Secondly, as I did my routine check of systems in the engine room--oil level in the engine, antifreeze in the coolant tank, fluid in the steering system and transmission fluid all topped up, I found that the transmission fluid didn't even register on the dip stick. When we had been traveling up in Alaska, I had found that one time before, but I just added some and all was well. Since we were traveling at the time, I didn't pursue it and we just continued on with me checking the fluids each day. Well, now it was time to find out why and get it fixed. We didn't want to be out there and suddenly the transmission seize up and die after we had just put in the new one. There were no obvious leaks so that only left one place for the fluid to be going and that is out through the transmission cooler. Unlike cars, boats transmission fluid gets cooled by passing it through a large tube that has lots of smaller tubes in it. The raw water from out side the boat flows through some of these tubes and the transmission fluid passes through the rest getting cooled by the water passing over it's tubes. Well it appears that ours has developed a small leak and is slowly pushing the fluid out of the transmission. Better it go out than suck water into the transmission. I ordered in two--one to use and the second one as a reserve as they are typically only good for about 2,000 hours of use. Plus, it is the same cooler that is used the cool the engine oil. They should be here tomorrow for installation.
When I got up the morning, as I went up the hill, I found Moon Angel parked in front of us. This the the boat owned by Jay and Benita whom we met while we spent the Winter in The Port of Brownsville. They also spent the Summer traveling up the Alaska. We're having dinner with them tomorrow. Nice folks and VERY knowledgeable about all things boating. He's the one that clued me into the transmission solution.
We also have had a small fresh water problem for a while that the pump that pumps all the fresh water to the faucets keeps going on and off instead of just running when the pressure tanks needs re-pressurizing. Zephyr came with a special tank that keeps the water under pressure at all times instead of having the pump turn on each time you turn on a faucet. Now instead of it pressurizing the tank, the pump turns on each time the faucets are used. That tell me that the pressure tank wasn't working right. I checked it this afternoon and found it full of water instead of air. The rubber bladder inside it apparently had broken making it useless. Now I get to take it out and find a replacement some where along the road. We still get water when we turn on the faucets, but this will just make the pump have to work harder. The learning curve just keeps growing as the miles keep going.
We had a small get together this evening aboard Zephyr with folks from two other boats joining us for some cake and strawberries. Nothing special, just a chance for some sailers to get together and swap stories and information. One man even brought his daughter along. A nice young girl that will be sailing with her parents and getting home schooled.
Weather permitting, several of our friends will be setting off for either Coos Bay or Crescent City tomorrow. I haven't checked as I know we won't be leaving for a few days. It depends on when the transmission cooler gets in. If tomorrow, we could be out of here by Thursday---again--as weather permits.
Stay tuned, our saga just keeps getting longer and more interesting.
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