Nov 15 - 17 2011 - Time away with Aaron at Bowen Island

With my engine repaired, oil changed, fluids up... we set sail for a short trip to Bowen Island with Aaron in his new sailboat "Serenity Now" as company.

On the sail over, we ran into hundreds of Pacific Dolphins. Dolphins everywhere, going in every direction. While Hank was filming Aaron, he noticed that a sea-lion surfaced at Serenity's stern, dolphins seemed to be all over him. The sea-lion surfaced the second time, with his large flipper exposed, seemingly to ask Aaron for help. He surfaced a third time, then he was gone.

Hank check the web, and found that dolphins do eat sea-lion on occasion. Humm, maybe they were wearing him out before the kill. Wish the sea-lion best of luck.

We moored at our old slip at Snug Cove (A07); the dock was frozen! so a cold night tonight. Hank and Aaron when out for dinner, then watched a movie with me. It took two electric heaters to keep them warm!

That night the winds and rain where very strong... so Hank and Aaron decided not to sail the next day.

I just laid around with Serenity Now, with nothing to do, but wait for the rain / snow to stop

Hank found a few more leaks in my cabin roof... where my old instrumentation wires when through the ceiling. Oh well, he likes working on me :)

Sailed home on Thursday.... as we came into my slip at home, we found it was completely plugged with logs. Hank had to clear out the logs before I could be moored.

Now sitting at dock once again, waiting for my next adventure.

Nov 13 2011 - First Video attempt

Hi all, this is my first video - taken from various locations... Race back from Sliva Bay, around Howe Sound, by passage island

Nov 13 2011 - Anti-Freeze change - Problems!

On a boat, no job is small, what you think should take minutes, could last up to days! Changing the anti-freeze is "normally" around 15 minute job. Well, it has been three days now, since Hank started, and is still not complete. Richard and Arron (Hank's friends) and Hank must of spent over 10 working hours on this.

As Hank was opening the drain valve, it BROKE! right at the engine block. The valve was pot aluminum! why would they install that type of soft metal? the engine block is cast iron!

To get access to make repairs, Hank had to remove the alternator, cooling hoses, electric wiring, and oil filter. To repair this, you have to remove the broken off piece inside the engine block. To make the story short... after a lot of work, they finally got it out by retapping the threads. All better now!

As said before, no job is small... while hank was working in that area, he noticed that the oil drain pump was rubbing against the  rubber cockpit drain hose... wearing down the rubber. Good thing he noticed this as it could of been a major problem, if left unchecked. A simple fix... move the oil drain pump to another location and replace the drain hose.

All to do now is the replace the antifreeze, change the oil, and relocate the pump.






Til next time... more adventures eh!

Nov 08 2011 - on the "Hard"

Some phrase eh..."on the hard"... meaning... your vessel is in dry dock. At first, I didn't like that phrase, on the hard, but now, being a boater... it makes sense to me.
Anyway...
Hank finally took me to the yacht club for my hull cleaning... looking forward to this, as I know I have a few pounds of mussels growing at the bottom of my keel.

Richard Grass came over and helped out... great guy to say the least. My hull was power washed, mussels removed, and they added one additional zinc near my brass propeller. However, they did not paint my bottom this time. Hank could not get any bottom paint, plus it was raining so they could apply it anyway... next time eh!

Hank felt a bit better, knowing my bottom was clean and the all is well down there... zincs secured, propeller good, rudder is strong, through-hulls all looking good.

Hank lowered me into the water, without problems. Just we were going to sail / motor away, Richard mentioned that we should check the dripless bearing... I forgot all about this, as we have to open up the valve to allow the air to escape and water to come into the bearing! If not, 30 seconds later, would destroy my PSS bearing. Thanks to Richard!!

We motored home, tied up .... now waiting for my anti-freeze change over.

Til next time...

Oh ya... did you know that sea-gulls eat mussel whole! Yes, shell and all!!




Tarka

Oct 29 - 30 2011 - Snug cove

Just a nice weekend away at Snug Cove with Caroline and Hank.

Motored over and back... no sailing this trip :( Caroline pulled her shoulder muscles, so it was in the best interest just to take it easy.

they went out for dinner at one of the local restaurant, chatted with the locals and came home to me. :) We all watched a comedy on my HD DVD.

Next day, Caroline rested her shoulder and hank worked on the computer... then motored home, greeted by my sailing buddy "MoJo". Fantastic race boat, skippered by Pierre. They just finished the first "Snowflake" race of the season. It was great seeing the entire crew working on MoJo.

Oh ya, almost forgot... hank finally found where the water was coming in. Apparently, I have a major leak in the mast... either at the top or sides... the water was running down the electrical lines and filling up my mast, empting into my bildge. I guess hank has to climb the mast tower again, and plug the leaks. While he is down at the yacht club, he might as well clean my bottom!@! :)

Take care all

Tarka

PS photos to follow....

Oct 25 - 27 2011 - Trip to Gibson

Another day sailing the Howe Sound... light winds, sunny and a bit cold.

Hank went over to spend a few days with his friend Robert McDonald,. He must of had a good time, as he was away from me most of the time, spending  only time to sleep with me. Hank brought his guitar along this time, assumed he was going to play a few songs with Robert.

 That night it froze, my deck was all frosted over in the morning... Hank kept warm with a hot water bottle and a electric heaters.

Robert and Hank went for a short sail, just before Hank and I sailed for home... nice, short, gentle breeze. Robert seemed pleased with the sail. :) I dropped him off at the Gibson Marina dock and watched him head for home.

On our way home to Vancouver, we met up with Aaron...sailing his new mistress "Serenity Now". Arron is extremely proud of her, but I'm sure he misses old "Puddin" to some degree. "Serenity Now" has great lines and has super looks (But not as good looking as me haha).

We ran into a pod of dolphins again... I guess they must be here to stay for awhile longer.

Rounding Hood point, the winds died, so was both motored home...


Ah home again. :)

Oct 18 2011 - sailing with the Dolphins

Good Day, all... and what a good day it was!!!
Perfect weather, sun, warm and a very light breeze; a PERFECT day for another one on one with Hank!

Yup, just me (Tarka) and Hank, sailing around Passage Island.

this sail was very special... we were greeted by a pod of dolphins! Must of been at least 50 or more!

At first we motored to the pod, with the hopes that our engine noise will attract them and have them ride our bow wave... Well that was the plan, but no one seemed interested in joining us, they kept to themselves. Hank did manage to get some pictures and a few video shots. Finally Hank turned off the engine just drifted with the current amongst the pod of dolphins.

The sail home was relaxing... had a mini race with an unsuspected sailor, he seemed to be game for a race, as he appeared to be adjusting his sailing a lot closer than before. We sailed very close to him, to the point that he was always blanketed our sails, making it impossible to pass him if we continued on the tack. Hank jibed me, so we can change course... A good move on hank's part, as after that we gained a lot of speed. With our bimini top off, Hank could now easily see my trailing tell tales and adjust my main sail. Needless to say we "won the race" :)... of course. :)

Arrived home safe and sound.

Oh ya... Hank installed brand new dock lines... even braided all the connections, complete with eye-hooks... take a look!