Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake
Well after the other weeks successful shake down cruise, we were going to try for Lloyds today to meet some of y'all. However, things didn't go as planned. I knew I shouldn't have publicity bragged about how good she did last time out.
I launched her around 7:30 Friday evening and took a quick run down to the C&D to make sure everything was good, yep all systems go. Got her back to her slip and tied her up for the evening then the admiral and daughter #2 walked back to the house while I hung the side and rear curtains of the enclosure. After hanging around BS'ing with some of the neighbors on the dock for a while I decided it was time to had back to the house myself. Well when I lifted the engine hatch to turn off the batteries I saw a LOT more water in the bilge than what was in there a couple of hours earlier! Oops, not good!
Ended up pulling her at midnight and parking her in the yard till daylight. First thought was that I didn't tighten the drain plug tight enough...nope nice and tight. Pulled the plug and a couple of gallons ran out. Hmmm, the billows are less than a year old so for then they were rulled out. Then on a whim I took a real close look at the plate that the drain plug threads into. Uh-oh, sealed with regular silicone caulk. Backed the screws out (NOT stainless of course) and as soon as I touched a screwdriver to the edge to pry the plate out, it just fell off!
Grrrrr, dontcha just love POs?
Ran down to Eastern Marine and got what I need to replace everything along with a new tube of 4200. Half an hour later everything was switched out and the caulk was drying. I thought about going out tomorrow, but the weather folks are calling for heavy rain and thunderstorms, so it looks like another week on the trailer for the 'ol gal.
