Sailboat Wanderlust

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Sailboat Wanderlust Sailboat Wanderlust is the sailing blog for the Ta Chaio Ketch "Wanderlust" She is a CT-47 sailboat owned by John and Debby Miller

15/11/2014

Friday 14th. Up at 6:30 to work on Generator. After removing the cabinet front and top and the sound shield, I finally can look at the generator. Checked windings which seemed ok, checked Oil, filled coolant tank, and started generator. A scream I hear is coming from the belt.

The seawater pump is not turning and the belt is burned up! Removed same and pulled apart. One of two bearings is bad. Wait I have a spare. I dig out the spares box and discover the spare is so old the bearing is rusty and frozen.

On the internet and find an Onan Parts house in Memphis Called and they have the part. Grand Harbor Marina lets me use the courtesy van to drive 120 miles to get parts. Great customer service.

Got the part and returned to boat $358.00 poorer.

Rebuilt pump and installed, Gen now running.

Went to town and ate Prime Rib, Jim had Catfish and we both have leftovers.

Back tot he marina for showers and I finished putting the sound shield and cabinet back together.

$300 for parts, 50.00 for gas, 50 to stay an extra night so all in all it was a 400 problem I did not expect.

15/11/2014

Thursday 13th, Underway by 6:10, Light wind clear and cold. 6:40 Sleet and rain starting, Have ice beads on all windows. Jim and I wearing quilts in addition to many layers of clothing.

Sun finally came out as rain stopped around 9:30. Ice gone by 10 and we are shedding layers as the cockpit warms up.

At Pickwick lock at 3:00, In at 3:32 and out at 3:52

On to Grand Harbor Marina at 4:35 for the night
72 miles in 10.5 hours total, which is 9 hours underway at about 8 MPH

15/11/2014

Wednesday 12th Now that I know what date it really is, I will continue.
The plan was to be up early and get moving as out preferred anchorage was 80 miles away.
Problem 1) Red running light is out - Replace Bulb - DID NOT FIX PROBLEM!!!!
2) after 20 minutes of pulling things apart found corroded black wire on lamp supply. Fixed same.
3) while reinstalling I broke the red wire, pull things apart and fix same.

Now is this one problem, or two or is it three?

Up anchor by 6:35 almost 45 minutes later than I wanted.

For the first 10 miles have 2-3 ft swells 50+ ft apart right on the stern and is pushes us side to side. Then the river curves and the wind is from the side and it is a much better ride.

"Shoulda" is the key word. Do I stop a mile 125 and loose 2 hours running time or do I press on to 143 and risk getting there about dark?

Well "Shoulda" kicked me in the Ass and we anchored in the dark at 6 PM. A night so dark the flood light just got swallowed up by the gloom. We were behind an island and well out of the channel. But the wake from the passing tugs tossed us around several times during the dark hours.

The next morning I learned that we only made it to the mouth of the water behind the island and so were exposed to all the other boat wakes. We were well off the channel but "Shoulda" only chewed on me, she did not take a full bite!

15/11/2014

Tuesday 9th, Up at 6
Fuel 56.9 Gal Diesel 218.51
Labor for mast 285.00
Marina only charged for 2 of the 3 nights $103.00
Underway at 10

Weather not great, Heavy overcast wind on the stern, 2-3' chop, some whitecaps and long rolling swells 50-60 feet apart. Lifts stern and slides it one way or another.

Anchor down in Panther Bay at mile 602. Only made 39 miles today.
Our last night in KY as Tennessee is 0.1 miles from here.

15/11/2014

Monday 8th, killed time waiting on Boat Works to call to take off mast. Cleaned the boat, did laundry and walked the area waiting for the phone to ring. Moved the boat to the travel lift well about 11 am.

Boat Works tried but their equipment does not lift high enough to take the mast clear of the deck. They needed 4 more feet. Now waiting on a crane (OUCH $$$) to pull mast.

Arrived about 2 and by 3 the mast was on the stands about 3. $250 was reasonable for the crane but it was not in the budget and Boat Works billed me for their failed attempt.

Worked until way after dark getting the mast ready for the truck. Had to use headlights of courtesy van to finish the job.

Loaded rigging on Wanderlust and then drove to store to get pizza for dinner.

15/11/2014

Saturday 8th, Underway at 6:45, Strong currents in the mouth of the Cumberland River. We reached the dam at Lake Barkley just before lunch. The lockmaster insisted we were a north bound boat as we were headed upstream. Through the locks and on to Green Turtle Bay Marina.

Met up with Judy and Steve, friends from Cincinnati, who are also headed south. Rode with them to Wal-Mart in Paducah to pick up a couple of things.

Sunday, spent most of the day getting the boat ready to pull the mast on Monday. Man where did the day go

15/11/2014

Friday 7th Nov, Three things went wrong
1) Generator overheated while making coffee. Coffee done but had to shut of generator. (More later on this problem)

2) The key to start the boat engine has a rubber ring that got stiff in the cold and after starting the engine the rubber held the key in the start position which kept the starter engaged. Panic ensued!!!!!
The stop button wouldn't stop the engine as the starter was still trying to start the engine. It seemed like many minutes when I finally figured out the problem and forced the key back to the run position. Problem solved.

3. While raising the anchor, the swivel and a piece of chain wrapped around the shank of the anchor and it took some friendly persuasion with a 2X4 to unwrap the chain and finish raising the anchor.

2 out of 3 ok and I will check generator after it cools off.

14/11/2014

Nov 5th. F un at the Evansville Fuel Dock.
15 to 18 Knots blowing parallel to fuel dock. Wanderlust rounded the stern of the LST at Evansville and headed into the dock. Oops. they forgot to mention the muddy section that causes one to run aground. Well it was only soft mud. Still there is plenty of water in the channel.

Well there is also plenty of mud 6 ft under the surface. It is only a problem if your boat needs more than 6 ft of depth. Oh, and I only need 6'3". Thank goodness It was only soft mud!

74 Miles today

Nov 6th Strong wind, stiff chop and 2-3 ft waves. and the day goes on. 69 miles Thursday

Nov 7th Last night on the Ohio as we anchored at the mouth of the Cumberland behind Towhead Island. 74 .miles today.

14/11/2014

November 3rd, 2014, Left River View Marina in Louisville KY, and headed to McAlpine Locks but had to wait a couple of hours for my turn. Only made 34 miles on Day 1

Anchored across from Otter Creek near the Indiana shore. Calm wind and water. A beautiful evening.

Tuesday 4th, 54 Degrees, Flat calm river. Jim Styrlander and I are heading to warmer waters.

We saw a pair of river otters at MM 642 looking for their breakfast.

72 miles on day 2

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