We left Chatham Bay, Union Is. yesterday around 0900 for the 30 nm ride to Bequia - plenty enough time to make Admiralty Bay...even upwind. But as we passed Canouan Island, 10nm into the journey, we said "What the heck. This isn't a race!" and turned right for the island. By 1130 the anchor was set and we were looking at a lunch and afternoon swim.

That all went well, but around dinner time Ruth reported the water pump was coming on to generate any water pressure. I knew the pressure switch on the pump was sketchy because we had some issues with it on the ARC. So I decided now was the time to replace the pressure switch and be done with hassling with the water pump.

It is/was a simple change out. Unscrew a half dozen stainless screws holding the plastic pressure switch to the water pump and connect up a couple of wires. A half hour - tops.

Little did I know that one of the screws would be seized and need extracting. Now it is not entirely clear to me how a stainless screw in PLASTIC can seize. But seize it did and now this little change out has turned into a big deal. My initial attempts to extract it using a screw extractor failed! So I gave up on the project when dusk fell and the light got bad. I figured I would pick it up in the morning with a fresh attitude.

I am going to need that fresh attitude. The start of 2011 has been anything but fun, what with everything breaking. But the options are few at present so press on I must repairing what breaks. (I got lucky with the upper V-berth drawer and was able to fix that yesterday after the locking mechanism on it failed!) So I will pray, then work on the water pump, and with a little luck there will be enough time in the day to make Bequia. If not, we're stuck here another day. There ARE worse places to be stuck!!
:-)

Update: After snapping off the head of the seized screw, and snapping off one drill bit, I thought all was lost when I snapped off the 2nd drill bit inside the screw! But just when I thought I was going to have to find a machine shop and pay the big $$, I was fortunate enough to find a fix!! The water pump is working and we are on our way to Bequia.