Gaining speed and losing altitude....

It hasn't been the best of weeks. You will recall, dear reader, that the mechanics were on the boat last Friday to fit the Murphy engine temperature gauges, and we were set to do a sea trial on the following Monday. Well, Sea-Dog, Marina and I set out as planned to begin our testing, but we had only just idled away from the jetty when Marina noticed that the oil pressure gauge on the port gearbox was showing no pressure. (Well done Marina!) Sea-Dog had done a pre-voyage check of the gearbox oil and so we were all fairly sure that it was an instrument problem, but nevertheless we all thought it prudent to return at idle to the jetty. So much for our sea trial.

Sea-Dog rang the mechanics (again) to inform them of this latest development, and also to enquire (again) about the generator control card which had not as yet arrived. The mechanics surmised that the new gauge problem lay in a lead which had been left off the gearbox pressure gauge during the fitting of the Murphy gauges, and promised to be at the boat on Tuesday. On Tuesday, they postponed the visit to Wednesday, and indeed they did arrive at the boat bright and early this morning.

Spaghetti anyone? 

Firstly they lifted the dash, hoping to find the expected loose lead. Bad news.....it was nothing obvious, and in fact they discovered that the alarm module which provides an audible warning of engine problems was also not working. But there was worse news to come....

The "new" generator control card not only didn't fix the no-load idle problem, it wouldn't let the generator run at all! After a whole morning of  toiling, and scratching of heads, and a desperate but unanswered phone call to the generator agent in Adelaide, the mechanics had given up and were ready to head off. Marina had however cunningly blocked their exit path along the jetty, and the mechanics were unable to pass without her letting them know in no uncertain way that they needed to start actually getting the problems fixed.  In the space of a week we have gone from one problem (the generator) to three major faults (generator, gearbox oil pressure gauge, audible alarm module). Each of these has the potential to prevent us getting away on our journey.

Generator control card

Time is now getting a bit short, with only 12 days to go before departure, and 6 days before Captain Bligh needs to buy his air ticket down from sunny Queensland. The mechanics have promised to be back next Monday (D day minus 7) to fix all of the problems and take Endless Summer for a decent sea trial. We'll see....

On the plus side, Marina and I sat down on Sunday as planned to work through the menus for the passage, and she has begun to gather the non-perishable and freezer provisions. I will shop for the vegies and fresh stuff next week, but not until we are sure of when we are going!

Vessel departing at sunrise  - when will our turn come? - Photo by Navman