Boat ownership, as any boat owner will know, is a constant state of fixing things. It's easy to think that your boat will be fine, that things will just work, but boats, airplanes, and motorcycles.. all need constant care.
The enjoyment of boat ownership is truly a state-of-mind. When we readily accept that there is always something(s) that need attention we can accept the truth. There will always be thing(s) on the boat that need attention and that is just part of it.
One could think that perhaps if you buy a new boat it will not be the case.. but that is foolish as well. The word "boat" makes the constant attention required an obligatory reality.
The Bowling Alley
On the 4th of July, I was so excited. I had my brother and his wife on the boat. We were going to leave the marina and catch the fireworks from anchor. We maneuvered out of the slip and made straight for the very long and very narrow channel to head out into the Chesapeake Bay. (Herrington Harbor North Marina Deale, Maryland USA). A perfect exit out of the slip. ~ 2 steps forward.
As I entered the channel other boats lined up behind me to make the same tight pass through to the deeper water. (I affectionately call the channel the mile long bowling alley.) Not long into the bowling alley I saw a puff of smoke come up from the companion way. "What the hell is that!?"
I immediately lifted the hatches for the lazarette and smoke was wafting out of the engine compartment. A quick look at the engine gauges and I could see that the temperature gauge was pegged. Nothing I could do but shut it down and drift in the bowling alley. ~ 1 step back.
I started frantically waving to the boats behind me to let them know I was without power. They were able to squeeze past me but I was stuck. On both sides of the bowling alley the depth is 3 feet at best, and my boat Ragamuffin drafts 6.
I immediately got a hold of Tow Boat US. They quickly informed me that it would be at least an hour before they could get to me. Here I am stuck sideways in the channel, an obstacle to the one choke point of a very large marina.
Then I looked up to see a roughly 35' motor boat coming down the alley. On the side was a sign that read "Auxiliary Coast Guard". They came up beside me and asked what the issue was. I quickly explained that I was without engine power and help was roughly an hour away. They quickly threw me a line and pulled Ragamuffin to the visitors dock in the Marina, not far from where I was. ~ 1 step sideways?
It was great timing as every boater and their mother was heading out to view the fireworks and here I was a hazard in the channel. My brother and his wife took it in stride and tried to reassure me that "Hey.. it was fun anyways."
I got the marina crew to bring me back to my slip and gave myself a week to shake off the stress.
After some poking at this, and looking at that, I decided that maybe I just needed more coolant. I filled the coolant tank, started the motor, and she ran great. My buddy and I took her out and she kept her cool all the way out and back through the bowling alley. ~ 1 step forward.
With this confidence that the issue was all resolved, I decided to take her out my first time single-handed. The weather was perfect, my optimism was high. I entered the bowling alley, looked at the engine temp, and panicked. There it was again, temperature pegged. I quickly swung her around again to the pump-out dock, did some fancy footwork to tie her off while a family at the dock just watched me. (Thanks for the help).
A few choice words to the gods.. and a call to Boat US.. and she was back at the slip.
~ 1 step back.
I then decided to get ugly with it. I ripped out all the hoses that had anything to do with the cooling system, the hot water heater that used the engine to heat the water, and the heat exchanger. While disconnecting the heat exchanger I found that the 1" hose leading to the heat exchanger was connected to a 3/4" inch fitting on the heat exchanger. So while the previous owner/mechanic/whomever certainly cranked a hose clamp down tight on it, it just didn't make sense. It's a piss-poor job and I had to rectify it.
I removed the heat exchanger, cleaned it fully, pressure tested it, and reinstalled it with a correctly sized fitting for the coolant hose. I replaced the thermostat just in case, and all the hoses. Fired her up, took her down the bowling alley, and she ran like a top. ~ 1 step forward.
For those keeping track, Im back to even.
This adventure of getting this boat ready for a big sailing adventure has been nothing short of one big shit-show. But it's my shit-show and I own it. It teaches me new things at every turn.. about boating and about myself. Just gotta' keep moving forward.
Mike D. is the founder of Sail Junky Magazine. Striving to find more purpose in life, Mike writes and shares about his journey to rediscover his passion for living a fulfilled life, especially through the medium of sailing. mike@sailjunky.com
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