We were planing on leaving SD for Ensenada in the wee hours Tuesday morning. However after discussing the still existing "fuel in oil" problem, we decided it would be more prudent to remain in SD until it is remedied.
Early yesterday, I soaked all of the bolts in penetrating oil that would have to be removed to access the injector pump. These Included; the exhaust manifold riser, the heat exchanger holding tank, two injectors, the fuel lines, the oil filter and mounting base. This was due to the close proximity of the bulkhead to the engine, and no possible way to even see it, much less get to it. The exhaust manifold bolts were very difficult to access. I worked on it all day before being stopped in my tracks by the fact that with bolts removed, the injection pump refuses to budge, when I try to remove it from the engine block. According to the shop manual, after removing the two bolts and the holding pin, you simply remove it. I would love to get the writers here to show me how simple it is.So here I sit contemplating my plan of attack on this stubborn entity. Yes I do mean entity,as it certainly has a very stubborn "mind of its own!
I'm thinking of sharpening a screwdriver and using it as a wedge to get it started, but I'm afraid that if there is something else holding it, I might damage the housing. This would be very bad, as a new pump is around $1000.00. Nope don't want to go there. So as it stands, I am in somewhat of a dilemma. If I wait for the injection shop to open and ask them, I might not be able to get the pump back today. If I try without asking them, I might damage the pump,,,,,,,,,, Think I'll wait.........Which means ..............More time in SD..........Shit!...I wana go fishin!
Monday, February 14, 2011
Friday, February 11, 2011
Sooooo, Thankfull
YEAH! Good news!
I woke up yesterday morning at around four, made coffee, turned on the computer, and read the blog for a bit. Judy had mentioned that she was praying for God to guide me in making the right decision. While sitting at the computer thinking about that terrible noise the engine was making, that to me, just didn't sound like a rod (too high pitched & intermittent). I made the decision to go with my gut feeling and get a professional second opinion. No matter the cost. I went into the v-berth, woke Judy up and said "I have made my decision". We will not run the engine, nor take the boat to the anchorage. If they insist we move the boat before we can get a second mechanics opinion, we will rent a slip at the marina next door no matter how much they charge until we can get one down. I will call the place that rebuilds injectors and ask them to recommend a knowledgeable mechanic. Judy joined me a few minutes later in the salon and we started our research on the issue. Previously that morning I was reading everything I could find on engine knocks. The fuel system kept coming up, but not with enough specifics on sounds.
I called the fuel injection place at six thirty to leave a message for them to call me. To my surprise Tom (the owner) picked up. I explained the situation to him. He said that I needed a mechanic that not only new the fuel systems, but knew Perkins engines inside out. He had me hold on while he located someone for me. When he returned he gave me the number for a place that was a previous Perkins dealer and would have a qualified mechanic. Thanking him, I hung up and called them, leaving a message. It was a long apprehensive hour plus waiting for eight o'clock. After a bit I decided not to wait for their call, but to call them at eight sharp, as sometimes businesses are slow answering their messages. To my surprise the phone rang at five before eight. The gentleman said that he had a mechanic, but he was committed to eight hours that day. He asked where the boat was and I informed him it was at the Police dock, but I had to move it by eleven am. He told me that his mechanic was working on a boat there that day and that he would let him check out my engine noise first, but I would have to pay a two hour minimum of $ 220.00. I agreed!
He said the mechanic would be there in about twenty minutes. Twenty minutes later the mechanic was walking up to the boat, amazing. Everything seemed to be going our way for a change. The mechanic was a very nice Vietnamese gentleman who certainly knew his business. He questioned me concerning the engines history before looking at it. He then had me start it at idle and after about five minutes slowly increase the rpm's until the knock began. After the engine was shut down, I asked if he thought it was a rod. He said; "definitely not, it is fuel related." I can not explain the load that was lifted from my shoulders at that moment, nor the elation I felt, after the previous days of depression, over the possibility of having to replace the engine. We just couldn't afford it. The mechanic had me restart the engine and increase the throttle until the knock revealed itself. With the engine knocking slightly, he loosened each high pressure injector lines individually, listening for the knock to decrease. He then had me shut it down and said the number three injector was stuck open and would have to be replaced. I told him that I had new injectors and asked if he had time to do it, as his boss was charging me a two hour minimum anyway. He had only been there about twenty minutes. He called his boss, who acquiesced and then installed the rebuilt injector. When started, the engine sounded better than it ever has, it purrs like a kitten! Later when I called his boss to see what the final bill was, I couldn't believe that it was only $232.00. I had him order the gaskets needed to remove the engine heat exchanger tank. This is so I can get to the injector pump and replace the seals that might be causing the fuel in oil problem. That is if replacing the bad injector didn't remedy the situation already. I'll keep my fingers crossed. Who knows, the way things have started going our way, there is that possibility. Maybe Judy should do some more praying. She seems to have a great connection with a higher power.
Today I will take the bad injector into the shop to be rebuilt. Pick up the gaskets. Fix a water leak on the engine. Make up and whip the ends of control lines for the whisker pole, in preparation for a wing on wing sail down Baja. Lubricate the Capstan that refused to give up any chain rode last night when I tried to anchor. That was a minor fiasco we will not discuss. When we finally got anchored we looked up and another boat had come in and anchored right above us. Too close for comfort, so we moved. Our boat seems to draw other boats to us when at anchor. A few weeks back a boat anchored above us and when the wind shifted he was only about thirty feet off our bow. Too close!
Well folks, all seems well in our world today. I want to thank all of you for your support and suggestions. I especially want to thank a long time brother (Bob Panell) who came through for us in our time of need. I know your sacrifice, brother, and want you to know it was/is greatly appreciated. God be with you all, as he has been with us! Mexico next week. Cheers!
Judy started a blog last night, so here's her take! Err, will be when she arises from her slumber.
I woke up yesterday morning at around four, made coffee, turned on the computer, and read the blog for a bit. Judy had mentioned that she was praying for God to guide me in making the right decision. While sitting at the computer thinking about that terrible noise the engine was making, that to me, just didn't sound like a rod (too high pitched & intermittent). I made the decision to go with my gut feeling and get a professional second opinion. No matter the cost. I went into the v-berth, woke Judy up and said "I have made my decision". We will not run the engine, nor take the boat to the anchorage. If they insist we move the boat before we can get a second mechanics opinion, we will rent a slip at the marina next door no matter how much they charge until we can get one down. I will call the place that rebuilds injectors and ask them to recommend a knowledgeable mechanic. Judy joined me a few minutes later in the salon and we started our research on the issue. Previously that morning I was reading everything I could find on engine knocks. The fuel system kept coming up, but not with enough specifics on sounds.
I called the fuel injection place at six thirty to leave a message for them to call me. To my surprise Tom (the owner) picked up. I explained the situation to him. He said that I needed a mechanic that not only new the fuel systems, but knew Perkins engines inside out. He had me hold on while he located someone for me. When he returned he gave me the number for a place that was a previous Perkins dealer and would have a qualified mechanic. Thanking him, I hung up and called them, leaving a message. It was a long apprehensive hour plus waiting for eight o'clock. After a bit I decided not to wait for their call, but to call them at eight sharp, as sometimes businesses are slow answering their messages. To my surprise the phone rang at five before eight. The gentleman said that he had a mechanic, but he was committed to eight hours that day. He asked where the boat was and I informed him it was at the Police dock, but I had to move it by eleven am. He told me that his mechanic was working on a boat there that day and that he would let him check out my engine noise first, but I would have to pay a two hour minimum of $ 220.00. I agreed!
He said the mechanic would be there in about twenty minutes. Twenty minutes later the mechanic was walking up to the boat, amazing. Everything seemed to be going our way for a change. The mechanic was a very nice Vietnamese gentleman who certainly knew his business. He questioned me concerning the engines history before looking at it. He then had me start it at idle and after about five minutes slowly increase the rpm's until the knock began. After the engine was shut down, I asked if he thought it was a rod. He said; "definitely not, it is fuel related." I can not explain the load that was lifted from my shoulders at that moment, nor the elation I felt, after the previous days of depression, over the possibility of having to replace the engine. We just couldn't afford it. The mechanic had me restart the engine and increase the throttle until the knock revealed itself. With the engine knocking slightly, he loosened each high pressure injector lines individually, listening for the knock to decrease. He then had me shut it down and said the number three injector was stuck open and would have to be replaced. I told him that I had new injectors and asked if he had time to do it, as his boss was charging me a two hour minimum anyway. He had only been there about twenty minutes. He called his boss, who acquiesced and then installed the rebuilt injector. When started, the engine sounded better than it ever has, it purrs like a kitten! Later when I called his boss to see what the final bill was, I couldn't believe that it was only $232.00. I had him order the gaskets needed to remove the engine heat exchanger tank. This is so I can get to the injector pump and replace the seals that might be causing the fuel in oil problem. That is if replacing the bad injector didn't remedy the situation already. I'll keep my fingers crossed. Who knows, the way things have started going our way, there is that possibility. Maybe Judy should do some more praying. She seems to have a great connection with a higher power.
Today I will take the bad injector into the shop to be rebuilt. Pick up the gaskets. Fix a water leak on the engine. Make up and whip the ends of control lines for the whisker pole, in preparation for a wing on wing sail down Baja. Lubricate the Capstan that refused to give up any chain rode last night when I tried to anchor. That was a minor fiasco we will not discuss. When we finally got anchored we looked up and another boat had come in and anchored right above us. Too close for comfort, so we moved. Our boat seems to draw other boats to us when at anchor. A few weeks back a boat anchored above us and when the wind shifted he was only about thirty feet off our bow. Too close!
Well folks, all seems well in our world today. I want to thank all of you for your support and suggestions. I especially want to thank a long time brother (Bob Panell) who came through for us in our time of need. I know your sacrifice, brother, and want you to know it was/is greatly appreciated. God be with you all, as he has been with us! Mexico next week. Cheers!
Judy started a blog last night, so here's her take! Err, will be when she arises from her slumber.
Finally some REALLY good, simply MIRACULOUS news…….After the bad news from ONE boat mechanic that we had a bad rod and would have to rebuild the engine ($4,500 + labor and parts to install the new one…..) Jay woke up early this morning and after much thinking and prayer decided to get a second opinion from another mechanic…..I told him I thought that was our answer from God about what step to take next and After searching on the internet.......well you can see what we did above in Jay's blog posting above.....anyway, I've been reading a great book entitled "The Pressure's Off" by an author who found "The Way" that the holy scriptures say leads us to a PERSONAL relationship with our creator (Elohim, YHWH, Emmanuel....e.g.) The book goes on to explain that the OLD WAY of following laws, rules etc. had been proven to be impossible for human beings to "get it right" in life without "missing the mark." It all lies in this one thing I need to do to find "the NEW Way:" Make Knowing God my No. ! priority! Knowing God.....NOT seeking blessings or an easy life or material wealth or health or great relationships with family and friends, a great job........whatever.......as St. Augustine so apply put in this quote I read when I was 19 years old and never forgot:
"You have made us for yourself, oh God, and our hearts are restless until they rest in You!"
It's kind of like (I think) how I used to explain the love I have for my daughters to each of them: "Mommy has a special place in her heart JUST for YOU (Alana, Darcie, Annie and Moriah) that only you can fill for me and no other child can....just YOU! So you must never think that Mommy loves any of your sisters more than I love you, because it is totally impossible! When I am holding onto that Alana, Darcie, Annie or Moriah... shaped place in my heart where I see and feel ONLY you! and my heart would be totally lacking, and incomplete without my love for EACH of my daughters and that is how I can honestly say I have no 'favorite child'-----as ALL of my children are my "favorites," in their own perfect way." There are no TEN COMMANDMENTS or any rules or "Laws" that any of my children must follow to somehow "earn" my love....it's already in my heart, waiting for them every single time they seek me......and it will never go away! My love for each of them is totally and completely unconditional...they don't have to be "good" or "perfect" or complete any race or task or special endeavor or feat of amazement with their lives or with me....each of them has my love, adoration and devotion completely unconditionally forever.......or as long as I live.....which I believe will be forever...since I now have asked the Creator, or as my Dad, Joe Kinworthy, used to call Him: "The Great Indian Chief in the sky" to show me "The Way".....e.g. "His Way," not MY way to live my life, but His Way....because I believe the Great Indian Chief in the Sky has a Judy Kinworthy shaped place in His heart where he loves ME and keeps ME safe, unconditionally, cause he loves each of us just like I love my daughters......forever and ever, without question and there is nothing I can do to earn it except like my kids used to do when they came running in the house after school calling out: "Mommy, I'm Home!" THAT's what God wants us to do, I believe......run home to Him happily calling out "Dad, I'm HOME!" and then he comes running to us happy to see us and hear all about our day in "school."
As I look back at my post I see that the first letters of my 4 daughters spell the name "Adam" which of course we all know the story, was the first human created......somehow I think I didn't name my girls in any haphazzard way, but gave them the name they were each meant to have.....and like "Adam," the first human, I only need to run home and slam the door shut to the rest of the world and call out "Daddy, I'm Home!" just like the Prodigal Son story written in that old, old Book! Daddy, I'm home!!!!!
As I look back at my post I see that the first letters of my 4 daughters spell the name "Adam" which of course we all know the story, was the first human created......somehow I think I didn't name my girls in any haphazzard way, but gave them the name they were each meant to have.....and like "Adam," the first human, I only need to run home and slam the door shut to the rest of the world and call out "Daddy, I'm Home!" just like the Prodigal Son story written in that old, old Book! Daddy, I'm home!!!!!
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Engine
I tried to post this response to Jason on the blog comment section, but it came up on the wrong post. It is better here anyway. So in response to Jasons kindly advice;
We are looking at fuel issues such as; metal flakes in high pressure fuel line clogging an injector, (engine caughing, in attempt to clear metal flake) as the engine shakes when it knocks. A bad injector. Water traped in fuel system, releasing periodically etc. Also the possibility of a loose head. The knock just doesn't sound like a rod to me. The sound is of higher pitched variety, like a fuel knock that rattles the engine very hard.. A rod noise should be constant and this nois is intermittant. We are going to get a second opinion.
The mechanic said it was a rod, but I do have my doubts after talking to several other professionals that confirmed my thoughts about a possible fuel issue. We have to move the boat today, so will have to run it (at idle) to get it out of marina to anchorage. I will pray for enough wind to sail most of the few miles to the anchorage. I wonder if our dink will tow it? Maybe!
We are looking at fuel issues such as; metal flakes in high pressure fuel line clogging an injector, (engine caughing, in attempt to clear metal flake) as the engine shakes when it knocks. A bad injector. Water traped in fuel system, releasing periodically etc. Also the possibility of a loose head. The knock just doesn't sound like a rod to me. The sound is of higher pitched variety, like a fuel knock that rattles the engine very hard.. A rod noise should be constant and this nois is intermittant. We are going to get a second opinion.
The mechanic said it was a rod, but I do have my doubts after talking to several other professionals that confirmed my thoughts about a possible fuel issue. We have to move the boat today, so will have to run it (at idle) to get it out of marina to anchorage. I will pray for enough wind to sail most of the few miles to the anchorage. I wonder if our dink will tow it? Maybe!
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
The Best Made Plans!
I guess it is true that “life” is what happens while you are making other plans. During our lifetimes, it seems that we are tested by trials and tribulations that that just aren’t fair. But then nobody ever said life was fair. Unfortunately at these times, it is not only our tenacity and stamina that is tested, but our faith in God. It is especially so, when these trials and tribulations continue for months on end with no foreseeable gain or no end in sight. Not only threatening your dreams, but making the possibility of a bright future appear dim indeed. At these disturbing times I believe one must place ones trust in God, but at the same time reach down, pull up your boot straps, and pull yourself out! In other words, we can’t just sit on our ass (donkey) and expect him to do it all.
With that said, I will describe the latest tribulation that is attempting to test my faith to its limits. The plan was to pull out of here tomorrow and head for Ensenada Mexico to get our visas. We planned on spending two days there and then taking off on the last leg down the Baja Coast. All I had left to do yesterday was; change the oil and oil filter, pump out the water contaminated fuel, clean out the filter bowls, install new filters, and bleed the system. The day before I took the injectors in and had them serviced. While there I purchased new seals for the injector pump and planned on installing them after we arrived in Mexico. This decision was made because the leaking of fuel into the oil was minimal and we would sail straight through. In doing so, the engine would only be started two or three times for short periods, so should not be a problem. Hindsight now tells me this was a recipe for disaster.
We are now stranded in San Diego indefinitely. This is due to an unforeseen engine failure that happened upon the completion of the final tasks. When I started the engine it fired right up and sounded better than ever. I put it in gear, set the throttle a hair above an idle and checked the oil and water gauges. All seemed fine as it purred along. It ran about ten minutes before a light tinny noise sounded for a split second. It was so short of duration that I began to question if it was my imagination. It ran fine for another five minutes or so and then a very loud (again tinny ) sound erupted from the engine compartment. I immediately shut it down and thinking it was an errant piece of metal that fell against a moving part, began to search for the problem. I have heard bad rods before and it has been my experience that they have a dull heavy sound, not a tinny one. I found an old piece of copper tubing under the crank pulley that I hoped was the culprit. It wasn’t! I started the engine again and it sounded great for a bit, but when I increased the idle the noise came back intermittently. It comes and goes and sounds tinny. It just didn’t sound like a rod or a lifter to me. I decided to call Brad and see what he thought. He came right over and said it was a rod, shit!
Now what? Well, we have to either rebuild or replace the engine. We can’t do it where we are presently. Our time here is up tomorrow. We have to move out to an anchorage (with no engine to set the hook) due to excessively expensive slip rates in San Diego. Good thing it’s a sailboat. Brad said the rebuild will cost from $ 4500. to $ 6000. plus labor. There is no way we can afford this, as we have had many unexpected expenses (0ver 16 Gs) on our trip down that have seriously depleted our resources. I think we might have located a rebuilt Perkins 4.108-M long block for around $3000.00. If it works out and some of the people who owe us money come through, it will be do-able. Otherwise, We will be stuck in SD indefinitely and looking for work!
On the good side; perhaps it is a good thing that we are here instead of out at sea with this problem. Jesus must love us, or that is where we would be!
With that said, I will describe the latest tribulation that is attempting to test my faith to its limits. The plan was to pull out of here tomorrow and head for Ensenada Mexico to get our visas. We planned on spending two days there and then taking off on the last leg down the Baja Coast. All I had left to do yesterday was; change the oil and oil filter, pump out the water contaminated fuel, clean out the filter bowls, install new filters, and bleed the system. The day before I took the injectors in and had them serviced. While there I purchased new seals for the injector pump and planned on installing them after we arrived in Mexico. This decision was made because the leaking of fuel into the oil was minimal and we would sail straight through. In doing so, the engine would only be started two or three times for short periods, so should not be a problem. Hindsight now tells me this was a recipe for disaster.
We are now stranded in San Diego indefinitely. This is due to an unforeseen engine failure that happened upon the completion of the final tasks. When I started the engine it fired right up and sounded better than ever. I put it in gear, set the throttle a hair above an idle and checked the oil and water gauges. All seemed fine as it purred along. It ran about ten minutes before a light tinny noise sounded for a split second. It was so short of duration that I began to question if it was my imagination. It ran fine for another five minutes or so and then a very loud (again tinny ) sound erupted from the engine compartment. I immediately shut it down and thinking it was an errant piece of metal that fell against a moving part, began to search for the problem. I have heard bad rods before and it has been my experience that they have a dull heavy sound, not a tinny one. I found an old piece of copper tubing under the crank pulley that I hoped was the culprit. It wasn’t! I started the engine again and it sounded great for a bit, but when I increased the idle the noise came back intermittently. It comes and goes and sounds tinny. It just didn’t sound like a rod or a lifter to me. I decided to call Brad and see what he thought. He came right over and said it was a rod, shit!
Now what? Well, we have to either rebuild or replace the engine. We can’t do it where we are presently. Our time here is up tomorrow. We have to move out to an anchorage (with no engine to set the hook) due to excessively expensive slip rates in San Diego. Good thing it’s a sailboat. Brad said the rebuild will cost from $ 4500. to $ 6000. plus labor. There is no way we can afford this, as we have had many unexpected expenses (0ver 16 Gs) on our trip down that have seriously depleted our resources. I think we might have located a rebuilt Perkins 4.108-M long block for around $3000.00. If it works out and some of the people who owe us money come through, it will be do-able. Otherwise, We will be stuck in SD indefinitely and looking for work!
On the good side; perhaps it is a good thing that we are here instead of out at sea with this problem. Jesus must love us, or that is where we would be!
Friday, February 4, 2011
New E-Meter
Yesterday Brad brought over a new E-Meter and installed it. As usual, all did not go as planed. Oh, the E- Meter is good now, but the wiring is not. Once installed we discovered that James wired the main ground bar directly to the battery, failing to rout it through the shunt. All ground wires MUST be wired through the shunt. Brad had some other work to do so he took off, allowing me to do the repair to save some badly needed funds. I disconected it, made up a new ground wire and ran it back into the engine compartment and connected it to the shunt. Problem solved, right? Wrong! Upon Brads return we tried to initiate the E-Meter cycle once again. At this time it was discovered that James had obviously circumvented the shunt in more than one place. As it was still a no go! Brad ran me through the workings of said meter and drew me a schematic, explaining the procedure to remedy the situation. Basically, I have to go through the complete grounding system and re-do all of the ground wires that James grounded to the wrong places, and run new wires from all individual grounds and ground bars through the shunt. This will be a major time consuming procedure that we can not afford to pay another electrician to do.
Once this is completed the new E- meter will performe its duty and enable me to find the culprit wire or device that is draining the batteries. In the mean time we will have to use the generator to make up for the drain of electricity caused by a novice electricion. This will result in more expense due to more fuel consumption. It seems that ya just can't win! I have decided to forstall the electrical problems until we get to the Sea of Cortez. On the bright side, we are leaving for Ensenada, Mexico soon. We are tired of all work and no play, so We're going fishing! In Mexico. Who needs electric anyway? It's a sailboat, right?
Once this is completed the new E- meter will performe its duty and enable me to find the culprit wire or device that is draining the batteries. In the mean time we will have to use the generator to make up for the drain of electricity caused by a novice electricion. This will result in more expense due to more fuel consumption. It seems that ya just can't win! I have decided to forstall the electrical problems until we get to the Sea of Cortez. On the bright side, we are leaving for Ensenada, Mexico soon. We are tired of all work and no play, so We're going fishing! In Mexico. Who needs electric anyway? It's a sailboat, right?
Thursday, February 3, 2011
E-Meter
Yesterday, I called the local person that had done such a great job repairing our water maker and asked him if he could set the E-Meter for me. He assured me that he could, and said he would stop by later in the day if possible. If not, he would be over first thing the next day. He showed up around three in the afternoon and went right to work checking the E-Meter. After about ten minutes, he discovered that the meter was faulty and that it would have to be replaced. He offered to pick one up on his way over in the morning and to give it to me at his cost, as he gets a large discount, due to his business. Charging me only for his labor. I can't say enough about how great a person this man is. No bullshit, no greed. He is extremely intelligent and always good for his word. As I said in the past. I recommend him highly. If any of you are in San Diego and are in need of a competent and honest worker, Brad is your man.
It is almost six in the morning, Brad will be here in a couple of hours, so I must get busy moving things out of the way so he will have clear access. He wants to check to make sure the old E-Meter wiring was done correctly, before installing the new E-Meter. Sounds prudent to me. Gotta go for now....
It is almost six in the morning, Brad will be here in a couple of hours, so I must get busy moving things out of the way so he will have clear access. He wants to check to make sure the old E-Meter wiring was done correctly, before installing the new E-Meter. Sounds prudent to me. Gotta go for now....
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
One's Word
You know, I was raised, and raised my daughter, in a way that emphasised the importance of one's word. I personally live my life with one rule which is "Say what you mean and mean what you say" It is a very simple rule, but definitely demonstrates ones personal integrity. Something that seems to be grossely lacking in our society today. Most people take no credence in their word these days. Oh, there are exceptions of course, but they seem to be getting fewer and further between. It has always been of my opinion that a man is only as good as his word. In other words, if his word is no good then he is......
Well, you get my drift.
I was under the impression that cruisers were different breed than the average person these days. They certainly are a mostly friendly lot, generally speaking. Most cruisers we have met on this trip have been very forthcoming with advice and the sharing of information. Generally speaking, most have been honest and very helpful. Okay you are probably asking yourselves why I am writing this in our blog. To be quite frank it is because I am disillusioned by the number of sailors and supposed sailors, that have gone back on their word. To date four supposed crew have signed on and then at the last minute backed out, due to so-called personal reasons. Caring not the inconvenience, nor the unnecessary danger caused by their actions. The latest example was a self claimed sailor and supposed christian yesterday. Another owner of a Islander 44 here in San Diego. He claimed to have sailed down the Baja Coast many times and assured us he would sail with us down to the Sea of Cortez. Upon his commitment, I pulled our ad for a crew member out of Latitude 38. Yesterday, he rescinded his commitment. We now have no time left to find a replacement. As a result, I will be sailing the ninehundred pluss miles solo, as my wife has not mastered standing watches and can not physically withstand any degree of sleep deprivation.
This person also promised to come over Monday to show me how to set up the E-Meter, which monitors the electrical consumption. He never showed up and when I called him the next day he said he was waiting for me to call him. Hmmm, should have been a "RED Flag" I suppose. He showed up later and said he wanted to explain the basics so I could "do it myself later, if needed." He spent an hour or so reading out of a book and then said, okay I will read and you do the setting of the unit. Well, after about two hours, and supposedly half way done (I thought) he said he wanted to take a break. At that time a gentleman ( Ham Operator) arrived to test my repairs on the Ham Radio. The break person said that he was going to leave then. He said the hard part was done and all that was left to do was the "Advanced Settings". Which he said I could do. To make a very long story shorter, I am now where I started. I checked the E-Meter this morning and nothing has been fixed, all the settings are wrong, as he did not change anything. All he did was waste another day of our time! I am not happy!
My final words in this post are;
Please, "SAY WHAT YOU MEAN AND MEAN WHAT YOU SAY"
"A MAN IS ONLY AS GOOD AS HIS WORD"
Well, you get my drift.
I was under the impression that cruisers were different breed than the average person these days. They certainly are a mostly friendly lot, generally speaking. Most cruisers we have met on this trip have been very forthcoming with advice and the sharing of information. Generally speaking, most have been honest and very helpful. Okay you are probably asking yourselves why I am writing this in our blog. To be quite frank it is because I am disillusioned by the number of sailors and supposed sailors, that have gone back on their word. To date four supposed crew have signed on and then at the last minute backed out, due to so-called personal reasons. Caring not the inconvenience, nor the unnecessary danger caused by their actions. The latest example was a self claimed sailor and supposed christian yesterday. Another owner of a Islander 44 here in San Diego. He claimed to have sailed down the Baja Coast many times and assured us he would sail with us down to the Sea of Cortez. Upon his commitment, I pulled our ad for a crew member out of Latitude 38. Yesterday, he rescinded his commitment. We now have no time left to find a replacement. As a result, I will be sailing the ninehundred pluss miles solo, as my wife has not mastered standing watches and can not physically withstand any degree of sleep deprivation.
This person also promised to come over Monday to show me how to set up the E-Meter, which monitors the electrical consumption. He never showed up and when I called him the next day he said he was waiting for me to call him. Hmmm, should have been a "RED Flag" I suppose. He showed up later and said he wanted to explain the basics so I could "do it myself later, if needed." He spent an hour or so reading out of a book and then said, okay I will read and you do the setting of the unit. Well, after about two hours, and supposedly half way done (I thought) he said he wanted to take a break. At that time a gentleman ( Ham Operator) arrived to test my repairs on the Ham Radio. The break person said that he was going to leave then. He said the hard part was done and all that was left to do was the "Advanced Settings". Which he said I could do. To make a very long story shorter, I am now where I started. I checked the E-Meter this morning and nothing has been fixed, all the settings are wrong, as he did not change anything. All he did was waste another day of our time! I am not happy!
My final words in this post are;
Please, "SAY WHAT YOU MEAN AND MEAN WHAT YOU SAY"
"A MAN IS ONLY AS GOOD AS HIS WORD"
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