All Prop'ed Up and Someplace to Go!

Big day for Blue Redd.

PMC hauled us at 1:00pm today and swapped the new 5-blade prop back onto Blue Redd.   The old 4-blade prop is now in our storage unit.   Anyone want a nice 4-blade prop?

That's Brent, in the picture, inspecting the newly re-installed 5-blade prop.

Hangin' with Miss Katie!   Going back in!   yea!

Once back in the water we took Blue Redd out for a quick spin around the block to make sure we didn't hear any untoward singing.   All good!

But we did notice one problem.   The alternator was not charging.   I snapped a few pictures and sent them to Art (Master of our Charging Systems).   He stopped by and did some troubleshooting.  This is the 3rd time our system has blown a fuse.   The specific fuse isn't the main charge load, it is the power feed to the Wakespeed brains and voltage regulator.   They should not be drawing much, certainly nowhere near enough to pop a 15A fuse.   To be safe, Art will provide us a second pre-programmed Wakespeed, so if it blows again, we have a backup should the Wakespeed be the source of the problem.  Thank you, Art!

We ran the old 4-blade prop back to our storage unit.   It was a bit awkward to handle with just Karen & me.   Good thing we ate our Wheaties this morning (lame attempt at a joke...).

Then we took Brent's truck back to him.   Thank you so much for lending us your truck!   

We returned the rental car, thereby severing all auto-mobility; we have to leave now!  Not to mention that PMC wants us off their dock so they can accommodate other boats.




Tonight, we had a lovely visit with the folks on Yachette, the boat docked directly in front of us.

Beautiful 25-year-old Delta (80'?).   The word, immaculate, comes to mind.   But more interesting are Michael & Joan, the owners.   This will be there 53rd year going to Alaska on their boats.   And the most interesting part is that he is 92 and she's 88!!!  They still run the boat by themselves.   I am impressed and inspired.   We are still babe's by comparison to their experiences and knowledge.

Maybe I can be like them when I grow up?  Probably not...

We are making final preparations to depart at 0500 tomorrow.   We hope to clear customs at Poet's Cove in Bedwell Harbour, B.C., and then get to Nanaimo for pizza at dinner.   That's about 85 miles and we must time Dodd's Narrows rapids to get there.   Dodd's Narrows can run 9-10 knots.   We don't want to be there at max current regardless of which direction it is running.  A bit dodgy in our 7.5knot boat!

Buona Notte.

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