Keeping Navigator Running: Little Surprises

If you have been following this blog you know that in early January at Panama City we discovered the bow thruster had failed.  I was able to repair it myself after tearing apart the V-berth and contorting myself into that tiny space.  But it cost us two days.

And you know that later in Venice we experienced water pump issue.   Thanks to "Same Day" delivery from West Marine I was able to resolve that issue - with less contortions, and all before the cocktails.

There were a number of other 'lesser' issues that required attention - for instance the port pilot house door latch and a baulky toilet that my son in law Mike helped me with.

While these type of events can be challenging - frustrating even - they are not entirely unexpected.   Navigator is a well traveled, 16 year old vessel.   Mechanical issues are bound to crop up.  Especially when you consder that we have put 1000 miles on her in a very short period of time.  

However, in mid February things seemed to kind of snow ball.  On the 11th we experienced windlass failure.  The windlass is the device that raises and lowers the anchor.   As we set up to anchor at Johnston Key the windlass simply would not operate.   

Anchoring is a little dance you start by circling the area you hope to anchor to evaluate its suitability.  Navigator draws 4 ft, so depending on the state of the tide we look for at least 8.5 ft of water and a nice flat bottom, preferably mud or sand.   Circling around watching the sonar reveals the suitability of an area.   Since the wind can rotate around over night, you need to put your anchor right in the middle so you can swing during the night.   So by the time you have circled around and selected your spot, the actual dropping of the anchor should be anticlimatic.   

On this day, after having found our 'spot', I pushed the button commanding the windlass to let the anchor chain out but nothing happened.   Yikes!   We continued circling around checking fuses, pushing buttons to no avail - admittedly a bit of panic set in.   We had come 25 miles, it was forecast to be a windy night and we were along way from any marina where we might be able to tie up on an emergency basis.   It took about 5 minutes before my brain registerd the fact that we had a spare anchor - so we set that.  Safe for the night, but not without some anxiety.  A functioning windlass is essential.  

The following day I started diagnosing the problem.  First stop, the owner manual for the windlass.  Fortunately the previous two owners left behind a pretty complete collection of owners manuals.   Next, an examination of the components.  Although I had used the windlass a number of times, I never had chased down the wiring or other attached devices.  The controller, the solenoid switch and wiring.   Then I got out the volt meter and tested the  electric connections while Liz moved the toggle switch.   Nothing.   For some reason, the switch, which had worked fine previously, had no power.   After talking it through with Marco and Bill I decided that I could try rerouting power to the switch from a different source - and at least see if I could get it working.  

No sooner than I had a work around for the windlas, we started experincing stern thruster issues.   We use the thrusters primarily when landing at a dock.   Navigator, having both bow and stern thrusters means you litterally can move the boat sideways while docking, a handy trick in tight spaces while contending with wind and current.   But I also used short bursts on the stern thruster while recovering the anchor.  Keeping the bow pointed along the anchor chain as you crank in makes things go smoothly.   However, when we left No Name Key it seemed something wasn't right with the thruster.     

I got a chance to do some diagnostics the afternoon we reached Islamorada.  First a quick swim assured me the truster propeller was intact and was free to spin.  I had Liz try the thruster and heard a slight spinning noise, but no 'thrust' of water.   I checked the batteries and found extremely low voltage.  In addition the charger was giving no indication of activity.  Ususally there are one or more LED lights flashing.  Something clearly wrong - but I needed more time and information.   

The following morning my priorities changed.   Liz and I had the opportunity to get a shower ashore and we hopped in the tender for the ride in.   While manuvering alongside the dock - the steering on the tender failed!   The steering wheel came completely detached - spinning freely with no effect the direction we were travelling.   Fortunately it happened just feet from the dock and I was able to paddle in.   

A quick assesment revealed that the cable had snapped.   Toast.   I knew it meant dissasembling the steering cable and a hoping someone like West Marine could source us a replacement cable.   We started right away.   Bill loaned me a few tools and helped me tear the steering apart.  

The Marina Manager pointed us to a marine supply store closer - and more well stocked than West Marine.   The folks at Caribee were extremely helpful, not only did Stephen find and order the right part for us but Travis walked over to the dock and helped me remove the old cable.   Leo brewed me a cup of Cuban coffee.  Lucky!

Although it did cost us an extra night at Islamadora, we went to bed pretty confident that the new steering cable would arrive the next day and that we would have plenty of time to install it - and be on our way again.  

The next morning, while waiting for the steering cable, I spent several hours crawling around the engine room trying to get a better idea what was wrong with the stern thruster.    I knew  that the batteries were'nt getting proper voltage.   And I suspected the charger, but with no real evidence.   I needed more information before knowing what to do.

Borrowing Bill's battery tester and assessing the batteries made the best first step.   In a few minutes I found one of the batteries had a bad cell.   That alone could explain the problem - all the good cells in both batteries would 'try' to charge the one bad cell, leading to under voltage in all cells.   I got on line and ordered new batteries to pick up at West Marine in Coconut Grove in a few days.

Five days and four nail biting dock landings with no stern thruster later we got to West Marine.   Thanks to Mike & Melisssa, friends of Bil & Molly (and fellow Rossborough owners) who were gracious enough to run us around Miami doing errands we picked up the new batteries.   WIthin 20 minutes I was able to install them and viola! thruster restored.

PS.  Unfortunately the first time I used the thruster leaving the Venetian Marina in Miami, we blew a fuse.   We got all of about 30 second's worth of thrust!   Ah well, another trip to West Marine....