13-Jan to 25-Jan 2016
We finally left the docks at Opequimar and were happy to do so. We weren't too impressed - three weeks to install a windless with David doing most of the work and a huge bill for the moorage. It is frustrating to be paying those high moorage rates when no one is actually working on your boat!
So we decided to head over to Punta de Mita for a couple of days of relaxation. It was a pretty spot but pretty rolly. And then we started having some electrical issues. The Xantrax digital battery monitor was showing a high discharge rate to ground. One of the batteries was also very hot and two of the cells had boiled out. We were worried about the possibility of a fire. We had heard some positive things about La Cruz so we pulled up the anchor - I should say the windless pulled up the anchor - and we headed over to La Cruz.
For those who do not know, or have forgotten from previous visits - La Cruz is situated on the north- northeastern portion of Banderas Bay. There is a large open anchorage in front of the town and Marina and a marina that makes one think they are back in Canada or the US.
On the way over we were able to make contact with John Pounder (322-160-5563)and he was waiting for us at the service dock when we arrived along with his Mexican electrical assistant. John and Julio proved to be one of the best connections ( no pun intended) we have made in Mexico. He diagnosed and fixed our problem in less than an hour! They found a corroded shunt far back In the lazarette. That was replaced and the monitor began reading correctly. A shunt reduces the amperage from the battery to the instrument that monitors the current flow. We didn't even know it was there. I guess Mark, the electrician in San Diego, had installed it but we were not aware of it. John tested the batteries and the one that had boiled over was toast so he ordered a new one and he said that he could have it by Monday. So we went out to the anchorage til then. On Monday, right on schedule, John and Julio were waiting for us at the service dock. The new battery was installed and they also reconfigured the house battery charging system. Now all of the house batteries are in one bank instead of two. This should even out the charge rate over all four batteries.
But while we were at the anchorage David was testing the solar panels as they were not performing as they should. In the process of checking the voltages the controller shorted out when the wires came in contact with the emergency tiller. One of the hazards of working on electrical systems in close quarters hanging upside down! The controller was fried and David was afraid that the solar panels were also. But sometimes you get lucky! John hooked us up with another boat that had a brand new controller - still in the box - that he was willing to sell us for coconuts. That is a term that the cruisers use down here as it is illegal for people to be selling parts without going through the proper channels. So we picked it up for half the price. John had tested the panels and reported that they were good. David installed the controller and the solar panels started putting out 13 Amps.
On to the next issue. David completed the installation of the radar. He went up the mast and ensured that all the bolts and wire connections for the antenna were secure. Then he fed a messenger line ( old cable) to the new cable from the monitor to the bottom of the mast. This sounds like an easy enough task but made more difficult as he had to follow the old cable through a bulkhead, under the settees and up the compression post. Success! 12 new wires had to be attached and a big smile on the Captains's face when he turned on the radar and it was working.
Sidebar: David continues to amaze me with his ability to tackle all kinds of problems and solves the issue. Captain Fantastic does it again!
Next was the radio adjustment. For some reason the radio and the GPS stopped communicating. David went over all of the connections, cleaned them up, retightened everything and voila! The AIS ( Auto mated Information System - shows us where the other boats are - on the VHF and the GPS chart plotter were now talking to each other.
But our problems are not over. The watermaker decided to stop working and would not draw water into the filters. The natural conclusion is a faulty pump. So David rebuilt the pump but no luck.
David was able to talk to someone who rebuilds these and says that the motor is probably fried and replacement is not economical. So for right now we will forget about fixing it. If need be we can always collect rain water. So far in Mexico there has never been an issue with getting potable water to the boat.
I was able to obtain another cupboard for my pantry with the removal of the old radar monitor. David built me a shelf and it took me no time at all to fill up the cupboard!
The Defender order was submitted. It will be sent to Beryl for delivery to Manzanillo.
I finished cleaning and polishing all of the stainless. The sewing machine was out and I managed a few repairs on the awnings along with some hand sewing on the dodger. David cleaned the teak Cap rail and the teak in the cockpit with two part teak cleaner. The water tanks were filled. We took on 270 liters of fuel. The holding tank was pumped and flushed. Sail covers, Bimini and dodger were cleaned. Confidence was looking pretty good!
They have a fantastic market in La Cruz on Sunday's so we went over and finished provisioning. Lots of treats from the market - home made Sault Ste. Marie style Italian sausage, empanadas, bagels, scones, more coffee, great fish market, fresh ravioli's, berries.
I tried my luck at making pizza dough and again, a Sault style pizza, and it was great!
Todo Vela is also worth a mention - very well stocked marine store with reasonable prices. And if they don't have it they either know where you can get it or will get it for you.
Found a good butcher - actually bought lamb chops! They have their own farm.
All in all La Cruz was an excellent experience. Even though it is very "Americanized" - the music, the marina, the market - we got a lot of things done. We made new friends on Solar Flair from Whiterock - Jim and Kathy - and shared a couple of dinners.
25-Jan-2016 Preparations were made to get underway. Fruit salad and yoghurt, lemon poppy seed scones, cheese scones from the market. Dinghy is on board. Everything is secured. Only two hiccup ups.
I got stung by a bee as I was putting on the outboard cover. As I swatted it away I also swatted my new glasses off my face. Guess I will be going back to Manzanillo when we get to Barra. Good thing glasses are a third of the price in Mexico. Think I will buy a second set. Til then I have my contacts and my old glasses which I dug out of the ditch bag ( our survival bag in case we have to use the survival raft).
My ear lobe grew to four times normal and got itchy. A bit of an allergic reaction but nothing serious. Not an attractive photo but you can see what I mean.
Second hiccup was the autopilot. It just stopped working. I suggested to David - and this time he listened! - that we have had three people in the lazarette playing around with electrical connections. Maybe the connection came lose. Happy to report that was the case. Easy fix!
So ends our time in La Cruz!
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