Transmission Transition on Tenthouse Creek

—Blogpost written by Bob

Our layover in Galesville was caused by problems with our v-drive transmission--there was a very long delay in shifting into forward and there was significant leakage of transmission fluid from the seal nearest the engine.  This layover began on Sunday, June 14.  Our transmission was eventually pulled from the boat on June 23, nine days later, during a short haul.  This was the beginning of our third week in this boatyard.

Saturday, June 27

I slept late (8 AM) again today!  I filled the water tanks first thing in the morning and washed the dishes from yesterday.  The morning sky was overcast as I walked up to the boatyard’s showers.  My body is beginning to heal from the aches and pains I was feeling as we rushed up the ICW to this point.  Even Lola’s bite on my arm was healing.  Now, if only our boat could heal her wounds (the transmission) and get us the rest of the way home.

Lola loves to be outside on the
deck in the evening.

Sunday, June 28

I’m getting used to sleeping a little later...why can’t I do this when Maggie is here?

My major activity for the day was doing some recreational grocery shopping (at Giant), not that I needed much.  After being in the Bahamas it was such a luxury to find good food (particularly fresh fruits) at such low cost.  I picked up some black seedless grapes, a few eastern peaches, a pint of blueberries, a prepared meal (for tomorrow), and a lot of Fancy Feast cat food for Lola.

As I was leaving for the grocery store, I noticed a bird’s egg that was laying on the foredeck, broken in half and the insides were eaten by something.   I’m sure the bird’s egg was from a barn swallow’s nest, many of which are built below the main fixed dock but I don’t know what type of animal steals them and eats them on our boat’s deck.

I spent a lot of time in the afternoon, making plans and sourcing materials and tools for some of my summer boat projects.  One such project involves installing a stainless steel loop over our primary anchor roller to keep the anchor from jumping off the roller and damaging the boat (even though we usually tie it down).  This project requires a long tap and a long tap drill since I have to reach through the roller mount on the opposite side, a distance of over 3-1/2 inches to the start of the hole to be tapped.  

During this past season, we damaged the fiberglass on the bow twice because the anchor jumped off the roller while heading into steep wind-caused waves.  We have vowed not to get into situations where we are motoring into high seas but it still happens occasionally.

At least two times on the way home
this season, the anchor jumped
off the roller and caused
fiberglass damage.

Coupled with this project, I will be filling most of the anchor slot in our ROCNA Vulcan anchor with thickened epoxy, making it a simple round hole so that I can use the Ultra Flip Anchor Swivel again without fear of dragging anchor. 

Many times the falling chain
moves the swivel into
this position which
prevents setting
the anchor.

We dragged anchor 50% of the time (coming up the ICW while the slot in the anchor shaft was not filled).  Without the slot being filled, the chain falls past the anchor causing the swivel to jam on the anchor shank (as shown above)—this prevents the anchor from setting properly.

Monday, June 29

I had a long list of tasks I wanted to accomplish this week and I decided on an easy one to do first: getting a new American flag for the stern of s/v Rainy Days.  The general rule of thumb for the size of the flag at the stern is one inch of flag length for every foot of boat length—the closest flag size for our 38-foot boat is 36 inches long x 24 inches high.

I drove to Fawcetts, my favorite local marine chandlery to buy it.  Wearing my face mask I entered the “not very busy” store and went right to the flag section.  I only had a choice of about 3 different sizes, of which 24 x 36 was one of the three.  I took the new flag up to the modified check out area where social distancing could be achieved. 

Our new flag has a gauze-like
open-weave texture.

I could only pay by debit card or credit card so that no cash was handled personally, minimizing possible exposure to the coronavirus.  

Local businesses are strictly enforcing the Governor’s guidelines and, as a result, Maryland is one of the few states where virus transmission is under control at this time.  (Florida, Arizona, and Texas, states that opened up too early, are currently the worst states for growth in cases of the coronavirus.)

Please wear a face mask when in public and practice social distancing--its the only way we will get through this pandemic...


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