Success at last! Six Knot Grin's engine is once again operating in the normal temperature range. I installed a new temperature gauge to replace the one that I thought I blew out on the last trip down. No change. I tried to trace the ground wire but it disappeared into a bundled wiring harness. Finally, my brain slipped into gear and I tried running a new ground wire from the panel to the gauges and eureka.
As a test run, I took June up the Neuse. This was her semi-annual trip to Oriental. It was just the kind of sail that June likes. Gentle breeze, No heeling. The newly installed autopilot control head was working beautifully. I was able to move forward in the cockpit to join June in a snack and a little libation as we sailed up the river.
All was well until we decided to come about and head back to Sea Harbour. The wind had quietly doubled in speed and we were now pinching into the wind with waves spraying over the bow, dampening June's spirits. I cranked up the engine and furled the headsail but that didn't make for a much drier ride. To add to the drama, a large black cloud seemingly appeared out of nowhere and was bearing down on us from upriver. Luckily the engine performed beautifully. The engine water temperature never rose above 150 degrees and we managed to win the race back to our slip before the skies opened up.
I was advised by all the old hands that I had screwed up by not going upwind on our first leg, leaving the more comfortable, easier-to-handle downwind leg for the return. Just like drift diving.
Saturday night there was an impromptu potluck dinner at Sea Harbour. Another wonderful evening with a great bunch of folks.
On Sunday morning we enjoyed a short sail on our new neighbors' boat. Roger and Mary Brown, live in New Bern and recently leased the slip next to ours. Roger has put a lot of time and energy into restoring their '77 Catalina 27 which they had transported down from Milwaukee. It was a pleasant sail and hopefully the beginning of a long-term friendship.
All was well until we decided to come about and head back to Sea Harbour. The wind had quietly doubled in speed and we were now pinching into the wind with waves spraying over the bow, dampening June's spirits. I cranked up the engine and furled the headsail but that didn't make for a much drier ride. To add to the drama, a large black cloud seemingly appeared out of nowhere and was bearing down on us from upriver. Luckily the engine performed beautifully. The engine water temperature never rose above 150 degrees and we managed to win the race back to our slip before the skies opened up.
I was advised by all the old hands that I had screwed up by not going upwind on our first leg, leaving the more comfortable, easier-to-handle downwind leg for the return. Just like drift diving.
Saturday night there was an impromptu potluck dinner at Sea Harbour. Another wonderful evening with a great bunch of folks.
On Sunday morning we enjoyed a short sail on our new neighbors' boat. Roger and Mary Brown, live in New Bern and recently leased the slip next to ours. Roger has put a lot of time and energy into restoring their '77 Catalina 27 which they had transported down from Milwaukee. It was a pleasant sail and hopefully the beginning of a long-term friendship.
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