Jones with Justis Family

Our dear friends came up for our annual reciprocal Thanksgiving reunion and we took advantage of the spectacular Friday weather and went to Jones. The last time they were here we went to Jones but it was very cold. On this trip, it was sunny and fairly warm, with temperatures up to about 50 and much warmer in the sun.

Anchor riding sail

Last year on our attempt to make it out to Barkley Sound by way of the Straits, we made it as far as Becher Bay near Sooke where we stayed for 3 days while 40 knot winds tore up the waters. While at anchor, we were swinging around so much that it was truly unpleasant. I ended up setting a stern anchor just to stop the swinging, which worked so well that the little danforth dug in so deep I bent the shank when it came time to pull it out. I swore I would make an anchor riding sail and that time has come.

Replaced sewage Y valve and etc.

I make a point to excercise all the various valves on Aeolus fairly often, just as matter of routine. I went to do this to the Y valve that controls the flow of sewage and the handle cracked. I am certain it is orginal to the boat and is also made of a plastic wtihout reinforcement. No surprise it's day had come.

I replaced it with the new Jabsco model which seems beefier and I hope to get 20 years out of this one too.

Let me say, replacing hoses on the sewage system is a true test of will. Although I have taken to using tank treatment, it is still a nasty proposition. Most of the hoses around this system have been replaced and upgraded with better stuff, but as you can see in this picture, the main supply hose from the head itself to the Y valve is still original and fairly thin walled. I've ordered the new hose to replace it too.

Upgrade to AC system

Aeolus is typical of production boats of it's generation in that it has an occasionally adequate and occasionally abysmal electrical system. I've already documented here my many upgrades to the DC system to compensate for inadequate breakers, fusing and connections. Now that I comfortable with my DC systems being in close compliance with ABYC standards I am turning my attention to the AC system.

New boom topping lift

The last wire on Aeolus that had not been replaced was the boom topping lift. It's been on my mind for a while as it showed some obvious signs of corrosion, and is 20 years old. I bought some Amsteel as a replacement for the opportunity to try it out and use a lighter line. As most know, this stuff is stronger than steel, doesn't stretch, resists UV fine and is super lightweight.

This weekend I have made the switch. Splicing the small diameter Amsteel is not possible by the recommended full bury method of the larger stuff. I looked around and found a method that is fine for this low load smaller line where you just weave it into and out of itself for a while.

Nice to have this done and not worry about a catastrophic failure of my boom topping lift while I am trying to reef my mainsail or powering into rough seas with my main down and relying on the tension between the topping lift and the mainsheet to hold that boom still.

Back to Jones, our home away from home

As hoped, we were able to take Aeolus away from the dock on Sunday. I did a furious boat clean up and by lunchtime we loaded some friends onto the boat and headed off to Jones on a warmish and sunnyish day.

This exact formula produces marvelous results every time: sail to Jones, dinghy to beach, play on beach, hike around Jones, return to beach, return to boat, sail home. Perfection every time.

It was not that warm by the thermometer, but with a small dose of sun on that south facing beach, it was very comfortable. The recent rains have reawakened all the smells and the grasses have all burst green again.

The motor ran and sounded fine and so my alignment must have passed the test. No funny vibrations or noises. I'm happy.

By the way, the reason Elliott has no pants is because the boys played in the water and we made them take off their wet pants before getting onto the boat. Never mind that the water is quite cold, the kids had a blast. 

She's running again!

Ha! Went back to Aeolus today and after connecting this, that, and everything else, I started her up for the first time in about a month. Filled her with oil, filled her with antifreeze, changed all her filters (fuel and oil), attached the new heat exchanger and whamo! she purred like a kitten.

I have never had trouble starting my Universal diesel after the lines have been cleared. I pull the stop switch and crank her a few seconds to prime the oil system. I loosen the bleed valve on the injection pump. I turn the key on and let the electric fuel pump do it's job until it builds up pressure and stops. With all this, she always starts as always, on the first crank.

Now I have a massive boat cleaning job to do, but I might be able to pull her out of her slip just to take a short jaunt tomorrow! Yippee.