we have been working 12 hour days. too tired to blog. Just look at the pictures.
Rotten luck
Another early morning start. We had taken the brass strips off the rubrail yesterday, and B began sanding and cleaning it, so today she kept ongoing with that.I epoxyed into position the new transducer for the forward facing sonar. I had just finished when B found a surprise. Part of the rubrail was rotten. This ment a trip to the hardware store for some timber to rebuild it. It took most of the day but we cut out the 2.4m of rot, finish sanding and treat all the rail with wood restore product. On top of it it was a hot day with no wind and we had no option but having a cold shower middle of the day to cool down and keep working. Sometimes B had no choice to play contortionist to reach the rubrail and Andrew had to keep balance as he was most of the day on top of the ladder.
Long shower
The warm water trickled down my back as I stood under the shower, not worrying about how much water I was using. Just letting the water refresh my aching body. It was the first time in quite a while that we were able to have a long hot shower. The marina facilities were nice and clean and a welcome necessity at the end of the first day on the hard.
We had Imagine lifted out of the water yesterday to spend 10 days on the hard stand. We have lots to do and today we got stuck into it. B started sanding the rubrail ready for painting. While I removed the damaged transducer and cleaned the hull ready for the new one.
By lunch time it was raining so we both started scrapping the remaining barnacles off the hull. We ended the day with me removing some of the name Imagine from the hull to make it easier to paint the white hull. B removed the skirt from the back of Imagine.
It’s not the battery
As we couldn’t do much work on Imagine we decided to go for a sail. I jump started the engine and we hauled anchor. It was a nice breeze and we sailed to Motohe Island where we had lunch. A bit swelly there so, we went across to Islington Bay on Rangitoto Island. This is where we spent the night along with thirty other boats.The wind was blowing 25 knots and the rain made us appreciate even more our sheltered cockpit.
It has been raining most of the day so we have just been doing things inside. When I went to start the engine to charge the batteries, it wouldn’t jump start. After a lot of work I traced the problem to the starter motor. Jump starting the battery it the last few days increased the current to the starter motor and it worked, but today even the extra current wouldn’t turn the starter motor.
While I was working on the engine, B attacked the wood cupboard and my tool draw. Now the wood is sorted into sizes and my tools are all neatly laid out. It looks wonderful. I wonder how long they will stay like that? From now on I have to ask permission to access my tools and make sure I put them back at the same place hahaha…Who said that we are living the dream life?
The rain has stopped just long enough to give us a beautiful sunset.
It has been raining most of the day so we have just been doing things inside. When I went to start the engine to charge the batteries, it wouldn’t jump start. After a lot of work I traced the problem to the starter motor. Jump starting the battery it the last few days increased the current to the starter motor and it worked, but today even the extra current wouldn’t turn the starter motor.
While I was working on the engine, B attacked the wood cupboard and my tool draw. Now the wood is sorted into sizes and my tools are all neatly laid out. It looks wonderful. I wonder how long they will stay like that? From now on I have to ask permission to access my tools and make sure I put them back at the same place hahaha…Who said that we are living the dream life?
The rain has stopped just long enough to give us a beautiful sunset.
Fire onboard
Boxing Day morning we headed into to town. The shops were packed. People looking for the Boxing Day sales. We found a vacuum and a small pump for the watermarker. All the places were closed that sold starter batteries.
We dropped the car back to Darren. He had given us a pump to try. Back onboard, I started replacing the pump. Of course none of the connections were the same as the old one. Tried Darren’s one it had too higher pressure, but finally the one we bought seemed to do the job.
Eager to go sailing, we jump started the engine and hauled anchor. We started the watermaker and I checked that it was making water. Everything seemed to be alright. After about half an hour I checked again and everything was working smoothly.
About an hour later, half way to Waiheke Island, we were both on deck enjoying the sun ( finally out there!) and dolphins sighting. I went down below to get some drinks and smelled something, a few second later the smoke alarms went off. I quickly turned off the power and saw the smoke coming from the cupboard where the watermaker is. Turning off the power stopped the wiring from continuing to burn and the smoke started to disperse. Thankfully the fire didn’t spread!
We decided to turn back to Whangaparaoa and as we anchored in Okoromai Bay the wiring had cooled and the smoke was gone. That when I could see the new pump had overheated and shorted out causing the wiring to burn.
Reluctant to put the same type of pump back in we have ordered one online. This means we are on tight water until it arrives. Luckily it has rained over Christmas and we have buckets full of rainwater that we can use for washing.
We dropped the car back to Darren. He had given us a pump to try. Back onboard, I started replacing the pump. Of course none of the connections were the same as the old one. Tried Darren’s one it had too higher pressure, but finally the one we bought seemed to do the job.
Eager to go sailing, we jump started the engine and hauled anchor. We started the watermaker and I checked that it was making water. Everything seemed to be alright. After about half an hour I checked again and everything was working smoothly.
About an hour later, half way to Waiheke Island, we were both on deck enjoying the sun ( finally out there!) and dolphins sighting. I went down below to get some drinks and smelled something, a few second later the smoke alarms went off. I quickly turned off the power and saw the smoke coming from the cupboard where the watermaker is. Turning off the power stopped the wiring from continuing to burn and the smoke started to disperse. Thankfully the fire didn’t spread!
We decided to turn back to Whangaparaoa and as we anchored in Okoromai Bay the wiring had cooled and the smoke was gone. That when I could see the new pump had overheated and shorted out causing the wiring to burn.
Reluctant to put the same type of pump back in we have ordered one online. This means we are on tight water until it arrives. Luckily it has rained over Christmas and we have buckets full of rainwater that we can use for washing.
Christmas
We have finished the jobs we have been working on, so that we can have a break from Christmas to New Year relaxing and sailing around the Hauraki Gulf. We started Christmas Eve with Croissants and plans to clean up ready for our week off. That went to plan till about 3pm. That’s when the vacuum died, then the engine starter battery died and then the prepump for the watermarker stopped. It was too late to run around the shops to buy new ones, so we went for a walk along the beach.
Christmas day was great we spent it at Darren’s with other family members. Telling stories, reminiscing, eating and drinking too much before returning to Imagine.
We hope you all had a great Christmas.
What have we been doing?
B went back to Sydney (Austalia) for a week to see here daughters, the oldest being pregnant with the first grandchild. I carried on painting and changing cupboards on Imagine.
We have nearly finished the v-berth and it’s cupboards, painting, varnishing, and adding storage doors; made changes to the galley and changed the nav station. We are now recovering the seating in the saloon.
Everything takes longer on the boat. We are governed by the weather. Cutting, sanding and painting timber for shelves has to be done between the rain and high winds. Getting things from the hardware shop or groceries takes a day each time. There is still lots to do, but we are slowly getting Imagine back into shape, ready for our next adventure.
Also, in between B is working on her new fashion jewellery Collection all based on natural and recycled materials.
The weather hasn’t been great but we are back into the habit of early morning swim.
Cousin Linda and family came for a visit. A few other friends have also called in to see what we are up to.
What a surprise
Tuesday 14thWith rain coming, we finished up the jobs on deck and headed to Kawau for a rest. We have anchored in a nice sheltered bay that we hadn’t been in before.
After dark and we had just finished dinner when there was splashing and rocking of the boat. We rushed up on deck to see two Orcas cruising past and out of the bay. They must have been after stingrays for dinner.
This morning started with a swim in 15 degree water. We did a few jobs. Then we lowered the dinghy into the water and went fishing. B caught two and I caught one snapper. Fresh snapper for lunch and this evening B prepared snapper pan fried in butter on a bed of shaved zucchini with a side of rice.
We have been busy
Sunday 12th
By the time we have dinghied ashore and either gone to the supermarket or hardware store, the day has gone by the time we return to Imagine. After several trips and having purchased a lot of things for the boat we have now started to work on Imagine. We have painted and relined the Vberth. B has sanded and painted the storage chests on the foredeck and sanded and painted part of the toe rail. I have emptied the chain locker, sanded and painted it and I mounted cleats in the chain locker to make it easier to get the mooring lines out. B cleaned the fenders. The old vent horns have been replaced with new ones on the fore deck. The stove has a new aluminum surround.
We have been busy and there’s more to do.
We have been lazy
it’s been 6 days since we have posted a blog, sorry.
We only spent a day in Deep Water before the wind changed and we could head south. We sailed as far as Whangarei where we spent the night. The next day we sailed all the way to Whanaparaoa, seeing dolphins on the way.
On Wednesday we fueled up in Gulf Harbour before sailing around to Tindalls Bay. Wednesday afternoon and Thursday we borrowed a car from my brother and did some shopping for groceries and parts for the boat.
As there is a big storm coming on Friday we sailed across to Kawau Island. We anchored in Two House Bay next to Mansion House Bay. We weren’t here long before two other boats anchored in Mansion House and a third joined us this morning. All three are the same boats that we sheltered with back in February when the cyclone hit Auckland.
Today we have been busy fitting new parts to Imagine. Replacing the Vberth vents with sealeable ones. Replaced the Vberth hatch, as the old one leaked. B was busy cleaning the ceiling panels and cleaning up the mess as I was working.
Everything is calm and silent. The calm before the storm.
