Troubadour

Living the Dream

Who: Captain Chris May & Admiral Linda Moore
Port: Key Largo, Florida (But we're from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA)
"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover. " --Mark Twain
20 December 2011 | US Virgin Islands
03 October 2011 | Culebra, Puerto Rico
21 August 2011 | Ceiba, Puerto Rico
17 August 2011 | Roosevelt Roads Marina, Puerto Rico
24 June 2011 | Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico
13 June 2011 | Ponce, Puerto Rico
05 June 2011 | Boca Chica, DR
26 May 2011 | Ile a Vache, Haiti
21 May 2011 | Manzanillo Bay
14 May 2011 | Ocean World Marina
19 April 2011 | Sapodilla Bay, Provo, Turks & Caicos
13 April 2011 | Sapodilla Bay, Provo, Turks & Caicos
05 April 2011 | Sapodilla Bay, Provo, Turks & Caicos
30 March 2011 | Clarence Town, Long Island, Bahamas
28 March 2011 | Clarence Town, Long Island
21 March 2011 | Georgetown, Great Exuma
15 March 2011 | Georgetown, Great Exuma
13 February 2011 | Georgetown, Great Exuma
29 January 2011 | Georgetown, Great Exuma

COOLING OFF by Captain Chris

15 December 2009 | Inlet Cove Marina, Ponce Inlet, Florida
by Captain Chris
Heavy sigh! Chris discovers the transmission fluid pump is seized with corrosion.

Anytime one needs to modify an existing installation, you should expect some snags. We received the transmission cooler we were waiting on, and found it was designed for a Cummings engine with 1-3/4" connections on the water side. I couldn't find hose or fittings to adapt to our current installation, so I had to call the friendly folks at TAD and work it out with them to get a cooler with 1" connections. I had hose and fittings onboard, and picked up new hydraulic hoses in town so I was ready to go when it arrived.

Meanwhile, we decided to take the weekend off and head to the St. Pete boat show. We didn't get the snow that the Midwest has, but we did have a cold front come through, dropping us into the 50s at night. It was cold and rainy at the boat show and we felt like we were back in Wisconsin at South Shore Yacht Club with everyone walking around in their "foulies" (that's foul weather coats, for you landlubbers).

I had been having some frustration getting the correct parts to rebuild a Lewmar Ocean Racing block I had intended to use for the spinnaker tack line, so I said "fuggedaboudit" and picked up a great, reasonably priced, block from Garhauer at the show. We picked up some additional Bahamas cruising guides, and attended several of the seminars. It was different going through the show and saying "I have one of those", "I have that book", etc. and spending our time looking at how details of other boats and items that we might be able to implement.

Before heading back to Troubadour we enjoyed catching up with our friends Jesse and Tracy in Sarasota, who opened their hearts and homes to us for a relaxing evening.

Upon our return we spent a rainy Monday afternoon with our friends Steve and Lynn, who made us burgers on the grill at their condo, before installing the new transmission cooler. After installing the cooler and running everything to check for leaks, we were happy that there weren't any leaks. I had planned on changing the transmission fluid again, and after opening up the new cooler, saw there wasn't any transmission fluid in it. The likely culprit: the fluid pump, which, after removal, was easy to see that it was seized with corrosion. After several calls and internet searches, a replacement pump and gasket is on the way. Let's hope that is all that is needed!

Meeting and spending time with new friends and old seems to make these setbacks a little more tolerable.

Cruisers Frank and Debby pulled into the slip next to us and promptly asked if we knew of some place that could do canvas work, so Linda's found some spending money. It appears my article on refinishing the teak in our cockpit will be picked up by Southwinds, so perhaps we'll have beer money too!
Comments
Vessel Name: Troubadour - Beneteau Idylle 15.50
Vessel Make/Model: Beneteau Idylle 15.50
Hailing Port: Key Largo, Florida (But we're from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA)
Crew: Captain Chris May & Admiral Linda Moore
About: Chris and Linda chose early retirement from corporate "office space" and cubicle life at GE Healthcare in Waukesha, Wis., to pursue their dream of going "down island" to the Caribbean.
Extra:
Our backgrounds: ***Linda is an insured PADI Divemaster and Master Scuba Diver. She is also a member of DAN the Divers Alert Network. She is trained as a Red Cross Emergency Responder; has completed the STCW BST (Basic Safety Training), and holds a USCG MMD (Ordinary Seaman). She has been sailing [...]

Living the Dream

Who: Captain Chris May & Admiral Linda Moore
Port: Key Largo, Florida (But we're from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA)
"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover. " --Mark Twain
"I got my toes in the water, ass in the sand; Not a worry in the world, a cold beer in my hand. Life is good today, life is good today" -- "Toes" by the Zach Brown Band