Hampton turned 400 years old on July 9th, with a combined birthday celebration and Pirate Festival weekend bringing in its 5th century in style. Unfortunately, we have another reason to remember that date, since it was the day our air conditioning stopped working. The daily high temperatures have rarely been below 95 since.
Replacement Garmin GPS 17X mounted on the deck
Fixing Our Position
We finally received our replacement GPS unit to tie into the Garmin 5208 chartplotter. Garmin had made some engineering changes, so the replacement unit had a different mounting footprint from the original. The screw holes didn’t line up exactly and the opening for the cable needed to be expanded. As a result, we needed to fill the screw holes with epoxy and then drill out new holes. Once this was done, we mounted the GPS, and re-ran the cables to the engine room, where they connected to the chartplotter. Dave installed a new box to house the connections, making them much neater and more protected.
We finally received our replacement GPS unit to tie into the Garmin 5208 chartplotter. Garmin had made some engineering changes, so the replacement unit had a different mounting footprint from the original. The screw holes didn’t line up exactly and the opening for the cable needed to be expanded. As a result, we needed to fill the screw holes with epoxy and then drill out new holes. Once this was done, we mounted the GPS, and re-ran the cables to the engine room, where they connected to the chartplotter. Dave installed a new box to house the connections, making them much neater and more protected.
New Junction Box
The result was encouraging. The chartplotter showed our position without any of the error messages we had been receiving in May. AIS and radar continued to work, and the position showed as before on our Raymarine instruments and VHF radio. At this point, we can only keep our fingers crossed that our problems with the unit are behind us. We look forward to using the new AIS capability on our next trip out into the Bay.
As a little compensation for the difficulties with the many chartplotters, Garmin sent Dave a complimentary copy of its Homeport route planning software. He has used it to create, organize and load routes to the chartplotter, a process which requires many fewer steps than with Mapsource, its predecessor. As with any change, there are features that take some getting used to, but Dave believes this will become the new primary source for all of his routes and waypoints
Damaged shore power inlet
Shore Power
For the 2nd time in a couple of years, we had to replace our shore power inlet, when one of the prongs showed signs that too much heat had charred the surface around it. Having done this before, Dave was able to make the switch much faster this time, after receiving the replacement parts.
For the 2nd time in a couple of years, we had to replace our shore power inlet, when one of the prongs showed signs that too much heat had charred the surface around it. Having done this before, Dave was able to make the switch much faster this time, after receiving the replacement parts.
A new neighbor joins us on Orion.
Moving In
It started innocently enough. We got a call from Archie, the owner of Joy’s Marina, asking if we could help someone move their boat from a nearby marina over to a slip at Joy’s. It was a sailboat, and the owner was new to the boat and new to sailing. So, having us on board might make it easier to move the boat. When we arrived at the boat, slightly ahead of Sue, the new owner, we started to study the project in front of us. We knew a lot about Orion. But there are so many things we take for granted on our boat that we needed to understand on someone else’s. When Sue arrived, she was able to give us some clues, but she admitted there was a lot she didn’t know. So, we called the previous owner. The picture gradually began to take shape. The boat had sat in its slip without moving for years. The engine had been started successfully recently, but not to move the boat. Oh, and by the way, the channel into the marina would have just barely enough water for us to leave as we headed toward a new moon low tide. With the water falling, we tried to get underway quickly, but discovered that there was no water coming out of the engine’s raw water output. After ensuring the raw water intake was open, that left the likely prospect that the impeller needed replacing. Taking her out of the slip under her own power wouldn’t work. Archie then offered to tow her. He and Dave went to launch his boat while Cathy and Sue continued to ready the boat.
Meanwhile, time is ticking and the water is still falling.
Before too long, Dave and Archie returned. We attached a tow line and cast off the dock lines. We steered toward the curve in the channel, using a quirky depth sounder and the instructions from the previous owner about how to find the deepest water. Unfortunately, it didn’t quite work. We were quickly aground. After some maneuvering, Archie managed to get her off and the rest of the trip to Joy’s Marina was uneventful. Since then, we have helped Sue with some ideas about how to get her boat moving again and build her confidence along the way. We helped her move some of her things out of her apartment one day, and took her for a ride on Bay Dreamer and Orion. Although the sailing wasn’t great on either trip, she’s getting a little more experience in the other aspects of boating – such as navigation, docking, and, oh yes, evading storms.
It started innocently enough. We got a call from Archie, the owner of Joy’s Marina, asking if we could help someone move their boat from a nearby marina over to a slip at Joy’s. It was a sailboat, and the owner was new to the boat and new to sailing. So, having us on board might make it easier to move the boat. When we arrived at the boat, slightly ahead of Sue, the new owner, we started to study the project in front of us. We knew a lot about Orion. But there are so many things we take for granted on our boat that we needed to understand on someone else’s. When Sue arrived, she was able to give us some clues, but she admitted there was a lot she didn’t know. So, we called the previous owner. The picture gradually began to take shape. The boat had sat in its slip without moving for years. The engine had been started successfully recently, but not to move the boat. Oh, and by the way, the channel into the marina would have just barely enough water for us to leave as we headed toward a new moon low tide. With the water falling, we tried to get underway quickly, but discovered that there was no water coming out of the engine’s raw water output. After ensuring the raw water intake was open, that left the likely prospect that the impeller needed replacing. Taking her out of the slip under her own power wouldn’t work. Archie then offered to tow her. He and Dave went to launch his boat while Cathy and Sue continued to ready the boat.
Meanwhile, time is ticking and the water is still falling.
Before too long, Dave and Archie returned. We attached a tow line and cast off the dock lines. We steered toward the curve in the channel, using a quirky depth sounder and the instructions from the previous owner about how to find the deepest water. Unfortunately, it didn’t quite work. We were quickly aground. After some maneuvering, Archie managed to get her off and the rest of the trip to Joy’s Marina was uneventful. Since then, we have helped Sue with some ideas about how to get her boat moving again and build her confidence along the way. We helped her move some of her things out of her apartment one day, and took her for a ride on Bay Dreamer and Orion. Although the sailing wasn’t great on either trip, she’s getting a little more experience in the other aspects of boating – such as navigation, docking, and, oh yes, evading storms.
Droz and dad put in some family time
More Family Time
We spent much of the past month with family, which limited work time on Orion. We helped our son’s family move from Emporia to Richmond and returned to visit them on July 4th, when Dave’s parents and sister had arrived from points north for a visit. Our grandson, Droz, came to visit us for the week leading up to the Pirate Festival, which gave us time to enjoy his company.
We spent much of the past month with family, which limited work time on Orion. We helped our son’s family move from Emporia to Richmond and returned to visit them on July 4th, when Dave’s parents and sister had arrived from points north for a visit. Our grandson, Droz, came to visit us for the week leading up to the Pirate Festival, which gave us time to enjoy his company.
While Droz was with us, we did some sightseeing around Hampton Roads. One day, we took a trip to nearby Buckroe Beach with Krista and her boys. Another day, we took a bus trip to Norfolk, rode the ferry to Portsmouth and back and then took in Nauticus, a Maritime Museum, with lots of hands-on exhibits and the Battleship Wisconsin docked next door. It was a big hit.
Keeping our cool
So, how are we managing without A/C? We did OK for a few days, swimming when we could during the day and catching as much breeze as we could down below. However, it just wasn’t enough, since the humidity alone was enough to do us in. Put together with the soaring temperatures, and we knew we weren’t going to last much longer. However, we were once again saved by the kindness of friends as we took the loan of two different portable A/C units. These have made all the difference. And we are hopeful Orion’s unit will be fixed soon.
So, how are we managing without A/C? We did OK for a few days, swimming when we could during the day and catching as much breeze as we could down below. However, it just wasn’t enough, since the humidity alone was enough to do us in. Put together with the soaring temperatures, and we knew we weren’t going to last much longer. However, we were once again saved by the kindness of friends as we took the loan of two different portable A/C units. These have made all the difference. And we are hopeful Orion’s unit will be fixed soon.
