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!

December 19, 2013 - Oil change complete

Still laying here in the cold...

Hank came by today to change my engine oil and filter. The last time Hank was over, my oil transfer pump broke, Richard tried to make repairs but it is still broken. Hank borrowed another pump from Richard to complete the job.

After 15 minutes of warming me up for the oil extraction / replacement, the job was completed without any problems. I now have a complete oil and filter change good for another 50 hours... but Hank replaced my oil filter with a different brand and size. My old filter was a Kutoba now replaced with a Baldwin. The Kubota filters can only be purchased in Richmond where they sell Kuboto parts, this is about a 2 hour trip, so Hank opted for a locally purchased one, well ok... borrowed from Aaron. :)

Kubota filter on the left, Baldwin filter on the right.

You can see from the photo the difference in canister size. It should work, as Hank changes my oil every 50 hours or so, so size doesn't matter I hope.

Kubota filter is on the left, Baldwin filter on the right

Now sleeping in the cold again... it snowed today (Dec 20), great eh!

Tarka out.

December 08 2013 - Oil change...

Well, this morning Hank came out to check on me as we had a gale coming through the marina (northerly outflow). The docks were moving around like snakes in a grassy field with our stays screaming loudly. Lucky all us boats were "snug as a bug" and rode out the storm without mishap (I think).

In addition, Hank came out to do my oil change. This is usually a very simple job, as my engine has an extractor pump mounted in front of my engine, and also my oil filter is accessed from the front as well.

My diesel engine started instantly (around -1c) using my glow plugs; Hank just needs to remember to open my raw water intake valve, BEFORE he starts the engine! After 30 seconds or so he remembered to open the valve (no raw water coming out of the exhaust is a good indicator). He now places the keys by the valve.

After running my engine for 15 minutes or so, Hank is ready to change my engine oil. Rags, filter removal tool and empty oil container all set... two pumps on the extractor pump and my pump breaks!! So much for the oil change today. Hank removed the extractor pump to see what the problem is... needless to say upon taking the pump apart, a spring bonces out of the pump and is now lost somewhere in my engine compartment... so much for the oil change.

But as luck has it... my "Pump Doctor" -  Richard Grass just happened to stop by... Hank asked him if he could repair my pump, hopefully he as a spare spring for my pump.

So much for the oil change eh!

Well for now...

Tarka sleeping in the cold.. Tarka out!

December 04, 2013 - Impeller Repairs Cont'd

Well, Hank and Richard were successful in rebuilding my impeller... operation a great success! My impeller has been re-installed, filter and lines cleaned, diesel filters cleaned and lines hooked up, engine throttle lines hooked up put needs to be reset as I can now only reach 1800 rpm. Just a minor adjustment.

All hooked up... note the new bolts (recycled from my old zinc blocks) Still needs a bit of paint... no leaks!! The pump is brass, they say not to paint it, but it would look better if it was pained.

This is my exhaust / raw water connection, this was replaced a few years ago, still looks good.

My motor started up with any problems, no air in my diesel lines!! and NO leaks in my raw water system!! all works perfectly!

Just need to have a bit of paint here and there to complete the job.

Besides the painting, my oil change still needs to be done!

Now sitting in the cold, with an electric heater, waiting for Hank's return.

Tarka out!

November 30, 2013 - Impellor repairs...cont'd

Well, Hank got the tools necessary to remove my impeller... was very easy, quick and painless operation.

Now with my impeller on the service bench, pump doctor Richard Grass will perform the operation of removing the rusted bolts on the impeller. The extraction did not go well... now ALL the bolts have broken off, leaving the bolt shafts in the impeller body. These shafts must be extracted, or we have to replace the entire pump.

got one bolt out, but broken off the three other bolts.

Pump Doctor Richard Grass performing the operation

Using drill, harden drill-bit (which got broken), a special file (which got broken), and WD40 spray, they only got 2 out of 4 shafts out!

Pump doctor Richard took my impeller pump home to continue the repairs there... needs a vise and drill press... maybe need to drill out the remaining two shafts and  re-tap new treads.

Hank now waiting for the doctor's report and the successful operation. Failing that... a new pump needs to be ordered.

For now...

Tarka out!

November 28, 2013 - Cont'd of engine repairs - Impeller replacement

Hank continued to work on my impeller replacement. His fears were materialized... bolts are rusted completely through. The only option now is to remove the impeller completely and hope that the bolts can be removed... if not... need to replace the entire impeller!

Needless to say, access to remove the impeller will be difficult. You can only use one hand to remove the impeller

You can see from the photos, that the bolts have completed rusted off. While just removing the rust with a wire brush, one of the bolts head came off.

Having a small camera works great; you can get into cramp spaces and see what you are getting into. Note the lower left bolt head is now broken off... rusted completed through. Hopefully we can still remove the bolt, once we have it on the bench.

Hank has now removed all the "stuff" around the impeller for ease of removal... diesel filter, engine controls, all raw water hoses (they now may need replacing as well). wiring, etc.

Now all Hank needs is a universal socket joint to remove the last mounting bolt...

That is it for today...

Tarka out!