day 9-10

Day 9 -10 “On the Road Again!”

Day 9 was spent doing boat chores, updating blog site, shopping and
cleaning since the mechanic would not be out until early tomorrow.

We must be the biggest thing to happened to the marina so far this
season; everyone walking the docks just doesn’t say “hello”. They
obviously want to talk and invariably the opening statement is something
to the effect “ how is your motor coming along?”…so everyone seems to
know we were the guys towed in with engine problems. This is also the
first time that I’ve ever been in a marina where we were the only
sailboat; everyone else here is a pleasure fishing boat or some kind of
working boat.

It was easy giving directions to the mechanic; just go to “the sailboat”.

The results of testing the heat exchanger were inconclusive in that it
checks out o.k. So, the only culprit appears to be a clamp that came
loose on the exchanger core allowing coolant to escape into the exhaust
water.

Day 10:

Miles today: 12

Miles to go to Port Hardy: 90

The engine was put back together, load tested on dock by motoring
against the dock lines and all seems o.k. We used our spare thermostat
so I went back into Campbell River with the mechanic to pick up a new
one; the staff kindly drove me back out to the marina. We did another
load test for almost 1 hour to assure ourselves that all was o.k. and
that we were not loosing fluid.

I cleaned up the engine room and bilge, ensured that we have more than
enough coolant if we need it and we left at 14:45 to catch the turn to
ebb. We dropped anchor at Turn Island, just at the junction of Discovery
Channel and Johnstone Straight at about 17:00. Weather forecast is that
winds are to start out light and build in the afternoon and evening,
getting up to 25-30 kts. by evening ( pattern is almost the opposite of
the gulf islands where the wind dies in the afternoons).

Our plan is to get up early and be underway by 05:00. We have water
boiled in the thermos ready to make instant coffee; up anchor and
away!..yikes. We have to make Race Passage before noon else the current
will put us at a standstill. We will go until the wind builds; hopefully
we can make it to Port Neville ( which is now an abandoned post office
and art galley) across from Kelsey Bay or even beyond if weather holds.
That will put us within striking distance of Port Hardy.