I left Deltaville finally at 7:45 on Tuesday the 27th as planned. Fueled up on the way out. Quite breezy and choppy out on the bay. Dodging crab pots as usual. Took me a while to get back into my routine. As I was checking on things around the boat, I noticed that the charging system was up to over 17 volts. I shut the engine down and disconnected the Voltage Regulator. I would have to wait until I arrived in Hampton to look it. Had a nice motor sail down the bay. The closer you get to Hampton where the bay narrows to the Elizabeth River it gets to be an exercise in traffic control. Navy Ships, tugs, fishermen, sailboats, you got it all, are converging on this one place. Only slightly nerve racking.
I docked at the Hampton Public Pier because I had a certificate for a free night that I got at the boat show, plus one night, so it a kinda cheap. Very nice place, great people. It's also the host marina for the Carrib 1500, so there are lots of fancy boats here getting ready.
I found the problem with the over voltage condition being a loose fitting fuse holder on the VR sense wire which allowed the sensing voltage to be erratic at times.
The problem caused the combiner for my start battery to die a premature death.
As I always say, if you want to see what a city is really like, take public transportation. West Marine was a walk and a bus ride away and a walk away. Got the parts I needed with a stop to the Food Lion for some groceries and then back to boat, which was a walk and a bus ride and walk away. Problem solved (much simplified statement to be sure).
Today I am on my way to meet a friend (another 424 owner also heading south) about 5 miles from here on the Lafeyette River. Probably start down the ICW on Friday.
All for now
ALan