Engine Repair
07 May 2008 | Miami, FL
Philip

We arrived Miami Beach Marina and were tied up by noon on May 7th, 2008, and Bill and Ekkehart immediately climbed into 110F engine room and started trying to diagnose the problem. Eventually it was Captain Cheyenne, who hit on an idea, and Bill found the problem. The Perkins engine has a rubber cap on both sides of the heat exchanger. The aft side were we had replaced the rubber boot was fine, but the whole element had not properly been seated on the forward end, allowing, sea and fresh water to mix. By the time the mechanics arrived, the engine problem was fixed, which is just as well, because they really were marine electrical experts and not diesel engine experts. Perfect people to look at the alternator.
The rest of the crew went to the beach or for a shower. In Luke's case he did both.
About 18h00 we untied from the fuel dock, backed out, and left Miami Beach Marina. The tide was out, and we had some concerns about if there would be enough water on leaving the marina. The water looked thin between the seawall at the entrance of the marina, and the shipping channel into the port of Miami. The locals said, that we should stay close to the seawall, until opposite the Coast Guard station, and then cut across to the other side. Well it was close, we draw 7ft, and the depth sounder is zeroed at the bottom of the keel. We saw 1.8ft a few times and Captain Cheyenne's heart nearly stopped on those occasions.
Next stop Charleston!