When All Else Fails

 What do they say about the best laid plans? Stuff happens, and some stuff happened when I went to leave Wisteria Island for Boca Chica. I started Kismet's engine, raised the anchor and on the way back to the cockpit I noticed that no water was coming out of the exhaust. I know I reopened the engine raw water valve after cleaning the strainer, but I checked it anyway, open. I shut off the engine, I thought about it, I pondered it, mulled it over, I jumped overboard to see what was blocking it. The terrible answer was that the valve, despite the position of the handle and shaft turning with it, was closed. It wouldn't open, I tried from above and below. Stuck shut, no cooling water available for the engine. I was stuck.

Now, dear reader, you may be thinking, how stuck can on be on a sailboat just because there is no engine? This is a fair question and I appreciate your candor. There are days when I actually cover 99 percent of my miles sailing, I need very little auxiliary motor assistance, just point the boat upwind and raise the main or to drive to the exact spot desired to drop the anchor or pick up the mooring ball pendant. I can even do these things under sail but what I can't do is sail upwind in a narrow channel and pull up to a dock backwards for a haul out. In this regard, I was stuck and when all else fails, ask for help. Or in this case, pay for it.

I spent the 9th of March calling boatyards for a haul out, calling boat supply stores for parts and calling mobile boat services to see if anyone would change a valve while the boat was in the water. It was no surprise to learn that it could theoretically be done but no one would try for fear of sinking my boat and being liable, their insurance would not allow it.

 A short haul, as they call it when you don't set a boat down and block it, would be the ticket. SeaTow came to get me first thing in the morning and an hour later we arrived at Robbie's Marina on Stock Island where they were standing by with the travel lift to haul Kismet. By the way, there was no power wash, the boat was that clean when hauled, no barnacles, not even slime. New paint, amazing!

The part, the valve in the first picture in this post, was scheduled to be delivered to the boat yard within the hour. No problem, I still needed to get out the old valve. Problem, I didn't have a wrench big enough to remove the old valve. The tow captain didn't have a bigger wrench but tried to be very helpful. I don't just carry one and seven eighth inch wrenches around!  In fact a wrench wouldn't do, I would need a socket and an extension to reach to the bottom of the boat from the inside, after I removed the sea strainer, hoses and the starter battery. This was turning into a bigger project than anticipated. I got the preparatory steps done with the urgency of someone trying to avoid extra charges at a boat yard, but I still didn't have the tool I needed.

I talked to everyone I could find to no avail. I called everyone that others suggested with no help found; and then I saw movement on the vessel next to mine, a 100 foot tour boat. Big boat, big tools! I asked, they asked their boss, he asked me if I was sure, I assured him I was sure, one and seven eights if you have it please. A half hour later there was a knock on the hull, the exact tool I need was delivered to me free of charge, rent or favor. Less than ten minutes later the old valve was in my hands free of 38 years of corrosion. Now, where was my new valve? 

It arrived at the office at the same time as the old valve was freed. The only problem was it didn't look the same!!! The old valve had the flange to hold the thru hull in place integrated into it. I needed another part! I needed it quick! I called West Marine back and explained by predicament, the sales person was a very sympathetic sailor and said he would put it on the next delivery van and asked me to please order it order it online in the mean time. Done. Waiting. Waiting. Getting anxious. Watching the clock. 

I went for a walk to clear my mind of the worry and ran into one of the workers who helped haul out Kismet. I told him I was still hoping to launch by the end of the day but I was now waiting for another part, the thru hull, I really just needed the nut but had to order the whole thing. To my utter amazement he says, I think I have one of those, lets go take a look. Among a table full of new and used boat parts there were three 1 and 1/4 inch valves and matching thru hull fittings. The exact parts I ordered, the same size, the same brand, exactly the same. I said, may I have that? A replacement will be here before the end of the day. He says, sure, here you go. I don't even know if I said thank you I ran back to the boat so quickly. I put the nut on the thru hull, spun the new valve on the threaded fitting with some fresh Teflon tape, torqued it down with the borrowed socket, checked the valve operation, all good.  I called the office and asked when quitting time was for the crew. Four thirty, in about 30 minutes she said. Launch me now please!

Within minutes the full crew was assembled and noisy travel lift diesel was started. I asked if I could be on the boat for the launch. They said that was a good idea so could check for leaks, but I should sit down because of the movement. Right, movement, these guys weren't sailors, I barely felt a thing. I spent the next ten minutes hooking up the hose fittings and reinstalling the sea strainer and the starter battery. Seconds later Kismet was floating again, with no leaks and a sea strainer full of water! I said, give me ten minutes to clean up and I'll be ready to shove off the sea wall. 

 Kismet was ready to go, I shook everyone's hand and thanked them for their assistance in making the short haul possible. A great crew at a very friendly marina! They pushed me off the sea wall and I motored away from stock island, turned 170 to port into Boca Chica Marina where I tied onto my faithful D20 mooring ball for the third time, rode the dinghy ashore, marched into Navigators bar and grill where everyone knows my name and I know everyone at the bar and said, I wasn't sure I was going to make it in time for happy hour! 

I may have shared this story with a few of you already. 

Now, about that next weather window.