Well after having the boat for about a month now we are embarking on our first big trip. 2 weeks in the Gulf islands and then the San Yuan Islands.
Spent every available minute on the boat so far, I don’t think I have slept in my bed at home at a weekend or even Friday night since we have had her.
So we left Seattle on Saturday Morning, well lunch time, i’m not very good at the morning thing. we hit Ballard locks and it was crazy busy. so within about 10 minutes we were into the Large Lock and tied up to the wall. we had chatted with a nice couple on a 40ft Tiara while waiting outside the locks and they rolled up next to us to raft on our portside for the locks.
And then the first drama hit. As we were ready to leave the large lock I went to start the portside engine and the key just spun in the barrel. it was broken. I was worried we’d be one engine in the lock and have a fun time getting out but suddenly the key caught the starter and despite still spinning freely the engine started. I took that as a stroke of luck and noted I needed to replace the ignition barrel when we got to Port Townsend. turns out it was more bad luck than good luck… you’ll see…
We ran up to Port Townsend, stopping at Kingston on the way to fill up. I was actually surprised at how we had seemed to have done pretty well for fuel since we got her. She was around half full and took 436 gallons. Kingston Fuel is cheap with Diesel @ $2.20 so $960 bucks poorer but nice to have the boat full. We ran about 25 miles to Port Townsend.
Had a great night in Port Townsend and planned to lave the next morning for Sidney BC.
Morning came, turned the key to start her up and there was nothing on the portside. i’ll make a long story short…. I replaced the key barrel and still nothing, turns out somehow the key had kept the starter engaged and it had burned itself out. the engine room stunk of electrical burning. We were stuck. I had the option to go home on one engine, or find a new starter. We ended up stuck in PT until Tuesday morning. we got a Starter from RDI, they only had a used one and it was $1200, My son had to drive it up to us which took him about 6 hours with ferries. overall total bal ache, but we got her fixed and left this morning.
Not a great start to the holiday, good job I like Port Townsend 🙂