May 28, 2014

With all the good timing we have had with repairs, specifically at a dock somewhere vs some anchorage, it was only a matter time until we used up some of the good juju. Seems that time is now and the object of the ill will is the engine. We got the head gasket replaced and the whole thing back together. It runs very well, perhaps better than ever before except for two small things: two ever so slight fuel leaks. Generally, it is not a good thing to have raw diesel dripping off a hot engine back into the engine bilge. However; there are two fittings on the fuel pump that weep motion lotion. The culprits are $.30 o rings. New OEM rings wont seal. Now we are down to digging through the little drawers at hardware stores to see if we can find oversized rings that work. All that after a few hours of trial and error at a boat unit per hour. Did I mention that the engine runs fine? The coolant leak stopped so now we will wonder when it will start again. It is not hoses that we can tell. So, the story of the enigma engine continues.

We have been emailing a boat crew from Port Isabel, Texas for several years but never met them until yesterday when they sought safe harbor to avoid some nasty thunderstorms we had last evening. We heard of them from a common friend back home. One can get a sort of handle on their presence when looking at her pen name: Ignatz Mouse. So, we have added them to the list of boats we are tracking. We will see them again. Great to add to the list of "out there" types and to hear of their adventures which in many ways mirror ours.

We will leave Why Knot for a few days to drive a quick 3,500 miles back to Texas for our first grand daughter's high school graduation. During that time, WK continues her makeover with new bottom pain, hull waxing and some out-ot-the-water drive and propeller maintenance. I suppose it is just as well that we don't attempt to use the new sail until we get her all slicked up. We may have to get a waiver from the Coast Guard for excessive speed.