Thursday, 23 May 2019 - I spent almost all day today researching and ordering some parts that I need that I can't get locally.

Friday, 24 May - Mark Brewer from S/V Born Free came over this evening with the 300 Amp fuse and installed it. We started the engine several times and everything, at least for the moment, seems fine.

Saturday, 25 May 2019 - I started the engine eleven times today to further test the starting system while also watching underneath the engine to make sure no more fluids were leaking from it. Again, everything seems fine, but I think I'll take the boat out for a spin before I drain the water out of it and reinstall antifreeze. I'd hate to put in new antifreeze, then realize after another afternoon on the water, that I still have a leak somewhere.
                    Next, I fixed the float for the bilge pump again. Apparently duct tape wasn't meant to stay adhered in water. Now I wired the float to the float lever on the switch.
                    After that, I defrosted the freezer again. I'm running low on food it the freezer so that makes it easier to defrost.
                    We had a hootenanny (bet you haven't heard that word in a while) and a pot luck dinner at the Tiki Hut this evening. It finally broke up about 11 pm.
                    Shortly after arriving back at Island Time and putting the dinghy on the davits, there was a call for help. I responded, launched the dinghy, and headed out of the harbor via Sister Creek into a pitch black night before the moon rose. It's a good thing I took my phone which has a navigation app on it. I would have probably run aground without it since there was no light on the island, or, worse yet, just missed the island and headed out to sea. I couldn't see a thing out there. There was no one in danger, just three people stuck on a small island about a quarter mile outside the harbor when someone they "loaned" their dinghy to and didn't know went "to go get his wife" and never returned. They had been waiting for his return for about 5 hours. I hope they get their dinghy back. We arrived back in the harbor about 1:30 am and I dropped them off at their boat.

Sunday, 26 May - I had picked up my mail at the marina yesterday so I went through that this morning.

Monday, 27 May - Most of this afternoon was spent at Home Depot trying to figure out how I could use any of the grills in their BBQ section to replace the grate in my BBQ that supports the ceramic briquets in the BBQ on Island Time. Failing at that, I searched every other aisle in the store. The only things I could find there were the bottom out of one their shopping carts, which would have been perfect, or the side panels on a couple of their display racks, which were made of expanded sheet metal; the kind that they split and then expand into a diamond shaped grating. They didn't seem to be willing to sell either of those, however. I did buy a new burner to replace the rusted out burner onboard, and a thermometer to mount in the lid of the BBQ. I was able to loosen up the left hand valve on the BBQ, which was stuck, but, after installing the new burner, I tried to ignite the unit, but still couldn't. I ran out of time and daylight this evening, so I'll try again tomorrow.

Tuesday, 28 May - Well, I got the BBQ working today, so the only thing left to get it into tip top shape is to mount the thermometer. I'll have to drill a 13/16" hole in the stainless steel case, which will probably involve drilling a 3/4" hole in it, then filing the rest out. That sounds like a lot of work. Maybe I'll just cut a 7/8" hole in it. I'll have to see if I have a 7/8" chassis punch that will work. I hope I do. I suspect the stainless steel is going to be pretty tough.

Wednesday, 29 May - I needn't have worried about how tough the stainless BBQ casing is. I got about halfway through the case drilling a pilot hole when I realized that the thermometer probe is so long that it would be sticking down through any meat in the grill, in fact, down between the bars on the grate. Thank goodness I realized that before I got the 7/8" hole in it. I'll be taking the thermometer back. They had one that is smaller and shorter, but it's not stainless steel and I know it wouldn't last long outside in the salt air and occasional splash of salt water. I guess I can do without. It just seemed like an nice accouterment and thought it might keep me from burning dinner. Oh well.

            Until next time.

                        "Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming "Wow! What a Ride!" - Hunter S. Thompson

                                          Rick