Tackle the generator and boat yard drama

Sunday 1 Nov, HHN, boat winterizing day 32:
In contrast to yesterday, I really pulled my finger out today and got a lot done. Plus, a big excitement around the boat in the evening… read on.
Clocks went back last night, so I set my alarm 1 hour earlier. Why is it that USA and Europe change their clocks on different weeks these days? Didn’t they always use to be on the same date?
So I’m up bright and early this morning, still feeling a bit guilty for my lack of performance yesterday.

Today WILL BE the generator day. A good day for it too. Cold outside plus rain forecast, then a violent cold front coming through tonight. I’ll be happily oblivious to it all while I’m cramped up in the engine room. The task is to remove the heat exchanger from the generator and work out where it is leaking.
The heat exchanger is a device where the sea water is pumped next to the engine coolant, to cool it down, hence keep the engine from overheating. It has 4 hoses going into it: 2 sea water, in/out; and 2 coolant water, in/out. It’s hard to see the damned thing, hidden on the far side of the generator, but I spotted heavy salt buildup on both ends of it just before we laid the boat up in June.
Before removing it, I need to drain the coolant and raw water out of the engine, without spilling too much. I don’t want coolant in the bilge as it happened last time we did this (2 years ago). But the “official” coolant drain plug (“official” rather than just pulling of a hose and letting it go everywhere) is on the side of the engine block. If I remove it, the coolant will simply drain down the side of the engine into the sump. Not what I want to happen.
So, out of a milk bottle I make a special funnel and when I finished it, I had to giggle. It looks just like a Shewee! (don’t know what that is? go Google images of one!). So, I name it “Generator Shewee”. It actually worked very well. A bit of butyl tape on the end, around the drain plug, and not a drop of coolant was spilled. I’ll be keeping this Shewee with my special tools!

Next comes the horrible part. Leaning over the generator with my torso upside down, getting the exchanger bolts and hoses off. Each one resists, just to annoy me. But eventually I have it out, and in the process I discover one of the brackets that holds the exchanger in place has broken off. Maybe that’s why it’s been leaking, too much vibration?
Below each end, is a little pyramid of hardened salt. But thankfully, last time I did this I plastered the area around the exchanger with grease, which is still there even with all the salt water that has been leaking over it. The salt just wipes off leaving a relatively clean area, and most importantly very little corrosion. I take the exchanger to Weaver Boats workshop to clean it up. I admit, I got a bit carried away on the buffer – giving it a shine that would not be out of place on a bandstand!

Back on Cloudy Bay, in the galley (psss …. don’t tell Oana), I fill it with boiling water, hoping to see the leak. But leak it does not. OK, so maybe it only leaks when it’s cold, not hot. But using cold water reveals no leak either. So maybe it needs pressure too? Anyway, the brazing on the ends does not look good, so I’ll see who can re-braze it this week. I’d certainly like to avoid buying a new one. But the thought of putting this all back as is and having it leaking again is not appealing either. Will have to think on this one. At least the generator is now fully drained of water. It will be one thing I won’t have to pump antifreeze around.

In the evening, there is some drama in the yard. In fact, drama right by Cloudy Bay! As forecast, the cold front comes through mid-evening and with it comes very gusty wind. I can feel the boat moving, and also hear whistling in the other boats rigging. So, I go outside to check if the covers on the mast are still secure.
While there, I hear a low toned throbbing of a motor. That’s a bit odd, this part of the yard is normally devoid of life at this time of night. I follow the noise and discover a van, with engine idling, parked oddly at 45 degrees to the boats, just the other side of the next boat. It’s a bit spooky. It’s one of those old 1970s vans with side doors and custom wheels. The type serial killers do their stuff in! A bit anxious, I decide to walk up to it, because I cannot see if anyone is inside or not. As I pass it, I see the outline of a guy sitting in the driver’s seat and the glow from a cigarette. My presence doesn’t seem to disturb him.
The van just stays there, with its engine gently throbbing away. I then purposefully spend a few extra moments tying more lines on the mast cover, while watching the van. Still no change. Well, if he is up to no good, he at least knows that I will have witnessed him. So, I head back inside to the warmth and for the first time, I lock the hatch after I enter. I’m just pondering if I should do anything, like call to alert someone, when the drama happens.

First, I hear the the van’s engine revving, then a spray of stones as a vehicle accelerates fast passed Cloudy Bay, then next moment I hear a police siren, more scattering of stones and a vehicle skidding to a halt. WTF?? What’s happening? I dash out onto deck to see blue and red police lights all around the boat. And when I gently poke my head out the tent zipper door, I see 3 policemen, in-front of the van, which is now right next to Cloudy. They demand he turns off the engine and step out but he doesn’t. So, with 2 armed police looking on, one policeman jumps into the passenger door, grabs the key and turns off the engine. There are 3 police cars plus the marina security car.
Not wanting any part of this, and not wanting the marina security seeing me on board (officially we cannot live on the boat) I go back inside.

Next thing I hear is a fire siren. Can’t resist, got to look again. Now there are 2 fire trucks here too! This time the security guy spots me and comes over. Uh-oh … now I’m in trouble too ☹. But he only asks if I had seen the van hit any boats in the yard. I told him it was just sitting idling when I saw it first. Eventually, the fire trucks leave and 2 police cars too. Presumably with the van driver in custody, because the next to turn up is a police tow truck. They load the van and take it away. Finally, by midnight, it’s all quiet again. Can’t wait to find out what the story was. No doubt Ray will hear about it and tell me! Oooph, who needs an evening movie with entertainment like this right on your doorstep! I think I’ll sleep with locked doors going forward.