Repairs Beget Repairs

The Palm Tree Marine Services team who worked on Django were Mike, the head guy, PJ and Kevon. On Friday, Mike and PJ had removed the fuel and fuel tanks. On Saturday, one tank had been cleaned. Monday morning, the second was cleaned and, shortly after lunch, PJ and Kevon arrived to replace them.

PJ worked below, tidying some wiring and removing the hot water tank. Since we don’t have a hot water heater and the tank was rather in the way, WW decided it could be jettisoned. Then the tanks went in. Progress was definitely being made.
On Tuesday, the tanks were hooked up to the filler and the engines. Our polished fuel was delivered boatside. The refilling of the tanks began. That’s when it was determined that the hoses connecting the filler hole to the fuel tanks had passed their best-before date. Old and tired, they had resented being moved about. They leaked. We would have to wait for replacements. Our planned Tuesday departure would not be happening.

“It’s like pulling a thread on a shirt,” WW said.

Mike came by to check on the work and WW discussed the power issue whereby the port engine must be run before the starboard will start. They decided two new starter batteries, one for each engine, would be the answer. They would be part of our main bank but with the possibility of being isolated for starting work only.

Wednesday arrived with Mike, PJ, Kevon, lengths of fuel filler pipe, two snazzy new batteries, and unrelenting heat. PJ crawled about in small dark spaces. Mike crawled about in small dark spaces. Then, sodden, grinning, victorious, they emerged. PJ tried the port engine. Vroom! PJ tried the starboard engine. Vroom! Water poured from the wet exhausts. Django was up and running and ready to go.

We restowed the larder and workshop, cast off and, stopping only long enough to fill our spotless fuel tanks and pay the bills, we headed out. It was RP o’clock, marked with due ceremony. We motored only a short distance, as the sun was about to set, dropping our hook in a tidy little cove behind Hog Island. Our travels had finally begun.