Thursday, March 22, 2012

Vero Beach City Marina - On a mooring

The north mooring field at Vero Beach City Marina
We had never stayed on a mooring at Vero because we didn't care for doubling up. At Vero, if they are full, they will require you to put out fenders and take on another boat. Of course that would not be so bad if you could split the cost of the mooring with the additional boat (dream on!) Two on a mooring or three on a mooring, it's all the same - each one pays the full price for the mooring!

The fuel dock and main office
Along the way to Vero, I paid strict attention to the engine temperature. Yesterday I had said that the temperature was returned to normal after scraping the bottom of the dinghy of barnacles. Well today the story was different! Once again I'm back to the high temperatures as before, 90C (194F) instead of the normal 80C (176F). I measured the temperatures right at the thermometer location with my IR meter and got the same results. Now for the strange part. After the batteries were fully charged, the charger switched off momentarily and the temperature immediately dropped to 80C, back on it immediately went to 90C. It went through this sequence several times before continuing a constant charge with the engine temp back at 90C. I have no idea what's going on. Each time the IR meter verified the temperature gauge reading. We plan on putting in at Hinckley in Savannah on March 2nd, a Monday to let them sort through this problem. So far, the engine temperature has not gone beyond 90C which is still within the operating limits of the engine. If it does go above 90C, then I'm in more trouble.

Outside the engine, we're seeing temperatures in the low 80s F, very warm and the winds we experienced in Marathon have abated. We're out of the trade winds now and we expect more moderate weather heading north. Now it's laundry and some minor provisioning for the next two days.

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