Guy stuff

Saturday, October 1, 2016


Maintenance
 
We've had no big mechanical issues but that still leaves the general maintenance on engines/strainers/generator and miscellaneous systems plus cleaning the boat, etc.

The vacuum pump on the master head required some maintenance. Fortunately a previous redesign of the pluming layout put it in a very accessible spot.

The master stateroom air-conditioner started tripping off with the digital display indicating a low AC voltage error. After trouble shooting with the service manual the control was re-calibrated and that fixed the problem.  All the problems should be this easy to fix.

The port engine continues to run 5-10 degrees hotter than the starboard engine. I flushed the raw water systems on both engines/gears while in Pensacola with Barnacle Buster and that helped a little. Next plan is to replace the engine thermostats which are readily accessible and spares are on board.

Anchor
 
The jury is still out on our new Vulcan/Rocna 122# anchor. We have had a couple of times where we have dragged in 20-30 feet of water while it was still buried (15-20 knot wind) and other times where when it came tight the bow dropped 12 inches with an immediate set. We are still trying different ways to get it to stay put.

Operation
 
I am very grateful that Buddy Moman, the previous owner who had the boat built, had the foresight to add the bow/stern thrusters and the wing stations as they make handling the boat very comfortable in close quarters.

Statistics

Currently we are in Port St. Joe about 50 miles south of Panama City. From Waterford Harbor we traveled 848 miles (GPS track) to Panama City, Florida where the fuel tanks were topped off. The engines ran 126 hours and the generator 273 hours. Several nights on the hook in 90+ degree temps with the generator on for AC and refrigeration really rack up the hours. Breaking down the engine and generator consumption, the engines burned 436 gallons or 3.4 gallons/hr and 1.94 mpg for the twin John Deere's and 164 gallons for the generator at 0.6 gallons/per hour. Engines were run at 1500-1600 rpm this gives us 8-9 mph depending on the current. Taking into account the generator time we have averaged 1.41 mpg for the 848 miles. As we reach cooler climates as well as the winter months the generator time will come down significantly.

Fun stuff

Finally took time to do a little wade fishing yesterday and again this morning. The water here looks like the Port Aransas east flats on a good day. There are miles of grass beds and sand pockets. Not another fisherman in sight. I am told it gets even better to the south. It is a long 200 yard hike from the boat to the sandy beach that runs for miles, all wadeable! Yesterday I caught 2 small trout and several rat reds, 2 small 6 to 8 inch grouper, a 12 inch barracuda, numerous skipjack and piggy perch on my favorite green Johnson sprite.

This morning I arrived a little earlier and lost count of the rat reds, 6 small grouper (not legal), more skipjack and piggys then into a nice school of reds. After landing a 23 inch red I tried to find the school again but with no success. Fresh redfish for dinner tonight.