Jan 26 2014 - First overnight trip to Snug Cove

Where else eh???

Hank has installed my new throttle cable! only $55.00! plus three days work! The cable is so smooth, it is just like a car gas pedal, matter of fact my cable even works the same as a car gas pedal. Once you take your foot off, my engine goes back to idle. This is good for a car but not for a sailboat... you want the throttle to stay put, otherwise it would be impossible to tend to the sails, or just to sit and relax. The old cable had just enough rust around the inner cable to keep it in the same place. Now Hank will need to find a way to put enough friction on the cable to stop it from going back to idle.

lots of tools to remove 4 bolts and two cotter pins, plus three days labour.

 Be as it is, Hank and I still went over to Snug Cove for an over night trip, spending the time with Hank's friend Aaron. Aaron just installed a new heating system for his sailboat... this will be his first overnighter... the heating system worked great! but now he needs to install some new batteries to keep the furnace working, all night long.

It was a cold evening, but kept warm inside with my electric heater working all night. Hank and Aaron went for a walk up the mountain side and then over to Doc Morgan's for great dinner!

Marina office pointed end.

The next morning, the fog rolled in, making for a different sail back home. Was a "piece of cake" with aid of the AIS app and with Aaron new  GPS unit.
We sailed close together, to provide a better radar blip for the ferries.

Arrived home, berthed etc... no problems... except for the minor problem with the throttle cable; which will be fixed before the next sail.

Nice trip back... ferries sounding their fog horns... even Aaron was sound his fog horn.

note the fog bank we went through!

Now resting, waiting for Hank to make the adjustments to my new throttle cable

Tarka out!

January 18 2014 - throttle control cable

Good Day all...

Hank comes once or twice a week to check on me, to ensure that all is well.
His routine is to:
Outside:

1. check to see if I am still floating and at the correct level.
2. check all mooring lines.
3. check all fenders and their lines.
4. remove all presents left behind from otters and bird life.
5. check the power line connections.

Inside:

1. Check the bilge for water
2. Check all windows and hatches for leaks
3. Check the motor compartment
4. and finally start my engine and run it under load (in gear) until my engine is nice and warm.

This week, Hank noticed that the throttle cable was very hard to move and could like get my engine up to 2000 rpm.

As usual, a simple thing like removing 4 bolts / screws took over one hour with numerous types of tools. Nothing is simple on a sailboat with cramped engine space. You need mirrors, three hands, trouble lights, and proper tools to get the work done.A comment on tools... get the best you can afford, in a proper storage case. Don't use "crappy" tools, leads to nothing but bruised / cut knuckles, frustrations and takes way longer to do the repairs. Hank's threw a few tools overboard in frustration.

With the cable now removed, Hank noticed that the cable covering had worn out in two places, leaving the metal throttle cable exposed to the salt water. The cable was completely rusted and was starting to fray. It is a good thing that Hank noticed this, as the cable could of broken out at sea.

Now looking for a new cable... more money, oh well... that is boating...

Tarka still resting at home berth.... Tarka out!