05/04/2009, Hualtuco, Mexico
Ahwahnee has been put to "sleep" for the season and is resting in the canal at Marina Chahue. As Tom did engine maintenance when the fuel tank was out, the effort to put the boat away seemed less this year. The heat was escalating so work was done early morning and late afternoon with reading and large glasses of iced tea at arms reach during siesta. The last week we had three afternoons when dark clouds moved in and the temperature dropped. The last day we even had a few sprinkles. The locals had told us no rain until May and they were right.
We took Interjet from Hualtuco to Mexico City. With the H1N1 virius shutdown in Mexico City, the airport was very quiet. Our body temperatures were scanned via infrared and health questionnaires filled out. We felt very secure in the airport as everyone there had passed the scan. From Mexico City we took Mexicana Airlines which stopped in Cancun. We had to get off the plane, go through security again and then back in our same seats. Surprisingly, when we got to the US we weren't asked anything about health. We were geared up for questionnaires, etc. but nothing.
We are now in Miami and today went to the Royal Caribbean rehearsal studios to watch "run-throughs" of two shows Tawni's cast has just completed. We were treated like royalty and sat right in the front of the studio near the mirrors with the singers and dancers within a few feet. What talented young people.
Off to visit Kip & Kathy (Portland sailors) now living in Englewood, FL. The next few days will be spent exploring moorages, boating consignment stores and reminiscing over coconut rum.
Warm up Pacific NW. We're almost there for the summer.
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04/12/2009, Hualtuco, Mexico
Great news! The engine is back in its home and it STARTED. Should have seen the grins on our faces. Tom did a great job and I know he is very relieved. From the day we started unloading fuel until the engine was back in the hole was five weeks. Almost three of that was waiting for the tank to be repaired but Tom took the opportunity to check parts, redo some gaskets and perform maintenance. We've spent three days putting tools away and reorganizing. Today our cockpit looks spiffy. Great feeling.
We've started our "shut-down" list as Ahwahnee will be staying in the canal in Marina Chahue for the summer season. Our window became too short to go any further this season. We like to be home in May with family and so fly out of Hualtuco to Mexico City to Miami on May 2. We will visit our youngest daughter, Tawni, in Miami and some Sauvie Island friends in Englewood, on the West Coast of Florida. While there we will explore marinas to haulout the boat next summer. After a quick week, we'll fly to Portland and get to Bear Run in time to host the annual family Memorial Day camp.
We've almost been in Hualtuco for two months and have really enjoyed the area. We usually walk into town a couple of times a week and in between find other areas to explore. Weekly, there seems to be a mega-yacht that comes in, a circumnavigator and sailors on their way to Panama or coming from the East Coast. Makes for many interesting stories.
Wishing you a Happy Easter,
Tom and Kathy
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03/14/2009, Hualtuco Mexico
One thing about sailing, one must be flexible. Our schedule has taken a hit once again due to repairs.
When we loaded on the diesel before leaving for Oaxaca, Tom discovered a slow drip from the fuel tank. That fish viewing screen that we purchased from Cabella's with the 60' of cable finally came in handy. So, upon our return, he spent six hours defueling into large drums on the dock and began the process of pulling out the engine to get to the fuel tank. Being the "Pollyanna" that I am, I downloaded all the information I could gather from the Pearson website to make it easier. Ha! As we know, no two boats of any make are the same, and Ahwahnee decided to have her own quirks.
Tom spent a day and a half disassembling the engine so that we could pull it up and forward about 4 feet. We located some large pieces of lumber in a refuse pile that we were able to put over the companionway, and with a come-along there and the boomvang tied to the mast, the two of us were able to lift it onto a piece of plywood and it is now residing in our bedroom (we certainly aren't). It weighs approx. 750 pounds so we were moving it slow and low.
Next came the tank. The cradle was put together with screws that could not be accessed so out came the crowbar and the Navy words and Tom pried off the front, the wedges underneath and part of the front board holding it up. The tank dropped about four inches which was just enough for him to move it forward under the wiring. With the assistance of Rob on Joyeux, the three of us were able to pull, lift and push it out of the companionway. The good news was that like many 424's, we didn't have to take off the teak trim.
As luck would have it, the tank hadn't been on the dock 30 minutes when another sailor asked if we had someone in mind to fix it for us. He just happened to know an excellent welder and he would call him on his cell phone. Within two hours the welder was here, discussed the problem and his workers picked it up a couple of hours later. Wow! We were moving now. The tank was promised on Tuesday and early that morning it was back for about half what we had been told as the high number. BUT, the welder explained that although it was fixed and he pressure tested it, he could not guarantee we wouldn't have a future problem soon as the aluminum was very thin. Not wanting to ever have to pull the engine again, we opted for a new tank inside the original tank. So off it went again, the aluminum has been paid for and ordered from Mexico City and the tank should be back around the 20th.
Next Tom and Rob went to town to find lumber. We were told it is very expensive in Mexico so be prepared. Tom purchased two 1 x 6's, had one of them ripped into three 1 x 2's, the wood does not have a single knot and it was delivered for less than $8. The guys were amazed. They then went to another ferreteria to purchase stainless steel.
Today finds Tom on his knees cleaning out the space where the tank has lived and dripped. It is now evident that we have had the problem for quite a while and several pieces of the cradle were saturated with diesel. The good news is that "yes" there was a problem and we are able to address it at a dock in a beautiful marina.
Keep you fingers crossed for us for the next part. I think Tom is already beginning to worry about getting the engine all put back together and started. He took many pictures, notes and marked wires as he disassembled. It will be a happy day when she is up and purring again.
On another note. We will have a fishfinder to use as our depth sounder within the week. Wayne and Trish in Mazatlan jumped in and found one for us. So, it's coming together.
Stay tuned to see when we really head out. As our season grows shorter, we have two options: leave the boat here or move on to Barillas in El Salvador. We are still planning on the latter.
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