Day 19 - Bahama Cruising (Hatchet Bay - Eleuthera Island)

25:20.8N
76:29.4W
Yesterday,
whilst checking the engine we noticed that water had returned under
the sump - further inspection (tasting) indicated it was from the salt-water
inlet (used to cool the engine). So first job this morning was to set to and see
if the leak could be repaired. Inlet pipe removed and re-cut and re-fitted.
Impeller gasket (an incredible thin piece of paper) - removed and replaced - all
tightened back up again and time to run the run engine (we needed to charge the
batteries and make some seawater anyway) ... bad news - the leak persisted! An
annoying drip leaving corrosive seawater beneath the engine. Hmm. More thinking
needed on how to fix it. We
sat and listened for the Sunday morning services/preaching - there were
none...strange. Only the distant sound of a town band playing "When the Saints
Go Marching in" and other hymnal tunes signified a Sunday service! For a
while we were alone in the bay - other yachts having left ... soon to be
replaced by 3 small motor launches and another yacht. Quiet was
restored. Turning
to another job - diving beneath the boat to inspect and clean if/as necessary -
after-all the bay was so quiet the boat was barely moving up and down - a
perfect time for inspection. All was going well until I needed some weights to
go down .... then I dropped the weight pocket and 3lbs of weight ... not I
problem I thought I will dive to the bottom and recover it - that was until I
got to the bottom (25ft) - the silt accumulated at the bay bed was probably
12-18" thick - search as I did - the weights had been "swallowed" by the
silt. So I had to leave them. Instead I viewed the jelly fish
life nestling on the silt - seemingly upside down to when they float
by the boat near the surface. Good news on the hull inspection - no fouling to
be cleaned, anodes still intact - no need to replace - just a few rust bubbles
on the keel to clean off. Even the bow thruster new plate was
fitting snuggly! Rounding off the day with ...a bbq and nightcap under the stars - watching the thumb-nail moon set, Venus following and other constellations gradually move across the sky - peace! Then the sound of disco music ... not at all as was expected for Sunday - had we lost track of the days...was it really Sunday? Such problems to solve when retired with "nothing" to do!! Phil and Di |