Thursday 5 September 2019

Climbed to top of mast to replace broken diverter for genoa halyard, which keeps it from wrapping around forestay and jamming the whole kit and caboodle. Good idea came a cropper when tap broke off in drilled hole. No more #12 taps aboard, but found 5 mm screws and 5 mm tap, so went back up (with cold chisel to break off jagged bit sticking out) and installed diverters for both genny halyard, which was shortened to remove chafing, and spare halyard. Also adjusted strobe that was shorting against tricolor light. Now we can again scream our presence to even the most inattentive mariner while sailing past in full regalia.

Diesel mechanic, Aad Smit (Dutch), came around after his normal work to look at our leaking injector. Couldn't find a copper ring/gasket in the injector well and guessed one not available in the county, but took injector away to check.

Friday 6 September 2019

In consultation with Yanmar expert in Netherlands discovered that Yanmar service manual was for an old version of 4JH2-TE engine that shows no gaskets (huh!?), but actual injector sealing system now includes two aluminum rings with a spacer and no copper. Suspect Yanmar dealer in Cape Town didn't replace old washers when rebuilding injectors. Couldn't get the old ones out because a special tool is required, which is not available here of course, and ditto properly sized copper washers. Aad used a drill to machine down too large washers and best result was installed in injector. That, contrary to what even the most optimistic dilettante might expect, worked like a whipped mule (this is an animal friendly site, we treasure mules and none were actually harmed), so we're ready to make like horse manure and hit the road (this is a figure of speech as we are in the ocean where horses seldom go, not even to mention the road aspect). He left us with other attempts that are a bit less symmetrical for potential leaks in other injectors. Perhaps Yanmar dealer in Grenada has special tools, can get parts and can fix all properly. Anything is possible.

Saturday

Expect move to Domburg tomorrow at slack high tide, country clearance Monday or Tuesday and arrival in Barbados by next weekend after a beautiful four day reach. Given planning successes of last several months any bets on this would be ill-advised, however hope soars like a ravenous buzzard (because this is an animal friendly site, we do not feed buzzards with the murdered, rotting carcasses of dead animals even though buzzards may thereby suffer.. it's an ethical dilemma).

Jack & Jan