a day's delay

We did not leave Tarpon Springs today. I decided to do a 15 minute project this morning before leaving. There was a short section of hose on one of the bilge pumps which was kinking. If you need 'em, you want 'em to work at top efficiency. And since I had to get a 48" reggie into a 36" lazarette, I decided to also install the fresh water strainer which we had purchased yesterday. Once in the lazarette, I decided it really wouldn't take too long to move the fresh water pressure pump to a place where I wouldn't keep kicking it. In the process, which took longer than expected because I forgot that I would need to re-wire it, I was able to eliminate several feet of hose. Then, there was the bilge pump which had the bad hose. It was also always in the way when accessing the engine. Why not move it, also, as long as I'm in the neighborhood? While working around it, I noticed some wiring which needed some zip ties and anchoring. Then, I discovered that the ground terminal on the starter was very loose. After tightening it, I checked and found the positive side a little loose, also. The ground terminal could have been a big deal at the wrong time. After re-mounting the bilge pump, I found I needed an elbow or different hose. We spent the next 2 hours walking to several businesses including a major plumbing firm and finally to home depot. I estimate we walked close to 7 miles total. When arriving back at the boat, it was only about 15 minutes to finish the job. By then, in part because of being tired, and in part to reviewing the weather and finding what looks like a long enough weather window, we decided to stay another night and leave early tomorrow, and have more Greek food tonight! By the way, last night was down into the 30's here. Now, I know that is what the highs have been up home, but sleeping in an unheated boat with a sheet and a wisp of a blanket sure makes me glad for a warm and cozy wife! And she is happy because I finally found her a stainless steel old fashioned coffee pot. You know, the type you put on a stove burner and heat until it perks? So, she still gets her coffee in bed while she does her daily Sudoku! "Gypsy Gael' has become more cruise worthy each day. Guess we'll go cruising tomorrow! Reggie

Hi, Good save. If something is not broke, it will break when you are at sea. Cruiser's Rule # 3.1 We made the trip from Clearwater Pass to Pensacola Pass in 41 hours @ 6.2 knots, checked my log book. High tide Saturday is about 7 PM, so you should be coming in on a rising tide. I will monitor VHF 16 and cell phone and have the "Chico Limo", our pontoon boat, ready to meet you and guide you in. Sounds like y'all like Tarpon Springs. Tom and Bobbie --- r good <my… [at] hotmail.com> wrote: > > We did not leave Tarpon Springs today. > > I decided to do a 15 minute project this morning > before leaving. There was a short section of hose > on one of the bilge pumps which was kinking. If you > need 'em, you want 'em to work at top efficiency. > > And since I had to get a 48" reggie into a 36" > lazarette, I decided to also install the fresh water > strainer which we had purchased yesterday. > > Once in the lazarette, I decided it really wouldn't > take too long to move the fresh water pressure pump > to a place where I wouldn't keep kicking it. In the > process, which took longer than expected because I > forgot that I would need to re-wire it, I was able > to eliminate several feet of hose. > > Then, there was the bilge pump which had the bad > hose. It was also always in the way when accessing > the engine. Why not move it, also, as long as I'm > in the neighborhood? > > While working around it, I noticed some wiring which > needed some zip ties and anchoring. Then, I > discovered that the ground terminal on the starter > was very loose. After tightening it, I checked and > found the positive side a little loose, also. The > ground terminal could have been a big deal at the > wrong time. > > After re-mounting the bilge pump, I found I needed > an elbow or different hose. We spent the next 2 > hours walking to several businesses including a > major plumbing firm and finally to home depot. I > estimate we walked close to 7 miles total. When > arriving back at the boat, it was only about 15 > minutes to finish the job. > > By then, in part because of being tired, and in part > to reviewing the weather and finding what looks like > a long enough weather window, we decided to stay > another night and leave early tomorrow, and have > more Greek food tonight! > > By the way, last night was down into the 30's here. > Now, I know that is what the highs have been up > home, but sleeping in an unheated boat with a sheet > and a wisp of a blanket sure makes me glad for a > warm and cozy wife! > > And she is happy because I finally found her a > stainless steel old fashioned coffee pot. You know, > the type you put on a stove burner and heat until it > perks? So, she still gets her coffee in bed while > she does her daily Sudoku! > > "Gypsy Gael' has become more cruise worthy each day. > Guess we'll go cruising tomorrow! > > Reggie