Saturday, October 12 and
Sunday 13 October
We were up early and off on a beautiful day towards Beaufort
North Carolina the day was highlighted as with a beautiful sunrise, and for our
good fortune an easy channel to navigate on our way to rejoin the ICW. Our trip
today would take us across three rivers to Beaufort North Carolina. We cross
the Pungo, The Neuse and Pamlico rivers then entered another man made cut to
connect two more rivers and lead us to Beaufort. We had to secure the port main
half the way on the trip as we got a low oil pressure alarm around noon. We
immediately secured the engine. With Erin on the helm, on just the Starboard
engine in open waters, Larry went to diagnose the issue. The engine was a full
quart low on oil. This was a new development but we had been operating at a
high RPM to make up some time so not sure if this was a cause or just a fact
that this engine consumed oil faster than the other engine. We got the name of
a professional Diesel Mechanic from members of the DeFever forum who would come
to us on Sunday at a very reasonable price who had the tools and gauges to
diagnose the oil consumption issue on
the port main engine.
The channel we took on the final leg was narrow into
Beaufort. Our marina for the night was not the one we initially selected but
with the parade of boats heading south and it was a holiday weekend (Columbus Day)we took what we could get.
We made arrangements to moor overnight Beaufort town Docks.
And were welcomed there by two line handlers who assisted in tying up and
connecting electricity and water. This marina was right downtown in Beaufort
North Carolina and the cost of docking here was very high. To give you an idea
there were hundred foot long sailboats and mega-yachts in the marina but it was
the only place to get that night on short. The technician that we had spoken
with would be there on Sunday morning around 9 o’clock and we didn’t have to
leave our slip until 11 or noon. We stayed at a quiet night and settle down by
ordering dinner from a nearby restaurant and enjoying it on board the boat.
All in all the day seemed to pass quickly and now it was
time to go retire and NOT get up early. We would be here for 2 days.
At 8:30 Sunday Morning the mechanic called and met with us
at 9 a.m. After an hour he determined we had a bad ground in the oil pressure
sending unity for the port engine. That caused he low pressure alarm to sound-off.
Of course we secured the port main engine and traveled on one engine for half
the of Friday to be sure that we did not do any damage to the port main.
Thankfully it was not a major problem as the mechanic diagnosed and cleaned the
contacts on the sending unit and once again we were fully functional.
Tomorrow to Mile hammock Bay at Camp Lejune Marine Corps
Base in North Carolina………
We are anticipating arrival in Charleston SC on October 23, We will be in Charleston from October 23 till November 1.
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