Latest & Greatest-- Day 9

Day 4/5:

The good news for today is that the manufacturer of the water heater is still in business and the replacement tank has same dimensions/orientation as the original... so I'm told. the 'bad' news is that Raritan is a top of the line tank and has a top of the line price...but it is still less than one Boat Unit [ the Valiant Owner's site members talk in Boat Units, similar to using poker chips rather than real money... you have a bit of disconnect and it isn't so painful when they are gone] - one BU being $1000.

Tank will be here on or about April 20, so until then we need to boil for dishwashing hot water..... no different than being out at sea.

We did manage to get some items knocked off the list without adding too many new ones.

The diver is coming out thursday for zincs,etc and wednesday is the survey of the boat required for insurance.

Robin will paint/galvanize the anchor tomorrow, while I put a liner in the nav station storage cupboard [ to keep items away from hoses and wiring] and then try to tackle the Y-valve replacement in the head.

Robin has found the optimum placement of supports for the grate in the head that has all but eliminated the annoying squeaking -- this will be a big bonus during the late night bathroom parade for anyone in the V-berth or salon berth.

OTHER NEWS:
We are watching with interest the slow [ very slow!] framing of the floating house being built in the old dry dock area of the marina. It is being built on a concrete base that is built like an upside down box filled with foam.

Canoe Cove has paved over the boat work area and all wash water/surface wastes are now collected rather than being dumped into the water. Each boat area has thin plastic mats to keep crap off the pavement and make it easier to clean up boat debris.....

Not so good is that it appears that the Stonehouse pub is out of business; this means no option for a walk for burger/beer. At least no option for a short walk; now the nearest pub is the Blue Peter over at VanIsle Marina, which is about a 3 k walk.

Day 5 to Day 9!

The new dodger is in place and Coyote canvass has done a remarkable job; all trimmed in natural leather,etc. We are very pleased and will be ordering a bimini to protect us from the Gulf Island sun...what a joke!... as i write this beside the diesel heater, in a cabin that is at 13 degrees, it is snowing and blowing and about 5 outside....not typical April weather. We had to negotiate ice/snow on the deck this a.m. to make our way gingerly to the dock.

There are some major issues to be resolved soon:
▪ testing batteries shows they are due to die soon; these need to be replaced. Probably a good time to upgrade the charger also?
▪ while tightening the steering cables, I noticed a noise in the steering column that needs to be tracked down.
▪ Robin noticed that the steering quadrant interferes with tank vent line; this needs to be re-routed
▪ waiting for new pump for the diesel cabin heater
▪ still trying to resolve head Y-valve problem: my epoxy fix of handle didn't take, and we are still stubbornly trying to find a replacement handle rather than having to buy a whole new valve. It isn't the valve cost that is the issue, it is the thought of having to tear out the old valve ,etc. I may buy valve just to get handle and then keep valve body as a spare.

We re-mounted the anchor yesterday in the cold blow/rain that was the buildup to today's snow.

Update on the head: the squeak is back and I guess we just have to live with it.

The boat surveyor has come and gone [ boat needs to be officially surveyed periodically for insurance purposes]; this was same surveyor who we used when we purchased Tatoosh. He didn't find any problems which is good news.

Today is going to be used up doing email run, taking outboard to dealer for service and tracking down some parts...yes these are poor excuses to avoid working in the snow!!