Category: 2020-03 (March)

We got up, had breakfast and did our devotions. Then got started with our day. 

First thing up was to move the boat. One of the other boats on this dock is being hauled out today to move the boat onto the hard. Their dock is on the other side from us, and the dock is much better, for example it is longer, wider, and has 50 amps of shore power available. Compared to 30 amps at the dock we are at this morning. 

After moving the boat and getting it all tied up and shore power run, I took the Plankton strainer housing out of the boat and up on the dock I was able to get it apart and clean the strainer. Then reinstall the filter. While I was at it, I replaced the cartridges in the two filters one is a 20 micron filter the other is a 5 micron filter. We talked to the neighbors for a bit, there is a lot of confusion about what to do with the Coronavirus. Whether to end the sailing season early, park the boats and go back to the states, or stay on the boats and stay here in Mexico. Some of the people have to leave, as their visas expire soon. The normal visa for Mexico is 30 days, 90 days or 180 days. You can ask for any of these when you cross the border  We are still planning on staying here until the end of May. We reset our visa’s when we were back to the states in February for parts.

We spent some time on the phone with relatives, and Renee’ cleaned inside. 

We do have room for guests, if anyone is interested in visiting and spending a week or so with us, drop us a line and we will coordinate. What you have to do/have is you need a passport and will need to be able to get to where we are when you are going to be down. When we know what time frame you are thinking about we can let you know where we expect to be so that you can make your travel arrangements.

If you want to know where we are, click this link:

https://forecast.predictwind.com/tracking/display/Make_Me_Laugh_Again

We got up late, very late. As in 9am. Had breakfast and did our devotions separately. Renee’ went to the store with the neighbors across the docks and I got the boat ready for the electrician who was coming to help with the Bow Thruster, engine alternator and water filter issues. 

He arrived at about 1pm, and got right to work. We quickly figured out that the next stop with the water filter is to remove it from the boat, and work on it either on the dock, or in a shop, as we are dangerously close to breaking the filter off of the mounts. So, we stopped that work, and went on to the Bow-Thruster issue.

Within 5 minutes of his starting into this project, I was convinced it was the right answer to get help. I had the trouble shooting guide and the tech manual for the thruster. He looked at it and figured out that one wire that he expected, to be there was not there. 

So, there should have been six wires to the Bow Thruster:

1. The 12 volt Positive from the battery (large red wire)
2. The 12 volt Negative from the battery (large black wire)
3. The 12 volt ground for the control circuit from the joy stick at the helm (black)
4. The blue control signal wire from the joy stick (port)
5. The grey control signal wire from the joy stick (starboard)
6. The 12 volt positive wire going to the joy stick (not here)

At the joy stick at the helm there are four wires:

1. The 12 volt ground for the control circuit from the joy stick to the thruster (black)
2. The blue control signal wire from the joy stick (port)
3. The grey control signal wire from the joy stick (starboard)
4. The 12 volt positive wire providing power to the joy stick (which is at the joy stick, but has no power).

So, where I would have spent several hours trying to figure out what was wrong at the bow thruster, I would probably have done more damage than good. Instead, we only had to figure out where it came from and figure out why it had no power.

We looked in all the obvious places for this fuse, or breaker. Then we started chasing the wire from the helm down and spent the next couple of hours tugging on the red wire.

We finally gave up, and tapped into the power to a switch at the helm for a dinghy light. Installed a fuse and got the bow-thruster to work. 

He then spent about an hour putting the tie wraps back in that he had cut to figure out where the fuse was. 

So, four hours invested and the thruster is working again! 

He will be back either tomorrow or Monday, to deal with the alternator. 

On a completely different subject: Last night I saw a request for help from someone on the Sea of Cortez who was looking for an Iridium GO! SIM card. He was asking for someone who had one that was close to Guaymas. (Which is where we are). I contacted him and we will get together and I will give him the SIM card and show him what I know about how it works. 

We do have room for guests, if anyone is interested in visiting and spending a week or so with us, drop us a line and we will coordinate. What you have to do/have is you need a passport and will need to be able to get to where we are when you are going to be down. When we know what time frame you are thinking about we can let you know where we expect to be so that you can make your travel arrangements.

If you want to know where we are, click this link:

https://forecast.predictwind.com/tracking/display/Make_Me_Laugh_Again

Oh, and no pictures again today.

We got up about 7 am, and discovered the dorade above the bed is leaking. There are four of these on the boat, the other three don’t leak only this one. I tried sealing it a week or two ago, but apparently missed something. Oh well.

After breakfast and devotions, I went to work on the bow thruster. After some research (I sent an email to the previous owner and asked on Facebook for help (the previous owner had no idea where the breaker was) the Facebook group is for Island Packet Owners and was pretty helpful, I don’t have a breaker. (Good news it is not tripped, Bad news there is only a single 450 amp fuse between the battery and the bow thruster). So, into the trouble shooting I went. I found out that the big fuse was not blown, which means it is something in the control circuit. I called IMTRA the US support for the bow thruster and got the trouble shooting guide for this bow thruster. Now it is a matter of figuring out what the problem is.

When we got here, Renee’ told them at the desk that we needed a mechanic. So about the time we stopped for lunch, he called and I explained what was going on and he said he would be here tomorrow late afternoon to help with all three of our problems.

Oh, and it is raining!

It is an important point to note that even with all of our problems, we are still having a great time, and not regretting any of this.

So, since we are sitting here on the boat, Renee’ made cookies and I am working on the blog. Plenty to do here.

We do have room for guests, if anyone is interested in visiting and spending a week or so with us, drop us a line and we will coordinate. What you have to do/have is you need a passport and will need to be able to get to where we are when you are going to be down. When we know what time frame you are thinking about we can let you know where we expect to be so that you can make your travel arrangements.

If you want to know where we are, click this link:

https://forecast.predictwind.com/tracking/display/Make_Me_Laugh_Again

No pictures today.