
By then I was hungry and made a chicken salad with the grapes we purchased yesterday.
After lunch I took the dinghy to shore for a good scrubbing. There is a landing area for kayaks that worked well, except that I had to haul water for rinsing.
On my way back to the boat I stopped for a visit with Jim on "Solitaire".
By then the afternoon was spent and I returned to the boat and read... waiting for Kathy to get back from her shopping trip. The shopping trip was wonderful, by the way.

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11/14/2009, Vero Beach. FL

November 7th, 2009 Vero Beach, FL
"Sapphire" is covered with salt from our time in the ocean waves. We sprayed off a little at the gas dock when we arrived but it was a half-hearted effort at best. This morning I washed the solar panels so that any sun we have can find its way to the batteries.
Then I turned to the refrigerator, which just hasn't been as cold as it should be. Steve has the hoses and a manual so with them in hand and a can of coolant. I went to work. After studying the situation and taking a few readings, it was obvious that we were low on coolant.
The manual called for bringing the evaporator to room temperature, in order to get an accurate reading on the amount of gas that I was adding so I emptied the freezer, put in a tin cup of boiling water and waited for 20 minutes.
Adding coolant was easy...open the valve and let a little go in at a time... then watch the gauge.
We caught the 11 am bus with Steve and Kim and got off at West Marine. I ordered a new nav light and purchased a new snorkeling mask at the dive shop next door. We did some more shopping and returned to the marina around 2:30.
I removed our boom vang, which had come loose from the base of the mast during our trip into Canaveral. It looks like I can replace the bolts and call it good. I think only one of eight is stripped.
At 4:30 we went in to the dinghy dock where Jim and Nancy met the four of us for dinner at their condo.
We had a great time as usual. Jay and Di joined us as well.

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