2021-02-12 The Keel Is Working

“The keel is basically a flat blade sticking down into the water from a sailboat’s bottom. It has two functions: it prevents the boat from being blown sideways by the wind, and it holds the ballast that keeps the boat right-side up.” There had been a lot of side winds and rocking of the crew recently. It seems though our way is now clearing and we are beginning to make way. After three weeks we have moved back aboard Magnolia while she was having some home-improvement jobs done. We did have two different AirBnbs that were very comfortable but definitely not our own bed! As further evidence of the “righting of the ship” I received my surgery date of 11 March to have this Prostate fixed up. We are definitely making “way!”

I received a very kind note this week from a blog reader that I did not even know I had! The gentleman from Queensland Australia has been a follower for sometime…I have to admit I was flattered. I really have little insight to whom actually reads our posts…to all those known and unknown, thank you for taking time to read.

As for home improvements we could not be happier with the accomplishments! Though we do have a couple more things. The first task & most importantly was joining 4 drawers to 2 larger ones…

The most complicated repair and at the beginning least understood was a leak in our keel. Most leaks on boats are from the deck where rain finds its way inside the boat. This time though was a leak from the keel…we were slowly sinking…not to worry it was very slow! The “slots” were where water was leaking up from the keel.

After repair and restoration the same location looks like this. A 17 gallon hydraulic reservoir normally sits here and will be re-installed.

Magnolia’s hull is a “full-displacement” design which makes her VERY efficient to move through the water which is why we can go nearly 3000 miles on a tank of fuel. The downside is the hull allows her to be really rolly…to counteract that undesirable characteristic most full displacement vessels are equipped with stabilizer fins which counteract that tendency.

Deep in the bowels of Magnolia are the actuators which drive the external fins.

Between the fin and the actuators are two seals that keep water out of the hull. These seals need to be replaced every three years and our time was due!

Just like a house, sometimes you need to replace the water-heater. Note the shiny, pretty and very expensive box in the middle!!!

Last but least the outboard engine on “Blossom” was misbehaving and I have never rebuilt a carburetor before. I have always been too chicken because there all these itsy-bitsy little parts and I never imagined I would get back in place. Having “Nurse Cleck” assist we managed to get it apart, reassembled and the most amazing thing happened….it worked!

We are blessed and the above proves my point!

This week in all about getting the water maker re-installed and then we start working down the list…a long long list! Be safe and thanks for reading, thank you Bruce!

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