Monday, January 22, 2018

Tuesday, January 9, 2018





GONE Sailing

Gone sailing

Or so everyone thinks.....
Were gone from home for sure , no snow, warm sunshine, crevasses, what more can a man ask for.
A 47 ft sailing vessel capable of circumnavigating the world. Lets go sailing. 
Wrong, we arrived and Patrick our mechanic had the generator out, from under the bunk and a pile of parts on cardboard on the floor to greet us.The one that was going to be done before christmas.
We can live with that. Just need to put it together and slip it in. 9 days later we have not left, and the gererator has yet to make power. Oh did I miss the juicy parts, well, the machine shop took a week to make us a part, customs in Mexico city have our real brushes, on the good news side we fixed the leeking deisel return line today. Oh sorry Im getting ahead of myself. When we fired up the generator the raw water pump leaked again, but its ok it is In a different spot, the other spot is holding. Its just a seal ,like the one I went to buy for the main engine $44 US, so we will get the Mexican non marine grade one for now. Did I tell you that once the generator is in place you cannot see the pump. By hanging yourself upside down over the engine (make sure its not hot) you can feel it. 4 bolts no, 3 bolts one nut 3 different sizes 2 of which are metric.  Oh enough about the generator. Let talk main engine. Went to warm up the engine 90hp turbo diesel, the second time, after 5 min on low revs, big bang followed by knocking, blew an injector.
Now all I know about injectors is when We had them done labout 350 hrs ago, it cost us a lot of money. I was told have them done every 1000 hrs.
Pulled all 4 out with shane, tricky stuff,  they are getting redone at a spescialty shop as we speak, very good,but expencive. And then we can do more of my favourite hobby, “turning wrenches”. Well I m probabbly boring you with this engine stuff. Let me tell you that the forward head got rebuilt with spare parts no less them 3 times in three days ,and, on a possative note, is holding its own, so to speak. And for all you sunwarshippers out there, I have been in the hot tub 3 times once with a beer in hand, that’s allowed here. Oh and not to forget we have had dinner out in several reastarunts, just so we can
Have some non boat time.
We hope the mechanic shows tonight and the electrician tomorrow, oh I guess I didn’t tell you about the inverter. Maybe I ll save that for another story.
Gypsywind , laid up in Mazatlan


Tuesday, January 2, 2018

Back for more


When sailing gets into your blood it is part of you .you in some way are bound by the law of the sea to return and do it over and over. Sailing that is.
Well we are back for more adventure.Gypsy wind is in Mazatlan waiting for the gen set to be fixed then down to Puerto Vallarta to hook up with old friends Mishack who sailed from HAWAII this fall on a new boat. Probably with a new name that we Don t know. The adventure begins
Gypsywind at marina EL CI'd
MAZATLAN