Day 36 Will it ever stop raining?

We've had over 1.5 INCHES of rain today and it is still raining!!!  There is a reason that Oregon is green but my goodness. It needs some sun to stay that way.  Rain is in the forecast for the future.  Sun--come out,come out where ever you are.

Spent some of the day ordering more stuff.  It 

will never stop.

Went in search of the steering problem.  The wheel bound up at 23 degrees on a starboard turn.  Some times on a port turn.  We took up the stern bunk to get at the rudder and see what was happening. Turns out that as the wheel is turned, it turns an arm that is attached to the rudder post.   As it turns, it runs into a bolt that hold the entire steering unit to the boat.  It has to ride up over it as it makes the turn.  For a while, we were concerned that the steering was in need of a major refit and it would have to be done before we leave for Port Townsend.  Instead , all I have to do is file down the top of the bolt a bit and all will be fine.  YEAH!! Big relief.

Read more manuals tonight about the electrical system and the water system.  If it clears up enough, we will install the new batteries tomorrow.  If not, we may be off to Portland 

to buy a DuoGen--a big propeller that sits on the stern of our boat that makes electricity for our boat.  It will also work if we put a different attachment on it and drag it behind the boat as we sail.  Either way, we get electricity to charge our batteries.  A major concern when out sailing.   Our everyday life--just like yours--depends on how much power we can generate for our home.  You get yours thru long wires, we must make our own any way we can.  Solar panels will be added to the sides of Zephyr on a swing up hinge so while at anchor we can get even more power. 

The water pump for the boat is acting up again.  It just keeps on running long after the system should be pressurized.  We've got plenty of water and the lines are fine, so out with the old pump and in with the new.  Earlier, we thought that one of the lines was letting air into the system but after checking the lines and closing off each tank in rotation to see what tank might be letting air into the system(each acted the same-the pump just kept on running), we finally came to the conclusion that the tanks are fine, the pump is bad.  Hey, it's just money!!!

I'm off to bed and it's still raining!!!