With Steve and Lorry Clarke of Canada already on board, Rick and Debbie Lehto of Miss Heidi joined us in Fajardo, PR to cruise over to the USVI and BVI on our way S to the French and Windward islands. First stop was the little island of Culebra for a mail call. Forgetfully we didn't remember Mr. King and had to lay over an extra day snorkeling at Malones just outside Dewey. After Postmaster Howard finally was able to sort thru the incoming mail bags, Rick found his Priority Mail package had not made the boat. So, around 3 p.m. we motored over to Culabrita to take a DRNA day-ball for the night: Clear, cool, star-light with waves gently lapping on the nearby beach. Doesn't get much better.
Next morning we motored across in calm, blue, warm waters to West Gregory Channel in St. Thomas which was very crowded. We had to re-anchor three times before we found an somewhat ok spot. We took the Cat pump (water maker high pressure) in to Reefco to have an evaluation as to whether or not it was rebuildable. When they give us an evaluation and time to repair we can decide when to head to the BVI to get the main sail (warranty) repaired. We (the boys) then took the Publicos (local 6-9 passenger busses) to Budget Marine to get some marine goodies. After that we went to K-Mart to price booze. Who what a great difference - up to 50% - especially when the Indians in West Indies Dock wouldn't negotiate like they had in the past. Round trip $4, with the last leg on an air conditioned, municipal bus!
More shopping today. Would you believe Radio Shack is still open here. We needed a two way rocker switch for the ATV winch we have to hoist the dingy: they didn't have it. Nor did Budgef or Water World have a water jug, just diesel and gas. Feels like we are back in a third-world country again.
I decided that we'd try to put in vinyl flooring in the amas to replace the beat-up, green indoor-outdoor carpet I put in three years ago. Homo Depot has a good selection with all of the necessaries, and Jim Alimi of Nomad had just done his deck and interior: "It's easy...just score it with a knife, break, and place...no big deal...simple". He even showed me his finished product and how to score and snap. Well, let me tell you "it ain't as easy as it seems!" Not be a damn site.. With narrow hallways (4 strips wide with hatches interrupting every run), it took a half day just to noodle, measure and undercut the doorways. By the end of the second day we'd partially run half way leaving one side open for making a fill-in pattern. Rick has good experience here as he owned and operated a leather shop in his much earlier life. Now that we have a handle on it, it should go faster.
Well the repaired Cat pump worked well, but the pressure gauge didn't. So I blew out the high pressure hose to the membrane. Water went everywhere in the port back cabin soaking everything in its path. This morning I'm off to Reefco again to get a new hose, new pressure gauge, and new fittings. Hopefully this will end the "Rob/Harry water-maker" saga.
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