It’s a Boat – Remember – Something’s Broken, You Don’t Know What It Is Just Yet!
Or
Fixing the Boat in Exotic Places
Boat splashed in Jacksonville – Yeah we can go. Engines don’t start – Well that’s not good. Boat is pulled to the dock with lines. Pete discerns with Chat GPT’s help that the solenoid is burned out. Part is ordered and problem fixed!
Throttles Still Out of Alignment – Pete works on them.
Frack/Port Engine hose is weepy – Mechanic replaces it.
Savannah – House Battery low on water. Pete fills it and still got low. Pete gets 2 new batteries. Rolls the dock cart to the boat, carries batteries up the steps, down the steps, and into the engine compartment. Oops one doesn’t work. So Pete carries it back out of the compartment, up the steps, down the steps, into the dock cart to the car, and back to Auto Zone. Gets a new one and then repeats the whole pattern. Five 61 pound batteries moved to or from auto parts stores from Spring Fling’s engine room.
VHF and Keypad both not working after changing out 2 house batteries. Solenoid #2 – ordered and replaced.
Hilton Head – It’s really hot – the Forward/Galley Air Conditioning goes out! Totally Dead! Not Working! Of course, there’s no parts for repairing a 21 year old A/C unit. New Air Conditioning Unit! Just a few boat bucks!
Heading out in the rain Oops windshield wipers not working. Solenoid #3 – ordered and replaced. There’s 4 of these solenoids that we know of. Extra solenoid ordered for good measure!
Cheri turns generator on to make breakfast – Pop! What’s that sound? I don’t know. Just the generator battery exploding. Mechanic took out the exploded mess and replaced with new battery. Let’s not do that again!! From now on, all 6 batteries will be changed out on a 4 year schedule.
Aft shower sump pump had failed as it was running constantly. Last year, the forward shower sump pump failed. Pump still available, so it was an easy replacement. This year, the pump has been changed to an updated model. ChatGPT says it will fit in the original shower sump box. New model 2 pump ordered. Guess what; it doesn’t fit!!! Find what appears to be a vendor with the old pump model still in stock. More expensive and a two week delivery time. Arrange to have it shipped to friends in Hilton Head. Open the package in Hilton Head, and it’s the updated model 2!!! Order a whole new shower sump box and pump and have it installed in Southport, NC. Elapsed time from discovering the problem until new shower sump box installed: 1 1/2 months!
Chart Plotter back lighting going dim – that will need to be fixed for our next segment.
Pete’s knee is now wonky due to carrying 60 pound batteries up and down steps multiple times.
The dotted line represents where we have been and where Spring Fling is at right now. America’s Great Loop is an Adventure! It is fun! Truly! The people you meet, the shared experiences, the bonding that takes place, the beautiful sunsets, the knowledge that is gained, the communication and growth that Pete and I share is unique and precious. Our hope is to return to Spring Fling next Spring and head North to Canada to complete the last segment of our loop journey where we should cross our wake in Mackinac Island and then head south to return to Lake Erie and Sandusky, Ohio where we first departed in 2022.