Shower Time

We have been having problems with our knot meter for nearly 2 years now and are on our third paddle wheel in less than 3 years. The paddle wheel contains a magnet in one of it's 4 blades which enables the knot meter to count the revolutions and thus figure out the speed of the vessel through the water.

When our first one quit working in less than a year, I pulled the knotmeter out of the hull, left the blank plug in the hole, took the wheel off the knotmeter, then left it on the nav table. After several days out of the water, the magnet busted out of it's hard plastic housing making the problem obvious. Somehow saltwater got inside the paddle wheel and caused the magnet to rust, which then caused it to break out.

Our second one didn't work very well either. It always read slow then it got to where it wouldn't read at all. While in the Bahamas, I visually inspected it many times with snorkel and my fish killing fake feet, and all seemed well. We bought our third one when we got up north but were not able to get it to read while under way. With it laying in the bilge, we could flick it with a finger and speed would register, but got nothing underway. Plenty of water would come in through the hull when installing, so that wasn't the problem. I got in the dinghy with my long handled brush and would swipe in it's general direction, and Lisa would see speed readings on the instrument panel.

We decided to wait on buying a whole new knot meter until after our haulout--just in case we saw something obvious obstructing the flow of water in front of the paddle wheel.

Hold off on lunch for a second.


This is not the armpit of an East German female Olympic shot putter, but rather the marlon thru-hole (with blank installed) for our knotmeter. We are hoping our problem is solved, but no guarantees. Word is, NYC had a significant sewage spill--that may kill some things but it makes other things grow rapidly.


Underneath all that "hair" is a bronze strut. At least the strut won't get cold.


Another disgusting shot of the prop, strut, shaft and zincs. Man, I hate global warming. Or is it cooling...I can't keep it straight. Oh now I remember...it's global fluctuation.


Mike pressure washing the bottom.


Backing up the hill to her parking spot. I wish she backed up this nicely while in the water.

I've spent a couple of days getting the last of the barnacles off, sanding part of the bottom, polishing the prop, and acid washing the tannin stains off the topsides. She's not ready for the prom, but she's getting there. We've had rain the last couple of days, but the next step is a very light compound polish and then a wax job. Our new bottom paint should be here by Monday, but we won't apply that quite yet.

So far we like the boat yard here very much. The folks are very accommodating and friendly. Our fridge/freezer is being used as an ice box (ie buying ice every other day) since it is keel cooled and we are not in the water. There is a washer and dryer here as well as restrooms/showers. It's a bit primitive but better than camping. We have unlimited water for boat projects, but it is not really potable, so we have to use our good water sparingly. They will lone us a truck to get good water from the local fire station.