Under the docks at York River Yacht Harbor lurks
millions of baby oysters. The Sarah Creek Shellfish company buys seed oysters
in Maine and grows them in tubs and racks under the docks here. When they get
to be over an inch, they move them out into beds in the bay and then harvest
them at three inches. It appears to be economically viable and it helps clean
up the water as each oyster filters two gallons of water every hour.
millions of baby oysters. The Sarah Creek Shellfish company buys seed oysters
in Maine and grows them in tubs and racks under the docks here. When they get
to be over an inch, they move them out into beds in the bay and then harvest
them at three inches. It appears to be economically viable and it helps clean
up the water as each oyster filters two gallons of water every hour.
Boat projects, parts and temps in the 90’s with rain
made this a good time to stay in the Yorktown area, actually Glocester, and
work on the boat. Ted Leonard received parts shipments and loaned us a spare
car, so that really made things easier. We replaced the engine compartment
cooling fan and took time to change the engine oil and transmission fluid. For
those that haven’t had the joy of working on a marine engine, there isn’t
enough space under most to drain out the oil, so you use a pump to suck it up
through the dipstick.
made this a good time to stay in the Yorktown area, actually Glocester, and
work on the boat. Ted Leonard received parts shipments and loaned us a spare
car, so that really made things easier. We replaced the engine compartment
cooling fan and took time to change the engine oil and transmission fluid. For
those that haven’t had the joy of working on a marine engine, there isn’t
enough space under most to drain out the oil, so you use a pump to suck it up
through the dipstick.
We installed a radio receiver just before we left that
receives position reports from commercial ships and shows them on a chart in
your computer. It is a safety feature as it warns you how long before a ship
might be a risk of collision. We had a terrible time getting it to work with
our navigation software. Called MaxSea, and they informed us that it is another
$250 to activate that feature and we would probably also need to upgrade from
version 11 to version 12 for another $125. I had thought there might be
something wrong with our receiver wiring, but that was not the case. We
downloaded a trial of Coastal Explorer and it worked right off the bat. Ordered
a copy and they shipped it second day (for free!) and we installed it. Seems to
do everything we need, but will report back after we have more experience with
it.
receives position reports from commercial ships and shows them on a chart in
your computer. It is a safety feature as it warns you how long before a ship
might be a risk of collision. We had a terrible time getting it to work with
our navigation software. Called MaxSea, and they informed us that it is another
$250 to activate that feature and we would probably also need to upgrade from
version 11 to version 12 for another $125. I had thought there might be
something wrong with our receiver wiring, but that was not the case. We
downloaded a trial of Coastal Explorer and it worked right off the bat. Ordered
a copy and they shipped it second day (for free!) and we installed it. Seems to
do everything we need, but will report back after we have more experience with
it.
The new drinking water filter came and that is
installed. We bought one last fall at the Annapolis boat show and it ended up
being the wrong size. We waited until the beginning of the voyage to put it in
so it would be fresh. Don’t wait until just before you go to test things!
installed. We bought one last fall at the Annapolis boat show and it ended up
being the wrong size. We waited until the beginning of the voyage to put it in
so it would be fresh. Don’t wait until just before you go to test things!
Also spent an afternoon trying to get the refrigerator
lining molded around the door seals using some wooden jigs and a heat gun (as
if it isn’t hot enough). Came to the conclusion that we will be cutting flat
strips and gluing them together for this trip.
lining molded around the door seals using some wooden jigs and a heat gun (as
if it isn’t hot enough). Came to the conclusion that we will be cutting flat
strips and gluing them together for this trip.
The sail was the biggest disappointment as it is
getting stuck in a position where we can’t get it rolled up could be dangerous.
We spent a day cleaning ad lubricating the mechanism, but it still wouldn’t
furl. Ended up replacing the furling line so it would be smoother and might not
catch in the future. It is working now, but still not as easy to roll up as it
should be. We may have to tension the headstay.
getting stuck in a position where we can’t get it rolled up could be dangerous.
We spent a day cleaning ad lubricating the mechanism, but it still wouldn’t
furl. Ended up replacing the furling line so it would be smoother and might not
catch in the future. It is working now, but still not as easy to roll up as it
should be. We may have to tension the headstay.
We’ve debated about going offshore from here instead
of going up the Chesapeake and down the Delaware. Decided that we want to stay
where there are maintenance facilities until we get a little more comfortable
that everything is working okay. Today we will head up the bay to the
Deltaville area. It is supposed to be relatively windless and hot for the
next 4-5 days.
of going up the Chesapeake and down the Delaware. Decided that we want to stay
where there are maintenance facilities until we get a little more comfortable
that everything is working okay. Today we will head up the bay to the
Deltaville area. It is supposed to be relatively windless and hot for the
next 4-5 days.