Gas leak repaired

Skipper, Bosun and Engineer were all up very early to investigate the source of the leak. It was soon found - a hole in the copper pipe bringing gas from the cockpit locker to the cooker in the galley.

As seen in the above photo, the pipe had been worn so thin that a hole had formed - it had been rubbing on the stainless mesh cladding around the flexible hose bringing gas from the fixed copper pipe up to the cooker. This flexible hose moves back and forth as the gimballed hob swings with the motion of the boat. And this friction must have been occurring over many many hours of sailing; indeed the ship’s log has just clocked up 18,000nm!

Of course, once the cause had been established, a remedy had to be found and spare copper tubing and compression joints are not amongst the routine spares carried in the bosun’s locker. Fortunately there is an excellent boatyard within dinghy distance from where we are anchored. So yesterday we tied up at Hodgdon’s dock and immediately after stepping ashore fell into conversation with the manager, Lyn Campbell, a formidable woman who seems to know everyone and everything about boats. At midday Hodgdon's store was already closed but Lyn offered to drive us to the wonderful hardware store, Grovers, 5 miles away in Boothbay Harbour where the necessary items were purchased. Lyn then proceeded to give us a guided tour of the whole harbour area, famous for boat building since the 19th century. We all then shared a splendid more-than-a-sandwich lunch at the Southport General Store, which incidentally boasts a huge range of fine wine in a tiny area (for deeper pockets than ours; apparently they have some very well heeled customers who patronise the store).

Back on board Follyfin by 15:30, Bosun went to work on the repair. Five hours later, gas turned on, the moment of truth...aargh! Still the smell of gas! Too dark and too tired to investigate further, a cold supper was consumed. 

This morning, Sunday 29 July, he was up early again, undoing the compression joints to check for leaks. Sure enough, a nut had not bitten one olive sufficiently (if only it had been that simple). Once properly compressed, no more gas was smelled. So we are able to make tea and cook hot meals again; quite a relief. But for a problem like this to happen, we could not have chosen a more beautiful spot. Weather has been kind today too: no fog, no wind and hot sun. I took three dips in the water, which was cold by Carribean or Bahamian standards but no colder than the North Sea or the English Channel. Actually very refreshing!

All being well, we expect to move on tomorrow, travelling further east.

Maine challenges: fog, weed and pots

Bade fond farewell to Midge on Wednesday but our intention to depart that same afternoon was thwarted - nothing new there then. We needed water but the marina well was dry. In addition we needed a pump-out but it was too rough and windy for this to be achieved at the tiny pump-out float. Both were achieved the following day - the latter not without some damage to the hull but the less said about that the better - and we were on our way after the wind had dropped slightly and the morning fog had lifted somewhat. Picked our way through a sea of lobster and crab pot floats, also trying to avoid large patches of seaweed which if sucked into the engine sea-water intake tube would block the filter and cause the engine to seize up. Similarly, catching a lobster pot around the propellor or one of our twin rudders would be disastrous. So relaxing at the helm is not an option in these waters.

Anchored for one night in quiet Harpswell Harbour only 4nm away, just one other boat for company. Yesterday, Friday 27th July, we awoke to thick fog. Happily this had cleared by the time we motored off at 09:30 in complete calm and stillness. We are aiming to push as far as we can ‘down east’ (as they call it here) in the next week so that we can then take our time returning west to Camden in order to make the start of a sailing club rally we join on 12 August. The passage to Love Cove on Southport Island, on east side of the Sheepscot River on Midcoast Maine, was largely uneventful apart from seeing four seals, a whale and of course...patches of thick fog, weed and the ubiquitous lobster pots even out in very deep water. Had to use the motor all the way but both sails helped for a couple of hours early in the afternoon.

Arrived to find a perfect little cove, just a few summer houses around the shore. The fog lifted and the sun came out right on cue. Just as First Mate was contemplating dropping in for a quick dip after tea, the unmistakeable smell of gas assaulted our nostrils... Swift action was required - all gas taps off, the bilges pumped and definitely no lighted flames anywhere near! Location of leak will be investigated by the bosun and repair undertaken. Meanwhile, Follyfin and crew find themselves in a beautiful spot - apart from the intermittent fog of course.