Splash & Post-Haul Out Project Status
15 December 2016 | Rio Dulce, Guatemala
Susan / AM rain, afternoon partly cloudy, 83 degrees F
With good weather - rain mostly overnight - haul-out tasks go smoothly. We splash by 11am. First task, calibrate the Garmin autopilot using its wizard. Twice it fails on the 15 zig-zag step, just like the last time we did this a year ago when that autopilot was newly installed. Then it finally finished its configuration using the alternate method but it never worked correctly so we ended up using the Raymarine autopilot last cruising season. We abandon the effort after two attempts today and head back to the marina dock. Jerry will troubleshoot cause(s) and then we’ll need to try again before we leave the Rio Dulce. The other frustrating issue is the engines’ failure to start reliably. When we left the dock Monday, they fired right up. Today, Jerry had to use the battery charger to get them to start even though the charger showed both batteries full. This has been an intermittent problem for some time now, one that needs to get solved since when the no-start occurs we’re invariably in a need-to-get-them-started-situation. And, the refrigerator turned off while on the rails; the bow up angle was just too much for it, similar to when we are on a passage in bumpy seas. As we splash we have zero refrigeration / freezer. Another must fix before departure item.
Let’s talk about some good news. The haul-out went smoothly. Most key systems that were lightening damaged have been repaired or replaced. The Lifeline AGM batteries charge and the inverter gives us electricity when Vida Dulce is not connected to shore power, which is most of the time usually. Navigation and mooring lights are operational with the new LEDs. VHF & SSB radios and AIS work great. The dinghy has been repaired and the tubes now hold air again.