Crate’s Marina, Belleville, On. June 10 – ???

I write this blog as I’m waiting for Tim to return from the Hardware Store. A neighboring boater, who is local, volunteered to drive him there. We had thought we’d be on our way by now, but luck is not quite in our favor this week.

When we left Picton Wednesday morning, we had just a few hour trip through the Bay of Quinte to Belleville. This was a somewhat planned stop to have work done on the boat. To back up, we have been having issues with the starboard starter. A few times when we tried to restart the engines in the locks, the starboard engine would click several times and then start, or just not start at all without Tim going into the engine room and giving the starter a few taps with a hammer. We had a similar problem last year and ended up spending several days in Clayton, NY replacing the starter and all the other crap that goes along with engine repairs. Anyway, you can go back in the blog and look at that fiasco if you want. The problem isn’t taking the old starter off and putting the new one in it’s place, The real issue is FINDING a starter and then HEFTING the batteries out of the way to get to the starter. Hooking up the starter is the easy part. So, after several emails and phone calls, Tim located an OEM starter in England (3-4 week delivery) and did find one in Virginia that we had shipped overnight. For the unlearned like me, OEM means Original Equipment Manufacturer not a aftermarket replacement. The starter was sent to Crate’s and was waiting there for us when we arrived.

The next morning, as scheduled, the guys showed up. Three young muscled dudes and Tim pulled the two 170 lb batteries out of the battery box and removed the battery box so the starter could be accessed. By the end of the day, the new starter was in and the Dudes had replaced the battery box and rehefted the batteries back in. Ready, Set….. nothing. No go, no groan, not even a squeak from the starter. Tim and our guy rechecked cables and wires and……. no go. The determination was that this $1000, air freighted, special OEM starter was kaput. Once again the Dudes lifted the batteries out, out came the battery box, and the wonderful new starter was taken off. At the local starter repair shop, it was confirmed. The problem was with the starter. They promised to fix it and have it back to us the next day, Friday.

Friday rolls around and by the time the starter is ready for pickup, it’s time for the Dudes to be done for the day. No problem. We’re easy going, no schedule, we flex. Saturday morning arrives, beautiful day, another cool one. All is good. Our guy arrives around 10:30 and the new, fixed starter is reinstalled. Here come the Dudes for another hefting of the batteries. We all hold our breaths when Tim flicks the start toggle. Wheeeee! We’re on GO! He repeats it several times. A couple times we have a no go again, but maybe that’s just new starter warm up. We’re hopeful. By this time, it’s around 2pm and we decide to chill again the rest of the day and then begin our voyage first thing Sunday.

Well…. subject to change. Tim starts noticing a fuel leak on the starboard engine. Tim tightened the hose clamps and checked in the morning and the leak was back leaking from a compression fitting that was probably stepped on while install or removing the batteries. As our luck is running, of all the spare fittings Tim carries aboard, none would work for this.

So…. off to the hardware store. Tim was able to find a fitting that wasn’t what he really wanted, but, my man, Tim was able to make it work. After a lot of grunting, cussing and general hard work, Tim was able to get the new fitting on a new hose and the leak was stopped.

Now, let’s get out of here before something else breaks.