Our aft bilge pump (one of three) switch recently failed which caused some problems.
This “automatic” bilge pump is being installed as a redundant aft bilge pump system, and a separate Water Witch alarm system will alarm us if both pumps failed and the sensor gets wet.
The main engine starter is one of the vulnerable and critical components that gets wet if this system fails! SO: “Redundancy is the best policy”.
The salon mounted part of the alarm system.
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Rather than adding a thru-hull fitting, I plumbed it to the port scupper. Closer lookThe business end. New pump lower right of pic next to the S/S propeller shaft. Generator aft on lower left of this pic. Strainer for generator cooling water looks “green”. One of our two fresh water tanks is seen along the whole top of this pic.
The older bilge pump is still there but is out of frame to the right (forward) of the new redundant system. The older pump works, but a new float switch is the next project for this part of the boat, along with re-packing the stuffing box with new packing material. The float switch can be done anytime, but the stuffing box will involve a “short haul” … (meaning a brief haul out of the water for a few hours. ). Scheduled for Dec 27 at nearby Huckins yard.
Russ is from Edgecomb Maine. We are flying into Boston Tuesday for Thanksgiving with his family at my sister Jeanne’s place. She can accomdate the 15-20 folks are expected including my son Nick and his GF Desire. From Long Island NY.
So we’ll be getting a dose of New England weather, which we have not experienced in a couple winters.
How is this for his photographic contribution to the blog?!?!
A tropical depression in the Caribbean does not appear to pose a threat to us in northern Florida. It has been rainy this week. More rain (80% chance) in the forecast for tomorrow. But we might get a good “pool and hot-tub day” in this weekend before flying up to BOS and NH for the Thanksgiving holiday next week!
Walter was aboard today to scope our 3000 hour preventative maintenance service which is scheduled for next week.
He did the 2000 hour service in Feb 2022 about 21 months ago. He helped identify some mysteries we’ve had and we are sure he’ll help ready us for another year or two underway.
This mechanism on our transmission froze up in FWD underway while docking. So we had to shut down the engine and get a tow for the 150’ into our slip. Today I was able to free up this mechanism. So now I just need to get the cable linkage working again.
In our slip! C103Our average speed through water is 8.5 mph (at 1600 RPM). All the red lines show where we had enough current to let us go 10mph or more!!!
The nice 5-night anchor / stay at Cumberland Island was getting a little old and we were running low on some things like fresh water
Good timing on this sunset pic. Our Go-NoGo criteria dictated No Go for today. But things are setting down at this hour, so we should have a good night.
We are running low on water ‘n’ wine… but we have food for a couple more days. Hopefully we can get goin’ tomorrow or Saturday.
The wind picked up last night here at Cumberland Island GA where tidal currents reciprocate north and south.
This morning, from bed, I could tell the current and wind were opposing each other and we were taking the chop on our starboard side and starboard quarter. So, I got up and ran the engine for a bit to ensure everything was OK. Then I stuffed a small sized fender into the exhaust port on our starboard quarter waterline.
This fender fits snugly into the exhaust, and should prevent waves from pushing water up into the engine which can cause a disastrous hydrolock condition.
I also used this same fender at the dock in a few marinas on the western rivers where rats and muskrats were known to exist. They have been known to swim into exhaust ports and eat the rubber exhaust hose, again with disastrous consequences.
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Addendum – October 29, 2024
Here is a pic of an empty plastic bleach bottle which fits in our exhaust better than my small green fender. A bit of oil absorbent “diaper” snugs it in better. A small line saves the day in case I forget to remove the bottle in the a.m. when we start the engine and get underway.
Empty Bleach bottle protecting our engine from hydolock (and/or rodents).
I was at a boatyard last week in Belhaven NC. There I saw a MS 390’s engine which was ruined by water making its way into the cylinders through the exhaust.
Seeing a scum line above the waterline just under the swim ladder, yacht insurance REJECTED THE CLAIM. “This boat was overloaded which caused the problem.” $35,000 later, this boat will be underway again in a month or two… with a new engine.
Come up with YOUR strategy to avoid this potential problem.
When deploying your “tampon” safety device in a strong current, consider wearing a PFD & a tag line around your waist in case you fall overboard. You could fall off the swim platform and no one would know OR know how to recover you!
