Refrigerator Fixed; Still Raining in Annapolis; Boat Show Tomorrow!

Friday, Oct. 11:

Well, our refrigerator went on the bum again. Chuck took the electrical panel apart because we were getting a low voltage signal from the diagnostic light that Coastal Climate Control sent us a few weeks ago. He hooked the unit directly to the boat battery. No low voltage. After spending Wednesday morning troubleshooting at the Navy mooring, we chose to move the boat to Severn House before the bad weather hit.

Chuck working on the electrical panel.

Jazzy and I hiding in the aft cabin while the repairman worked on the refrigeration.

We called Coastal Climate on Thursday morning, and they thought it might be a faulty controller. They gave us names of four marinas to call. We called Lundar Marine here in Annapolis and shortly after got a return phone call from Pete Lunde, the owner. He was here in two hours and put his testers on the unit. There was a moisture lock that was freezing the line where it reduces to a thin tube. So he put a compressor on it to draw out all the 134A gas and said he’d be back at 5 p.m. to put gas back in.

Meanwhile, Jazzy and I were hiding in the back bedroom, because no pets are allowed on this property. She is being such a good girl and hasn’t left the boat since Cape May on Sunday. Thank God for puppy pads!

Chuck waited for his return and I went to Giant food store with our friend, Jim Mosher, and picked up a few things.

After Pete came and left again, we went to the Beneteau Owners party at the Eastport Yacht Club. It’s always a fun time, with lots of butlered hors d’oeuvres and wine flowing. They had a great band and we had a good time. We met Christopher and Karen who live locally and have a 321. Nice couple. They have two teen daughters and hope to cruise someday.

The refrigerator seemed to be working when we went to bed, but this morning, I noticed that every third time or so that the compressor kicked on, the diagnostic light was giving us a non-start voltage problem. So we opted to have the controller unit replaced. Although it was a couple hundred dollars, I don’t want to be hundreds of miles away with no fridge. The total repair was $401, but what are you going to do? Can’t do without a refrigerator!

We were fortunate that it died just a few hours before we were coming to our friend’s dock, because his 323 is docked next to us and we’re using his fridge. So, we didn’t lose any food, thank God.

This is the third day of rain and Chuck went to drain the dinghy with his little battery-powered pump and slipped on the back deck and ended up with the top of the pump in his hand and the rest went overboard. The water is only about 5 ft deep at low tide, but, of course, it was high tide, so he couldn’t drag for it. It just isn’t his day! Of course, he has another one sitting on the shelf in our basement!

He and Ron just went out this afternoon and he bought a backup line for the main sail inhaul. After the experience he had with the head sail line breaking earlier this year, we don’t want to be without an extra line. While they were out, he picked up another pump for the dinghy.

I just finished my second book in three days. The first was First Things First, by Kurt Warner (the QB) and his wife, Brenda. What a great book! The second was Marie Osmond’s second book, Might As Well Laugh About it Now. It was enjoyable too. I didn’t know she had such a wonderful sense of humor. Thanks to my sister, Patti, for sending me both (and many other) books for this trip!

While Chuck was gone, I made Chicken Waldorf Salad to take to the Club Beneteau Chesapeake Bay (CB2) covered dish party tonight. This is the fifth year going with our host, Ron Pence, and we always have a good time. Some of their members are also heading south, so we spoke with them and exchanged cards.

Tomorrow…the boat show! Looks like we'll be wearing our foul-weather gear. Yep, rain is still in the forecast. Of course, Annapolis hasn't seen this much rain in a long time. It figures. LOL. Oh, well, we won't melt.