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Larry's LogAfter finishing the net Tuesday morning, I went to work. First, I found the spare filter cartridge for the outboard, got in the dinghy and removed the entire filter and hose assembly so I could work on it in the boat, a much more stable platform. It took some doing, with 2 filter wrenches, but I managed to separate the cartridge from the plastic water separator (after first draining the entire filter and hoses). Then I got the old filter cartridge off, cleaned everything, lubricated the new o rings and put everything together. I then got back in the dinghy, installed the filter and filled it. This part was a bit strange though because when I connected the intake hose to the tank and exit hose to the engine, I couldn't get the filter to fill with fuel, although I was pumping the fuel bulb. I removed the hose from the engine and it filled with no problem. I finished filling the filter and reconnected the engine and tried everything by running the outboard and trying to get on a plane. It "seemed" to want to work initially but then the same thing happened. I went back to the boat and Diane helped me get the engine on the stern rail so I could work on the internal parts of the fuel system without bouncing around in the inflatable. She then went back to making some cookies. First, I removed the internal fuel filter but it was perfectly clean, as I thought it would be. I then took the reed valve apart (Yamaha's version of a fuel pump, although the old Mariner 5 had the same part) and that was clean also. I briefly considered removing the carburetor but thought better of it since this one was much more complicated than the old one on the Mariner 5 I used to work on. I looked over the rest of the engine but couldn't see anything obvious, of course. I consulted a book I have on outboard maintenance (advertised as "Be your own outboard mechanic") and noticed a suggestion that loss of power might be caused by fouled spark plugs. I checked and they were a little dirty but otherwise fine. At this point, Diane helped me put the engine back on the dinghy and I tried it again, with the same result. I was pretty disgusted but we had owned the engine for almost 4 years now and this was the first time it had ever given any trouble (it usually even starts on the first pull). We had lunch and discussed what we should do. I sent off some emails to ask friends we knew if they could recommend any good mechanics in Bonaire or if they had any suggestions to try. After eating and sending the emails, we relaxed a bit and then went to the small beach to take a swim (and open a conch Diane had happened across yesterday). We didn't even snorkel although we did clean the bottom of the dinghy again. We could still use the dinghy but were worried that continued use might damage the engine further since we didn't know what was wrong. We were also considering leaving for Bonaire sooner but even if we did, we probably wouldn't be able to get a mechanic until after the weekend, and we did want to stay some more in Sotavento. I guess we'll have to see what my friends' suggestions might be and what the weather will be like. The next day, I had a very busy morning, with two unrelated things - the refrigerator and the outboard. I expected the outboard but the refrigerator was a surprise. Diane had defrosted the freezer 2 days ago and found that the compressor wasn't turning off although the temperature was going down. It seemed that the thermostat wouldn't turn the compressor off, even when it was turned to the off position so obviously the thermostat was bad. This happened last year as well so when I fixed it with the spare I had, I bought another spare thermostat in PLC. I figured I would fix that before tackling the outboard. Of course, first I had to get the spare thermostat, which naturally, was buried under the aft cabin berth where I store a lot of spares. It took almost 30 minutes just to move everything so I could get at the locker. The wind was very light, almost calm so it was also very hot, just adding to the fun. I managed to find the spare thermostat without too much digging and, after changing the wire connectors since the old ones wouldn't fit with the orientation of the new unit inside the housing, I got the new one connected. I tested it and it seemed to work, at least it would turn the compressor on and off, so I mounted it inside the box and arranged the temperature probe so it would be close to but not touch the aluminum of the freezer compartment. I told Diane she would have to adjust the setting and then started to put all the stuff away, back into the aft cabin. By the time I finished all that, it was almost 11:30 and I was soaked with sweat, so I just relaxed until lunch. After lunch, I started on the outboard. I got in the dinghy and tried to move the prop by hand while it was in gear (but turned off of course). It seemed to slip so the rubber bushing seemed to be the problem. Several people had mentioned this problem to me (via email and SSB), but I had never heard of it before. Unfortunately, I couldn't reach the prop well enough to remove it so I took off the fuel hose, loosened the motor transom clamps and manhandled the engine over the transom and into the dinghy. It wasn't easy since the dinghy isn't a very stable platform and the engine is over 85 pounds and awkward to lift that way. But, I got it in the boat without dropping it overboard or damaging either it or the inflatable. I balanced it so that the prop was pointing up and the engine couldn't fall over by using the side of the dinghy and the fuel tank as supports. I got my tools and amazingly enough, the propeller came off very easily. I then went back on the boat with the prop, got out my drill, bits and self tapping screws and proceeded to perform surgery. Tom, on Mima, had said that if I put screws through the outer aluminum and into the rubber, it might hold well enough to keep it from spinning. I looked for screws that would go all the way through the aluminum and into the rubber as far as possible but the screws I had were either too long or not quite long enough to penetrate the rubber all the way. I figured it was worth a try with the slightly too short ones anyway, so I put them in and remounted the prop on the engine. I started it and took it for a little test. I brought it up to the speed where it was starting to plane and the boat started to lift but then the same problem happened and the engine revved with no increase in speed. The screws must have started to hold but then the rubber just ripped and the prop started slipping again. At least I knew what the problem was now. There was a Yamaha dealer on Bonaire so hopefully he will have a spare prop - I emailed him later in the evening to see if he did or when he could get one. I got back to the boat and Diane was watching. I told her what happened and she suggested using the longer screws but I'm not sure they will work now that the rubber is already ripped in those holes. I suppose it couldn't hurt to try so tomorrow we'll go to the little beach with a screwdriver and the longer screws and I'll try it. But for today, we just went to the beach to swim and cool off for a while - it was pretty hot with no breeze. Of course, we had to run the engine to charge the batteries, something we hadn't done very much recently so I guess we've been fortunate. There had been a boat that came into the bay sometime in the morning but then he left at about 5:30. Diane and I both felt this was a little foolish unless he was really familiar with the reefs around because you couldn't really 'read' the water at all - the sun was now in the western sky and was creating a lot of glare on the very still water. But, he managed to get through to the open water past the island and went up to one of the small islands to the north. (I think he was just lucky.) The lack of wind continued throughout the night and for the first time, we had bugs in the boat - sand flies I think since they were too small for mosquitoes. As a result of the heat and bugs, we didn't sleep too well. Of course, when we got up Thursday morning, the batteries were pretty low as well since the wind generator was just sitting. As I did the Safety and Security net, the relay that came up from the east was Second Millennium, so tomorrow Melodye would be able to resume being the net controller. I had been doing it for a little over 2 weeks and there weren't many reports so that was good. Still, I was glad she could take the net again. It was getting hot again and we didn't do much in the morning. Mostly we just relaxed and tried to stay cool. After lunch, while Diane read, I took the dinghy and snapped (is that the right word with a digital camera?) some pictures of the anchorage and the boat. It was a pretty place even though the water wasn't the best. We then went to the little beach where I wanted to replace the screws I had put in the prop yesterday but unfortunately, the ones I took with me were bent a little and I couldn't put them in the holes from the originals. I thought about going back to the boat to get others but we were already wet with salt water and it wasn't critical to do it now. So, we went snorkeling to the little bay just to the east of us, where we had gone before. Again, the water was green and a little murky but the snorkeling was interesting. I spent some time poking around the shallows again and over the sea grass beds, as well as near the mangrove roots. I saw lots of the usual small snappers and jacks but also several small barracuda - evidently they like the area near the mangroves when they're small (about 1-2 feet). I also saw a new species, found only in that environment, an Emerald Parrotfish (not as pretty as the name would suggest but it's always nice to see and identify something new). We then went to the little beach to relax a bit and returned to the boat in time for afternoon cocktails, of course. The next day, I was the relay for the Safety and Security net again, as Melodye took over her role as net controller. She's been doing it for many years now, at least for the 5 we've been in the Caribbean - everyday, all week and every month. The only day she doesn't broadcast is Christmas. I was glad to be able to help out but now happy to resume a less rigorous role. The wind was still very light but we planned to move to one of the little islands just north of Isla Larga since we planned to go to Bonaire soon and leaving from Mangrove Bay without good light (in the early morning which is when we want to go) isn't very good since there are reefs and shallows around. We had seen some other people leave early (8am) a few days ago, and then the last boat here left at 5:30, also a bad time. They made it OK but I prefer to be able to see easily. Anyway, I took the dinghy and took some more pictures and also brought the dinghy to the little beach where I put the longer screws into the prop. I tested it again on the way back to the boat and it worked for a second before the rubber again gave way. At least I know a new prop will fix the problem. We waited until about 10:30 to leave and motored over to the little island just south of Isla Palmeras. We anchored in some beautiful blue water, over good sand, in about 16 feet. As we were going, there were some clouds building up and when we anchored at about noon, we also heard some faint thunder. We ate lunch and relaxed a bit, waiting to see if we would get a squall, but the clouds just dissipated. Once we were sure there was no storm coming, we went snorkeling to the reefs around the little island we were anchored near. We had been there 2 years ago and it was still pretty good although the water wasn't as clear nearby the island as it was where we now anchored. Back at the boat, we figured that we would get ready for the trip to Bonaire tomorrow (take up the engine and dinghy, etc.) and leave on Sunday, but plans do change. Saturday morning was busy with getting ready to leave tomorrow for Bonaire. I got the equipment out of the dinghy and Diane helped to get the outboard on the stern rail. I then cleaned everything off, rinsed off the salt and then Diane and I hoisted the dinghy itself onto the foredeck. After we got it onboard, we cleaned it from the dirt and growth that had already started. Once that was done I put a line around the stern and bow to hold it temporarily and prevent it from moving in the slight roll we were having. Since the anchorage was exposed to the north, there was a slight northerly swell coming in, probably from the hurricane that was now almost to the Louisiana/Texas border. After that, it was almost lunchtime so I just relaxed and read. After eating, Diane worked on her logs and made some bread and I put some more things away and organized some of the tools and stuff I had used recently. Mostly I just read though. We went for a quick swim in the late afternoon to cool off, just going off the boat. There was a pretty good current going through so we didn't swim too far though. Since the wind was still a little light, only about 8-10 knots, I ran the engine again to charge the batteries. We got up early Sunday and made our final preparations to go to Bonaire. I tied down the dinghy, put some more things away and although the sky was very overcast and it was raining slightly, we left at about 7:10. The wind was very light at about 10 knots from the southeast. We motored almost all the way to Bonaire, through some squalls, with the sky remaining threatening all day. We never had a lot of wind although we did have some winds from the south southwest for a while at about 12 knots (a small wind reversal). We did have a nice experience on the way though. About 9am, a small bird flew onto the boat. It was raining lightly and he was perched on the jib sheet at first then the lifelines and then he flew off and came back (when he saw there was still no land around). Coming back, he landed on the starboard railing near the cockpit. I was sitting near the wheel and Diane was on the opposite side. He didn't appear frightened at all. He stayed there for a few minutes and, seemingly tired of getting drops of water on him, hopped into the cockpit. He stayed with us all the way to Bonaire, alternately hopping around, drinking the water drops on the coaming, and just "bedding down" on the cockpit seats we had. He wouldn't let us pick him up but he wasn't afraid at all and we moved around freely with him just looking at us and then dozing again. During that time, we turned the engine off, brought out the jib, rolled in the jib and started the engine again without him so much as flinching. Two or three times, he flew off as in search of land nearby but flew right back to the boat. Finally, when we just rounded the southern tip of Bonaire, he flew off and didn't look back. I never could identify what type of bird he was but definitely a finch of some kind. (dark cap, mottled breast, etc. - my bird book doesn't have color plates of all the perching birds.) We arrived at the town of Kralendjyk at about 3:30 and immediately launched the dinghy and got the engine on and went to clear in. We wouldn't have normally been in such a hurry but felt that with the problems other cruisers had with checking into Bonaire, it was best to do it quickly. The issue was with Immigration - people who had spent time in Los Roques and Las Aves, as we had, were given a hard time since they had cleared out of Venezuela, for example, 7-8 weeks prior to arriving in Bonaire. Why this was a problem wasn't understood. Hopefully when we got through Customs, we could use the police station to clear immigration. We spent about 5 minutes in Customs talking to a young woman who was very nice - I filled out a small form and she said we could then go to Immigration. We knew the Immigration office was closed so we went to the police station but were very surprised to be told that since we had just come from Venezuela we had to come back tomorrow and go to the "real" Immigration office. That had never happened before but at that point we didn't have much choice so we walked back to the dock, stopping for an ice cream on the way. We got back to the boat and just relaxed. Hopefully, we wouldn't have a problem tomorrow. Other cruisers we know weren't allowed to stay and left for Curacao. We'll see... |