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Sylvia on watch
Content warning: gross stuff
Most of the way to Cape May
Thursday morning came way too early for me. After a bit of insomnia, I decided to roust myself from bed and get us underway to Cape May, NJ. I had us moving off a mooring at 3:30 am for the 115 mile passage down the coast of New Jersey. The forecast was favorable for a smooth and fast sail and we were not disappointed by conditions. We had a terrific sail and made very good time, dropping the anchor in Cape May harbor at 9 pm.
So much for the good part of the day. I, in my sleep deprived state, clogged the aft head (toilet) before our departure. With two heads aboard, clearing the clog was not a job I wanted to tackle underway. More on this below- it’s also the reason for the content warning.
Diver Tom
Additionally, while we were sailing south, a strange vibration in the aft part of the boat became apparent. In the past, the prop strut mounting base had become loose and I had a diver tighten the tabs on it. I figured the strut had become loose again and didn’t worry too much about it. I got a referral from South Jersey Marina for a diver and scheduled him to meet us at the dock on Friday afternoon. Diver Tom arrived and got under the boat. Unfortunately, the bolts were just fine. The issue is the tabs are cracked at the base and this presents a fairly urgent problem. The strut is very important to maintaining the stability of the propeller while it’s rotating. A failure of the strut under high RPM could have very bad consequences.
The bracket at the top is the part that is cracked
I was able to reconnect with my boat broker and builder, George McCreary (previously introduced) and he was able to give me the part number and I got to work locating it online. We would also need to be hauled out of the water to have the strut replaced and it’s haul-out season in Cape May. I called all of the places that could handle us (there are two) and neither were willing to fit us into their schedules.
While sitting comfortably at a dock, Sylvia and I discussed our options and non-options. Our original plan was to go from Cape May, up the Delaware Bay to the Chesapeake and Delaware canal, then down the Chesapeake Bay to Norfolk. This would give us a chance to explore Annapolis and other spots on the Chesapeake. This route would require some extended motoring and that is no longer an option. I was able to find a marina in Portsmouth, VA that will haul us the week of Nov 4. They will install the strut and paint the bottom of the boat, a much-needed project.
We have decided to take some time in Cape May, explore the town and order the replacement strut to be shipped here. We will then sail offshore for Norfolk and Portsmouth next weekend. That passage will be about 24 hours, weather depending. The long-range forecast looks promising.
Pump housing for aft head
Yuck!
Meanwhile, I had the head to deal with. Luckily, while gross, the clog was easy to clear due to the cleverly designed pump with an access port in it. I have learnt my lesson and will use less TP!
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Additionally, while we were sailing south, a strange vibration in the aft part of the boat became apparent. In the past, the prop strut mounting base had become loose and I had a diver tighten the tabs on it. I figured the strut had become loose again and didn’t worry too much about it. I got a referral from South Jersey Marina for a diver and scheduled him to meet us at the dock on Friday afternoon. Diver Tom arrived and got under the boat. Unfortunately, the bolts were just fine. The issue is the tabs are cracked at the base and this presents a fairly urgent problem. The strut is very important to maintaining the stability of the propeller while it’s rotating. A failure of the strut under high RPM could have very bad consequences.
We have decided to take some time in Cape May, explore the town and order the replacement strut to be shipped here. We will then sail offshore for Norfolk and Portsmouth next weekend. That passage will be about 24 hours, weather depending. The long-range forecast looks promising.
