Ship's Log 07/01/09
As before any trip, the last few days turn into a mad rush to get everything done. Something always gets left out, but I just need to make sure that all the important chores get accomplished.
Batteries look good. #1 had 3 relatively dry cells, but that's to be expected considering that one of the solar panels was left hooked up with no load. Three weeks later, I found the batteries in relatively decent shape. At first i was a bit worried, but once I opened the other three batteries, I saw that they had plenty of electrolyte, so it was just the #1. I turned the fridge, hooked the other solar panel and untied the windgenerator blades. Now the power plant is in full gear. At 1PM, I was getting a whopping 23 amps out of the solar panels.
I compiled a grocery list that included antifreeze, oil, and all the food for the next two weeks or so. I usually forget something so I can always go again before I return the car tomorrow.
Later on in the afternoon, I replaced the worn fresh water pump, and tested the engine. It looks good. Antifreeze is no longer leaking. There is still a tiny oil leak but its so small that I will not need to add the oil during this trip.
What concerns me is the shaft seal. I have the Packless Shaft Seal(PSS) which is designed to be dripless, self lubricating. But I see a drop every 10 seconds or so. This is the first time since 2004 that the PSS is leaking. I should investigate it one more time tomorrow.
I spent the evening cooking and downloading charts, weather data etc.
I got 3 dinners of texmex mix with ground beef, rice and beef along with all or my favorite veggies. The next one was the small meatballs, that were actually Italian sausages that I cut into tinny pieces, I added the veggies and black beans to this but used cuss cuss instead of rice. I got three of those as well.
The last one was teryaki chicken which came out much better then I thought. I used pasta for that one. So in the end I had 9 tupperware containers ready to go. My dinner consisted of a bit of everything. I wanted to taste the food I will be eating for the next 10 days. Somehow, when you're out there, any tiny discomfort gets amplified. So I wanted to make sure that the new tastes sit well with my me mentally and with my stomach. Its amazing, these tastes, I will associate with voyaging. Good or bad, that remains to be seen. So next winter if i ever make the same teryaki chicken, it will remind me of the sea.
So I plan to leave on Thursday. You never leave on a Friday, and Saturday is already another day later. So might as well leave tomorrow afternoon. Weather is good into Monday which will put me north of Cape Hatteras.
Batteries look good. #1 had 3 relatively dry cells, but that's to be expected considering that one of the solar panels was left hooked up with no load. Three weeks later, I found the batteries in relatively decent shape. At first i was a bit worried, but once I opened the other three batteries, I saw that they had plenty of electrolyte, so it was just the #1. I turned the fridge, hooked the other solar panel and untied the windgenerator blades. Now the power plant is in full gear. At 1PM, I was getting a whopping 23 amps out of the solar panels.
I compiled a grocery list that included antifreeze, oil, and all the food for the next two weeks or so. I usually forget something so I can always go again before I return the car tomorrow.
Later on in the afternoon, I replaced the worn fresh water pump, and tested the engine. It looks good. Antifreeze is no longer leaking. There is still a tiny oil leak but its so small that I will not need to add the oil during this trip.
What concerns me is the shaft seal. I have the Packless Shaft Seal(PSS) which is designed to be dripless, self lubricating. But I see a drop every 10 seconds or so. This is the first time since 2004 that the PSS is leaking. I should investigate it one more time tomorrow.
I spent the evening cooking and downloading charts, weather data etc.
I got 3 dinners of texmex mix with ground beef, rice and beef along with all or my favorite veggies. The next one was the small meatballs, that were actually Italian sausages that I cut into tinny pieces, I added the veggies and black beans to this but used cuss cuss instead of rice. I got three of those as well.
The last one was teryaki chicken which came out much better then I thought. I used pasta for that one. So in the end I had 9 tupperware containers ready to go. My dinner consisted of a bit of everything. I wanted to taste the food I will be eating for the next 10 days. Somehow, when you're out there, any tiny discomfort gets amplified. So I wanted to make sure that the new tastes sit well with my me mentally and with my stomach. Its amazing, these tastes, I will associate with voyaging. Good or bad, that remains to be seen. So next winter if i ever make the same teryaki chicken, it will remind me of the sea.
So I plan to leave on Thursday. You never leave on a Friday, and Saturday is already another day later. So might as well leave tomorrow afternoon. Weather is good into Monday which will put me north of Cape Hatteras.
posted by sundowner-cruise at 7:51 AM
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