While motoring into the port the other day, we noticed air venting out the of port side, but not the starboard side. This fan has the important job of venting the hot air out of the engine compartment, so it doesn't overheat inside.
Once we were secure on the quay, Jared went into the engine compartment to investigate. After checking the connections, we decided to replace the fan.
Starboard blower vent area (we removed the cover to access the bolts). It got a good cleaning and new sealant afterwards!
Two days later, we had the new fan installed, but it would not turn on. Hmmm. We double checked all of the connections and wires again and determined that one of the wires was bad. After replacing that wire, we were back in business!
I guess I can say that it was a good thing this happened. While messing about with the wires at the helm, Jared noticed our start switch wires were badly corroded and replaced those while he was at it.
So, next time you switch on your engine(s) check to see if your blower is working. We don't know how long ours was out of commission, but are glad we found out before a serious problem arose.
Yet another project we tackled on RoundAbout was running the main halyard back to the helm. As it was, one of us would have to go forward to crank up (or drop) the sail, and when it is pouring rain, it isn't all that fun a job. We have an electric winch that would make raising (and lowering) the main sail so much easier! We'd also get to say out of the bad weather, so that was part of the motivation.
First, we ordered blocks for the main halyard (72mm size), a Spinlock clutch, and the plastic material for the shims, which will go under the blocks. Receiving these parts took all of about a month. Once we had all of the parts, install took about a day.
Shims cut and being prepared for installation.
Jared traced the blocks and cut out the shims. We then set to work placing the blocks. After we were happy with the placement, we completed the installation.
We installed one block on the mast, and two blocks on the roof leading up to the new clutch at the helm.
All done and it works great!
We finished just before evening and tested the system. It worked great!
We have been chasing after leaks and think we have finally found the sources and repaired them all! What a job that was.
We noticed back in January that one of the port forward cabin lights had shorted out and water was sitting inside of it. We re-bed the seals on both starboard and port areas, as well as the jib tracks, and the traveler. We dried out the area and thought that was that.
Well, fast forward to re-launching from the boat yard and a major washing down of the boat. After we had finished cleaning, I walked into the port cabin and noticed the same light was flickering and had water inside of it again. We had just replaced it, too! Ugh! We removed it and tossed it into a bag of silica gel packets. I am hoping we can save it, as they are about $80 a piece!
Where was the water coming from? We checked the handrails and stanchions, which were all dry. The only other place we had not resealed were the steps.
Resealing the steps.
It took a couple of days, but after re-sealing the steps and drying out the area, we have not had any more leaks! We tested with the hose on full blast and it was still dry. Whew!
Watching for leaks while the water is being sprayed above on deck.
Jared even removed the hatch, so he could watch for leaks as I sprayed down the area. The only thing left to do was make sure the area was dried out. This entailed taping up our hairdryer to blow the hot air into the hole for awhile.
Drying out the moisture from the leak.
A week later, we tested the area again with full blasts from the hose and it is still dry.
After buying new dock lines for RoundAbout, we wanted to ensure they had a long life. This meant coming up with a way to protect against chafe.
While we usually prefer to anchor out, sometimes we need to go into a marina or tie up to a town quay. Tying up to the cleats while Med-mooring is hit or miss. Some of these cleats are ok, but a lot of the older ones are very rusty and have sharp edges. This isn't too much of a concern for a short stay, however, when we need to come in for longer periods of time, it could become an issue.
As we have been working to complete our to-do list for the boat, we have been chasing parts and suppliers. This means we are often tied up for a few days while we wait for a delivery. In our last case, it was almost two weeks. During those two weeks, we had crazy high winds which caused quite the swell to enter the marina. We saw other lines snap during the last storm, so felt a little safer with the chafe gear on our lines.
Jared bought reinforced pipe to use as our chafe gear (old leather or fire hose also can work well).
All tied up just before the big storm hit ( a little deja vu for us, as the last time we tied up in a spiderweb was prepping for a hurricane).
RoundAbout came with LED lighting, except for in the heads (bathrooms). In the starboard forward head, the light didn't even work and had burn marks. It was melted all inside, so simply replacing the bulb was out of the question. We wanted to replace the old halogen anyway, so we bought four new LED lights to install in every head.
Obtaining these in Greece meant over two months of waiting. We placed the order back in early January and received two of them after one month. We received the other two another month later. This was after they sent us 24 volt lights instead of the 12 volt ones we had ordered.
After removing the old light and installing the new one, we also added a different switch. These are much easier for the kids to reach and work better as well.
This is one of those times when size DOES matter. We had noticed cracks surrounding our port stern cleat and had the yard do the repair while we were hauled out last month. A week later, the cracks had returned!
After investigating further, we noticed the backing plate for the cleat was way too small! It was about the size of our cell phone (we have the Google Pixel).
Port cleat backing plate
We now have new metal plates that are ready to be drilled and installed (the shop made them a little too big, so we are cutting the section with the X off). The photo with the phone on the plate is a reference to see just how much we increased the backing plate size.
We are going ahead and reinforcing both the port and starboard stern cleats. We will replace the bolts also, as we noticed they were different sizes. We decided that we might as well do so, while we have the resources nearby. We are waiting for the plates to be dropped off after they get cut to finish the install. I'll update the post once we get everything completed.
Our family outside the 17th Elementary School of Piraeus, Greece
As a teacher, it was a bit tough to pack up my classroom and set sail for the next two years. Jared reminds me that I am teaching our own children each day, but it just isn't the same. I found myself actually missing my classroom. It's just where part of my heart is.
I also wanted to take on some sort of project while we visit various countries. When we started out in the BVI, experienced the hurricanes (#irmaria) and began helping with the recovery efforts, I really focused on helping the schools there. As we were back in the states, I had the internet resources and was able to pair up state schools (and other organizations) with island schools. As a result, many teachers received supplies from all over the states, which helped get their classrooms up and running again. It felt good to be able to do something from afar.
Presentation on our school in CA, the STEM and ROV program Stef started there.
Fast forward to now. We are presently in Greece and have been volunteering in a friend's classroom. The main focus has been STEM activities and also founding the first youth ROV program in Greece! A few times in the classroom led to teaching the principal and some of the staff. I LOVED every minute and felt like we were making a difference. My kids helped organize and lead the lessons, which in turn, provided the benefit of working with another culture. Recess time was spent in a dance class or outside on the playground, sharing stories and snacks. These have been wonderful experiences and something we will continue as we sail on.
STEM or STEAM: science ,technology, engineering, and math (some add art in there, but if you think about it, art is in everything).
The more we share our story or about how we are working with local schools, the more inquiries we receive about coming to their school, sharing the ideas with their staff and students. We go to those we can, based on the anchorages or marinas near the schools. For others, we are working on creating videos, so they can recreate the activities in the classroom or at home.
While I can't do this full time at the moment, it makes me sit and ponder the possibility of doing so. To be able to travel and teach, while being with my family and exploring new places. Oh, what a dream come true that would be! Alas, we would need to fund this venture, and there just doesn't seem to be the school funds to be able to cover this sort of program. For now, it is completely volunteer, but perhaps in the future, it could turn into something full time. That would be amazing!
Since moving aboard RoundAbout, we have been working through a variety of products to see what works best.
Our rub-rails and fenders were pretty dingy and while acetone would do the job, it is a harsh chemical, for both the boat and the hands! We tried those white sponge erasers, basic soap and water, and a few other things before we found the magic solution:
We couldn't believe how efficient and super easy it was! Not only did it get our rub-rails and fenders looking like new, it also will protect them.
What are your favorite products for boat maintenance?
RoundAbout's haulout via tractor and hydraulic lift
We hauled RoundAbout out at Planaco Yacht Yard, on the island of Aegina, Greece on Valentine's Day. We spent the next two weeks getting all sorts of things crossed off the list.
Powerwashing commenced immediately after hauling out.
Here is what we accomplished:
*fiberglass and gelcoat repair (various areas on deck, a cleat, rudder, dinghy davits, etc).
*serviced sail drives and engines (changed all seals, oil, belts, etc)
*replaced leaky hatch seals
*re-bed the traveler
*re-seal joints on the Starboard side (we did the Port side a couple of months ago)
*serviced propellers
*serviced dinghy motor
*remarked our anchor chain
*installed underwater lights
*installed a new thru-hull for the water-maker
*installed new transducer with speed log
*sanded all the old paint off the bottom and added an anti-osmotic sealer/primer and two coats of anti-foul paint
*repair broken hinge on anchor locker
*generator exhaust elbow repaired (it was leaking and water ran down into Cadence's closet)
*repaired stove rails (re-welded a spot that had come apart).
*ordered custom cockpit enclosure, new interior cushions (recovered), replaced our helm station cushions, new window screens, and ordered custom cushions for the cockpit. It will be so nice to be able to sit outside in comfort!
Various repair work.
This is how we made it easier for Sunny to get on and off the boat. The stairs were a much better option than the ladder off the transom.
Being in the yard was challenging, but we survived. The boat was a mess and so dirty! The antifoul paint residue is very hard to get off the boat. Sunny's fur was tinged blue! (we are still trying to get if off the trampoline--hoping over time it will fade and bleach out). Total cost of this haul-out and all repairs/materials: about 10k! Ouch!
The yard did have restrooms and hot showers, which was helpful. A taverna next door was a place we spent a lot of time, using their wifi and enjoying their delicious food and coffee. The kids scootered around the yard and played with the yard's dogs. Sunny also enjoyed the extra time on terra firma.
We also had some time to explore the port town of Aegina. the Temple of Apollo, and some other historical sites. During the weekend, we encountered Carnival, also known as Apokries. It is celebrated with parties, feasts, and parades three weeks before Lent Monday. It is sort of like Halloween without the trick-or-treating. There was a parade, kids in costumes everywhere, as well as confetti and streamers covering every surface!
Exploring the Port of Aegina during the festival weekend.
Aegina is famous for growing pistachios, so we had to try some.
Testing our systems.
Relaunching!
We re-launched on Tuesday, February 27th around 11:30am and after testing all of the systems, we sailed for Poros.
We flew the drone during the re-launch. Check out the video! (linked here in case it doesn't load below)
Enjoying the new helm seats!
Anchored off the eastern part of Aegina, while we had lunch.
That night we encountered a mighty storm with winds of at least 20 knots sustained and gusts over 30 knots. Yes, we checked the forecast. It was incorrect! The wind kept clocking all around and of course, we dragged anchor. Jared and I stayed up for most of the night. Finally, around 2am, we gave up trying to reset the anchor. While Jared stayed at the helm, I went forward in the freezing rain and wind to haul up the anchor. Usually, we use our forward hose and give everything a good rinse. Not this time, and it really needed it, as we harvested a ton of sea grass. We turned around and motored back to the town quay and tied up. Exhausted, we fell asleep and woke up to a sunny and calm morning. Go figure.
Sailing back to Piraeus and transisting the shipping lane. This ship was 899 feet long! Our boat was barely the size of its rudder!
Testing our underwater lights!
It was so calm, we all enjoyed sitting up front for a change!
We returned to Pireaus later that afternoon, so we could attend our visa extension appointment the following day. What a load of paperwork that was! I think the stack of all our paperwork was about 6 inches tall. We had to make 2 copies of all documents for each of us, get letters of confirmation that our boat was in the harbor from both the marina and the port police, obtain a new transit log from customs, certificate from the citizen service center, and receipt for paying the fee. Three days later and 5 hours sitting the immigration office, we were finally given our visas! We can now remain in Greece until June 14th. This gives us time to wait for our stuff to arrive from the Caribbean and slowly work our way north towards Croatia.
While we were hauled out, we figured we might as well add a couple of underwater lights. It would be great fun for the kids to see all the marine life at night, as well as making it easy to find our boat in a dark and crowded anchorage.
This is a pretty simple DIY project and took about half a day, once we had everything planned out. That took the longest part! We walked around the boat yard looking at the placement of lights on other catamarans. Some had only two at the stern while others had them all around on both the inside and outside of the hulls! Bet those lit up the night like nothing else!
We decided to install two lights, one behind each rudder, as far back as possible, while still being submerged. We originally thought about placing them on the inside of the hull facing inwards, but after talking with other cruisers who were not happy with that placement, we decided to go with aft of the rudder facing downwards.
We marked off the spot aft of the rudder, taped, and pre-drilled the holes, sanded the area, and wiped clean with acetone.
Next, we added sika-flex and fed the wires through. We added a continuous bead of sika-flex to the back of the light and the screwed it to the spot. We then made a seal with some of the sika-flex that squeezed out and covered the screws with it. Each light has one hole drilled which goes into our engine compartment and from there, we ran the wires to complete the circuit. They are wired to a breaker on our 12v panel.
After they were installed and the sika-flex had dried, we painted the everything with antifouling paint (except the light part, of course). We then pulled off the plastic coating covering the light. We are happy with how they turned out!
We do take time out for fun here and there, amidst all of the boat projects. Here are some photos of our time spent at the Acropolis in Athens and the Museum.
Exploring the Parthenon and Acropolis
Sitting high on this hill in Athens, is the Acropolis. It is derived from the word "polis" which translates to the 'highest point in the city'. In ancient times, the city would lay just below with markets and an active trading center.
Once you pass through the entrance gateway, also known as the Propylaea, you will see the Parthenon of Athena, the Erechtheum, the Temple of Athena Nike.
If you have time to explore this amazing place, do it!
Another experience you can't miss is the Changing of the Guard at Syntagma Square in Athens. They change about every hour, but there is a parade and ceremony at 11am on Sundays. This is when we went and it was totally worth staying the extra days in port to do so!
We took some time for a quick trip down the island chain to Milos. The waters are a beautiful turquoise and it was fun to explore the village.
Anchored off Milos.
Weather soon chased us back north.
Checking the weather.
On the way back to Piraeus, we stopped at the port of Loutra on the island of Kythnos. This area is known for the hot springs that flow right to the beach! We highly recommend a visit, if you are in the area. The village was empty, as it was off season, with the exception of the harbor master and one cafe who opened a few hours each day. Wifi is free in the port.
Port Loutra. Hots springs are on the beach, left of RoundAbout.
After picking up some parts back in Piraeus, we set off for our haul-out at the Planaco Yacht Yard on the nearby island of Aegina. They have free wifi, bathrooms with showers (lots of hot water!) and a nice taverna next door. Everyone we spoke to goes here because of the professional staff and the unique way they lift out the boats: via tractor lift! Check out the videos of our haul-out on our facebook page.
We spent a little over a week on the hard, getting all sorts of things crossed off the list. In addition to new antifouling (after sanding, they added a primer/epoxy coat before the antifouling), we serviced the saildrives and engines, generator, and propellers (we had fishing line on the port side and a net in the starboard--definitely recommend pulling the propellers to check them, as all sorts of things get sucked up into them), added a speed log, new thru-hull for our water-maker (ours temporarily shared one with the a/c unit), fiberglass/gelcoat repairs, marked our anchor chain, entire boat polished, underwater lights added, seals replaced for leaky hatches, and ordered new window screens, a cover for the BBQ, replacement helm station cushions, recovered the salon cushions, and added cockpit cushions and pillows. We also ordered pieces to enclose the cockpit area on rainy days to keep the area dry. The upholstery order will take a couple of weeks, and so we will island hop while we wait.
The boat yard has been so busy hauling and re-launching boats, it's like a bee-hive here! Work is going on constantly! They are also building a wooden luxury yacht in their building and we were invited to tour it. Wow! It was incredible! This one project guarantees jobs for the yard employees for at least 3 solid years!
The weather has been rainy off and on, but we are seeing signs of spring, which means more sunny weather and great sailing! We are looking forward to being back out on the water and exploring more of this wonderful country. We have applied for and received an extension to stay in Greece until June. While we may not stay that long, it gives us plenty of time to look for good weather windows as we make our way towards Croatia.
