Maiden Voyage

Left Cowichan Bay for Pender Harbour, stopped for fuel and then motored slang in beautiful sunshine, flat calm and now tucked into a slip at Newcastle Island. Fill up with cheaper fuel tomorrow, possible hydrUlic fluid change, then cross the Gulf to Pender Harbour tomorrow. So far, the autopilot and the heater have failed; can't wait to see what bakes tomorrow. Fun, though, a friend says boating is the best time you can buy!

Yes, sounds like fun all right. It was a beautiful sunny day today to break her in.

I Couldn't resist taking a little run up the East side of Guemis Island myself, returning back along Saddlebag Island to Anacortes on flat calm seas. Topped off the fuel tanks and back to my slip.

When that sun goes down. . .Brrrrr!!

How did she handle on her maiden voyage? apart from from the system failures you must have been pretty nervous?, a few pics as you head across to Pender harbour tomorrow would be nice?.

Looks like a great day for a crossing, all the best.
Hope you didn't freeze last night...........

So how was the Maiden voyage?

We made it, the horn failed enroute but as the crossing was 4 hours I took it apart, soaked it in contact cleaner and it now has a dignified blat. I took some photos but not on this -will post tomorrow.

It was cold at Newcastle once the engine etc cooled off so we went to bed at 8:00 and stayed there until daylight. I've had to abandon her for a few days as we will be having guests but next week, I'll re-plumb the heater, make sure the fuel pump isn't just plugged, build a new fuel manifold and use a Racor I've been saving instead of the genset filter, which I will switch for the heater filter and put in all new line. There was air in the line so I need to find that before I mess with the actual heater. Autopilot will get a bath in contact cleaner. Change the breather to larger hose...install the 6 gallon overflow tank instead of the too-small one it has now...clean, cut out old wires in the wheelhouse...open up the exhaust stack and measure it for a new muffler...remove the ugly bow thruster...figure out what to do with the flopper stoppers...clean...

The maiden voyage was a hoot!