Hello from anchorage A9 in San Diego! We have procured a FREE 30 day permit to anchor next to the USCG station in San Diego reserved for cruisers whose boats are registered outside of San Diego county. This anchorage holds only 20 boats and we are 1 of 12 sitting on the beautiful bay front of the city. This city has the most beautiful waterfront bordering the city at night.....even if it wasn't Christmas with all the high-rise lights and etc. it's got to be a beautiful site year round.
As you know we decided to return to S.D. after entering Mexican waters as the NOAA weather report had been totally wrong and we hit some nasty confused seas...confused seas my a - s! They knew EXACTLY what they were doing crashing over the bow, stern, port and starboard, sideways and EVERY way........
Anyway, we still have our desperately defective SEAWARD stove that needs to be repaired.! We've been calling Defender and Seaward for MONTHS now with problems we are having with it, and FINALLY "Tom" the rep at Seaward said he would meet us as SOON as we got to SD and take care of it...I called him as soon as we were checked in with the Harbor Police and Tom said our arrival was "bad timing for him" and told us he would send someone else down ASAP, since he had been in SD all day the day before. We eagerly awaited the repairman and even though we had supplies we had to procure, we made sure we had the phone with us at ALL TIMES, so we wouldn't miss the call AND the opportunity to get our BRAND NEW yet poorly designed/manufactured stove's issues repaired.....Well, all I can say right now so I won't get my panties in a bunch over this, SEAWARD STOVES SUCK AND THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE IS WORSE---We plan on telling EVERY cruiser we meet in the world NOT to even THINK about buying a stove from SEAWARD...........harumph!!!!!!!!
With issues going on with the boat, flooding rains for 2 days, short tempers and rapidly depleting funds, Jay and I are getting frustrated....so it was nice to get a friendly invitation to share Christmas Eve dinner with Tammie, her mom Lynn and her husband Richard.......
We had a lovely prime rib dinner last night with them and enjoyed a great Christmas eve filled with interesting conversation over cocktails. Richard gave us a great book on cruising yacht systems by Nigel Calder. Jay has had his nose buried in it all morning. I thinks he likes it! We will now tackle the current fuel tanks bilge water intrusion problem!
Merry Christmas to all!
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Stormy Weather
Here we sit stuck once again, but this could be a good thing. Where we are anchored at present is maybe not where we are supposed to be, maybe. When arriving back in San Diego we headed to an anchorage that a local sailor told us about on past the Coronado Bridge. While following the channel towards the bridge a navy tug was approaching us pulling a long string of floating tanks with wheels protruding horizontally out the sides. I could not see the end of the string due to a bend in the channel ahead on our starboard side. It appeared that the tug was swinging wide to clear the bend. This turned out not to be the case. As we approached the tug contacted me and informed me not to maintain my current course because I was about to enter a portable ship berth. He then instructed me to pass on his starboard side, which I did. As we cleared the barge a Navy Patrol boat proceeded at a high rate of speed towards us, but upon closing slowed and stopped,just watching. My thoughts at this time were not pleasant. I am not one who likes authority figures, especially when I might have, unknowingly violated some obscure rule. My WHEW! didn't last long, when once again the patrol boat all of the sudden shot forward circling around between us and the string of floats. They slowed , pulling along side and asked very politely, if we would move further to port due to an approaching ship around the bend. I guess they were the Navy traffic control police. Before turning to port I asked the officer exactly where the anchorage was on the other side of the bridge. She replied that there was no anchorage there. Great, running way into the bay, with water in the fuel, to a nonexistent anchorage.What next? As I was turning around to head back towards the ocean the patrol boat rapidly returned and informed me that the anchorage we were seeking was on the right on the other side of the bridge. Cool, that confirmed what we were told. We anchored in 15' of water at low tide above the bridge. That evening the storm hit and has been getting worse as the hours pass.
It is now the second day here and the storm still rages. I have not had much sleep, due to not trusting the anchor completely and keeping a vigilant eye on its holding. About two hundred yards behind us lies the bridge columns which would wreak havoc on Wind Raven should the anchor pull loose. This morning we located another anchorage that is more protected, but are waiting for the wind and rain to abate a bit before attempting to move. The wind is supposed to die off around 7 or 8 this morning. Until then I will stay vigilant comforting myself with the fact that Judy is getting the rest she deserves and so desperately needs. She got up around 2am and sat with me for a couple of hours. She finally gave in to sleep and is now making those content sleeping sounds.Last night she was reading through some information on the anchorage areas in the area and discovered a discrepancy on which side of the bridge the designated anchorage is. We were planning on moving to a free 30 day anchorage to make repairs, but as stated we are stuck here for now. Man, it's really blowing hard out there. Besides the US Navy said it was here!
It is now the second day here and the storm still rages. I have not had much sleep, due to not trusting the anchor completely and keeping a vigilant eye on its holding. About two hundred yards behind us lies the bridge columns which would wreak havoc on Wind Raven should the anchor pull loose. This morning we located another anchorage that is more protected, but are waiting for the wind and rain to abate a bit before attempting to move. The wind is supposed to die off around 7 or 8 this morning. Until then I will stay vigilant comforting myself with the fact that Judy is getting the rest she deserves and so desperately needs. She got up around 2am and sat with me for a couple of hours. She finally gave in to sleep and is now making those content sleeping sounds.Last night she was reading through some information on the anchorage areas in the area and discovered a discrepancy on which side of the bridge the designated anchorage is. We were planning on moving to a free 30 day anchorage to make repairs, but as stated we are stuck here for now. Man, it's really blowing hard out there. Besides the US Navy said it was here!
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
The best made plans!
Yep, we are in San Diego looking for an inexpensive moorage where we can make repairs. We left SD at two in the morning 29.5 hrs ago. As we were rounding the first point about 15 miles out I discovered my gasket material on the fuel tank inspection covers had failed. Yep, water in the fuel again. Upon this discovery we decided to head back to SD. This decision was based on the seas being confused with 3' wind waves and around 4' swells running at 4 to 4.5 seconds and we were beating into the wind. Definitely not a comfortable ride. Especially for poor Judy, who was definitely beyond "green around the gills". I don't know why she insisted on chumming so much when I wasn't even fishing!
You know this reminded me of our friends ride from Newport to Charleston. Steve was at the helm in really nasty stormy weather for that portion, while Lulu was curled up below and occasionally "feeding the fishes". What is funny, is that we had the identical experience on that section of our the trip. They also had transmission troubles (Loosing Fluid). Yep, so did we. Hmm, I wonder? Maybe I should pay closer attention to their trials and tribulations. On the other hand, maybe I should pay less attention. You know, the KINEHORA aspect. Judy toooo!
Today we will secure a place and procure some GOOD gasket material. I am also getting a small amount of diesel fuel into the oil after engine shut down. I believe this to be caused by the high pressure injection pump. At the same time I am hoping it to be an injector. This of course is "yet to be seen". But hey, life is a test, right?
Hope you all have a better day!
You know this reminded me of our friends ride from Newport to Charleston. Steve was at the helm in really nasty stormy weather for that portion, while Lulu was curled up below and occasionally "feeding the fishes". What is funny, is that we had the identical experience on that section of our the trip. They also had transmission troubles (Loosing Fluid). Yep, so did we. Hmm, I wonder? Maybe I should pay closer attention to their trials and tribulations. On the other hand, maybe I should pay less attention. You know, the KINEHORA aspect. Judy toooo!
Today we will secure a place and procure some GOOD gasket material. I am also getting a small amount of diesel fuel into the oil after engine shut down. I believe this to be caused by the high pressure injection pump. At the same time I am hoping it to be an injector. This of course is "yet to be seen". But hey, life is a test, right?
Hope you all have a better day!
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Adios USA.....we hope!
By this time tomorrow we should be tucked in at a marina in Ensenada, Mexico. We called and there seems to be plenty of slips available. It is only about seventy miles from San Diego. We figure it will take us around ten hours to get there, give or take an hour or so. The weather isn't the best, but not that bad after midnight tonight. If it lays down to 20 to 25 knots, like it's supposed to, we will be off. Some say we are off anyway. But what do they know that we don't? Hell, they're sitting home on the couch watching re-runs of someone else's adventures!
As of the 20th we will no longer have Internet service on a steady basis. It will be wi-fi from here on out. This will be a new experience, so please be patient with us until we get the hang of it. Once we leave Ensenada, it could be seven to ten days before we can post on the blog. Our phone service will also change from nation wide to nation wide plus Mexico. Sounds good, but it has major changes in minutes available. We loose a considerable amount. As a result we will be forced to only make/accept business calls only, during the day. All personal communications will have to be after 9pm and before 6am. We have had several unexpected major expenses in the last month or so and must tighten our belts, so to speak.
As of the 20th we will no longer have Internet service on a steady basis. It will be wi-fi from here on out. This will be a new experience, so please be patient with us until we get the hang of it. Once we leave Ensenada, it could be seven to ten days before we can post on the blog. Our phone service will also change from nation wide to nation wide plus Mexico. Sounds good, but it has major changes in minutes available. We loose a considerable amount. As a result we will be forced to only make/accept business calls only, during the day. All personal communications will have to be after 9pm and before 6am. We have had several unexpected major expenses in the last month or so and must tighten our belts, so to speak.
Saturday, December 18, 2010
South
Our time is up, here at the Harbor Police dock, so we will be heading for Ensenada on the 19th to get our visas, temporary import permit etc. It is supposed to rain all next week. Oh well, It's not like we aren't used to rain, right?
We picked up our fishing licences yesterday in San Diego. Now we will be able to fish once we cross the border into Mexico. It's hard to believe that the fishing licences for foreigners are cheaper than resident fishing licences in Oregon. Also the regulations are so uncomplicated. They are short and to the point, only one page long! You don't even have to consult an attorney prior to dipping a line. It is also my understanding that they don't even change them daily, they stay the same ALL YEAR. Not like in Oregon, where you have to check on line for regulation changes every morning before you go out. How refreshing. Back to basics, what a novel concept. I think I'm going to like this, so called, backwards country.
Brad, the watermaker man, did an excellent job on our machine. It is my understanding that the particle content is supposed to be under four hundred to be acceptable. The water here at the Police dock is around four fifty. The water from the bay, after going through our desalinator is one hundred and ninety three. Needless to say, this makes us quite pleased with its performance, and Brads I might add. If anyone needs a reliable repair person, ( he also does wiring, etc.). You can contact him at;
Bradly A Destache (Technician)
2907 Shelter Island Drive 105/107
San Diego CA.92106
Lic #82010016587
619-847-5728
Our SSB Tuner was destroyed by the person who rewired our boat and we were unable to get it repaired. We decided to get a SSB receiver to enable us to receive the weather reports, but there are none available in the San Diego area. I don't know what we are guing to do about that. The teck. who worked on our SSB was supposed to get back in touch with us yesterday, but of course he did'nt keep his word. Most people don't seem to care about their word anymore. What ever happened to personal integrety?
We picked up our fishing licences yesterday in San Diego. Now we will be able to fish once we cross the border into Mexico. It's hard to believe that the fishing licences for foreigners are cheaper than resident fishing licences in Oregon. Also the regulations are so uncomplicated. They are short and to the point, only one page long! You don't even have to consult an attorney prior to dipping a line. It is also my understanding that they don't even change them daily, they stay the same ALL YEAR. Not like in Oregon, where you have to check on line for regulation changes every morning before you go out. How refreshing. Back to basics, what a novel concept. I think I'm going to like this, so called, backwards country.
Brad, the watermaker man, did an excellent job on our machine. It is my understanding that the particle content is supposed to be under four hundred to be acceptable. The water here at the Police dock is around four fifty. The water from the bay, after going through our desalinator is one hundred and ninety three. Needless to say, this makes us quite pleased with its performance, and Brads I might add. If anyone needs a reliable repair person, ( he also does wiring, etc.). You can contact him at;
Bradly A Destache (Technician)
2907 Shelter Island Drive 105/107
San Diego CA.92106
Lic #82010016587
619-847-5728
Our SSB Tuner was destroyed by the person who rewired our boat and we were unable to get it repaired. We decided to get a SSB receiver to enable us to receive the weather reports, but there are none available in the San Diego area. I don't know what we are guing to do about that. The teck. who worked on our SSB was supposed to get back in touch with us yesterday, but of course he did'nt keep his word. Most people don't seem to care about their word anymore. What ever happened to personal integrety?
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Ensenada vs Mission Bay
It looks like we will most likely go to Ensenada for our haul out repairs. The person who was supposed to arrange a haul out at Mission Bay never showed up. The first person (Brad) who was supposed to come by to check out the water maker, worked on it yesterday. He seems very competent and honest, no bullshit. That, my friends, is very refreshing, and rare I might add. He had to send the RO control unit into a shop to have a new one made. That will run around $500. The total cost will be around $1500. That's not bad considering that a comparable unit would cost over $8000. It puts out 20 gal an hour. On the test run yesterday it had a part per million content of 213, under 400 is acceptable. So that's pretty damned good. Especially since it was made in the eighties. I can't believe the pre-filters cost $49 ea. at Home Depot. That's just a regular home water filter, nothing special. I guess it is worth it to get all of those little "nasties" out. Brad is supposed to let me know today when they will have the parts ready. Soon I hope, as we are running out of dock time here. You are only allowed to stay here ten days. We have to leave here on the 18th for the haul out, either here or Ensenada.
We went over to Lynn and Richards for a great meatloaf dinner (prepared by Tammy) last night. It was very enjoyable seeing Lynn again and finally meeting her husband Richard, an exceptionally nice gentleman. They were very gracious hosts and both Judy and I enjoyed the evening tremendously. Their place is very nice with a great back yard. Trees, flowers and shrubs everywhere. We viewed both Tammy's and Lynn's paintings that exhibited a very talented family heritage.
Judy: Wow, what an "answer to prayer" our water maker repairer young man is! We have been worrying about whether we were going to find someone who could get it working again or if we were going to fork out thousands for a new water maker....as our funds become ever more skimpy with all the other "needs" this "demanding mistress" of a boat requires......I was adamant about our need for a water maker on board and Jay agreed, but we were very stressed about what news we would find out about whether it could be "resurected" or if we would have to buy a new unit, most likely one being not as good and most likely some MADE IN CHINA rinky-dink defective unit that would cost a bundle and not deliver the "goods." We know that when Lloyd owned the boat he made sure to buy the best of everything on the market at the time he had it----problem is it was over 20 years ago when he owned the boat and then the last owner, Chris, told us he never even used it the entire five years he owned the boat! This turned out to be a blessing in disguise! It turned out to be "unused" in a kind of mechanical "suspended animation" seemingly waiting to have new life breathed into it again! We found that Chris had not been a very good owner of the boat and many things he just used and used till it was basically used up........then sold the boat to us! So, in effect, his not using the water maker "saved" it for us! Wow, I guess sometimes Guardian Angels are assigned to watch over little things like water makers! And I disagree with Jay in that I have been looking at water maker prices (which are exhorbitant for such a mechanically unsophisticated mechanism) and have not yet found ANY on the market available to common yachties like us today that even come close to producing as much water as this Catalina 500 made by the now defunct "ASC Marine Systems" does. This will be a most excellent thing to own in the Sea of Cortez where we hear very little fresh, clean drinking water is available.
Brad, the "water maker wizard" is a very gracious young man who obviously has lived on a boat and knows the ins and outs of quite a few things regarding them. Usually when non-yachties come on the boat to do work they take over my entire "home" and I feel "displaced" and usually resign myself to the fact that I need to stay top-side or go shopping, etc. to stay out of the way. Not so with this young worker.....he knows how to move around on a boat with other people aboard using the Tai Chi-like movements that Jay and I have been becoming familiar with since moving onto the boat. You other boaters know what I mean.....the graceful, slow, deliberate movements to perambulate about the boat without bumping into and displacing the others on board. Anyway, needless to say I am quite impressed with Brad and can't wait to witness the miracle of life spring up with true "living water" in our fresh water tanks via the repaired water maker.
As Jay mentioned, we had a lovely dinner with Lynn, Richard and Tammy.....and they even served my favorite dessert creme brule----darn I can't find the "accent" marks to spell the French delicacy correctly--oh well.......needless to say it was divine....I think I can truly say it was the best I have ever had.........thank you Lynn and Tammy......and Richard for a wonderful evening of great food and great conversation-----I certainly would love to get to know Lynn and Richard better......many thanks, again to such a wonderful couple!
We went over to Lynn and Richards for a great meatloaf dinner (prepared by Tammy) last night. It was very enjoyable seeing Lynn again and finally meeting her husband Richard, an exceptionally nice gentleman. They were very gracious hosts and both Judy and I enjoyed the evening tremendously. Their place is very nice with a great back yard. Trees, flowers and shrubs everywhere. We viewed both Tammy's and Lynn's paintings that exhibited a very talented family heritage.
Judy: Wow, what an "answer to prayer" our water maker repairer young man is! We have been worrying about whether we were going to find someone who could get it working again or if we were going to fork out thousands for a new water maker....as our funds become ever more skimpy with all the other "needs" this "demanding mistress" of a boat requires......I was adamant about our need for a water maker on board and Jay agreed, but we were very stressed about what news we would find out about whether it could be "resurected" or if we would have to buy a new unit, most likely one being not as good and most likely some MADE IN CHINA rinky-dink defective unit that would cost a bundle and not deliver the "goods." We know that when Lloyd owned the boat he made sure to buy the best of everything on the market at the time he had it----problem is it was over 20 years ago when he owned the boat and then the last owner, Chris, told us he never even used it the entire five years he owned the boat! This turned out to be a blessing in disguise! It turned out to be "unused" in a kind of mechanical "suspended animation" seemingly waiting to have new life breathed into it again! We found that Chris had not been a very good owner of the boat and many things he just used and used till it was basically used up........then sold the boat to us! So, in effect, his not using the water maker "saved" it for us! Wow, I guess sometimes Guardian Angels are assigned to watch over little things like water makers! And I disagree with Jay in that I have been looking at water maker prices (which are exhorbitant for such a mechanically unsophisticated mechanism) and have not yet found ANY on the market available to common yachties like us today that even come close to producing as much water as this Catalina 500 made by the now defunct "ASC Marine Systems" does. This will be a most excellent thing to own in the Sea of Cortez where we hear very little fresh, clean drinking water is available.
Brad, the "water maker wizard" is a very gracious young man who obviously has lived on a boat and knows the ins and outs of quite a few things regarding them. Usually when non-yachties come on the boat to do work they take over my entire "home" and I feel "displaced" and usually resign myself to the fact that I need to stay top-side or go shopping, etc. to stay out of the way. Not so with this young worker.....he knows how to move around on a boat with other people aboard using the Tai Chi-like movements that Jay and I have been becoming familiar with since moving onto the boat. You other boaters know what I mean.....the graceful, slow, deliberate movements to perambulate about the boat without bumping into and displacing the others on board. Anyway, needless to say I am quite impressed with Brad and can't wait to witness the miracle of life spring up with true "living water" in our fresh water tanks via the repaired water maker.
As Jay mentioned, we had a lovely dinner with Lynn, Richard and Tammy.....and they even served my favorite dessert creme brule----darn I can't find the "accent" marks to spell the French delicacy correctly--oh well.......needless to say it was divine....I think I can truly say it was the best I have ever had.........thank you Lynn and Tammy......and Richard for a wonderful evening of great food and great conversation-----I certainly would love to get to know Lynn and Richard better......many thanks, again to such a wonderful couple!
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Just Some Photos
Some days are good..............Others are questionable! I wonder what she is thinking?
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