Day 137 Here's how it can happen.

Yesterday was a perfect example as to how a boat can get wired strangely.  Troy--our new electrician--has been here cleaning up the systems.  Tucking, pruning, covering and rerouting wires as is necessary.  If I got the story right--heard from Tracy--he was working down in the pump area--all the fresh water pumps are in one area- and snipped some of the wires to redo them.  Along comes Jack--primary electrician--and sees what he is doing--oops!!   He cut some of the  wires that Jack had already redone.  He didn't understand what Jack had installed.  They then had to be redone and with suggestions from Troy, two new solenoids installed that will better run the pumps with less energy draw.  This shows how a boat can get all screwed up.  The first man does it one way and the second does it another and voila--you get Zephyrs wiring system.  My hats off to both of them for what they have done to make us a safer and better boat.

The boom is now under Zephyr in the yard ready for Tuesdays installation, at least sort of.  The fitting where the boom attaches to the mast where all blown.  The welding point on the stainless steel had at some time gotten sheered off.  As the fittings were old, we decided to replace the entire assembly--a bracket on the mast, the fitting that goes into the end of the boom as well as what attaches the boom to the mast.  At some point, the strain on the fitting was to great and the welds simply sheered off leaving the end of the boom flopping, yet still attached to the mast.  Better a new one than a rebuilt one.

They will be "dress" the mast on Monday as Brion wants the mast up on Tuesday.  The US Coast Guard folks will be here Wednesday for their class on Zephyr.  There is lots to do before the mast can go up.  The stem fitting(holds the anchor as well as the forestay) hasn't even been attached to the bow.  Spreaders need to be attached and the wires that hold the mast vertical still need to be installed.  Monday will be pure chaos.  Especially since we will be having the electricians on board at the same time.

I practiced putting eye splices in our new halyards(lines that raise the sails).  I have a lot to learn.  I did one end of the line--bad!!  Went at the other end of the line--better but still not right.  I'll wait for the pros to show up on Monday for better instructions.  I can't waste line as you have to cut off the sections after you screw up a splice.  You can't reuse the line as it is all messed up.

With the redoing of the water systems yesterday and bleeding of the lines, the forward heads hot water faucet started to drip. I took the fitting off after de-pressuring the system and stuck it in my pocket planning to go to the local hardware store for parts. A few hours passed and I made a list of other things I needed to get and took off on the bus.  Getting back, I fixed a few things and settled back and talked to Tracy for a few minutes.   Suddenly the sounds of water could be heard beside Zephyr--we were in the cockpit at the time.  We wondered why Zephyr would be letting loose with water.  Suddenly it dawned on me that Jack--the electrician had reconnected the wires to the fresh water pump and was checking the system not knowing that I had left one of the faucets wide open.  I'd forgotten I had the part that needed replacing in my pocket when I went to the store and not fixed it when I got home.  A "senior moment" or "snap" as one of our friends would say.  I rushed below decks to inspect the flood.  Jack apologized--though not his fault for the flood.  It wasn't to bad as the opening was right beside the sink but there was still a good bit of water to clean up.  Another trip was made to the local hardware store--hey--they had never seen a rubber gasket like what I needed.  It isn't a washer at all but a type of "hat" or "cap" that fits over the end of the fitting.  Ah--those crafty Chinese boat builders.  I'll be ordering new faucets on Monday.  Two sets--forward head and stern head.  Might as well get all of them set for changing as their time will come.

We've been "talking" via email with another boat "living the dream".  They're currently in Greece on their way to Gibraltar so they can come back across the Atlantic later this year after the hurricanes settle down.  If you really want to read about being out there, try logging into www.sandpiper38.blogspot.com.  They have been out there "living the dream" for the past three years and had an article published in "Latitudes and Attitudes" magazine in the current(October) issue.  We've been following them since we were in Seattle at the boat show last January.  It's been a big help getting an insight into what actually goes on out there.  We first hooked up with them just as they were leaving Indonesia headed for Sri Lanka.  They have quite the blog to read.  Take some time and read it--I know you will enjoy it.   

Well, back to Zephyr.  It's cleaning day as we have company coming next week and Zephyr has to look her best.