We made a stop at Westview next to Powell River on the trip North to fuel up and get more water(showers tonight!!) as well as a few groceries--fresh veggies mostly(plus some wine of course). We also had lunch at a Thai restaurant that we happened upon while walking back to Zephyr. Nice and spicy.
Coming into the harbor was fine. Just a small breeze that didn't affect our arrival. While getting fuel, it shifted and increased so that it would blow us off any dock we tried to get to. I though Nanaimo was a tight marina. This place squeezes them in like sardines. It was darn near impossible getting Zephyr in without the help of the Harbormaster handling the dock lines. There was no way we could have done it without him. The winds that came up were going to make for great sailing after we got back. Yeah right!! As soon as I got the sail cover off and we left the dock the wind shifted to the Northwest--where we were headed to and later dropped to zero. The poor engine had to take us the entire way again.
After we left Westview while doing the after engine startup checks that I do every time we get under way, I found the coupling joint at the propeller that keeps water out as it turns was leaking like a sieve. Water was flowing in at an alarming rate and filling the bilge quick. I had Tracy slow the engine so I could get a better look and get the bilge pumped out. While I had already bought a replacement emergency pump switch for the bilge pump, I haven't gotten around to installing it. If I hadn't checked, it could have gotten really bad. With the engine slowed and the transmission in neutral, I moved the fittings around some and dried it off . The water seemed to have stopped. I had Tracy put it in gear and off we went nice and dry. I stayed in the aft compartment with the boards off in stared at it for the next hour or more just to make sure it was alright. The last thing we needed was a flood. It pays to do checks on equipment as you go along. you never know what you might find. The only thing I can figure out is that all the gear shifting I had to do in the marina-- and there was a lot of it--had jared the fitting just enough with the forward, reverse, forward, reverse until it move just enough to allow it to leak. It's a magnetic fitting that keeps the water out. There is a rubber bellows(full of water for cooling) around the through hull fitting that has a magnet on it and then another magnet that attaches to the shaft. The magnetics hold the water out by making a seal between the two. Many boats use a box stuffed full of waxed thread that wraps around the shaft and it keeps the water out. This is supposed to be much better. It's the first time I've seen it do this. I'll be checking it regularly--as I already have been.
We got into Squirrel Cove(50 08.412 N 124 55.220W) about 1750 after a 41 mile trip today and dropped the hook along with lots of other boats. There are 12 in the cove now and there will probably be another one or two still show up later.
Tomorrow, off to the rapids!!!
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