Boat projects and physical therapy exercise abound this week. We thought we had fixed the port fuel tank gauge but alas – it’s misbehaving again. The bilge pump is fixed – yay!!! Well technically it’s replaced, but the replacement didn’t fix the issue – it was a fuse hidden beside the helm in a switch. So we switched the fuse and taadaa! No more water in the bilge. Oh – what’s a bilge? The bilge is basically the bottom of the hull; the floor, or sole, that we walk on is above the bilge. If Two Fish was sitting on the ground, the bilge is the inside area that would be resting on the ground. Now why would there be water in the bilge, you ask? Several reasons – a leak (pray no – the water in the bilge was fresh, not salty), a spill of liquid inside (coolant, fuel, holding tank, basically any leaking hose), or in our case, air conditioning condensation. Yes that’s correct, we have three air conditioners on board and they have been much appreciated in the summer heat. However, if we don’t get the water out of the bilge (what the pump is supposed to automatically do), some lucky person (Chris in this case. Ahhh to be the man of the family when the wife has a bum back) get to squeeze down there and use a manual pump and bucket to empty the water. We don’t want water on board because 1) mold 2) mildew 3) corrosion 4) gross.
We have met some amazing people aboard the gorgeous Outremer RIMA. And their grandchildren came to visit. Cur the excitement! Wren was in heaven with the kiddos to play with. We even got to celebrate a birthday with a pool party and red velvet cake – so much fun. Sadly, our time with RIMA and her family have come to an end in what feels like to be entirely too soon. The kids drove home, and RIMA went to another marina to be hauled out. We all have our fingers crossed to see them in the Bahamas this winter, and that the kids & grandkids will be able to fly down.
As we finish up one boat project, two more seem to appear. We know Two Fish needs to be washed and waxed. Kathleen is close to finishing up the salon surround, but the pet netting remains a work in progress. We need to finalize sail design and send that over. We keep finding things that ‘need’ to be ordered – someone please take away Kathleen’s access to Amazon-available cleaning supplies – ha! Hatch covers have been ordered. Batten screws need to be re-inserted. Courtesy halyards need to be installed. Interior touch ups. Litter box to be scooped. Some things never end. Until next time!
